As Chinese parents who bring up children in English speaking countries are wont to do, my parents gave my sister and I Chinese names as well as English ones. My name translated from Chinese into English means “Little Pretty” (although my mother would often sniff that I had more in common with my English name Lorraine which means “warrior” according to the book she used). Not so fortunate was my sister when she asked my father what her Chinese name meant.
“It means ‘Little Homely’” he said.
My father is not usually known for his diplomacy or tact. My mother horrified at his translation scrambled to find a less offensive descriptor and translated it to mean “Little Quiet” before giving up and admitting that my grandfather named me and my grandmother named my sister and that there wasn’t really a word for her name. “I just thought it sounded nice in Chinese” she offered weakly.
And so I knew that it was with both my parents that we had to visit Fei Jei meaning ‘Fat Boy’ in Chinese. Recommended to me by a friend of mine Woolloomooloo resident Petrina formerly at Donna Hay, she was melodically swooning over the omelette said to be lighter than air. Fei Jai is the “fat child” or more accurately small compact moodily lit child of Peter Lew whose uncle owns Flower Drum in Melbourne and Nicole Holloway formerly of Hugo’s. And my Cantonese father who prefers to eat Chinese only food would no doubt have his own opinion of the food. It sits on Challis Avenue or as well call it the street of no restaurant names (aka too subtle signage) and we only find it because we know that it is at number 31.
Scallop and prawn dim sim $15
OK they’re not the cheapest little morsels at $15 for four but they are a cut above the rest. The filling for the siu mai is chock full of plump and juicy Hervey Bay scallops and prawns. And before you know it, your siu mai is gone and you don’t have another to replace it which makes one a bit sad. Between each and every course they clear and replace our plates which secretly pleases my mother who leans over and whispers “I’m very impressed by that” but Mr NQN and I feel that we don’t need such frequent plate changing picturing the towers of plates in the smallish kitchen so we ask to keep our plates.
Crab omelette $16
The star dish, the crab egg white omelette is fluffy and light and creamy with delicate pieces of blue swimmer crab, and not just tiny threads of crab, some big enough to notice that they’re there and it’s made from freshly picked crab. There’s a small bowl of black pepper to sprinkle on top of the omelette which brings it all together beautifully.
Char Siu pancakes $18
An alternative to the Peking Duck pancake the char siu slices are tasty and have a similarish flavour to the Peking Duck without the crunch of the skin. I think this would be a good idea to make pancakes at home when you don’t have access to really good crispy Peking Duck. One thing that my friend Teena always makes a point to notice is even serving sizes for the amount of people and given that there are four of us and there are seven of the pancakes and char siu, we would have liked to have been asked if we wanted it upsized for an even number. Because sometimes it can get ugly when it comes to people missing out!
Wok fried Patagonian toothfish $30
Each of the mains came with a bowl of rice at $3 a person and more was quickly offered if we ran dry. The wok fried Patagonian toothfish was coated in a light batter and deep fried in two large pieces and retained its moistness. It was served on a bed of sugar snap peas, snow peas and zucchini with a delicious soy and sesame sauce that was soaked up by the rice.
Singapore Chilli prawns $34
I always compare Singapore chilli prawns to my mother’s and when they set this down our eyes widen. It actually looks just like hers and we happily dig in. And we are in hog heaven because it does taste very much like my mum’s recipe except hers has perhaps a bit more sweetness and ginger. There are delicate wisps of egg white, the pungent spicy slightly sweet and sour sauce and perfectly textured Mooloolaba king prawns. Again there are seven pieces of prawn, an eighth would have been nice to round it out (and eight is a lucky number in Chinese culture). And our waitress, who is absolutely brilliant and possesses a combination of charm and intuitiveness spots our plate with sauce and brings us another bowl of rice which Mr NQN dunks into the sauce and eats in about 30 second flat with a sauce eating grin on his face.
Intrigued by their version of the Singapore chilli prawns my mother asks Lew who is clearing a nearby table where the name came from and he tells us that it was his nickname as a child and still retains this nickname to this day (although he is neither fat nor a boy). He tells us that he used to go into Flower Drum to eat and I suppose when your relatives own a restaurant like that, well you do tend to eat heartily!
Eggplant with blue swimmer crab $28
This was a special that night and if you do go, ring ahead to ask if this is on the menu because this was heaven in a bowl. The soft eggplant is so creamy and just melts on the tongue and the silky strands of blue swimmer crab and egg white combine to make this silky, flavoursome and it just glides across your tongue. OK I’ll stop now because I sound like those crazy Iron Chef Japan judges now 
But I was smitten by this as were the other tables around us that ordered this and bestowed upon it similar cooing and compliments.
