“I think it’s time for another adventure” I said to Miss America and Queen Viv. It was only a couple of weeks ago that the lovely Maeve O’Meara suggested that we visit Misky Cravings in Sydney’s Fairfield. So in Queen Viv’s little car we battle seemingly torrential rain (which has actually kept most people indoors) and take the drive out to Fairfield.
First things first, what is Misky Cravings? Well Misky is the word for delicious so the name means delicious cravings. Set as the first shop to the right inside a shopping mall. Fortuitously we get a park outside and jump from the car to the kerb while dodging fat droplets. We learn that Carmita runs the restaurant with Julio her husband who is the chef. They opened it in 2011 and they serve authentic Peruvian food. And to prove the latter point the restaurant starts to fill up with Peruvians who sit down to a glass of Pisco Sour and plates of food.
The menu is not for the undecided and by the undecided we mean us. I don’t know if ordering things based on novelty value of the name is necessarily a good strategy so apart from requesting “Leche de Tigre” in a Zoolander voice, we ask for Carmita’s help in choosing. She chooses two entrees and three mains for the three of us which we learn is just the right amount of food as portions are very generous here. And with Peruvian cuisine, three things stand out: the variety of corn, the aji yellow chilli and ceviche.
Jug Chica morada $8
Chicha morada is an interesting drink made up of purple corn and fruit with cinnamon, cloves and lemon to produce a sweet, delicious drink whose cousin would perhaps be a spiced grape juice.
Incakola $4
Tasting and looking nothing like Coke, but nevertheless made by the Coca Cola company, the Inca kola is a bubblegum flavoured soft drink. The first thing that flashes into my mind is the flavour of the blue slushee at the 7/11.
Vuelve a la Vida (back to life) A very spicy ceviche cocktail with calamaris, octopus, prawns and mussels marinated in lemon, coriander, garlic and lots of chilli $12
We’re all fans of this ceviche served in a tall balloon glass with pieces of octopus, prawn and mussels with lashings of lemon, coriander, garlic and chilli and two fried rings of calamari on top. It’s fresh and tangy and the seafood has an excellent, tender texture to it.
Leche de tigre An aphrodisiac hang over cure; spiced up blended ceviche $ 10.00
OK I admit I was curious about this because not only was it called leche de tigre (tiger milk) but also it was said to be an aphrodisiac and hang over cure! It’s a blended up ceviche (“fish milkshake” as Queen Viv calls it) and sure enough it was a cold, tangy soup with chunky pieces of ceviche fish and seafood and large yellow toasted corn on top to give it crunch. It’s probably more at home in a really hot environment rather than a cold, rainy Autumn evening.
Causita frita de atún Fried mash potato seasoned with peruvian spices and filled with tuna topped with a tangy seafood and mayonnaise $10
Chef Alejandro Saravia of Morena explained causa to me a couple of years back and it’s an important dish for the Peruvian people. When Peru was fighting for independence, the troops subsisted on potatoes for food and mixed them with whatever they could find like tuna and other items. It was then called causa or causita which meant “cause” as they were fighting for the cause. This one comes as three balls of Peruvian seasoned fried mash potatoes with the centre filled with cooked tuna. This is finished off with a creamy seafood, mayonnaise and black olive sauce and green onions. It has a nice soft texture and a good balance of flavours.
Lomo saltado:“Our signature dish” strips of beef with onions, tomatoes and traditional spices flambé on high flames and served with fry chips and rice $15
The mains come out quickly before we have finished our entrees and the first to arrive is the lomo saltado which is made up of strips of seasoned beef flavoured with onions, long tomato segments and Peruvian spices on top of a bed of home made potato fries and white rice. There is a good balance of flavours and the beef is tender and the soft, squishy potato fries underneath are good too.
Seco con frijole Classic stew from the north of Peru, chunks tender beef prepared in a full flavoured of coriander sauce. Served with rice, beans and cassava $15
If we liked the main above, we liked this even better. There are large chunks of superbly tender beef topped with a verdant coriander sauce. Around this is a stew with beans, ham and cassava and a bed of rice and thinly sliced lightly pickled red onions. The flavour was bold and salty and and perfect for a cold night in (or a cold night in the Andes, Mr NQN supposes).
Saltado de Mariscos Sudado de Pescado con Mariscos (Filete de Pescado) Fresh, sauteed shellfish, onions parsley, tomatoes and fries prepared in the traditional Peruvian style flambé (high flames). Served with white rice $22
There was a range of seafood including prawns, white fish, baby octopus and squid rings, were all tender and perfectly cooked with not a chewy mouthful. It was cooked in a onion, parsley and tomato sauce but this was perhaps best eaten before the seco con frijole above which was so strong that it made the taste pale in comparison.
Pisco Sour $8
Pisco Sours are one of my favourite drinks-they’re refreshingly tart without being bitter like a lot of spirits. And when Queen Viv spots another table having one she is intrigued and we order one. Pisco is a brandy distilled from grapes and the Pisco Sour cocktail is a simple but delicious mix of Pisco, lemon or lime juice, sugar and foamy egg whites on top. This one has a shake of cinnamon on top which gives this another dimension of aroma and another one is quickly ordered. Alas they have run out as their local Pisco supplier is closed but I make a mental note to buy some pisco to mix some up at home.
