Being invited to the Opening of the Nepalese Food and Cultural Festival is an exciting thing indeed, especially where are people with Ambassador titles also in attendance. This evening, Mr NQN and I are excited to be in attendance of the launch of the Nepalese Food and Cultural festival at the Grove restaurant in the Sydney Stamford Airport.
Nepalese dancers
Why at this hotel? Well apparently there are quite a few Nepalese staff members including a chef working here – in fact there are about 40,000-50,000 Nepalese in Australia. Flawed or unflawed, I usually measure how big a community is based on the number of restaurants there are and I only know of two in Sydney. This rule is promptly thrown out as I realise that it doesn’t apply here. The Nepalese community has their own newspaper and this day is the start of 2066 according to their calender.
After the speeches from the H.E Ambassador of Nepal, Mr Yogendra Dhakal and the Hon. Minster Verginia Judge MP and other dignitaries we’re led downstairs to the Grove restaurant. The Nepalese chef Sher shows us the dishes along with the spices used in traditional Nepalese cuisine. Typical spices used are cumin seed, coriander seed, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, mustard seeds and tamarind paste.
Steamed Momos with spicy sauce
He shows us the Steamed Momo’s which are Nepalese dumplings made with chicken and traditional Nepalese spices with a black sesame sauce. These are said to be the first things that visitors are served. The sauce is deceptively fiery and tingly with the tongue and lips quivering for some time afterward which I have to admit is a new sensation for me as I’ve never experienced it when eating.
Kashiko Masu or Male goat meat curry braised with onions, cumin, coriander, chillies and flavoured with Himalayan spices
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| April 18th, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella
We’ve been waiting for months to go to La Mesa in Dee Why. Philippine cuisine is one of those cuisines that you don’t often see a lot of although we’ve heard it’s absolutely delicious so when we discover that there is a restaurant within 15 minute’s drive, dishing up authentic Philippino favourites we thought that our intrepid Hooter’s pals Queen Viv and Miss America would be more than up to the visit so we venture to La Mesa one howling, rainy Saturday night.
The small room is full with customers and warm lighting and numerous paintings and artifacts adorn the walls and counters. We’re shown to our table and I’m glad we booked, to be sent outside again into the howling wind is not something I’d relish.
Calamansi juice $3
We’ve started off with drinks, Calamansi juice ($3) to be exact as I’ve only heard of the name, never tried the drink and of course the well loved young coconut juice. The citrus Calamansi juice is like a cross between pineapple and other tropical juices. It’s light and sweet and unusual.
Young Coconut juice $3.50
The young coconut juice is mildly sweet but not overpowering so, and filled with slices of young coconut, Queen Viv’s favourite which she happily scoops up.
Mixed entree $7.80
Miss America, my husband and I order the mixed entree ($7.80) to share as Queen Viv is detoxing. There is a spring roll, pork/chicken skewer, prawn cake, fried quail egg and beef tapa with a vinegary dipping sauce and a sweeter chili dipping sauce. The spring roll is fresh and crispy; the pork/chicken skewer is tender and smokily flavoured from the grill; the fried quail egg is nice if not wowing as it’s a boiled quail’s egg with a bit of batter; the beef tapa is delicious and richly flavoured. The star is the shrimp cake, made of prawns, sweet potato and pumpkin it is deliciously squeaky and tasty. Next time I’ll order 4 of these and be quite happy.
Chicken Adobo $12.90
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| April 21st, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella
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