Ma Pu tofu $24
The ma pu tofu is delectably spicy enough to let have you huffing and puffing a little but still plunging your chopsticks into the bowl provided for more. There are diced shiitake mushrooms but not a lot of pork just the occasional piece and at first I thought it was a vegetarian version. The tofu is lovely and slippery soft and full of flavour and spice. We notice that all of the plates come out one at a time but when a table sat down next to us they were asked if they wanted their mains to come out all at once. If we had this option we would have taken it.
Sago $12
Dessert time! There are two desserts on offer a banana fritter which I chose as I know my mother loves fritters (she who loves deep fried) and when we give the sago a miss Mr NQN pipes up with a “We’re not getting the sago?” and a sad face so we order that too. The sago arrives and we have a chuckle as it is probably the largest dish of the night. The sago is served cold with coconut cream and passionfruit to give it a tanginess. I like my sago a bit sweeter personally with lots of palm sugar caramel but Mr NQN hoovered this up quickly.
Banana Fritter $12
The banana fritter came as one large banana coated in a crunchy batter topping and lines of caramel toffee sauce. It was said to be served with a vanilla bean ice cream although beans were not really apparent and it was not particularly vanillaey. The banana, somewhat a premium nowadays with current prices seems more like a naughty treat for adults and I favoured the crunchy ends with the ice cream.
So tell me Dear Reader, what was or is your nickname and do you like it? Mine was boringly, “Lorry” in primary school and then “Lozza” in high school (oh how I cringe at that!).
Fei Jai aka fat boy makes an appearance again!
Fei Jai
31 Challis Avenue, Potts Point, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 8668 4424
Bookings for early or late dining only
Open Monday, Wednesday-Friday 6pm-11pm; Weekends 12pm-11pm
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60 Comments | Add your own
Eight pancakes instead of seven would have made everyone happier, plus 8 is a lucky number in Chinese! Strawberries with banana fritters – thats an interesting combination. Strawberries are out of season in Australia at the moment?
how exquisite! I need to go here next time Im up! I could eat 759 plates of the char sui pancakes and not even break a sweat.
Fei Jei-ina xx
and unfortuantely my nickname at school was taken from the classic TV masterpiece that is ‘Prisoner’ – its too rude to mention here but it started with Vinegar… destined for a life of food even by nickname standards.
T x
Lorraine!
I had a little chuckle about your mum and dad. Mine are the same.
I’ve decided that I will need to go to Fei Jai twice. Once soon (like this weekend perhaps) and once with my parents. My mum loves frequent plate changes too…
SSG xxx
Yummie! The dishes look delicious…and I would love to try the sago dessert. One of my favorite.
Hope you have a great week ahead Lorraine
Oooh, I want all of this. It looks amazing! I never had a nickname at school.
I dont think I have ever really had a nickname – aside from “Foo” (which my dad calls me lol)
It’s typical asian fare in australia and i’m glad they got it right.
You’re so brave taking your parents with you! I’m glad they enjoyed their evening! Your name translation is beautiful, and I’m sure your parents had the best intentions in mind for your sister! Food looks beautiful here – I’ve never really eaten much Chinese food, but this looks like food I’d really enjoy!
And I never really had a nickname… just Jess or J.. my friends are very creative! hehe
Fei Jai looks like it would definitely be worth the drive to Potts Point. I’d be trying everything except perhaps the eggplant dish which looks a bit ‘slippery’ to me,lol.
My nickname is Mat now but at school it was Skippy as my maiden name is Scipione. I didn’t mind it all as it made me sound Aussie haha
Delicious! Now you have me wanting sago and palm sugar syrup – I prefer mine this way too
My nicknames were Angela anaconda (from a TV show) in school and as I lived with another taller Angela at uni I was often called little Ang or small fry. Thankfully I’m mostly just called my real name now.
Lorraine, your description of the eggplant with blue swimmer crab dish has me salivating.
Most Lorraine’s I know get it shortened to Loz! I think it’s a very Aussie nickname.
I get Dilemma. Nicknames for Emma are hard to come by.
Not too sure if I’d like a Fat Boy nickname though
Wow – that looks mouthwatering, though the prices are a little steep… Not somewhere my parents would appreciate, sadly
It all looks absolutely delicious!
Yummo! My nickname, sigh, no one could think of anything, I hate being called Annie, it isn’t my name, I got A for a while, original right, the nasty kids would call me Spannah or Annarexic. Sigh. I need a nickname… Perhaps I’ll put a calling out. Great post ‘little pretty’.
