Not Quite Nigella

Shanghai Gourmet at the Mandarin Centre, Chatswood

Catching a movie at 6.30pm is a perilous experience for me. I fear for my stomach you see. I hate the idea of feeling hungry but not being able to do anything about it, being trapped in a cinema with a movie running. And I’m one of those people that the cinema hates for I do not indulge in the Candy bar often (unless its a swoon-worthy Dendy ice cream). So rushing to the cinema one week night we ensured that neither of us would experience hunger pangs by grabbing something quick from the Food Court. We were looking for a place called Pho Garden, apparently serving bird bath size bowls of Pho soup but alas, it looks like it has closed down. We settle for another place, recommended to us called Shanghai Gourmet. Prices are laughably small with nothing over $7 with most larger items hovering around the $6.60 range. We choose the pork and vegetable won ton soup ($5), the chicken steak and noodles ($6.60) and the mini pork buns ($6.60).

Noodle soup with chicken steak $6.60

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January 27th, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella

Norwegian Waffles or Pancakes

I need very little excuse to try new jams and the Faye and Jack’s Passionfruit butter was crying out for another taste. The problem with eating it with a spoon straight out of the jar, aside from hygiene, is that before you realise it, you’ve emptied the whole jar. The recipe is from a Vogue forum poster tabs whose Mother, presumably Norwegian, made these for her.

If you’re undecided by the cardamom spice, in that its usually used in curries, please don’t be. It really adds to the flavour of these and will not remind you a jot of a curry. The best part for me about these is the little lumps of sour cream that explode in your mouth when you bite into them. If you do use light sour cream instead of the sumptuous full fat version, be aware that those delicious little lumps of sour cream disappear completely.

My husband adores these and since I have a hate hate relationship with my waffle plate which has relegated it to the “never use unless its end of the world” pile, I make these as small pancakes to an equally satisfying round of compliments.

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January 26th, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella

Jipang Japanese Noodle House at Manly

Housed in one of Manly Corso’s little arcades, this little Japanese noodle house does a steady trade of well fed Northern Beachers. When we lived in Manly, we used to walk past this eatery, always curious but never quite getting the chance to eat there instead partaking of Manly’s many other restaurants. Not tonight though, we’re here, we’re hungry and we’re ready to eat Ramen!

There are two waitresses hurrying and flurrying about tonight so we seat ourselves in the arcade section and peruse the menus laid out on the table. I immediately gravitate towards the Mabou tofu ramen ($11.50), remembering, very fondly, the delicious mapo tofu from Iron Chef Chen Kenichi. Of course I know it won’t be anywhere near as good as his but a girl can reminisce can’t she? We take the easy route here and order the Bento box ($16) which consists of your choice of two of the following: Tonkatsu (deep fried pork), Shoga-yaki (sliced pork ginger sauce), Ebi-fry (deep fried prawn), Yakiniku (pan fried sliced beef), Teriyaki chicken or Fish or Karaage (deep fried chicken); with salad, rice, miso soup and gyoza. I select the pork with ginger and the chicken karaage. We opt to try their takoyaki ($6.50) and their Jipang Epi prawn roll ($4).

Takoyaki Octopus balls ($6.50)

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January 25th, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella

Brandy Honey Apples with Gorgonzola and Pecans

I’m sure Nigella would forgive me for changing her recipe. I’m 200% sure that she is a recipe fiddler (and who isn’t really when you’ve run out of ingredients?) and fiddling is good for you unless you are say…. an accountant fiddling with the numbers.

I did three substitutions: 1. I replaced the pears with a Granny Smith apple as there were no Beurre Bosc pears to be had and 2. I substituted the Marsala for Brandy and 3. I substituted the walnuts for pecans as I like pecans better and had run out of walnuts. And let me say that the smell of this cooking is wonderful, truly.

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January 24th, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella

Wharfys at Mosman (a reprise)

There’s something in me, as a food blogger, that means that I can’t often go to twice to a place to eat. I guess I’m on the hunt and searching for the next blog post and next experience. However, when my sister was in Sydney from London recently I knew that she just needed to try the breakfast here at Wharfys and since it is near where I live, she could combine it with a visit.

She’s not a great fan of eggs however, having a morbid fear of raw eggs (I don’t like raw eggs either, the omnipresent dish Eggs Coccotte nauseates me) so I had to convince her that their poached eggs would indeed be cooked enough for her. Just to be safe I ordered the Eggs Benedict ($14.50) , she ordered the Fish and Chips $13.90 (well we were right next to the wharf), Rose ordered the Nasi Goreng ($11.90) and Ronald ordered the French Toast ($10.90). While Blythe sips her latte we amuse ourselves with the stash of trashy but fairly current magazines (always a bonus).

Nasi Goreng ($11.90)