Date Archives March 2015

My 24 hour Food Crawl

Food For Thought Review March 8, 2015

I’ve struggled with weight all my life. It’s been on so many ups and downs that I’ve lost track, and ironically, food has become the only constant. And it’s been especially hard lately – part of the joy of a food blog is well, that you get to eat, and eat well, and that can sometimes not be very good for the “diet”. For health reasons I decided to lose a bit of weight. eat better and exercise more, and through just being a little more aware of what I eat, I’ve lost 12kg, and thought it was time for a no-holds-barred cheat day, in the form of a 24 hour food crawl.

Yes, 24 whole hours of unrestricted eating. Anything I want, when I want it, and as much of it as I want.

So here’s what I chose to do with my 24 hours. 10 eateries and countless mouthfuls later, I’m finally full and barely recovered from the resulting food coma.

Cheat day. captain’s log:

4:00am

The alarm on my phone goes off. It’s dark and cool outside, and I can’t explain just how tempting it is to snuggle right back into the blankets. BUT THERE’S NO TIME FOR SLEEP, IT’S TIME TO EAT!

4:10am

I’m straightening my hair at 4 in the frickin’ morning. How do other women do this all day every day?

5:15am

I’m starting to think that only reason why I should be up this early on a Saturday is if I was going to bake the damned bread for breakfast myself.

5:30 am – Cheese Platter for Breakfast!

A photo posted by Tammi Kwok (@insatiablemunch) on Feb 27, 2015 at 11:05am PST

Breakfast is finally on the table, and I can’t even hold my hands still enough to take a proper photo because I’M SO EXCITED TO BE EATING CHEESE!!! There is Tallegio, a light delicate washed rind, Fromager D’affinois, a double cream french cheese, and a creamy blue. Fruit, because I need a palate cleanser, and Brasserie Bread’s Caramelised Garlic Bread.

I haven’t had soft cheese in so long that I forgot that this is the true definition of heaven on earth.

And that bread. OH THAT BREAD. Brasserie Bread has really outdone themselves on this caramelised garlic bread. “Garlic…caramelised in a sugar syrup…balsamic…Italian style loaf”.

I stop reading because this is all I need to know.

7:00am

We are on the train on the way to Newtown for a bacon-filled breakfast at Cuckoo Callay. The Boy asks me yet again why he’s up this early on his day off. I tell him it’s because we must eat, and he gives me a glassy blank stare. It’s going to be a fun day.

7:13am

Okay. So maybe I should’ve called ahead. They open at 8, not 7. Dammit.

8:00am

We have ordered. Selfie while waiting for our food!

A photo posted by Tammi Kwok (@insatiablemunch) on Feb 27, 2015 at 12:53pm PST

8:30am – Cuckoo Callay

Ya Bacon Me Crazy, $20

We order the Ya Bacon Me Crazy, $20. It’s basically bacon and waffles, topped with maple syrup, bacon ice cream, and chocolate dipped bacon. And because I love milkshakes and Bloody Marys, we get the Bloody Bacon Mary and Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake, too. It’s a fantastically sweet way to start the day, and believe it or not, I could have done with MORE BACON. The Bacon Bloody Mary was nicely balanced, but the cold drink with the hot bacon means that there was just at teeny tiny layer of bacon fat on top of my drink. Not entirely a bad thing, but bacon is best when it’s hot I think.

Cuckoo Callay
324b Newtown Train Station
Newtown, NSW 2042
Phone: 02 9557 7006
Website: http://www.cuckoo-callay.com.au/

9:05am

We have been baconed. A good showing from Cuckoo Callay, and the Bloody Bacon Mary was my favourite.

Now, on to doughnuts! And that food coma.

9:55am – Glazed Doughnuts

Red Velvet Doughnut, from Glazed Doughnuts

DOUGHNUTS. GLORIOUS DONUTS. Picked up some amazingly delicious ones from Glazed Doughnuts at the Bondi Markets. I feel a bit like a piggy surrounded by all these fit people. But the call of amazing sweet treats is too loud to resist. My absolute favourite doughnut of the bunch was the Watermelon and Pistachio, followed closely by the Apple Pie. The glaze on the Watermelon and Pistachio doughnut is made with real watermelon juice, resulting in a sweet, floral fragrance, and a soft, pillowy doughnut that isn’t too cloyingly sweet. The Apple Pie is something that Glazed Doughnuts makes for the Bondi Markets only, and it’s filled with a chunky apple jam, and topped with a luxurious crumble.

