ISYS100 - Assignment 2 - Foodies Vlog

This is our video blog for ISYS 100 Assignment 2
We review some of the food on offer at the Macquarie University Hub




Director, Producer, Editor - Thomas Isles

Camera Crew - Damian Puopolo

Food Critics

Hung Hoang
Yagmur Guven
Frankie Ian
Damian Puopolo
Thomas Isles

Photos courtesy of http://www.mq.edu.au
Music courtesy of http://www.bensound.com

The competition for my favourite burger heats up!

Well after a delicious burger on Saturday to cure a hangover, I was on the hunt to see if something could compete. Enter Bar Luca, or BL Burgers, and their deliciously insane Blame Canada burger. Everything you could ever want in between two brioche buns, a juicy beef patty, maple bacon, cheese and the pinnacle so far for burgers, poutine. For those who are unaware, poutine is the goodness creation of french fries, gravy and cheese curds mixed together into an amazing mess.

Now if you fancy enjoying one of the most awesome burgers in Sydney, they are available from 3 locations around Sydney, Bar Luca near Circular Quay, BL Burgers Bondi and BL Burgers Darlinghurst.

Words by Thomas Isles

OxyShred - French Vanilla

Today i will be reviewing another unique protein flavoured protein shake, french vanilla by OxyShred. This particular source of protein shakes primarily focuses on the assistance of weight loss so with lower calories, i'd assume that this protein shake will possess a more bland taste. Upon opening the container, i could instantly smell a unique french vanilla hitting my nostrils with a faint of a sweet natural vanilla bean scent. The granules are much finer, almost salt like. It mixes well and i am very excited to taste this shake. Upon tasting, my taste buds instantly come alive after a craving all day for something sweet.

I am actually very suprised by this protein shake and would highly vouch for it. 5/5

Arnold Schwarznegger Iron Whey- Cinnamon bun

Today I will be reviewing another staple protein shake that is “Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Iron Whey” in a cinnamon bun flavour. I am really excited about testing this flavour as unlike your conventional flavours like strawberry or chocolate, this brand of protein shakes have incorporated an interesting dessert flavour that is sure to excite and hopefully satisfy your sweet tooth. Upon opening the container, unlike your other protein powders, this one seems quite unbroken and thick in size. Upon mixing, to be honest it does not mix very well and leaves a chalky film on the top. However, the tastes is quite nice but not outstanding as the chalky film leaves an undesirable after taste. I can definitely taste the cinnamon bun in this shake as it is subtly sweet and possesses a cinnamon aroma. I would rate this product a 3/5.

Birthday Cake!

Yesterday night I was attending a birthday party and the birthday cake was excellent. The cake was bought at La Vigne Bakery at Eastwood. It consisted of six flavours: Chocolate, Sweet potato, grape, strawberry, orange, and kiwifruit!

My favourite flavour was by far Chocolate. It was a light, fluffy sponge cake filled with a rich, chocolate ganache. The ganache was just so delicious!

For people who are not really a sweet tooth, I would recommend the Sweet potato flavour. It had a good balance of sweetness in the cream, and had a good natural flavour of sweet potato. It was a really interesting flavour.

Overall, the cakes are delicious and I would recommend people who are near Eastwood to pick up a slice to enjoy.

Birthday Cake!

Written by Frankie

A Burger to fix a hangover

After a long Friday night, the cravings for a something greasy were through the roof. Then I remember the new addition to the Macquarie Center, the renowned Burger Project. This new chain is the child of the great Neil Perry, and is built on the current burger craze that is sweeping Sydney. My delectable choice was the Bacon and Cheese, with an added fried chicken breast to round it out.

I am very pleased with my selection, and although the bun started to fall apart towards the end it was delicious and hit the spot that my hangover needed. So if you need some comfort food American style, and for only an extra $5 compared to other fast food chains, I definitely recommend this outlet.

Words by Tom Isles

Coffee Review - Nescafe Instant Coffee

In continuing with the theme of the blog i will yet again be reviewing a brew that can be easily made at home. An old favourite enjoyed by nearly everyone in Australia,  a brew that takes less than a minute to make. You cant really beat a nice cup of instant coffee, it might not taste the best but the pure convenience makes it taste a lot better. When i have my cup of Nescafe, i like to have it with a drop of milk and 2 sugars, this ensures that the coffee is not too overpowering and allows you to enjoy the flavour. As it is instant coffee the taste is not too strong and a tad watery but you can adjust that depending about how much of the coffee mixture you put in

Writer - Damian Puopolo

Chocolate Fun!

After visiting Max Brenner the other day, I decided that I would come back again to try some of the desserts on the menu. What an experience, It was so fun to eat. Although the price of the desserts were a bit pricey, the experience and the atmosphere of the cafe was worth that extra bit of money.

