Memorable Meals
You know how sometimes you have a life-changing meal? I don’t necessarily mean those meals at posh restaurants. I’ve had a few of those, and I’ve blogged about them here. I mean those meals which stay in your memory forever.
On the downside, I thought I was going to die from food poisoning, after eating some tiramisu at a cafe in Melbourne. I mean, seriously, I thought I was dying. But on the positive, I once had lamb with cumin at a restaurant in China, and I’ve been trying to find something nearly as good ever since.
My friend Kate was living in China when I visited her in 2010. We were visiting a range of galleries in the 798 (arts) district, and I tasted lamb with cumin for the very first time.
Ever since then I’ve been trying to find that same meal again. There’s a terrific Sichuan restaurant in Sydney, Red Chilli, which has come close. But it has never been quite as good as the original.
Tonight, I got close at a restaurant in Chinatown called, “Dragon Phoenix Fish”.
Still not as good as the meal I had more than a decade ago in China, but it came close, in terms of the texture and flavour.
“You know it’s hot? Do you need a fork?” the waitress asked me. As I looked around, I was the only non-Asian face in the restaurant, and I concede the menu might have been a little “challenging” for many Australians. But I enjoyed it very much, and I didn’t need a fork.
“Hey Kate”, I messaged my friend on Facebook, telling her I’d found something nearly as good as that original meal we had.
Lamb with cumin? Maybe good. My brain can’t work out the taste.
I had a bowl of pork based soup in Hoi An, Vietnam. It was to die for. Back in Australia, I could not find anything close.
I am not a fan of goulash, but in Budapest I had a bowl of goulash soup and it was stunningly delicious. Again, I could not find it in Australia.
Cumin (with chilli) is a standard flavour for lamb skewers typically sold throughout China by street vendors, normally Muslims from Xinjiang. Even a westerner should be able to spot the pictographic element in the third character out of these four: 羊肉串儿 – which applies to all food sold on such skewers.
But since you’ve mention your own experience in this department, I can disclose that I had one of my worst ever food poisoning experiences after consuming some of these, bought near where I was staying in Beijing.
Oh yes, said (Shanghai-born) D’s sisters when they heard of this. You should never eat meat street food in summer!
A shame because they go excellently with a late night street beer (still OK to buy in summer, fortunately).
The best street food in China has to be the scorpions!
tbh I think they are a bit of a novelty item.
I only saw them at “snack street” at Wangfujing.
Good recommendation James! I’ve walked past that restaurant a few times, but now that I know they do a good lamb with cumin I’ll definitely check it out. Agree with you, it is a delicious dish.
I stumbled across your website after a testimonial you gave for another tour operator. I’ve recently launched a Chinatown food tour that I think you might be interested in, I’ll put the link below. Would love to have you along and show you a few more hidden gems in Chinatown.
https://localsaucetours.com.au/tour/chinatown-food-and-stories-tour/
Hi Justin, great to hear from you. I LOVE a good food tour, so will check this out.