I wish I didn’t have to share this with The Boy.

Glazed Doughnuts
Bondi Markets, Campbell Parade
Bondi Beach, NSW 2026
Website: http://www.glazeddoughnuts.com.au

Doughnuts for this post were provided by Glazed Doughnuts.

10.20am – Pure Pops

The sun is coming on strong, like a drunk, desperate man (or woman!) at a singles’ bar. Oooh look, popsicle!

Mmm. Icy pole. Watermelon and strawberry to be exact. Crazy sweet, but it’s fruit, so it’s good for you right? Yes. It’s good for you. The flavours are amazingly clean and straightforward, and we are soon licking sticky fingers.

I also think it’s pretty cool that Purepops seem to have taken popsicles to the next level, with options for alcoholic mini ice pops being catered for your next party. Pretty cool right?

Pure Pops
Bondi Markets, Campbell Parade
Bondi Beach, NSW 2026
Phone: 0419 699 198
Website: http://purepops.com.au/

10:45am

I’ve come to the strange realisation that I’m no longer hungry, but not actually full.

What is this? I’ve been going from food stop to food stop since 5 this morning and I’m not full? What is this sorcery?

12:00nn – Mappen

Since we were in Bondi, I took the opportunity to drop by Mappen for a comforting bowl of Ontama Bukkake Udon. *Giggles*

Thick udon noodles sit in a salty tsukedashi sauce, and the soft, jelly-like ontama egg mixes into a thick sauce that coats every strand. The crispy tempura flakes add a lovely crunch, and a light squeeze of garlic chilli gives me the kick to keep going.

At this point, The Boy looks at me like I’m crazy. He doesn’t understand how I’m still eating.

Mappen
183 Oxford St
Bondi Junction, NSW 2022
Phone: 02 9388 0609
Website: http://mappen.com.au/

1:30pm – Chatime

Time for a Chatime, because since I’ve started watching my food intake, bubble tea has been downgraded from a ‘sometimes food’ to a ‘rare treat’.

I get the my usual order: a Roasted Milk Tea with Grass Jelly, no ice. I go for no sugar this time, because I feel a bit sugared out. WRONG. Should’ve gotten it with some sugar instead of no sugar, because all that remains on my palate is a film of fat, I’m assuming from the milk. No time to dwell on it though, because it’s time to head back towards the beach, and towards hot wings.

1:50pm – The Stuffed Beaver Dining Parlour

From my previous visits, The Stuffed Beaver has served up the hottest I’ve had in Sydney, and so SO addictive. I’ve been craving this tangy, chilli hit since, and I just can’t contain my excitement at getting my fingers on these red hot wings again.

This time, they are quite a bit less spicy than I remembered, but some how more delicious! Incredibly tangy, and finger lickin’ good. No need for the accompanying ranch sauce, as amazing as it is. Next time, I’ll order it extra spicy.

Pro tip: order a side of poutine – a genius Canadian dish of chips and gravy and cheese curds – and mop up the remaining hot sauce with the chips from the bottom of the basket. Your tastebuds will thank you.

The Stuffed Beaver Dining Parlour
271 Bondi Rd
Bondi, NSW 2026
Phone: 02 9130 3002
Website: http://stuffedbeaver.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Stuffed Beaver Dining Parlour.

2:30pm – 11 hr check-in

A video posted by Tammi Kwok (@insatiablemunch) on Feb 27, 2015 at 9:18pm PST

We’ve been at it for 11 hours, and it’s been so good!! The day has been surprisingly easy and relaxed, as eating should be.

This day is shaping up to be the BEST DAY EVER!!!

3:30pm – Sushi Rio

A photo posted by Tammi Kwok (@insatiablemunch) on Feb 27, 2015 at 8:45pm PST

Cheat day or not, I will take up ANY reason to eat sushi in all its forms. Sushi Rio in Bondi was the most convenient – Umi Zushi was just out of my reach! – and they do a pretty good Salmon and Salmon Roe Donburi. Good topping to rice ratio, though I would minus points because the rice was warm. The Salmon and Flying Fish Roe Nigiri off the train was a surprise favourite, though, with a secret layer of mayonnaise underneath the flying fish roe!!

