Category: ASIAN FOOD

The ultimate Japanese culinary and KI NO BI gin experience at Sake Melbourne

KINOBIGIN SakeLaunch StevenWoodburn 25

World Gin Day is just around the corner. And what better way to celebrate than treating yourself to an intimate tasting experience at Sake that includes a spectacular six-course dinner accompanied by KI NO BI gin cocktails and tastings! The ‘6 Elements’ dinners will take place in Sydney and Melbourne and will deliver the ultimate culinary experience for lovers of gin and Japanese cuisine alike. The ‘6 Elements’ dinners are inspired by KI NO BI’s intricate production process, where botanicals are divided into six different categories, known as the 6 Elements, steeped in rice spirit, and then distilled individually. Produced in Kyoto, KI NO BI gin is distilled with Japanese botanicals, grouped by flavour to create the six elements which are macerated and distilled separately, before being blended with Fushimi water.   The 6 Elements that make up the dry style of gin KI NO BI is renowned for are Base, Citrus, Tea, Herbal, Spice and Fruity & Floral, which are then blended to create the distinctive KI NO BI flavours. As most gin lovers would appreciate, water is a vital ingredient of this popular spirit, as it makes up more than 50% of the liquid inside every bottle. The KI NO BI distillery is located close to the famous sake-producing area of Fushimi, south of Kyoto city. The name “Fushimi” comes from the Japanese words for “hidden” or “underground” and “water”, and Fushimi water is renowned for its purity, softness and flavour. In addition to the pureness provided by the Fushimi water, quality ingredients… Read More

Love Peking Duck? Then get yourself to Lotus The Galeries immediately!

Lotus the galeries

Tucked away on Level 1, The Galeries on George Street in Sydney’s CBD is Lotus The Galeries. Unassuming yet sophisticated, this venue has been one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets and our only regret is not knowing about it sooner. The menu boasts some of the best Shanghainese dishes with a nod to Cantonese cuisine and the unique table-side Peking Duck experience is truly a highlight.  For a Wednesday night, the venue is surprisingly busy and is buzzing with guests – a joy to observe after what has been a horror year for the hospitality industry. Restaurant manager Ryan Bishell is busy greeting guests who are excited to be out and about again and you can see Ryan’s enthusiasm rubbing off on the rest of his friendly team as they go about their business looking after hungry and thirsty patrons.  But back to the Peking Duck experience…. what a great way to share a meal with friends! This incredibly delicious journey starts with thinly sliced duck skin from the breast served with white sugar. The duck skin is full of flavour and literally melts in your mouth. And this is just the first part of this exquisite experience. It’s then followed by duck pancakes and served table-side with three special sauces, thinly sliced red onion, cucumber, and leek. A half-duck is a very reasonably priced $59 and a whole duck is $108 and can be enjoyed Wednesday – Saturday.  The range of mouth-watering dishes on the menu to accompany the duck is impressive. For example, the… Read More

New modern Chinese restaurant, Lucky Kwong opens in Eveleigh

Lucky Kwong Sydney

From Potts Point to Eveleigh, you can’t escape Kylie. Lucky Kwong is a casual Australian-Cantonese cafeteria-style eatery, featuring some of Kylie’s best-known dishes for dine in or takeaway. This is the first time since Kylie’s beloved Carriageworks Farmers Market stall, that her food will be so accessible. Named after a child she and her husband lost, Lucky’s got some emotional roots, helping Kylie on a personal journey of rediscovery and the benefit’s in the output. he menu will be small, with daily specials showcasing producers and fellow chef collaborators and will feature some Kylie Kwong favourites – from prawn dumplings and Uncle Jimmy’s noodles to caramelised pork belly with Davidson’s plum, stir-fried Boon Luck Farm vegetables with tofu, and steamed savoury pancakes with toppings like Fish Butchery’s yellowfin tuna and XO. Kylie will continue to work with small, sustainable producers, many of whom she has long-standing relationships with, and will incorporate native edible plants as she has done for the past 10 years. Find out more and make a booking at the Lucky Kwong website. Lucky Kwong  2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh, 2015 NSW  02 8377 1878 Open: Monday- Friday lunchtime 11am- 2.30pm for walk-ins and takeaway

