26 February 2009

From the North - new eatery in Civic

| Fisho
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After wandering back to the city west carpark over recent weeks and watching a shopfront change from newspaper, to newspaper with “coming soon” on it, a restaurant has opened!

I grabbed a menu on Monday night, and safely accompanied by a motley array of colleagues we ventured to the North China Noodlearium. Hooray, I just invented a word! Or should it a Noodleatarium? Noodlehousen?

North China food has been described to me as ‘peasant food’, and what we got was hand made noodles, simple ingredients, a hearty feed that was well flavoured. It wasn’t the overdone (never been a fan of Italian as it is usually been buggerised with too much). It was simple, done well and filling. Ginger was used to flavour the pork dish I had and there were subtleties and other tastes which evolved as the bowl got emptier.

I had the Chinese pork and Cabbage noodles, others had the Beijing special, chicken and mushroom, tomato and something else can’t remember what it was, we all had the sour potato starter.

The food was first rate, a small cost $10.60 including the starter, the special of the day (tomato and ?) was $8.00 iirc including starter, we all left satisfied and vowing to return. Service was good, staff were good, no delays in getting food.

An indicator I always look for in restaurants with an ethnic background is whether people of the same ethnic origin are eating there. (Indian in an indian restaurant for example). They passed that test.

Not a huge range but well done. They’re just along from the Wig and Pen (about 4 doors to the right), next time I want to give the preserved egg and tofu a bash, and I’m morally opposed to tofu.

If you want a hearty lunchtime or after work feed it’s worth investigating. And a pint or three awaits a few doors down.

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It’s actually called FromNorth.

I had a spare ‘the’ I wasn’t using.

oops, that, not <i<that ; )

crispy tofu with miso dressing on aubergine and zucchini at lanternme rooms was to die for.

well, not literally of course, ’cause even my sweetbreads and nectarine in a goat stock glaze isn’t <i<that good.

“and I’m morally opposed to tofu.” – Can you explain this moral objection??

If you don’t know by now, I’m not going to tell you.

‘Peasant food’ was how the food from that area was described to me. There was nothing peasanty about it though, it was rich and full of flavour.

Bundybear it would be nice to have some choice.

You haven’t eaten Tofu until you’ve tried Tofu Chinese style (northern and southern).

FYI, northern Chinese food isn’t really peasants’ food it’s more so just that it’s much colder and more sparse in Northern China. Geographically there’s less connection to the influences of indochina as well. Hence why noodles are more prominent and there’s far less oil in the food.

*sperlunk!*

You’ve got to spit when you wash!

; )

Hehe Bundy! Offal is food, but tofu is still tofu … I love it!!

Jivrashia said :

Tofu belongs with offal.

Having had the recent pleasure of a beef intestine hotpot featuring tofu, I wholeheartedly support this view. It was delicious!

Granny, wash your mouth out, tofu does not belong with offal, offal is food – crumbed brains with bacon and gravy is the food of the gods. I once tried to convince a friend that tofu was good because it absorbs flavours, but I couldn’t carry it off – it was still tofu.
Farnarkler, it doesn’t matter how many of any style of restaurant there are, if they don’t offer something distinctive or special they’ll eventually close from lack of custom

farnarkler said :

Where do I go if I want a croque-madame or bitterballen??

Croissant D’Or in the interchange perhaps? (opposite to IGA)

Much as I love South East Asian/Chinese food, don’t you think Canberra has enough? Within a ten minute walk of the Wig and Pen are; The asian bistro at ANU, the Asian Cafe, Sammys, Happys, etc. Where do I go if I want a croque-madame or bitterballen??

I have actually eaten St. Bernard in Russia or perhaps it was Corgi? Who knows? Some dog off the street. It was an experience I wouldn’t have knowingly indulged in to say the least, nor would I be in a hurry to repeat! I worried about hydatids and such for quite some time afterwards ….

However, I don’t object to other people eating tofu or offal. I would personally get the same amount of pleasure from eating neither!

Tofu belongs with offal. I don’t want to be brutal, but there you have it.

Well, I’m sure you can ask for St. Bernard instead of tofu or offal….

Tofu belongs with offal. I don’t want to be brutal, but there you have it.

justbands said :

“and I’m morally opposed to tofu.” – Can you explain this moral objection??

It’s morally disgusting?

Nambucco Deliria12:19 pm 26 Feb 09

Jivrashia said :

An indicator I always look for in restaurants with an ethnic background is whether people of the same ethnic origin are eating there. (Indian in an indian restaurant for example).

Spot on Fisho.
Funny how you never seen Japanese at Wagamama (or any asian for that matter).

It’s true. You wouldn’t believe the number of people sporting knee length leather trenchcoats and Homburgs every time I dine in the Harmonie Club.

great news – have been waiting for a northern chinese noodle place in canberra. exactly what we need; shanxi noodles, yum! will check out soon and as a bonus, head next door for post-noodling pints. heaven!

An indicator I always look for in restaurants with an ethnic background is whether people of the same ethnic origin are eating there. (Indian in an indian restaurant for example).

Spot on Fisho.
Funny how you never seen Japanese at Wagamama (or any asian for that matter).

shanefos said :

Is that where Mekong Delta was?

yes

Is that where Mekong Delta was?

I am morally opposed to people who are morally opposed to tofu.

Now I’m hungry.

“and I’m morally opposed to tofu.” – Can you explain this moral objection??

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