The only way to elevate the experience of Japanese mayo is to make it a surprise.

You can’t go wrong with mayo and salmon and fish roe. Just sayin’.

Sushi Rio
Shop 7, 339 Sussex St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: 02 9261 2388
Website: www.westfield.com.au/bondijunction/stores/sushi-rio/50203

4:20pm – Coffee Break

And then on to iced coffee, because after about 12 hours of eating, The Boy is resisting my efforts to stuff in more eating stops. The coffee is a good way to stay awake, I guess, and at least he submits to my request for a 12th hour selfie.

A photo posted by Tammi Kwok (@insatiablemunch) on Feb 27, 2015 at 9:53pm PST

Happy smiles!!! Dead eyes though. Dead, food coma eyes.

5:30pm – Pei Modern

Wood Fired Mussels, $25

Next stop, Pei Modern. I went there specifically to get the Holmbrae Chicken, but oh lord the Wood Fired Mussels took out the favourite of the day. Recommended by our waiter, Oscar, these mussels are not available all the time, and are on the specials menu only. Sad, because between a slight aroma of smoke and the briny sea, the bacon bits, corn, and buttery butter sauce, this is perfection in a dish. I’m absolutely loving it!!

The Burrata with Figs and Kohlrabi was also pretty good, with its soft curd interior spilling onto sweet figs and the delicate radish-like kohlrabi. I couldn’t get a full handle on the jersey milk flavour of the burrata though, it was served at the same time as the mussels, which overpowers everything else once it gets set down on the table, like a hot woman in a killer dress entering the room.

Pei Modern
In Four Seasons Hotel
199 George St Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: 02 9250 3160
Website: http://www.peimodern.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Pei Modern.

7:30pm – 15 Hour check-in

To the water for some fresh air, because we have slight eating fatigue.

A video posted by Tammi Kwok (@insatiablemunch) on Feb 28, 2015 at 12:46am PST

The Boy is fading fast, and so am I. We aren’t just battling the urge to nap because all the blood from our extremities have rushed towards our bellies, no, we are actually combatting physical tiredness. As exciting as it is to spend 24 hours doing something so hedonistic and decadent, it’s actually hard to keep going, especially without sleep, nap, or a shower. Next time, I’m packing a bag and taking a shower at the Prince Alfred Park Pool.

8:30pm – Central

Off towards Central, to Khao San, a Thai restaurant on Pitt Street that has a little street cart for takeaway snacks and sweets. I absolutely love their rice flour and salted radish dumplings. These little pops of savoury goodness are served with lettuce and fresh bird’s eye chilli on the side, and is all sorts of hot and salty and fresh all at once.

That chilli hit is just what I need to kick the fatigue and food coma!

9:00pm – Khao San, Haymarket

They’re sold out. FML.

9:30pm – House of Crabs

Lobster Fries, House of Crabs

So on to House of Crabs, for Lobster Fries! Shoestring fries, lobster gravy, cheese, bacon and corn. This takes a cheat day staple to a whole ‘nuther level. It could have done with a bit more gravy, but that thick shellfish flavours are making my tastebuds sing. YES.

House of Crabs
Upstairs at The Norfolk Hotel
Level 1, 305 Cleveland Street
Redfern, NSW 02016
Phone: 02 9699 3177
Website: http://www.houseofcrabs.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of the House of Crabs.

11:00pm – We need a walk

We are about to topple over, and we so need a walk. Conveniently so, because there public transport seems to be a convoluted mess back to Haymarket. I’m sure a walk would do us good – fresh air, blood pumping through our veins…sweat matting my hair. Summer is probably a bad day to eat till you get the sweats, but at this point, I don’t know what is real and what is delirious hallucination anymore. Either way, I’m looking forward to suckling pig at the end of the walk!!

12:00 midnight – Golden Century

HOW IS GOLDEN CENTURY SO PACKED?! We go up to the counter and ask for a table for two…It’s going to be at least 45 minutes. WHYYYY.