The best of Shanghai in Sydney: Shanghai Nights with Merivale

Shangahi Nights

Take a trip to Bridge Lane Sydney from 6-7 May and you’ll see it in a new light. Taking over the space for a special occasion, all things Shanghainese will be put on show, in celebration of the Shanghai Nights festival; a dazzling laneway showcase of live entertainment, street-food and cocktails. It’ll transform the laneway into an aromatic Shanghai experience, injecting colour, vibrant energy, rich flavour and originality into the heart of the city.  There will be three food stalls, al produce of which will be complemented by Glenlivet cocktails and music from DJs. Here’s a guide: Dim Sum Scallop and prawn shumai (3 pieces) $12 Poached prawn wontons with Sichuan chilli sauce $12 Wild mushroom dumpling (3 pieces) $12 Work Station Stir-fried Shanghai noodles with roast duck and black pepper $12 Stir-fried rice cakes with prawns, mushrooms and fragrant chilli oil $12 Wok-fried Shanghai noodles with shiitake mushrooms, gailan, garlic and black pepper $12 Grill Station BBQ lamb skewers with fennel and cumin salt $6each BBQ chicken skewers with garlic, chilli, flower pepper $6each And the best thing? It’s free to go. Get your ticket at the Merivale website.

The Melbourne Night Noodle Markets are on in 2021 – just not as you might think

Asian noodles food

Forget Birrarung Maar. This year’s all about the Night Noodle Markets at home! We couldn’t celebrate because of everyone’s favourite global health pandemic in 2020, so this year in 2021, the Citi-sponsored food event of the calendar year is coming to you, at home. It’ll bring together the signature dishes and innovative tastes of eight sizzling vendors, offering a vibrant journey through Asia, just without the crowds, insanely-long queues and June weather. Night Noodle Markets at Home runs every night from 1 – 30 June, and is available for home delivery with the DoorDash delivery app.  Restaurants to feed from are the likes of Hoy Pinoy, Wonderbao, Flying Noodles/ Twistto, Puffle, Indomie Mi-Goreng, Thai Tide, Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart and Kariton Sorbetes, who’ll deliver straight to their front door in one flavour-packed order.  Tickets on sale 9am Thursday, 6 May and you can subscribe to the Good Food Month mailing list to be sent a reminder when tickets go on sale.

Hong Kong Guide to Sydney: join the discovery with travel vloggers Nick and Helmi

Helmi Hong Kong cake

This is the year we turn more of our travel focus inward, looking in our own backyard rather than our favourite ‘overseas’. But that’s not a bad thing! The Hong Kong Tourism Board has teamed up with Aussie travel vloggers and passionate foodies, Nick and Helmi, to recreate a Hong Kong experience without leaving Sydney. We caught up with them to reveal Nick and Helmi’s top spots for readers to enjoy a taste of Hong Kong. Kowloon Cafe Located in Sydney’s Chinatown the Kowloon Café brings authentic Hong Kong cuisine to Sydneysiders. Delivering a “cha chaan teng” (Hong Kong style) vibe to diners, you’ll be transported to Hong Kong while consuming local favourites including curry fish balls, spam & egg sandwiches, and Hong Kong Style milk tea. Instagram: @kowlooncafe.com.au Location: Shop 7A-9A 421-429, Sussex St, Haymarket NSW, 2000 Hong Kong Bing Sutt If you don’t want to travel into the CBD, Hong Kong Bing Sutt in Burwood also has a “cha chaan teng” ambience and is described by Nick & Helmi as “a foodie heaven”. With flavours to ignite the senses, enjoy a wide range of curries, crispy creations, and French-inspired treats. Instagram: @hongkongbingsutt Location: Shop 8/11-15 Deane St, Burwood NSW 2134 Kowloon Stir Fry King Missing “dong pai dong” (open-air food stalls) from your previous travels? Located in Sydney’s CBD, Kowloon Stir Fry King brings the flavours of Hong Kong’s street stalls to your plate. Open until late, it’s the perfect location for friends and family to reconnect. Instagram: @kowloonstirfryking.com.au Location: Level 1/249 Castlereagh… Read More

Paddington institution Jackies Cafe is now open three nights a week

Jackies Cafe

Tucked away in a leafy courtyard on Glenmore Road in Paddington is iconic venue, Jackies. Perfect for lazy afternoon cocktails at the sushi bar, an intimate dinner in the main restaurant or a casual shared plate get-together with friends in the courtyard, Jackies is now open three nights a week from 5.30pm until late (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).  With the new opening hours comes an exciting Jackies by Night menu which includes signature dishes from the sushi bar and mouth-watering shared dishes such as the braised beef rib with wasabi mash and crispy fried calamari with ponzu sauce. The braised beef rib literally falls off the bone and sits on a delicious bed of wasabi mash. It’s a combination made in heaven. The crispy fried calamari is just as much of a hero on the evening menu, perfectly cooked with a light tempura batter that keeps you wanting to go back for more. Other exciting dishes that feature on the evening menu include typical Japanese favourite, okonomiyaki; pork and prawn ramen; teriyaki glazed quail and agedashi tofu.  And of course, there’s always dessert! Make sure you leave enough room for the Japanese inspired matcha ice cream, seasonal berries and black sesame praline; the dark chocolate mousse with miso caramel and espresso foam; or the dessert with an Italian twist, the affogato jersey milk ice cream with an espresso shot and biscotti.  In addition to the great vibe at Jackies, it’s also a fabulous space for events. With work Christmas parties on the horizon, or any… Read More

