Bababoi Kitchen & Bar

One of the few restaurants in Melbourne to serve Peranakan or Nyonya cuisine, Bababoi stands out from the crowd with offerings that really pack a flavour punch.

The Nyonya cuisine is a Malaysian cuisine which combines Chinese, Malay and other influences into a unique blend resulting in dishes that are tangy, aromatic, spicy and herbal.

The menu is extensive with something to suit everyone - From well-known crowd pleasers like their 5 spice marinated chicken to authentic Nyonya dishes like the Ayam buah keluak which is not served anywhere else in Melbourne. 

The food boasts beautiful flavour courtesy of the house made rempah (a blend of fresh spices which are ground together) that are meticulously prepared.

Lobak 

Our dinner commenced with a plate of Lobak from their “Something Light” section of the menu. The Lobak is a mixture of ground up lean pork, water chestnuts and herbs wrapped in a beancurd skin which has been steamed and then pan fried until crisp. The crispy beancurd exterior, juicy interior and salty-sweet chilli sauce makes for an excellent appetiser. 

Tamarind pulled pork (a.k.a. babi assam)

A dish of pulled pork with hints of tangy tamarind, the dish displayed a depth and complexity in flavour and had a lovely hint of tangy sweetness that complemented the overall savouriness of the dish. 

Nyonya chicken curry (a.k.a. ayam kapitan)

This classic Malaysian chicken curry was a stand out. Boasting creamy coconut and aromatic kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass, it was wonderfully hearty. We enjoyed the richness of the curry and the generous use of spices which showcased the customary punchy flavours exhibited by Malaysian curries generally.  Together with steamed rice, it was an addictive and comforting dish.

Chocolate chicken (a.k.a. Ayam buah keluak)

The chocolate chicken was yet another highlight. Particularly enjoyable for its robust and fragrant nutty flavour. Each morsel was cooked to the point where the meat simply melted in our mouths. The flavours from the herbs and spices were unique and very enjoyable.

The Jewellery box - Earl grey pannacotta topped with black tapioca pearls

The visually attractive pannacotta was a wonderful creation of melt in your mouth pannacotta and perfectly chewy tapioca pearls. Absolutely delectable, this dessert was a masterclass in textural balance and great use of flavour. The pannacotta was textured perfectly. A welcome departure from the mundane dessert items usually found, this dessert offered its own unique characteristics. 

Bababoi celebrates the fusion style of Nyonya cuisine, with distinctive blend of Chinese and Malay techniques, flavours and spices. If you like your South East Asian flavours rich and gutsy, you cannot go wrong here.

Location: Shop 2, 60 Siddeley Street, Docklands

Phone: 0490 029 968

Link: http://www.bababoikitchenandbar.com/

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Malaysian











Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of MATRADE's Malaysian Kitchen Program.

OLDTOWN White Coffee

OLDTOWN White Coffee recently opened its first Australian outpost mid last month.

Established in 1999, OLDTOWN White Coffee is Malaysia’s largest white coffee café chain.

The menu pays homage to Malaysian food in general with particular emphasis on dishes from its place of origin, Ipoh. 

Sotong Kangkung Rojak

We started with a dish of cuttlefish and spinach (also known in Hokkien as “Jyu hu eng chai”). A “salad” of sorts, the dish had beautifully wilted water spinach and tender cuttlefish laced in rojak sauce which is a flavoursome concoction of  shrimp paste, black caramel sauce, belachan, sugar, tamarind water, lemon juice, chilli powder and fresh chillis. 

Sotong Sambal Petai

The Squid with Petai beans cooked in sambal was delicious. One of our favourite Malay dishes, we enjoyed the gentle bitterness from the Petai which cut through the richness of the sambal. 

Assam Pedas Fish

The Spicy Assam Fish was yet another highlight. The perfectly seasoned assam curry broth possessed the customary punchy flavours exhibited by Malaysian curries. We loved the beautiful tartness from the assam base which goes particularly well with fish.

Whether you’re looking for a light snack of kaya toast and coffee, or a Malaysian feast, OLDTOWN White Coffee delivers with their great range of Malaysian cuisine. 

Location: 303, Elizabeth St Melbourne Vic 3000 

Phone: 03 9939 4268

Link: http://oldtownwhitecoffee.com.au/

Cuisine: Malaysian

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of MATRADE's Malaysian Kitchen Program.

Baotime

Baotime is a Richmond eatery dedicated to the “bao”. While many restaurants in Melbourne serve the bao, Baotime’s variety are a cut above courtesy of being handmade resulting in a fluffy, soft and delicate bun.

We were delighted to meet owner and founder of Baotime Jes Lau who explained to us that Baotime was created with the vision to provide warm meals and childhoods to children in need, offering hope and love to the less fortunate kids in the world. 

We loved her energetic passion which has translated into a compelling business model - offering patrons with a top notch dining experience. 

The menu, much like the venue is kept small but packs a punch with gourmet bao fillings, delicious drinks and a selection of mains.  The gourmet fillings and mains draw from Jes’ Malaysian background.  Growing up in Malaysia (Asia’s cultural melting pot), Jes has been exposed to many different interesting flavours. These flavours evoke childhood memories and these are the very flavours she seeks to share with her customers. 

