“Crocodile what-what?” Tuulikki asks when I tell her the odd name of the restaurant we plan to eat at. It takes her a few goes to get the name right and even then, I’m certain she’s not convinced. But from the number of seated patrons enjoying meals, we aren’t the only ones to have noticed this oddly crocodiled theme Thai restaurant on a strip of town bursting with eateries. The decor is full of dark brown wooden tables, square stools, large sprays of tiger lilies, delicate spun straw orbed lights and …crocodiles. Everywhere. And in every incarnation you could possibly think of. Even our waitress takes our order using a Crocodile pen. We don’t know what crocodiles have to do with Thailand but they have an awful lot to do with this place.
A quick glance of the menu shows that prices are rather low, from $8.50-$12.00 for the most part. There are 8 different varieties of Som Tum (Green Papaya salad) which I adore so I know I shall have to choose one of these. Apparently the difference in each is the topping which ranges from tiny mud crabs (which I’ve ordered) to grilled scampi, soft shell crab and deep fried salmon. I had also read that the BBQ pork with rice although dull sounding, was good. And of course the crocodile chef on the menu just beckons you to order the Noodles Senior style where you choose the type of noodle (hokkien, egg, rice) then choose the sauce (thai basil, chili, chinese, malay or cashew nut) and then choose the topping (tofu, veges, chicken, beef, pork, roast duck, prawn or seafood). We choose the thin rice noodles with malay peanut sauce with tofu.
Looking around at the signs, there are specials that are written in Thai only so there must be a fair amount of Thai patronage. And should you want to call friends in Bangkok, they have two clocks, one set on Sydney time and one set on Bangkok time. The music is pumping and loud, especially towards the middle and back of the restaurant and the plasma screens show Thai singers singing various pop and disco songs like “I Will Survive”.
Som Tum Pu (with small mud crabs) $8
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November 27th, 2007 by Not Quite Nigella
I’ve always loved these custard tarts ever since they were huuuge years back and I suppose still are. I came across a recipe by Bill Granger via a friend and it seems pretty true to actual Portuguese custard tarts which pleases me no end. These are my finicky fat phobic Father’s steadfast favourite. In fact, I give him a dozen for his birthday, Father’s Day and Christmas and he absolutely refuses to share them with my mother so I should probably make some extra for her.
I halve the pastry amount that Bill puts in his recipe in an effort to make them more healthy. This may sound delusional but I’ve calculated that if you make it with skim milk or a half skim/half full fat milk it still tastes absolutely delicious and they’re about 120 cals each which is something of a miracle. In fact I’ve never made these with cream as the recipe says which I’m sure is heavenly but milk is great as the egg count thickens it considerably.
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November 26th, 2007 by Not Quite Nigella
A previous unblogged, unphotographed visit to Samurai several months ago left us so impressed and hungering for more that we needed a return visit. So one Saturday night we went with some restaurant loving friends Gina, Hot-dog, Teena and PeterParker. Arriving at 7pm we’re given a little pre dinner snack of simmered daikon radish and carrot. Its tasty and still a little crunchy.
We look around and admire the Japanese parasols and kimono adorning this small, neat space (there’s also an outdoor area in the back). On our previous visit, as there was such a large table of us, we just gave them a cost per head of $30 and let them bring out what they wanted. Tonight, we’re venturing into their a la carte menu picking off some of our favourites from the previous visit. Hot-Dog and my husband prefer not to share and order their own, whilst the rest of us do the caring and sharing thing (well ok just the sharing thing).
We order Okonomyaki (their specialty and something I adored last time) in both vegetarian and seafood versions, Salmon Tataki (also a firm favourite), Kakuni (beef on spinach), assorted sushi rolls, Korokke and spying the two blackboard dessert specials, Wasabi ice cream and Sake pear with green tea ice cream and red beans. Hot-Dog orders Beef wrapped in asparagus and salmon sashimi and my husband orders a prawn roll and seafood ramen and they both order a California roll to share.
Seafood Okonomiyaki $11.50
Vegetarian Okonomiyaki $8
A short time later our dishes start to arrive. Our Okonomiyaki is first and its a round mayo and tangy Okonomiyaki sauce lattice patterned delight. Cutting it into quarters I try the vegetarian one first. The texture is soft and crispy with hidden vegetables and the taste tangy and creamy all at once. The seafood one has the added taste dimension of prawns and octopus and out of the two, I prefer this one although the vegetarian one is by no means one to be sneered at. I can see why they are so well known for this.
Korokke – $7 for 5 pieces
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November 25th, 2007 by Not Quite Nigella
Every time I go for Yum Cha, I always order the steamed dumplings and let the trolley lady with the deep fried goodies pass on by while scouting the room for the steamed dumpling trolley lady. Unless of course the fried dumpling lady has prawn toast. I don’t mean the thin, long ones that look like flattened spring rolls, I mean the little squares of golden deep fried toast with a mound of tasty minced prawn on top.
The recipe below calls for a strong ginger flavour than what you may find at a restaurant so if you don’t like it you can always reduce the amount although I found these perfect the way they were. You could also add sesame seeds on top before frying as well to give it that more traditional sesame prawn toast taste. I wouldn’t say that these are incredibly easy, especially as I didn’t make these, but the chef who did (my mother) says that they are very easy. The reason why I don’t make these myself is a morbid fear of deep frying and oil splatter. I am more than happy to eat the products of deep frying, just don’t put me in front of one and ask me to jiggle the handle.
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November 24th, 2007 by Not Quite Nigella
For the staunch carnivore, the Green Gourmet must be a bit of a joke. A Chinese vegan place you say that doesn’t use garlic and onion and still claims to be tasty? Pfffft! Nonsense, I hear you say! But the proof, as they say, is in the tasting. Green Gourmet was opened by the former owner of Gourmet Inn when he became a vegetarian and uses mostly gluten products and tofu to replicate the meat texture and taste.
We arrive at Green Gourmet on a Wednesday evening at about 6.45pm. There are actually about 6-7 tables full already mid-meal and some waiting for people to arrive. We let them know that we have to leave in about 45 minutes for a movie and the waitress lets us know that it won’t be a problem. We decide to do our own vegan yum cha at night and choose a selection of their dumplings but as my husband, as always, is hungrier, he orders a noodle dish and as Tuulikki is getting over a cold so she orders soup along with her dumplings. The decor is full of bamboo coloured wood and green and there are healthy food charts on the wall and we feel like we’re almost back at school learning the food pyramid. Scarcely 5-10 minutes later our dishes arrive in quick succession, piping hot and fresh.
Satay soy skewers 4 for $5.60
First up is the Satay Soy skewers. In a eerily accurate imitation of satay chicken, they’re on needle thin skewers with a gorgeously rich and spicy satay sauce. A definitely contender for chicken I’d say. I want to order more.
Eggplant parcels 3 for $4.50 and Better than Oyster Fritters 4 for $5.20
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November 23rd, 2007 by Not Quite Nigella
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