Where to go for Asian deliciousness in Melbourne – plus wine

Jacob's Creek Night Noogle Markets 2019 #30

The Melbourne Night Noodle Markets are on in Birrarung Maar, so Jacob’s Creek is making people remember why wine and Asian food works so well together. Tipi’s are a far cry from being anything representative of Asia – maybe Bedouin? – but hey, they’ve got one and it’s full of wine and carbs and no one’s mad about it. It’s a quiet sanctuary away from the heaving noodle-hungry crowds of the Market, that provides the perfect spot for those wanting to grab a seat under cover and enjoy a glass of wine by the fire with their favourite thing (person or food will do). The wines have been perfectly paired for every kind of spicy, salty, sour or sweet delicacy found at the bustling Asian street food festival for you to enjoy the ultimate culinary wine moment in style and comfort. They’ve got it all on-hand, from the crisp Le Petit Rosé, to the rich and smooth Double Barrel shiraz, Jacob’s Creek has the perfect drop for your noodle market experience. Check it out in Melbourne from 7-24 November! Find out more about the Melbourne Night Noodle Markets here.

Melbourne Night Noodle Markets: What to expect

Night Noodle Markets bao

The hotly anticipated carb fest that is the Melbourne Night Noodle Markets will return to Australia’s glorious food capital from 7-24 November, pumping out all your Asian faves. As usual, it’ll move south after having just smashed Sydney with the likes of food people Katherine Sabbath and Shannon Martinez and all the good things that come with that. With a slightly tweaked line-up of delectable delicacies on offer, the Melbourne run is looking good. Here’s what to expect: Hoy Pinoy’s famous Filipino BBQ and Street Food, Poklol x Puffle’s quirky cone-shaped cheese waffles, Wonderbao’s fluffy steamed buns, Miso Fresh’s soba noodles, Kumokumo’s fluffy pillow-soft pancakes, and Scoopy Milk Bar’s Korean shaved ice desserts. Other stalls include Gelato Messina, Shallot Thai, @Roll Up, Bao Brothers, Bangkok Street Food, Calabang, Donburi Station, Drumplings, Flying Noodles,Fry’D Ice Cream, Fusion Paella & Tapas, Let’s Do Yum Cha, May’s Malaysian, Nem n Nem, Okonomiyaking, Pham Sisters, Pinchys, Raijin, Sambal Kampung, Teppanyaki Noodles, Twistto, Tokosan, Waffleland, WAWA and Wok Master. Oh and if you’d rather be bougie and grab a lift there, use Didi and score 2x$10 vouchers (new users) and 2×20% (existing users) with code “DIDINNM. Eat up!

The annual Night Noodle Markets say goodbye to Hyde Park Sydney

Noodles asian

In what’ll be the final year the annual Asian food fest pops-up in the middle of the Sydney at Hyde Park, the festival’s pulling out all stops before moving to a new location in 2020. Why? Something about more space and higher demand. It’s been running for over 15 years, and 11 of those years have been supported by Citi, giving VIP access to all their customers. No wonder it gets so overrun! The usuals like Hoy Pinoy, Let’s Do Yum Cha, Chur Burger, POKLOL, Puffle, Twistto, Flying Noodle, and Wonderbao and heaps more will all do their part in turning Sydney’s central pride-and-joy park into a stomping ground for foodies. If you’re the kind of person who likes to plan food, before consuming, then plan-away. Here’s the menu: Bangkok Street Food – Bringing Bangkok’s world-famous street food scene to Sydney with crowd favourites pad Thai, tom yum noodle, pad see ew, basil chicken noodles and delicious mixed entrees. Cala Bang – Crispy calamari with flavour hits to choose from like seaweed, hot and spicy, and paprika seasonings, alongside their foot-long potato fries. Bao Brothers – Bringing the street-food culture of Gua Baos to a whole new level with the ‘peeking cluck’, ‘shroom shady’, and loaded sweet potato fries. Biang Biang Noodles – Chinese noodles with flavour that packs a punch like the Biang Biang with chilli, beef or tomato and egg. Chinese Dim Sum King – A mouth-watering offering of dumplings, buns, spring rolls and dim sum skewers. Donut Papi – Small-batch Asian-inspireddoughnutsthat are Nigella Lawson approved, including the infamous Leche Flan Donut and… Read More