For the sake of suckling pig, we put our name down and give it a go. It does seem like a suicide mission, though, groups of 20 are piling into the restaurant, and they all look really hungry.

1:00am – Kanzi Fashion Cafe

We give up. Suckling Pig seems to be a distant dream now as I crave something cold and sweet to keep me awake. So we choose to go downstairs instead, abandoning our mission for crispy pork, and order a Melon Bingsoo.

Honeydew balls, vanilla ice cream, and a honeydew popsicle makes up this green mountain of sugar and ice, and it’s here that I call it a day. The freshness of the melon perks me up slightly, and the sugar from the popsicle, ice cream and evaporated milk gives me just enough energy to go home. We finish most of it, but really couldn’t be bothered digging into the honeydew half to finish it completely.

Kanzi Fashion Cafe
393-399 Sussex St
Haymarket, NSW 2000
Website: http://www.kanzi.com.au/

Special Mentions

Mister Gee’s Burger Truck

The Truffe

It can’t be a cheat day without Mister Gee’s. Ever since I found my way to the once quiet car wash that this food truck was parked on, I’ve proudly declared that these are my favourite burgers in Sydney. Due to the queues, it’s a bit hard to fit this into our hectic eating schedule, but I went early, because I just couldn’t give up any reason to have these burgers. The Cheese Boogie is still my favourite burger from Mister Gee’s, but the Truffe, with all its aroma of truffles and silky mayo, comes in a close second. Very nice.

Dirty Fries

And of course, dirty fries, because I can’t get enough of these shoestring fries covered in salsa and american cheese. The Boy and I fought over every last fry, down to the bottom of the cardboard box. Delicious.

Mister Gee Burger Truck
55a Shaftesbury Rd
Burwood, NSW 2134
Phone: 0411 092 663
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MisterGeeBurgerTruck

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Mister Gee’s Burger Truck

Pu’er

Wagyu Beef Tacos

If Pu’er wasn’t off my eating route, I would’ve dropped by for these Wagyu Beef Tacos. Full of intense beefy flavour and tender from the crazy marbling streaking through the meat, these savoury buns are heaven with every bite. I’m still thinking about them since the last time I went there – I think it’s time to arrange a special trip!

Pu’er
20a Danks St
Waterloo, NSW 2017
Phone: 02 8399 1331
Website: http://www.puer.com.au/

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Pu’er.

Pull My Noodle: Ichiban Boshi, Sydney

Review March 6, 2015

Very Hot Ramen, from Ichiban Boshi Sydney

Having grown up in Singapore, Ichiban Boshi to me was always associated with sushi, bentos, donburi, and other family-friendly Japanese fare, but not exactly ramen. Fast forward 10 years, and a meeting with University friends reveal that Ichiban Boshi in Sydney, to my initial confusion, is all about the Ramen.

Ramen is a food nerd’s wet dream. There are so many elements to it – broth, egg, meat, noodle, toppings – that it can go gloriously right, or disastrously wrong. And with ramen joints popping up in what seems like once every other week in Sydney, any restaurant offering up this unique mix of springy egg noodles, viscous broth, fatty meat and all the comfort of a mother’s embrace on a cold winter’s morning had better be on top of their noodle soup game, or risk getting edged out in the competition.

So I was particularly intrigued when I was invited to sample the menu at Ichiban Boshi at The Galleries Victoria – do the crazy peak hour queues signal another hardhitter in the Sydney ramen scene, overlooked because it is situated in the bright white lights of a popular shopping centre?

Okonomiyaki, $8

But first, the entrées. Okonomiyaki, $8, is one of my favourite Japanese street snacks – I guess I identify with the Japanese students for whom this savoury cabbage-and-seafood pancake is an exam time staple. Sometimes served with on a sizzling hotplate, this small compact pancake is almost always smothered with a sweet, tangy Japanese barbecue sauce, lashings of Japanese Mayo and handfuls of dried bonito flakes, pickled ginger, and green scallions.

The okonomiyaki here is certainly small and sauce-smothered, and also topped with an extra thin egg omelette. It’s firm and thick, though it’s hard to judge flavour or textures otherwise because my tastebuds were so entertained by rivers of sauce. It could be a clever ploy to hide an otherwise average pancake, or maybe they’re just really generous with the sauce.