From left: Air Mata Kuching - fruity longan juice; Honey Lemon drink

We started with a couple of heart-warming drinks. Both the Air Mata Kuching and Honey Lemon drinks were delightful and especially comforting on an unseasonably cold Melbourne evening.

Captain Bao 

The Captain Bao was filled with Succulent braise pork belly garnished with crushed peanuts. Featuring the tried and true flavour combination of braised pork in soy sauce, we enjoyed the generous morsels of tender pork belly. It really hit the mark!

Cuckoo Bao

The Cuckoo Bao was another winner. We loved the oozy mozzarella cheese which was lifted by the slight kick from the chilli.

Farmer Bao

The Farmer Bao impressed with beautifully roasted pumpkin and tofu garnished with mushrooms. We loved the contrast of textures between the mellow tofu and the robust pumpkin and earthy mushrooms. It was a delightful vegetarian bao that would which would appeal to even the most carnivorous individuals.

Chilli Crab Bao

The Chilli Crab Bao was outstanding. The batter was ethereally light and crispy. The soft shell crab which sat within the batter was fresh and most memorable. The bold chilli broth was the perfect accompaniment with its wonderful punchy flavours, synonymous with Malaysian curries.

Mini Bao platter: Lobster Bao; Tempura Prawn Bao; Aburi Scallop Bao

The Mini Bao Platter similarly impressed. We enjoyed the mini version of the luxurious Lobster Bao in particular which was filled with Moreton bay bug dressed in mayo and a refreshing pineapple salad.

Kahwin Bao 

Our dinner concluded on a sweet high with a couple of sweet baos starting with a stunning little Kahwin Bao filled with housemade kaya jam and butter, and a side of coconut ice cream. The brioche-like baos were filled with kaya jam and worked perfectly with the side of coconut ice cream.  

Durian Bao 

The Durian Bao (strictly for Durian lovers ONLY), was a stand out. The decadent durian ice cream was a welcome departure from the usually weak flavours and instead was vibrant, creamy and absolutely moreish while the Durian Bao itself was wonderful and filled with rich durian flesh - YUM.

Baotime pleases with unique and flavoursome baos satisfying the demand of Melbournians for delicious Modern Asian cuisine. 

Location: 342 Bridge Road, Richmond, Melbourne

Phone: 03 9942 7608

Link: http://baotime.com.au/

Cuisine: Asian

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of MATRADE's Malaysian Kitchen Program.

Papparich Nunawading

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of PappaRich.

PappaRich dishes up high quality Malaysian food that manages to be both traditional and accessible. The dishes reflect the cultural melange of Malaysia, with influences from Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines. The man behind PappaRich, Mr. Rich Tan, draws recipe inspiration from regions throughout Malaysia, personally travelling across the country to sample its many food offerings.

The focus is on food served fresh and fast, making PappaRich the ideal spot for a quick work lunch or midweek dinner. The PappaRich Nunawading restaurant interior is consistent with the rest of the chain - designed with a simple and casual aesthetic, without compromising on style. We enjoyed the comfortable, friendly atmosphere. 

The open plan layout of each restaurant also gives diners the chance to see their Roti Canai being freshly prepared on the spot.

We commenced our dining experience with a couple of their delicious drinks. We loved the wide variety of drinks and recommend in particular the “matcha rocks”. An ice blended green tea with red bean topped with green tea ice cream, this is a delectably refreshing drink.

Chilli Pan Mee

We loved the dry flour noodles served with minced chicken, fried anchovies, a spicy chilli pan mee chilli, mushrooms, fried shallots, spinach and topped with perfectly poached half boiled egg. Tip: Stir well before consuming!

Dry Koay Teow with Steamed Chicken

The slippery thin flat rice noodles were served with a tasty sweet sauce, red chilli and perfectly cooked steamed chicken.

Ipoh Koay Teow Soup with Prawns & Chicken Slices

Thin flat rice noodles were served in a wholesome chicken soup and prawn head broth. We enjoyed the generous toppings of prawns, chicken slices, bean sprouts, chives and red chilli.

Pappa Pan Mee Soup

This bowl of Pan Mee soup took us back to the streets of Malaysia. The egg and flour noodles had a wonderful al dente texture and were served in a beautiful anchovy based soup and topped with minced chicken, fried anchovies, mushrooms, spinach and perfectly poached half boiled egg. The addition of the house-made special chilli on the side to the dish to another level.

Satay

Of particular note were the succulent, aromatic, freshly grilled chicken satay skewers which we slathered in the decadent and perfectly spiced satay sauce.

Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken

Malaysia’s national dish, the Nasi Lemak was delicious. Aromatic coconut milk infused steamed rice was served with decadent curry chicken, fried anchovies, fried peanuts, hard boiled egg alongside spicy sambal and cucumber slices.

PappaRich is perfect for a quick bite or a relaxing leisurely meal. The Nunawading store is a hit, offering fans with truly authentic Malaysian home cuisine in Australia.