Picarones light and crispy doughnuts $ 6.00
There were two desserts that evening and they were both ones that we liked the sound of so we ended up ordering both of them despite the fact that we were quite pleasantly full at this stage. But when picarones are offered then you end up making room because they’re donuts made with sweet potato and pumpkin and drizzled over with a fig leaf syrup. The fig leaf syrup is very interesting and has a distinctly fruity flavour to it which is more interesting than a straight syrup. We would have liked this more if the syrup was reduced further and sweeter.
Crema Volteada Crème Caramel $6.00
The creme caramel was quite firm but had the flavour of evaporated milk through it which gave it a comforting aspect to it. Hearing that the rain has stopped, we pay the bill, less than $30 a person and make a break for it while the rain abates!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you abandon dining out plans when the weather is bad?
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45 Comments | Add your own
Dear Lorraine,
The food looks pretty good especially the lomo saltado and this might just be enough for me to track that distance to Fairfield.
I’m not sure I could do the fish Milkshake Leche De Tigre. Although I felt a little better about it described as a soup. Not usually squeamish – must be an off day. The weather has been awful here for weeks. Everyone is staying home because they don’t want to go out in the rain. When the weather changes they will stay home to BBQ. Who’d be a restaurant owner? GG
Seems like a visit to Fairfield is due thanks to those donuts
Thank you for another wonderful review!
And we do tend to quit because of rain unless the occasion is really special
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I’m a local and I’ve never even heard of this place. Wow, look at those donuts. I would mistake them for deep fried calamari rings if you didn’t tell us what they were. Both of which I love anyways! hehe
I think I could pass on the “fish milkshake” but the rest of the dishes look wonderful. Good recommendation by Maeve.
I’d love to explore south American food further, there is such a huge range and variety out there., but the ‘milkshake’ might need some working up to!
I like how you usually have more options for eating out on a night with bad weather, as most people are too sensible to venture out
I sit and read your blogs of all these places and I wish I lived in Sydney. This looks absolutely divine….Although I am a competing bodybuilder ( figure) I have my cheat days witth my food and I couldn’t think of a more worthy place to eat and take in all the flavours that my “clean diet” so sadly lacks. Thank you for making my days with your adventures.
Cheryl
I think I’ll skip the hangover cure but the rest looks good. I think about skipping dinner plans in bad weather, but the library monitor in me drives me to fulfil my duty.
If it is raining but parking is nearby, I don’t mind going out for a meal. The restaurant sounds interesting…I like Peruvian food.
Hi L – I may have missed it, but whats the address? looks great! love a different cuisine
I wish I wasn’t up in Queensland! This place sounds great and the food is very new to me. The Vuelve a la Vida is so pretty, but I don’t think I would have the courage to drink the fish milkshake Leche de tigre
OOO really interesting place
I’ve never had Peruvian food before hehe ~ I know Mr Bao would LOVE to try that BUBBLE GUM tasting coke hehe ~
And answering your question hehe i pressed ‘post comment’ before i knew it
I hardly cancel dinner plans because of the weather, but then if it’s pouring rain and if hahhaa i wasn’t really keen on the people i was going out with :p i might hahaha
Wow so close to home yet never noticed it. Must try it, your blogs have opened me up to alot of new local places. Thank you
Oh yum! Might have to bookmark that one for my next trip back to Australia later in the year.
Yes I have been known to abandon going out plans if the weather is atrocious. Warm slippers, a hot cup of tea and a good book win hands down.
The picture of the creme caramel puts me in the mood to make caramel cheesecake.
That Saltado de Mariscos Sudado de Pescado con Mariscos is a mouthful to say AND makes my mouth water!
I was given a bottle of Pisco by Carl’s brother when he came home from cycling around South America. He then set-to in my kitchen bashing up limes etc to make this drink. I have to say, I didn’t like it. And they are potent – or perhaps to shut me up he made mine a triple! xx
The food looks so good; love the ceviche in the wine glass and the beef “signature dish” looks like value for money, and tasty!
What a great way to spend a rainy day. The food looks interesting, if a tad heavy,but the drinks look really tempting. I love it that you went out in the rain to explore something new.
I think bad weather calls for comforting food–or an adventure. Both work for me!
It’s pretty hard to convince me to abandon dining plans unless there is a suitable substitute at home
I visited Peru four years ago and all the deliciousness is flooding back – I LOVE lomo saltado. I’m wishing I was in Sydney not Melbourne so I could try this place out…
Mmmm Maeve O’Meara , now there is a dish.
Those first couple dishes look right at home in a sunny day at Los Angeles. So refreshing looking!
Lomo Saltado! Peruvian food is becoming so popular here in L.A.
Nigella says that South American food is the next big thing so you might be onto something with this place. I wish Maeve O’Meara was my friend!
I often will abandon my plans if it’s raining. Sometimes being at home is more comforting!
Yay for adventures in the rain
what an interesting meal!