When I moved to Australia I was surprised by everyone having a nickname. I’d been here about a month and my name was Mauzza or Mauz. When I became a citizen I got home to heaps of people (at my house) for an Australia Day party wearing hats that said, “Aussie Mauzza’s Mates” and of course my new hat said, “I’m Aussie Mauzza”.
I still call myself Maureen.
Two of my grandchildren are half Chinese and have Chinese names and 3 of my husband’s nephews are half Chinese and have Chinese names as well. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.
Lorraine, this food is beautifully photographed!! Looks so so good.
Hello ‘Little Pretty’!
! How right for you, but you’ll never live the admission down!! 
! This restaurant, quite seriously, must have some of the best Chinese food in Australia, if the photos are anything to go by! There was NOT one course I would not have liked to try and I have been scrolling up and down for the last five mins! But, oh those prices!!! Well, I guess with the Kings Cross property rates etc etc . . .? I did not really have a nickname until Uni (OK, my name is mispronounced to this day!) – then a Pommie boyfriend (an ‘Honourable’ and all that!!!) thought it SO humorous to call me ‘Eeyore’ (for those who don’t know – that is the name of the donkey from “Winnie the Pooh’!). Well, my friends banded around and refused to play the game! 
!
Well ‘Little Pretty’ – meet ‘Little Wombat’ – that was my nickname in youth. My parents’ house was almost in the bush as there were few houses around when they built. My brother was called Wombat and being the younger sister I became Little Wombat. I even met a school friend of my brothers the other day, and after 26 years out of school – he exclaimed “YOU’RE Little Wombat?” Some names simply stick! Just loved your experience at Fei Jai. The eggplant/crab/egg looks as delightful as do the Sui mai. What a delightful idea to do Peking Char Sui. Peking duck is always happily anticipated in our household, so this is a welcome idea. As for the Singapore Chilli Prawns, what a shame I brought a healthy salad sandwich to work for lunch – it will be a letdown after this picture. Happy eating! xxx
I love the look of the eggpant dish, and I love sago too.
I got the nickname Bugs for a while, because I always got the latest bug going around and was constantly sick with something. But that was Pre InTolerant days, and now I have never been healthier. Goodbye Bugs, hello InTolerant Chef!
What a funny story about the names and I am sure your sister is just as beautiful as you!
haha omgshhh your dad is so funny! “Little Homely”~And I love how no matter what, they all sound so wise lol
Everything here looks so good–but then when isn’t a place that you visit good?
Seems quite steep for Chinese food but nonetheless lovely. I’m craving your mother’s Singapore chilli prawn and might make that for dinner over the weekend (again, thanks for sharing the lovely recipe).
Your parents are quite funny with your names
I’ve wanted to visit Fei Jai for ages, but definitely NOT with mum, who would complain about the prices, the darkness, the size of the dishes, etc. etc! That said, the food looks mouthwateringly good. Maybe a sneak visit needs to be planned…
Wow, what an incredible looking meal, i really want to try that crab omelette.
Hehe little pretty and little homely! My Korean name means wisdom and my brother’s name means hard rock! Lol!
Yummy! I was ‘giggles’ at school, and Bronnie to just about everyone else. These days I sometimes get ‘Maid’ after Maid In Australia.
My name means little heifer apparently. Also weary. So I’m a tired little cow :p No nicknames to speak of, although I did get called Leahbug a bit – it’s a bit hard to abbreviate Leah!
Sago with passionfruit… bring it on!
I always wanted a nickname as a child, but my name doesn’t seem to naturally lend itself to one. My father was also always adamant that my name was perfectly decent, and shouldn’t be messed with it.
I live vicariously through my husband who has no many nicknames that I stole one of them when naming my blog!
I think most ABC’s are so lucky to have a “secret identity”! A Chinese name for the family (and a hidden meaning) and a Clark Kent name for everyday use, makes life so much more interesting!
Hi Lorraine – lovely post
How I wish I was back in Sydney…
Wow! $15 for four dumplings! That’s probably the priciest dim sum I’ve ever seen. I must say, though, they sure do look wonderful. When you only get one, and they’re that expensive, that’s when you really savor each and every bite.
Well, I know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow. Chinese food!
P.S. I refuse to open the basements of my subconscious and let the memories of my horrible nicknames escape again.
Great review. It’s my fave restaurant! I must do a review soon too. Glad you liked it!
Everything looks so delicious. Chinese food is so different here than it is in Australia. I think my favorite would be the Singapore Chilli Prawns. I had them in Singapore many years ago and they are still one of the best things I have ever eaten.