First I will start with my first dessert, The Chocolate Fondant. This dish is a simple one. Pure dark and milk chocolate that was served with marshmallows and fruit. The dish was indeed delicious, although I had hoped that they would serve more fruits and sweets to dip!

Next and last dish that was served was the Chocolate Mess Party. This dish was far superior to the Chocolate Fondant. It was a light fluffy cake served with chocolate sauce, whipping cream, and ice cream. This was so good!!

Overall, the experience with Max Brenner is lovely! I would recommend the Chocolate Mess Party

Written by Frankie

Chocolate Fondant

Chocolate Mess Party

Eggs in Dinner

We all know and love the usage of eggs in our breakfast. But what about dinner? Aside from lazy days where one's dinner is ― what I like to call ― breakfast-dinner, eggs in dinner is not something that is discussed often. This is a shame, as my dinner today featured a delightful twist on the classic fried egg.

I put some earlier prepared spinach and onion into a pan (though you could use all sorts of greens here, like bok choy) with olive oil. I cracked three eggs into it, sprinkled mozzarella, feta, and finally sweet paprika on top. Paired with a side of couscous, I had a wholesome dinner whilst meeting my daily egg criteria.

By Yagmur

Coffee Review - Woolworths Select Colombian Expresso

To continue from my last blog post, i will continue reviewing coffees that one can enjoy in the peace and quiet of their own home. Using my Coffee machine, purchased from Aldi a few years ago i managed to create this beverage using Capsules purchased from my Woolworths. It was reasonably priced and the taste was better than expected. As an espresso it is supposed to be strong and smooth while also being full of body, and that's exactly what it tastes like. The texture was fantastic and the strength was just right just as to be overwhelming it really hits a perfect note which lets you fully appreciate the flavour. In conclusion, for a drink that was very cheap and took literally less than a minute to make, the Woolworth's Select Colombian Espresso represents fantastic value for money due to its surprisingly high quality.

Written by Damian

Chocolate Souffle - A Chocolate Surprise!

Yesterday night I decided to buy a luxurious dessert from Max Brenner, the chocolate souffle. Presentation wise, this souffle was extremely pretty and well presented. The look of it is irresistible!

Upon cutting open the souffle, I was greeted with a surprise! A gooey centre melts to my plate and spreads.

I have tried many souffle's from multiple locations before, but this one was by far my favourite. It was rich and delicate. The cake was spongy and moist, while the center was filled with chocolatey goodness that was smooth and superb.

A combination of fruits would been a good addition to the dish, and some vanilla ice cream. I would rate this souffle a solid 4.5/5 stars, with a few improvements that could be made to make the dessert even greater!

Written by Frankie

Today I will be reviewing “Gold Standard” by Optimum nutrition with a banana flavour. This brand is a staple amongst athletes and fellow gym goers, made popular due to not only their proprietary mix of ingredients to support recovery and growth, but also its flavour.  Today I will be testing another original classic Banana flavour. First impressions upon opening the container is the instant smell of a very strong and intense banana smell that does not seem artificial in contrast to other banana desserts or drinks. Upon tasting this banana flavoured shake with the only addition of water, it possesses an almost banana milk flavour, however not a rich and creamy but is sure to satisfy your cravings for sweets. This particular shake has pleased me as it does not contain any powdery after taste like some other brands, as well as the benefit of a nice silky smooth banana flavour.

Harris coffee Beans Medium Strength

This week I decided to stay at home and enjoy a cup of Joe in the comfort of my own home, so I indulged in a homemade brew. The beans that I used were Harris Coffee Beans of a medium strength that were freshly ground minutes before the making of the beverage. The beans were excellent and even though I thought the strength was stronger than what most would consider “medium” I really enjoyed the rich flavor that really proves that you don’t need to go out the enjoy a quality cup of coffee. The beans are very aeromatic and are a must have for anyone looking for a quality brew at home, although I suggest trying the medium beans before moving to strong as they might be too strong for many peoples tastes 

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The Versatility of Eggs by Yagmur

It is my belief that eggs are an invaluable resource in the world of cooking. Whether you want a simple breakfast, a trendy lunch, or a show stopping dessert, eggs are your best friend.

Simply boiling an egg in different ways can achieve different effects. For example, boiling an egg for a long time will cause the yolk to solidify. You are able to cut the egg in pieces. Many people like to scoop out the yolk out of the egg white, and mix it with cheese or sauce before returning it to the egg white. However, boiling the egg for a short time will result in a hardened egg white and runny yolk, similar to fried eggs done sunnyside up. This is when you put it in an egg cup and scoop out the insides like a kiwi fruit, and it's my favourite way to eat an egg. This is but one way to prepare the cornerstone of your breakfast ‒ other ways include frying and poaching. 