And I do like sauce.

Tempura Salmon Roll, $9.50

And then there’s the much more interesting Tempura Salmon Roll, $9.50.

A thick salmon and cucumber roll is covered in tempura batter and deep fried, before being doused in chilli Mayo and topped with scallions.

I was quite curious if the rice would insulate the salmon enough to create the elusive hot/cold mix and leave the salmon raw, but it was, if lightly, cooked through. The tempura provided a pleasant crunch, and the chilli mayo, provided richness and kick. Not bad for an experience.

I must say that I wish I could be hooked up to that Mayo via an IV. Or any Mayo. MAYOOOO.

Very Hot Ramen, $11.90

On the ramen front, we got the very imaginatively titled Very Hot Ramen, $11.90, and the Tan Tan Tsukemen, $13

Tan Tan Tskukemen, $13

The Very Hot Ramen was hot in the way a vacant, plastic-surgeried swimsuit model sort of way. There’s a lot of flash in the crimson red colour of the soup, but no actual heat or substance lying within. The noodles were too thick for the soup (or the soup too thin for the noodles?) and every mouthful for me was tepid and on the bland side.

The Tan Tan Tsukemen was heaps better, with a savoury pork mince gravy in a small bowl for you to dip your noodles into. The boiled, marinated egg was nice and tender, and although it was a touch overcooked for my taste (I like molten flowing egg yolks) it still was worth the extra order. I have a thing for cold noodles in summer, and this was a great choice for the sweltering heat outside.

Unfortunately, I can’t count Ichiban Boshi amongst the heavyweight ramen hitters in Sydney, but they do provide a little something for everyone, and varied menu options in the middle of the city. Makes me wonder what it would have been like if their menu hadn’t been changed.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Ichiban Boshi.

Ichi-ban Boshi
The Galleries
Level 2 500 George St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: 02 9262 7677
Website: http://www.ichibanboshi.com.au/

Brisket for Breakfast! Fusion Cafe, Eastwood

Review March 4, 2015

Beef Brisket Hot Pot from Fusion Cafe in Eastwood

I have a confession to make: I, am a breakfast skipper. I just can’t help it! I’m so spoilt by all the amazing savoury options in Singapore whilst growing up that I just can’t bring myself to have a sandwich or cereal in the morning, every morning.

Just, no.

And while I’m inclined to reheat last night’s leftovers – with added chilli! – for my morning meal, it’s nice once in a while to go out for brunch with The Boy. Like a Date Morning.

Fusion Braised Beef Hot Pot, $8.50

And this time it paid off. At Fusion Cafe in Eastwood, I found what was enticingly labelled “Breakfast Hot Pot”. And hot pot, at any time of the day, is a good thing. The Braised Beef Hot Pot, $8.50, consists of tender, fall-apart beef brisket and silky rice noodle rolls covered in a thick gravy. It was the epitome of comfort, and was served at the table all steaming and bubbling. The glutton in me wanted to order a side of rice, because…well, rice goes with everything.

Bonus points, too, because the price of the meal includes a tea or coffee, meaning I could start the day with a Hong Kong Bubble Milk Tea! Mmmm…Strong, condensed milk goodness. A great way to start the day.

Traditional Breakfast, $11.50

But, if you’re after the more traditional options, they also do a full bacon-eggs-hash plate as well. The Traditional Breakfast, $11.50, was enough for 2 light eaters, or one incredibly starving one. Similar to the hotpot, it also comes with a choice of tea or coffee, which I thought made for a good deal for the price. The service though, was a bit patchy, as many restaurants in this area are inclined to be. We were sitting outside because it was a beautiful day, and even though we had been brought menus and water upon seating, they seemed to completely forget about us when it came time to order. When we went inside to see if we could get some help, they responded with surprise that we were seated at all. Other than that once incident though, they were cordial, and they did try and be extra friendly to make up for it.

But if you don’t mind the slight lack in communication, it’s a nice little place to sit and while away the morning, and watch the taichi-practising people in the square.

This meal was independently paid for.