Well I know where Peru is
! Have not been there nor experienced its cuisine. So, this makes the post most interesting for me – for once I have to admit being out of my depth and shall file this faithfully and peruse it the same way. Thank you for the learning experience 
! [0ops, a liar I am - pisco sours are not quite a stranger!!].
Oooh, the chicha morada and the spicy ceviche sound so good! As for weather vs. dining plans… depends on whether I can get there easily by car or not
Very interesting indeed, but fish milkshake?
If we have a reservation we go rain, hail or shine.
ahh fairfield’s so far from me! its such a trekk, but this is on my list along with la tratt now
nup. Can’t get past the first two dishes.
nup. Not gunna happen. They look like something that has been fished out of the bottom of the dishwasher.
I so love to stay in when the weather turns bad! it’s too cozy! that leche de tigre looks….interesting
Heidi xo
I wonder when Peruvian food will take off over here in the West? I can’t say I’m aware of ANY restaurants opened up yet?
I just had some Peruvian too! A lot of deep fried goodies. Yummy!!! Beef stew looks really delicious! Would love to try it!! hehe.. And no, bad weather doesn’t change a thing for me. I never take a RAIN check on my dining plans! It rains 75% of the time here anyway. lol
Seeing how restaurants specializing in Peruvian food are virtually non-existent in my neck of the woods, I seriously envy you! The seafood and the creme caramel all look totally swoon-worthy!
A friend of mine has been wanting to go here, sounds like its worth a visit, especially in the cooler months those mains would be good!
Wow, great value for all that food! The doughnuts look great
Those donuts look irresistible! Another great review, Lorraine. Thanks for sharing.
For a second there I thought you were in Melbourne (we have a Fairfield here as well). Apparently Peruvian cuisine is wildly popular in London at the moment so I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes super popular here in Oz as well. Not sure about the “fish milkshake” though!
I spent a year in South America after school and can still taste the Inca Cola now – very weird but weirdly addictive! Looks like you had a great meal, although I’m not sure I could have coped with that shake
I often order items off the menu in Italy to improve my vocabulary! I don’t like being rushed between courses, even if the food is good
Never have had Peruvian food, Lorraine so this was an interesting post. The ceviche looks divine, but I don’t know how I’d feel about it in a milkshake, hangover or not.
Everyone in South American seems to love flans…this one looks wonderful, but the picarones look better!
The drinks look so interesting esp the spiced grape like drink and the doughuts and causista sound like they would be superb on a rainy night. Also I am unsure if I could
Random. This is the second time I’ve heard about this place in the last three days! When we were in Peru I took a few cooking classes and I was afraid that I’d have to rely on my new skills whenever I wanted Peruvian food. However, this place looks like a MUCH better option! Viva la Pisco Sour!
There used to be an El Salvadorian restaurant located here, it was a fantastic place, they served traditional Salvadorian food that is impossible to find in Sydney now that it has gone. Pupusas with homemade curtido, corn tamales with pork and the delicious horchata drink. Sadly this place has now closed. But the good news is that Misky Cravings is now in it’s place.
I went to Misky Cravings a month or two ago. Saying that this place is located in a shopping mall is a bit of a stretch. It used to be a small shopping mall but today it is largely empty with a very depressing and desolate feel. The restaurant itself though is airy and welcoming. Carmita and Julio are a lovely and very hospitable couple. If you are learning to speak Spanish this is a good place to practice as both of them are happy to chat to you if they are not too busy.
The food is very good, the only things they didn’t have on the menu that I remember from Peru were empanadas, alpaca and guinea pigs! But they have a great variety of other things and it is all good. I was so happy to have Inca Kola again which is a very popular soft drink in Peru. It is really sad that there is a dearth of good Latin American restaurants in Sydney. Most of the so called ‘Mexican’ places are overpriced and mediocre, you can’t find El Salvadorian food anymore, and despite an increasing number of Colombian students/expatriates in Sydney it is still very hard to find good fritanga and sancocho.
So Misky Cravings is an oasis in a desert when it comes to Latin American cuisine. However there are two great places that I have found, one is in Melbourne:
Cruzao Arepa Bar is a Venezuelan arepa place, it is small and gets very busy, Friday and Saturday nights it is packed with Venezuelans and Colombians enjoying the food and atmosphere. Great for arepa with mixed fillings and tequenos. It is at 365 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Such a pity there is nothing like this place in Sydney but when I’m in Melbourne I often go here.
Also there is one good Mexican place in Sydney. Dos Senoritas on Victoria Rd in Gladesville is very good. The chef, Domingo, is from the cultural city of Guadalajara in Mexico. They have mole poblano in addition to real tacos, burritos etc. They also have traditional Mexican drinks, aguas frescas, such as jamaica and horchata. I would suggest you give these places a try. Cheers.
Wow, great post NQN & Hernandez. I live in Fairfield and didn’t know about Misky Cravings. I can’t wait to go and try it with my family on the weekend. Peruvian food looks very nice. The serving cutlery and glass is pretty fancy for a shopping mall eatery, love it
Thanks for sharing your experience
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