Where the West Things Are

Showing posts with label ethnic food. Show all posts

Friday, 24 October 2014

If you’ve ever travelled around countries across the South Asian and South-East Asian region, there’s one thing you can all collectively agree on (that’s not including the number of mad dashes to the loo). It’s that in experiencing these countries there’s the opportunity to try the new and unexpected, discover something amazing, and ultimately get out of your comfort zone. And you get out of that comfort zone indeed, from seeing their indigenous culture to practicing their traditional customs. But the best, most transformative, immensely rewarding part of visiting these places, is experiencing what seems to be, the literal, non-stop eating of local cuisine.

- literally me -

The thing is that these cultural eats taste so incredibly different from anything you’ve ever tried. Your mouth is overwhelmed with these incredible flavours and sensations, it somehow makes your eyes roll back into your head? LOL. It’s the type of food that makes you stop and say to yourself, why have I never. freaking. tried this before! And in these countries, food is a serious matter. You ain’t gonna walk a street corner without having to resist a stand selling some thing deep fried, or something tasty on a stick!

omg *drools*

Growing up in South East Asia, I admit that restaurants here in Western Sydney can’t truly compare to the distinct cultural taste of these countries, but we’ve found some places that come super super close. I guess I could've closed my eyes, listened to that continuously repeated Asian playlist in the background, and imagined being served by an unpurposely abrupt female waitress … haha, kidding! But if like me, your parents decided to fly home during your final exams, leaving you behind, and you don’t have the funds for that end of semester backpacking trip across Asia, I promise if not for the corny Asian exterior of these restaurants, the dishes alone will make you feel like you’re virtually there.

Malaysian: Satay chicken skewers with roti canai from Papparich, Parramatta

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Vietnamese: Taro spring rolls from Bau Truong, Cabramatta

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Filipino: Crispy pata fried pork from Sizzling Fillo, Lidcombe

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Indian: Beef vindaloo from Vrindavan, Harris Park

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Indonesian: Deep fried marinated tempeh from Pondok, Parramatta

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Lao: Yum sab from Lao Village restaurant, Fairfield

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Cambodian: Banh kanh fish from Battabang, Cabramatta

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Burmese: Pae parata from Bagan, Strathfield

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Nepalese: Mutton biriyani from Himalayan Fusion Café, Auburn

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Thai: Salt and pepper soft shell crab from Bangkok Snap, Northmead

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Friday, 17 October 2014

Your great great ancestors are probably laughing in their graves. Night Noodle Markets? Please. If we wanted to get a dumpling in true "street style" we'd pop down to John Street on a Sunday morning. Better yet, we'd pop over to our bà ngoại's and light fry some ourselves straight out of the industrial stash stored in the freezer. None of this waiting in line / having no seat / terrible lighting for Instagram photos business. It probably wouldn't cost you half an hour of your Christmas Casual pay check at McDonalds either. "but sera ples" u cri everytiem. "All of my Instagram followers think I'm a hardcore foodie which means I HAVE to be seen at Hyde Park for some damn #goodfoodmonth hashtagging." Well, hipster friend of mine, I tip my conical Vietnamese bamboo hat to you. Your perseverance for food and commitment to the arts has inspired me to write a post in dedication to said month of good food.

Culinary Carnivale, Fairfield

Um. Hold up a second. Is that a seashell bra? Guys, it's a fucking seashell bra. It's things like this that just restore my faith in humanity. Western Sydney, you just get me. This girl is at a food festival and she's just like I know it's October and I'm in Western Sydney but I'm gonna wear a seashell bra because seashell bra. It's like all our Victoria's Secret, Little Mermaid, and food dreams all come true and at the same time. Aw yas.

Parklands Food Festival, Horsley Park

Ermigerd guise. My spidey senses are already tingling at this one. Think. Of. The. Photos. Think Of. The. Brokeh. I'm just done. I can't even right now. The white girl in me can't even deal with those circle lights in the background that are blurred and getting to me like the Gossip Girl opening sequence. And then the outdoor beach chairs. And then that tent that's all illuminating and glowing and just. My feels are going off guys. I mean while all my friends post a cliche photo of the lanterns at the Noodle Markets I'm just gonna rock up in all my Western Sydney glory with an outdoor barn that looks like it's glowing in the dark. Fml. Someone order me a pair of Hunters from the Iconic because I'm gonna check this location in as Glastonbury.

Indulge Food and Wine Festival, Penrith
Woah, woah, woah. Back up now. Is this real life? Have I just encountered a true dining experience out in the West? Once again Western Sydney proves to be just as on par with everyone else. Just like that quiet girl that everyone underestimated in high school who came out of nowhere and started succeeding in life post HSC, Western Sydney is your quiet over achiever. Don't underestimate us. This under appreciated side of town has so much more than you think. One day it'll even come and #stealyoman. Uh huh hunni.

Parramatta Lanes, Parramatta

And now you've reached this paragraph in disappointment knowing that it's already over for 2014. All that's ringing in your head is it's too late (to apologise). And before we get any "wow everyone knew about Parramatta lanes and now the West Things team are covering it. They're supposed to have their head in the game", no we did not not know about Parramatta Lanes. We may or may not have just procrastinated through the last week of blog posts and left the "Parramatta Lanes" blog post sit to rot in our drafts pile until we had to convert it into something else because it expired in newsworthiness. But in true Western Sydney style when things are old, we're gonna bring it up anyway. ust like every Bulldogs supporter does when they're reminded of the grand final they didn't win in 2014. Oops did I just politically align myself. Oh man, preparing for the onset of rioting that's going to happen on this page. Brb moving to inland China and erasing my identity.