Location: T56 Brand Smart 288 Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading

Phone: (03) 9878 8860

Link: http://www.papparich.net.au/

Cuisine: Malaysian

Fiesta Malaysia 2015

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of MASCA.

On Saturday 9 of May 2015, Melbournians celebrated Fiesta Malaysia - a festival which showcased Malaysian cuisine sourced from the best and most authentic Malaysian restaurants in and around Melbourne.

This year, Fiesta Malaysia brought together a number of popular Malaysian eateries. 

NL House

We loved NL House's fried chicken nasi lemak. The chicken was delectably crispy and had been nicely caramelised and flavoured well by an array of spices. 

Together with fluffy coconut rice, crispy anchovies and out-of-this-world kerabu sambal, it was an addictive and comforting dish.

Mamak

We were all very impressed with the quality of Mamak's offerings. Every dish tasted incredibly authentic. 

As expected, the roti was expertly prepared - beautifully crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. 

The satay was authentic and delicious. We loved how the satay was authentically served with cucumber and onion which went well with the decadent and perfectly spiced satay sauce. Our taste buds had been transported to the streets of Kuala Lumpur! 

Killiney Kopitiam

A popular chain restaurant in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and China, Killiney Kopitiam is all about the "Kopitiam" (meaning coffee shop) culture in Malaysia and Singapore. We enjoyed sipping on their refreshing Teh Tarik and Milo Dinasour while we found a place to sit and enjoy their famous Hainanese Chicken rice. 

We absolutely loved what we tasted. The chicken was tender and the fluffy chicken rice was full of flavour. We especially loved the authentic taste of the chilli condiment. Their durian crepe (strictly for Durian lovers ONLY), was another standout - creamy and decadent. 

Shallot Thai

Shallot Thai is a popular Thai eatery with locations in Burwood and Malvern East. Everything was seriously delicious and delivered with the friendliest service. 

We were impressed with the perfectly cooked squid which was slathered in deliciously mild chilli sauce which allowed the natural sweetness of the squid to shine. 

The Mango sticky rice was a Thai classic. The dessert was scrumptious with generous slices of fresh mango over gooey sticky rice and creamy coconut cream - yum! 

Perwakilan Melbourne

The lovely ladies at Perwakilan Melbourne served up beautifully made roti jala and curry alongside some delicious Malay kueh.

Zam Zam

Originating from the Mamak population in Malaysia (Tamil Muslims of Malaysian nationality), the cuisine served at Zam Zam is full of flavour, spicy and simply addictive. We enjoyed sampling their Chicken biryani.

Pasar Malam

Pasar Malam channels the spirit of Malaysian hawker-style eating centres in Kuala Lumpur, where locals gather to catch up and share tasty hawker favourites. The menu features a wide array of options it’s all good. Trust us, you can’t really go wrong here. 

We started off with their Ayam Percik, a spicy barbecued chicken commonly sold at roadside food stalls all over the state of Kelantan. The chicken had been sufficiently seasoned and was wonderfully flavoursome. Each morsel had benefited from a delectable outer charring courtesy of spending the perfect time on the grill. 

We also devoured their apam balik pancakes. Wonderfully thin and crisp, these babies were filled with peanuts and sugar. AMAZING! 

Sambal Kampung

Sambal Kampung is  a Malaysian restaurant in Maribyrnong and the CBD.

Sambal Kampung served up a delicious basa which was served with a decadent spicy layer of sambal. While the use of basa wasn't traditional, the sambal itself was beautiful.

Drums Café

Drums Café is an incredibly welcoming Indian food eatery located in Queen Victoria Market.

We enjoyed their flavourful array of authentic Indian dishes. 

The Devilled Chicken was our favourite dish. The boneless pieces of chicken were tender and full of the flavour which made it a great pair with their fluffy naan.

 

Bamboe Café

Bamboe Café dishes up authentic Indonesian cuisine with friendly service in Chadstone. The food is tasty and the menu is incredibly well priced. 

The Rolling Scoops

The Rolling Scoops produces natural artisan gelato. The gelato's amazing texture and taste is testament to the perfectly balanced base that is used to make each flavour. Each flavour is made from organic milk, 100% natural ingredients, no preservatives, no added colour and no eggs. 

We loved the distinctively smooth, dense texture of their durian and Teh Tarik gelato. 

Fiesta Malaysia is MASCA Victoria's largest annual event. Fiesta Malaysia celebrated and promoted the diversity of Malaysian cultures, cuisines, tourism and history to Australia's local and international community. 

The festival received strong support from the Malaysian Government, the Australian Government, numerous corporate partners, ASEAN-root peak student representative bodies, university and non-university-based Malaysian Students Organisations. 

Fiesta Malaysia 2014 received an overwhelming response from over 18,000 visitors from different cultural backgrounds to experience a slice of Malaysia for themselves.

Apart from the authentic Malaysian food by Melbourne's top Malaysian restaurants, the festival also featured cultural exhibitions, traditional games and live performances. 

A series of demonstrations and competitions that relate to Malaysian cuisine also ran including a Durian Eating Competition and also a Roti Canai Making Challenge.