Fusion Cafe
127 Rowe St
Eastwood, NSW 2122
Phone: +61 2 9874 2226
Website: http://www.fusioncafe.com.au

My Favourite Kind of Balls: Tamayaki, Haymarket

Review March 2, 2015

I remember the first time I’d ever eaten a Takoyaki. My friend and I walked through a Pasar Malam in Singapore – makeshift night markets that are held nomadically in the heartlands of the country – and she disappeared for a moment, coming back with a box of them: mayonnaise-covered balls made from a creamy batter, and filled with bacon and cheese. But I didn’t know that this was a crazy delicious Japanese street snack then.

All I heard were the words “Bacon and Cheese”.

Traditionally filled with octopus pieces – then called Takopachi instead – these balls are basically made with a base of wheat flour batter in semi-spherical cast iron pans, looking like the savoury edgy ancestors of the cake pop. Today, they are filled with such a variety of ingredients and are so omnipresent that they even have them dispensed from vending machines in Japan!

Satay Chicken Takoyaki, $6

Commonly filled with seafood like prawn and crab, Tamayaki in Dixon St (Haymarket) have spiced up the menu with super cool flavours like Satay Chicken, and Eel (Unagi).

But first, wanna know how they’re made?

First the pan gets filled with batter, and then the chosen fillings.

Then it gets expertly flipped. Most places use two thin metal skewers to flip and roll these balls into spherical perfection, but no, Tamayaki chooses to use only one, with a Luke Skywalker-wielding-a-light-saber-post-Vader type efficiency.

These balls are then carefully cooked to be crispy on the outside while still creamy on the inside, and popped into little trays, before being generously doused in mayo-based sauces. The Unagi gets mayo and barbecue, and the Satay Chicken gets a specially formulated spicy satay sauce. Very nice.

Watch out for that first bite! Cause, you know, steaming hot insides and all. The Unagi is as delicious as expected, filled with tender eel flesh and smothered in savoury sauce and dried bonito flakes that curl and wave with the heat off the balls. But the Satay Chicken was a surprise favourite. Chicken thigh pieces stand up to being cooked twice very well, and the spicy tangy satay sauce tastes of all the spices that come with authentic satay flavours, and not just a peanut-heavy mess that I see so often. Also available in beef, Tamayaki is really providing a new twist to old favourites.

And if you’re getting thirsty from all the creamy mayo, Tamayaki also has an extensive drink menu. I tried the very summery Mango Juice Ball – filled with little liquid-filled spheres of mango syrup that burst into your mouth luxuriously the way salmon roe does.

The takoyaki has really come a long way since I first sampled it as a teenager in that bustling, humid, market, and Tamayaki seeks to push the boundaries, and continue on in the Japanese mixture of innovation and traditional techniques. The balls are made fresh to order, resulting in a little bit of a wait for the order to be ready – especially if you’re in a rush. But really, I’ve never been at a tamayaki joint where there wasn’t a wait, so…

Japanese comfort street food for the win!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Tamayaki.

Tamayaki
Shop 36 1 Dixon St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: 0450 290 190
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamayaki-Australia-弹丸滋地/309957315780420

I like Coffee, I love Tea.. Pu’er, Waterloo

Review March 1, 2015

Wagyu Beef Tacos from Pu'er in Waterloo, $16

…I love the wagyu beef tacos and it loves me.

Really, though. I’m an absolute tea addict. And yes, I’m one of those people who will go to fancy tea places and spend all of my money on tea and tea paraphernalia (there are a lot!). But nothing quite beats the experience of a tea service, and unless your cupboards are filled with warmers and teapots of every kind, this is an experience that’s best left to the experts.

Premium Jasmine, $9

At Pu’er, they serve you premium teas with a full explanation of how best to enjoy them. We tried a Premium Jasmine and Osmanthus Phoenix tea. Each one comes in each own tea set. It was explained to us that a 1-2 minute steeping time is optimum, and with these teas, the third or fourth steep is the best. I loved the detail and care that went into the tea service – not once was I left wondering what to do when I reached the bottom of my cup.

The Osmanthus Phoenix presented a surprise to me – I’m not usually a fan of Osmanthus teas in general, but this finished on the palate with such tropical fruity notes that it brightened up my day like a bouquet of flowers brightens up a room. Very nice.

