Ahmet's @ Brisbane

Our friend brought us to Ahmet's for Turkish food since I preferred not to have any Asian cuisine. The place was packed with people on a week night and we had to wait for a while to get a table.
  

Ahmet's Turkish Restaurant

Baked Turkish bread glazed with garlic butter (AUD 6)

 
First up was the freshly baked Turkish bread glazed with garlic butter. It was a huge dough which was soft and moist. The garlic butter smelled so good but we were careful not to finish it as it would disrupt our appetite.
 

Apple Tea (AUD 6)

 
The apple tea was served hot and tasted like warm apple juice.
 

Lamb Guvec (AUD 23)

 
The lamb claypot casserole (but served in a metal pot?) came with a small container of Turkish rice sprinkled with what I presume is cinnamon powder. The rice was very fragrant and soft and the cinnamon smell was not strong. The casserole included eggplant, zucchini, onion, potato, celery, mushroom and carrot. Both the lamb and vegetables were very tender and fully absorbed all flavours of the broth. The tomato based gravy was absolutely delicious with rice.
 

Karisik Izgara (AUD 34)

 
The mixed grilled platter consisted of chicken, lamb and adana skewers and lamb cutlet as well as Turkish rice and a side salad. The adana skewer which is minced lamb with red and green capsicum, chilli flakes and parsley was very flavourful. The lamb cutlet and lamb skewer were marinated in red pepper, oregano and garlic and tasted good but was not exceptional. I enjoyed the chicken skewer (also marinated in the same spices) the most as the flesh was very moist.
  

Mousakka (AUD 24.50)

 
This dish is pure comfort food as the oven baked eggplant and minced beef in tomato paste went extraordinarily well with rice.
 

It is advisable to go in a big group and order to share due to the variety of dish choices available.

PawPoints: 4 Paws

http://www.ahmets.com/index.html

Ahmet's
Shop 10/164 Grey Street
South Bank
Brisbane
Tel: 07 3846 6699

Tuckeria Fresh Mexican @ Brisbane

One of the top recommended Mexican fast food in Brisbane, we headed to Tuckeria for lunch right after checking in at the backpackers (the one we booked is totally not recommended =.=). It was such a long walk to the shop from Fortitude Valley Station though =.= When we reached it, it was empty whereas Grill'd next door had a few patrons. I was a little hesitant to enter but luckily my doubts were put to rest by the food and the amount of people queuing up come lunch time.
 

Shop Front

Counter

Menu

We had a hard time deciding what to order with the extensive choices. As indicated in the menu, you firstly choose the type of wrap and filling. Then select the type of beans you prefer. Thirdly, choose the type of salsa and level of spiciness and finally, add condiments as you wish =)
 

Back of menu

 
The back of the laminated menu has a graffiti representation similar to those seen frequently on the walls of Brisbane.
 

Decorative Chicos

Pork / Chorizo Tacos (AUD 9)

 

• Grilled pork was really good! Charred tender meat with a little fat - very well seasoned. I had half grilled pork and half chorizo but I think they must have given me grilled pork for both instead as I didn't taste any difference >.>
• Came heaped with Pico de Gallo Salsa which wasn't spicy even though I requested for 'hot' (spiciness categories include mild, medium and hot).
• I added loads of raw onions and coriander which are free! Went very well with the grilled pork as the raw onions provided a zing and the coriander a burst of freshness.
• White corn tortillas were very bland and floury - no amount of grilled pork and salsa could mask the blandness =.= The only thing which helped was the hot sauce which I poured generously =D

 

Beef Burrito California Style (AUD 11)

 
Flour tortilla wrapped around beef, black and pinto beans, and Pico de Gallo Tomato Salsa and baked in aluminium foil. JS chose California style which came with fries instead of Mexican rice.
 

Overflowing burrito contents

• Beef was very tender and well marinated - fell apart at the touch of the fork.
• Flour tortilla absorbed the juices of the beef and did not taste bland at all. Probably the effect of baking it in foil paper.
• Surprisingly, mixture of salsa, beans and fries went very well with the beef and tortilla.

Hot Sauce

 
Tapatio Hot Sauce - the only thing which saved my bland flour tortilla =P Spicy but really good, just like Nando's Extra Hot Peri-Peri Sauce =)

PawPoints: 4 Paws

http://tuckeria.com.au/

Tuckeria Fresh Mexican
421 Brunswick Street
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane
Tel: 04 0637 7278
Sun - Thu: 11.30am - 9.30pm
Fri - Sat: 11.30am - 10.30pm