The ways in which eggs can be used in both savoury and sweet meals is limitless. This has been true since modern society began. For example, the one thousand year egg has been enjoyed in China for centuries. This dish is prepared by encasing an egg in cement and herbs for months or years at a time! Understandably, it is a very polarising dish. 

Many different types of eggs can be used, such as quail eggs, though most recipes will call for standard chicken eggs. Be careful as they come in different sizes, which can affect the outcome. Free range as opposed to caged eggs are always recommended.

So get out there, and get eggsperimenting! 

I woke up to an eggciting gift this morning

Written by Yagmur

Japanese Cheesecake - Frankie

Over the past months, one of my favourite cheesecake to make is the Japanese cheesecake. This cheesecake is delicate, light and one of the best cheesecake to make! Although it requires a large amount of time to cook, it's a cheesecake you must try at least once. This cheesecake requires a large amount of attention when baking as it is very easy to overcook or over whip. 

My favourite recipe that I have been using for the past few bakes is from Rasamalysia


Ultimately, this cheesecake requires patience and a lot of practise to perfect. It even took
me a couple tries to get the right texture cake.

This cheesecake is suitable for a nice dessert to give to fellow students or for parties

A few tips to get you started:

• When making this cheesecake, you must follow the recipe to exactly. Even the smallest change can result in a sub-par Japanese cheesecake.
• Buy a oven thermometer to ensure that your oven is at the right temperature (each oven is different)

Written by Frankie 

Hung's Syntha-6 Isolate taste test

Protein shakes have become a common additional source of fuel for the average gym-goer or professional athlete, in the past protein shakes were limited to your flavours such as chocolate or vanilla and did not really possess a taste that you would crave for. However, today many flavours are widely available that have been developed by many companies, each offering different tastes and flavours from strawberry cheesecake, to chocolate mint and even cinnamon bun.

Today, I will be giving you guys a review and taste test on your ordinary strawberry flavour, by “Syntha 6 Isolate”

Appearance: This protein comes an aesthetic packaging, with shiny red and silver foil. The protein powder itself comes in extremely fine granules, as a result I am expecting a smooth texture to the shake, unlike other proteins that may have a powdery after taste.

Taste: The aroma of strawberry is very strong in this shake, as you can even smell the sweet and alluring scent of strawberry milk from metres away. As expected, it tastes very smooth and possesses an undiluted strawberry creamy taste even with only adding water. Personally, I would vouch for this protein shake as it has lived to its many positives reviews.

Overall rating: 5/5 

The Coffee Club - Macchiato - Damian

I walked into the coffee club in Macquarie centre with excitement after hearing many good things about their signature brew. The server was accommodating and welcoming and I ordered a personal Favourite of mine, a Café Macchiato single shot. A Macchiato is an espresso coffee topped usually with 1 spoonful of frothed milk. The Macchiato was very strong (as it should be) and the taste was mellowed slightly by the milk, even with the milk there was a strong acidic after taste which may not be everyone’s cup of tea (or should I say coffee). But I am not complaining, as a macchiato is for coffee purists, if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen, there are many other less powerful coffees available, try a flat white or a cappuccino if you think that a macchiato is too strong for you. If you like your coffee strong then I recommend you go and try The Coffee Club, they have many branches so it shouldn’t be hard finding a store near you.

Photo courtesy of The Coffee Club

The Foodie's of ISYS 100

Sydney has so many great options when it comes to food. From the City to the West, there is such a diverse nature for the types of food you can experience throughout your travels. As Sydney is a multicultural city, so is our group, and as such we will use this as an opportunity to explore and blog about some of our favourite foods and drinks. Our team is made up of 5 individuals, who each will explore their own unique food/drink category, they are as follows;

Tom Isles - Burgers
Damion Puopolo  - Coffee
Hung Hoang - Protein Shakes
Frankie Ian - Cake
Yagmur Guvener - Eggs

Throughout the next few weeks, we will look to enlighten and diversify your knowledge on these areas with insights and secrets for each.

Words by Tom Isles 

The Birthday Burger by Tom Isles

The Birthday Burger!

This was a delicious burger - cupcake combo that I enjoyed on my 22nd Birthday at the established and renowned Cafe Boardroom, located only 5 minutes from Macquarie University. Unfortunately, they did not have any chicken burgers at the time but I was not disappointed with the "Dirty South" electing to have a wagyu beef patty instead. The addition of poutine onto the burger, along with the mac and cheese, made it lose all integrity but ultimately this added to the experience. I would definitely recommend anyone around Macquarie University or Macquarie Park to take the opportunity and travel the short distance to experience this wonderful burger cafe.

Words by Tom Isles 43265243