Best Chinese meal ever - possibly !

[Kostas]

It's a beautiful morning here in Sydney just before lunch , blue skies with a slight chill in the air , up until now it's been unusually warm , El Ninio they say :) , but I kind of like the cold crispness in the air !

Park about 5 min to the east of the city centre with the skyline still clearly visible , walk through some park land for a couple of minutes until the ground becomes the roof of these apartments that were standing on top of , and down in the distance finger wharf , like a big middle finger lol to the rest on the city from a day gone by -the old wool sheds !

See back in the early 1900s wool clothed the world and Australia had a lot of Sheep to shear , and this was the best location for loading it straight for export.



We go down these stairs , and hit the board walk across the water, and wow the wool shed looks fantastic it's been redone but kept it old character .


Is that my boat at the end there ? :)




I'm starving , was doing the intermittent fasting yesterday and I'm ready to eat!

[Kostas]

Ok we are looking for "China Doll" , only the best Chinese in Sydney acording to some , but we'll see , don't think I've posted a Chinese lunch before.

There are six or seven restaurants in a row here and they all look the same , where are you China doll ? Lol

food must taste better by the water, right? ;)

How far are we from the city , looks back across , Ahhh

[Kostas]

Oh there you go they have posts with name written where they greet you , it's under control :)

And the plates kinda give it away

[Kostas]

We are greeted with a smile and I ask it it's possible to sit right at the edge so I can bathe in sunlight , that made the jacket unnecessary and more comfortable



I ask the waiter where is every body , it is just on 12 and he tells me give it 1/2 hr and you'll see :)

I settle in , have a wonder around , check out the walls in this place huh , now that's what I'm talkin about !! :yup:





With an open kitchen where you see the chefs at work !

[Kostas]

Was talking to the waiter , and just so happens the owner of the business was there , and he's Greek also haha , he introduces us to the head chef frank , and he tells me if I'm interested , he can treat us to an " off the menu" dish they make which they reserve for certain clients, I'm in!

So the story is it's not really strictly Chinese dishes , more of a fusion of Asian cuisines , I'm up for that ;)

I really don't feel like drinking today , it's still kinda early

The girls get their mocktails



Papa don't Peach (cranberry, peach, passionfruit)

[Kostas]

Let's order a few entres -

First up Corn and zucchini fritters w coriander chilli sambal

A bit like muffins inside but fluffier and lighter , the others picked those but I'm pleasantly surprised with a vegetarian dish :) , that dipping sauce is so good

[Kostas]

Our next dishes arrive and it is indeed true to traditional Chinese form. Nobody, and I repeat nobody worth their Chinese salt has not had spring rolls before



But what's hiding inside is lobster tail ;) and the flavours are from your first bite to the last!

[SemperFi]

Scrumptious looking. Thanks for making me hungry again.

[Hairdude1]

[Kostas]

Haha no problem , pace yourself Kosta there is heaps of food on way lol

I made the thread with pics of the area so you get the feel instead of just food pics , hope that's ok :)

[Kostas]

A few of these came out next -approved!

Shu Mai - Pork Prawn Scallop & Shiitake w Chilli Oil

[Kostas]

I think I'm getting to used to this type of eating .

And to think My parents came from Greece in the early 70s as immigrants and landed on this very wharf with suit cases in hand , mind blown , it must've looked a lot different then :@

Anyway last entre , quite refreshing with a bit of crunch and zing

Chicken Larb w Toasted Rice & Asian Herbs

[superdog]

Looks incredible. Wow.

[Kostas]

Talking some more with waiter about the building , apparently they have turned most of the building into multi million dollar luxury appartments , and lots of celebs live there , Russell crow has one ( that wanker !)

While we are waiting for the mains I might go for a walk and check em out :) and have a vape , I know hippie but it's helped me quit



Whoahh , those are sweet !

And you get your own boat parking ! Hopefully me one day :)


Ohh I like this one , could be sailing with some hot babes tanning up top

[swatty]

Nice write up Kostas. We had a TRF there a couple of years ago, the food is great

[Kostas]

Checking out the entrance , they've got so memorabilia about the sheds , it looks like at some point the govt wanted to sell these off to be knocked down , and protestors trying to save them , wanted $25 mill back then , wonder what it's worth today lol



Inside is a strange set up , seems like the entry to the appts is up high , they even have conveyor belt for the shopping ? Cool though

[Kostas]

Originally Posted by swatty

Nice write up Kostas. We had a TRF there a couple of years ago, the food is great

Count me in for the next gtg

[Kostas]

Come out the other side and we have :aussie: our entire navy?

[Kostas]

I get a text that the mains are here :thumbs:

I get back to our table and what do I see ?



Crispy Pork Belly with Chilli Caramel & Nam Pla Phrick
Crisp pork belly is sticky, sweet and fatty with deliciously crisp edges on each piece of pork. It’s accompanied by nam pla phrik, a Thai condiment that consists of chillies in fish sauce.

[Kostas]

View of Sydney from our table ;)

[Kostas]

Glad everyone is enjoying my little culinary adventures !

Next main they brought out was the surprise , "off the menu" dish by the owner .... And oh boy where we in for a treat !

Alaskan king crab !



It's hard to keep us quiet at the table lol, but the Alaskan king crab reduces us to a hush of concentrated nibbling. I say nibble because the best part to this dish is stuck to the shell, a wok-fried dusting of tapioca flour, black pepper, sesame, bonito, chilli and lime that is salty, sticky, spicy and sweet.

[520Matt]

Looks delicious !!

[Kostas]

Penang Curry of Slow Braised Wagyu Beef shin

We finally move on to the final main (it took awhile didn’t it!). But boy, what a main it is. Showcasing Thai at its best we have the pièce de résistance – the penang curry.



The beef – so soft and tender, yet not mushy at all. It’s almost got the consistency of pulled beef. It’s bloody fantastic. They must have slow-cooked this because I don’t see a way they could have done it otherwise. The texture is just fantastic!



As for that taste…sweet, salty, tangy, creamy. It is all and it is none. The depth of flavour here is remarkable.

But for me, this curry is a godsend. I usually don’t eat rice due to the carbs (unless it’s in sushi) but for this – I was very, very tempted to order more rice just so I could mix the curry in. Yeah, damn.

[Psmith]

Great pics, and making me homesick!

[Kostas]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Great pics, and making me homesick!

Where are you psmith ?

Pomgolia ?? Lol is that England ?

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by Kostas

Where are you psmith ?

Pomgolia ?? Lol is that England ?

Yes, banished to the Old Dart for the last 3 years (for work).
Actually it's been great being able to travel around Europe pretty easily, and London's a fun city. I do miss the Melbourne and Sydney food scenes though.

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Great pics

Food looks great too

Enjoy

[Kostas]

Hey aren't we forgetting desert !

Wife picked this one!

Has anyone tried this sago stuff before

At first glance ,I thought I might not like it, but I'm actually digging it



The pearly looking Sago Pudding with Vanilla Coconut Cream and Passionfruit Syrup has sweet and tangy flavour and a buoyant mouth feel that makes it all too easy to eat.

[Kostas]

Give this place a solid 9/10 , thoroughly enjoyed !

[seand442]

Looks delicious.