No nicknames as such for me, although my husband did shorten my name and it has stuck ever since.
Little Pretty sounds perfect to me! Little Fabulous Pretty, even
I think I’d be with Mr NQN on the sago – love tangy passionfruit in desserts!
So you didn’t share – what actually are yours and your sister’s Chinese names? Do you know the characters?
Hahahaha.. loving the Chinese name translations… mine is love “culture” and my sister’s is love “pretty”.. could I hazard a guess and say yours is xiao mei? Or something like that?
Hi Msihua-Bingo! That’s my name!
Dimsum’s always such a treat – no matter how pricey it gets!
As for my nickname, well I sincerely prefer it to many of the names I was called whilst growing up!
That food looks fantastic! And that banana fritter looks to die for! I would happily eat it as tonight’s dessert!
Funny enough both my girls have very “English” first names (Victoria and Georgia) while the eldest second name is Italian (Celeste) and the little one’s second name is Indian (Maya)!
Definitely bookmarking this just for the sago! I loveeee sago!
My parents never gave their children Chinese names. Well, actually my dad gave us names as a joke, but I’m not impressed.
I am drooling over that char siu pancakes, I could eat all 7 of them, easily.
That crab omlette has given me ideas…
Hi Lorraine:
If I could only go to your restaurant!
Our Oriental restaurants here in N.America tend to have too much of a NA. bend to them.
I would love the authentic.
My nickname is Charlie (kids in Kindergarten couldn’t pronounce my last name) It fits like a glove and I still get it at 54.
In fact….. I prefer it.
Hey, is that Banana Fritter plate served as a smiley face??? Lol.
My nickname was boring in school (Jas), but at work it’s Jazzyfizzle Producshizzle (they think they’re gangster), or Mon Cherie because I think I can speak French when I’m drunk.
I love the name of the restaurant!
I’ve been going to Fei Jai since it’s opened and I agree the prices are more expensive then your average Chinatown restaurant but I guess you get what you pay for. The service, the ambience, and the quality of food, more then makes up for prices you pay. I don’t know how it is for everyone else, but whenever I go down to Chinatown, the bright lights, the non-service and heavy MSG laden food, makes me realise how good Fei Jai really is, and for these reasons I’m happy to pay a premium.
I love the story of the names. The story behind the story…Nice post.
I love the name of this place haha Fei Jai that is so cute
And those chilli prawns!!!!! I want some!
Believe me, the story of your name is more interesting than mine and lucky you to be named Little Pretty. It fits! But poor sister, I kinda know how she feels. And this restaurant looks like aonother winner. And now that you’ve got me craving Chinese food: there’s not one decent restaurant in Nantes!
I have been Bod (from a kids tv show) and always Ju – a bit dull but short for Judith.
Anyhow onto more important things – went to Flower Drum last month so he mere mention of the name has me interested. This food looks awesome and is definitely calling me for a visit. Thanks for alerting me to this place
The chilli prawns and the eggplant crab dishes look sensational.
I’ve never really had any interesting nicknames. Have to laugh at Lozza – such an Aussie thing to do to a name
Been here a few times. Lovely food. Especially love the omelette. They do a great yum cha too.
My nick name at primary school was “chicken legs” and at another point “Maza” (so very bogan). Since then haven’t really had a nick name. Actually prefer it.
P.S The owners of Fei Jai have a Mexican restaurant opening up this week in the Cross.
All those dishes look fantastic and it makes me want to cook your mum’s singapore prawns again!
When I worked in the police dept, my boss tried to give me the nickname of Madame Lash for the assertive way I dished out information to the cops on the phone. But one trick amongst a male dominated work force is to never respond either positively or negatively in any way shape or form to a nickname. It never took and to this day I have never had a nickname.
I’ve had quite a few. I get CK a lot, Clairey and Claire Bear. The only one I haven’t liked so much is Clarence!
My nickname is primary school was Gulai Ikan (which means curry fish) – derived from my full name (not sure how…) And in secondary school I was Super Box..The Super Trio girls – there was Super Fis (Fiona)and Super Boonz (Boon Hui). I really cannot remember how we got these names! We still call each other that till today! HAH!
Hello Lorraine…sometimes ‘olly’ for last name (Ollenburg), but that was mostly my brother’s nickname..mine I suppose at school was ‘burger’ play on last name again. A lot of boys will call me Nooella.
Lorraine, I think your two are okay, it could have been a rhyming one of the ‘rain-e’ part…but I would never say it…
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