And if tea is not quite your thing, they also do killer cocktails.

Cocktails from left: Berry, and Coconut Dream

The Coconut Dream was an absolute standout for me. Young coconut juice is mixed with Absolut’s Wild Tea Vodka and dried apple pieces, creating a cocktail so beautiful I couldn’t even taste the acrid burn of alcohol on the palate after. And that’s pretty impressive considering that I don’t drink for that very reason.

Shanghai, $7

And now that I’m appropriately boozed up, on to the food! We begin with a selection of small bites: The Shanghai, $7, and Mushroom Pot Stickers, $7.

Mushroom Pot Stickers, $7

The Mushroom Pot Stickers were filled with a fragrant, savoury filling, and I absolutely loved how the chewy mochi-like exterior gave way to the piping hot insides. The Shanghai was not as fragile or soupy quite as I was expecting, but it’s got fantastic flavour in each bite.

Wagyu Tacos, $16

And then came the first touchdown: the Wagyu Tacos came out on a pretty dish looking like gua baos, but really, I stopped caring what they looked like the moment I realised how delicious these things were. The beef was rich and unbelievably tender, and the salty glaze just the right foil for the sweet, fluffy buns. This is the bit that made me regret that there were four of us, because I really could’ve gone for more than one.

Hong Kong Mini Burger, $15

The Hong Kong Mini Burgers were no slouch either. Sweet milk buns are decadently deep fried to create that golden exterior, giving way to a savoury hoisin sauce and panko crusted pork, the macdaddy of breading. It was all crunch and lusciousness, and it made me feel all tingly inside. It’s something that you can’t really create in a larger form: the ratios were so delicately balanced, and it’s hard to get the same kind of juiciness if you were to go for a substantially larger piece of pork. No, this was quite amazing the way it is, and every bite was thoroughly delicious.

Stir Fried Green Beans, $18

Three Cup Drunken Duck, $26

For the mains, we were recommended – and rightly so – the Stir Fried Green Beans and the Three Cup Drunken Duck. The green beans were crisp and al dente, and covered in a chilli spiced pork mince “sauce” (topping?) that left us fighting for the last spoonful on the plate. The duck was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and fell apart on the bone the moment our forks pierced the flesh. The savoury umami notes from the mushrooms made the sauce rich, and made for a very satisfying mouthful when mixed in with rice. The only critique? NEEDS MORE SAUCE.

Tea Smoked Watermelon with Kafir Panna Cotta

And of course, the sweet stuff. Pu’er is all about their teas, and it shows with the impressively dished Tea Smoked Watermelon with Kafir Panna Cotta. The cubes of watermelon sat under a cloche, surrounded by swirling smoke, while the panna cotta jiggled seductively on the side. Smooth and creamy mixed in with crisp and juicy mixed in with sweet and smoky…All watermelon should be smoked from now on.

Coconut and Lime Sorbet with Black Glutinous Rice and Coconut Water

The Coconut and Lime Sorbet with Black Glutinous Rice struck a chord with me, with its Southeast Asian influence. It reminded me strongly of pulut hitam – a warm dessert made with salted black glutinous rice and served with thick coconut cream. This version has been augmented with a coconut and lime sorbet, which created bright citrus notes that cut through the comfortingly stodgy texture of the black glutinous rice.

The food was consistently exquisite throughout the lunch, but what impressed me the most, was that the owner, Siev, is actually at the helm, cooking in his own restaurant. Born to Cambodian parents, Siev sees his mother as his inspiration, and what started out as a dream for a teahouse has become a full fledged restaurant with thoroughly deliberate food that is matched only by its detailed and knowledgeable service. And despite the comprehensive background of information that influences his food, Siev is no snob either. When asked about what he chooses to eat, he admits – with some embarrassment – that there have been harrowed moments that consuming fast food has had to be an option, but it only makes me respect him more as a person. The pressures that he faces running a restaurant and keeping a business afloat in these tough times are very real and very human, and I think that he is executing his vision deliciously.

It kinda makes me ashamed that I had not ventured down to this side of Danks St sooner. From their tiny teacups to their beautifully blue and white porcelain-topped tables, Pu’er is a gem of an experience just waiting to be discovered.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Pu’er.