Images sourced from: Discover Parramatta, Fairfield City Council, Western Sydney Parklands

Friday, 26 September 2014

So you've given it a lot of thought lately. You've known him/her for quite a long time now. You think to yourself, I'm a little bit older now and it's time. You're ready to take the next step. It's time for you to speak up. But you're a little worried - you know they're a little frigid when it comes to "new things" and the only "experimenting" on their mind is the titration you've gotta do for your chemistry class (and let's face it. Getting that water just pink was hard enough when you come from a broke ass high school in the Western subs where your pipettes just. weren't. accurate.) The struggle.

Before you read on thinking "The day has finally come. The West Things team have finally branched out to dating advice because I really can't tell anymore if the missus, Krystal, is sick and tired of the $10 schnitty at the local pub?!" To you my friends I apologise because, nope, where I'm heading with this article is just a little different.

We all have that one friend who's a little bit scared to try new things. They prefer "Modern Australian" to "Indonesian" cuisine. They think chow mien constitutes "Chinese food". They internally cringe at the thought of chicken feet or ox tongue or *gasp* balut (duck embryo). Oh hell no. I just went there. Unchartered territory. Oh the controversy of it all. Too far, Sarah, too far.

And right now you're pretending that the thought of this food disgusts you when secretly you know deep down inside that it's not all that bad because your parents made it for you growing up. Unless, of course, you are that (poor and sheltered) friend to which I say: live a little, take a chance, live on the edge, be a little ruthless. Or, in the words of my tacky and cheesy thirteen year old persona on Bebo:

•?((¯°·._.• ιη тнε εη∂ ωε σηℓү яεgяεт тнε cнαηcεs ωε ∂ι∂η'т тαкε •._.·°¯))؟•

- insert photo of two white girls with their bikini tops off standing on a bridge overlooking traffic through the wired fence -

This post calls for you to bring out the inner #yolo in you. You know that feeling you sometimes get at 3am when you're on Expedia looking at one way tickets to Europe thinking yeah, I'll drop it all, I'll just take 12 months off of my life and go travelling? Today, I challenge you all to channel that inner Beyonce in you and take a risk. Try something a little "exotic" and venture where no white 35 year old male has ever ventured before: to the streets of Western Sydney where everything is ethnic.

I'll even spoon feed you and tell you which places to check out. (And no, I'm not even going to lie and pretend that I'm not secretly admiring my pun. Oh the shade you should all be throwing my way right now...)

Sabu, Parramatta (Japanese)

PAZAR Food Collective, Canterbury (Turkish)

Papparich, Parramatta (Malaysian)

Holy Basil, Fairfield (Laos/Thai)

Jasmine 1, Auburn (Lebanese)

Meze Me, Rouse Hill (Moroccan)

Enigma at the Piazza, Castle Hill (Greek)

Anais Restaurant, Castle Hill (Persian)

SE Jong Korean BBQ Buffet, Campsie (Korean)

Images sourced from: Enigma at the Piazza, Holy Basil, Jasmine 1 now, Meze Me, Papparich Parramatta, PAZAR Food Collective, Sabu, Sydney Food Lovers, Urbanspoon.

Friday, 19 September 2014

If you’re anything like us stereotypical westies, you’ll be at your local pub or restaurant on a Friday night, after a long day of hard yakka, pondering, should I get the steak or the schnitty today? One thing’s for sure. When that waiter comes along after you’ve finally decided what to order, you’ll ask him this life-long question, “Ay can I get chips instead of the salad mate?”

How about, NO you may NOT! You betta down that side salad! Actually, lemme serve you a whole plate full of greens instead as a form of torture for never choosing the vego option! How you like them brussels sprouts!?!

Kidding, I would never actually subject someone to such horrible treatment as downing a plate of brussels sprouts, but could you imagine if the waiter at the restaurant had replied saying, “Sorry… There are no more fries, we’ve sold out.” ABORT. ABORT. Biggest real-life nightmare ever since you discovered McDonalds discontinued their shaker fries, right? Would you take a chance on salad this one time?

The problem is, the poor veggie options never get a chance to be chosen because that pathetic side salad or miniscule sprinkle of garnish over the corner of your plate, has had such a bad rep over the years. You’ve also been traumatised by greens ever since your were a kid, holding back the tears when your mum practically shoved the broccoli down your throat at the dinner table. Doesn’t help either that Marge Simpson sang that song about not making friends with salad. Don’t wanna be that loser.

But you gotta toss the salad-hate aside people! Step outside that schnitty and steak comfort zone, and give the greens another chance, because you’ll be surprised by the vast variety of actually delicious vego choices we have here in the west. We’ve actually helped you take the first step by compiling our top fave vego eats. I promise none of this standard salad or boring brussels sprouts! But if you really wanna continue being that salad-snob I suggest you stop scrolling now. Don't even think that the closet-vegetarian in you hasn't the slightest chance of coming out. Because I don’t think you’ll be able to handle how you feel after seeing the foodporn we have lined up for you today!