Picky Piggies: Cheap Eat

A lot of people may be familiar with ramen, but did you know the word "ramen" literally means "pulled noodles" in Chinese? It is a dish that originated from this very part of China - Lanzhou. When we saw this new Lanzhou noodle place open in Burwood we knew we had to try it out.

All the noodles are freshly hand pulled...

Lanzhou Noodles $12.8

This noodle is named after Lanzhou city in China, this region is famous for their beef noddle. The soul of this beef noodle is its clear broth, made with beef bones which had been cooked for hours. The broth was clear and nourishing for the tummy. The thinly sliced beef was tender and doesn't require much chewing. The noodles were al dente. We also liked the radish that was packed with flavours. And if you are a fan of coriander and spring onion then be sure to load it up for an elevated experience.

Special Dry Noodles $12.8

There was a generous serving of stewed beef in the dry noodles. The meat was tender, however, we felt it needed more sauce. Luckily you can help yourself with the homemade chilli oil, which made all the difference. It isn't very spicy, and is very nutty.

While enjoying the noodles we also ordered some side dishes.

Fuqi Feipian (beef offal) $4.8

Lately I have been in love with this dish, this one here had slices of beef and tripe that were covered in red chilli oil. What I like is the texture and how everything is like a sponge that soaks up all the flavours.

Pig Stomach $4.8

This dish is very similar in flavour to the last one, just different in texture. It's something that I love these days.

We've been back three times already, and every time it has been consistently good. Lanzhou 1919 is a place that we would continue coming back to.

Food: 8/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

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When it comes to ramen, Sydney is in no shortage of chefs with different takes on the matter. There can never be too many in our option. RaRa is a new ramen joint that has recently joined the family, and so far the only ramen place that we know of with as much focus on the char sui as the noodles. Using free range pork, each piece is grilled to a perfect char after being slow cooked.

With a small no-nonsense menu, RaRa is sticking to the basics with a classic tonkotsu, and options for black garlic, chilli and miso varieties. There is a soy broth for those who want a lighter soup, vegan option is also available. We came on a Sunday evening around 7pm and most broth bases had sold out except for the tonkotsu and miso.

RaRa Tonkotsu $16.90; Extra Char Sui $3.50

What really surprised us was the broth. It was creamy, milky, bursting with umami, and incredibly smokey. The only downside was we didn't get enough broth in this bowl, which was a shame. Perhaps the kitchen was literally running out of broth!

We liked the grill-finished char sui, which added the extra smokey element to the soup. The noodles were al dente, made daily onsite using RaRa's own ramen machine. A letdown was the char sui didn't cook for long enough, leaving it with a chewy texture.


Tonkotsu Miso $17.8

After trying the original tonkotsu, this miso version was disappointing. With such a beautiful broth, we felt the miso didn't do it justice and had overpowered it's original aroma. The char sui was slightly better in texture.

The team was friendly, however, the service was a little slow with only two girls on the floor. We waited in queue of about 15 minutes.

Food: 5/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10

Highlight:

Amazing smokey tonkotsu broth

Lowlight:

Char sui was chewy
An already small menu with many items not available didn't leave us with many options (or the ones we wanted)

Website: http://www.rararedfern.com.au/

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Finally a place bringing Sydneysiders the famed towel roll, which is the latest dessert to catch the trend in Asia. We've been wanting to try this for a while, so the Piggies are here to report our findings 🐷

Double Sauce Omurice $19.8

As well as specialising in towel rolls, Moka actually has a small food menu serving Japanese style comfort food. We got the half-half omurice with demi-glace sauce and Japanese curry sauce. The demi-glace is a Japanese style beef stew, and the Japanese curry has the usual carrots & potatoes and the somewhat unusual minced meat. We expected the rice also to be half-half - plain and fried rice - as per the menu, and were a bit disappointed that it was all plain rice. Taste wise, it's similar to what you can make at home with the instant curry blocks available at Japanese/Asian grocers.

Pork Katsu $5.8

For less than $6, this pork katsu meets the expectations. Albeit it was a small portion the pork was well fried with a crunchy crust.

Matcha Towel Roll $18

...the highlight and reason why we are here! We were surprised by how soft the crepe was, with the smooth creamy filling it was a simple but delightful dessert. The crepe was so delicate that you can eat this cake without teeth 😲 We could taste that Moka used high quality matcha. As tealovers ourselves it would have been even better if it was a bit stronger. The towel roll also comes in chocolate and taro flavours, and we'd be keen to try them too!

Food: 6/10 (towel roll itself would be 8/10)
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 4/10

Highlight:

Towel roll lives up to expectations

Lowlight:

Food and decor can improve

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Moka-577411852601398/

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Don't Lose Your Temper is a homey and cosy patisserie located in the quite Melbourne suburbia. Their cakes look amazing in pictures and real life. Just looking at them now almost made us fall for them again... if only they taste as good as they look. The proverb that "looks can be deceiving" is very fitting here😂

Banoffee Tart $8.5

Neither of us are banana fans, but we had to get this heavenly looking cake, so we made an exception. We've had great banoffee desserts in the past, sadly this was not one of them. With an overload of sugar: salted peanut caramel, banana, white chocolate, marshmallow, and milk chocolate (all sweet ingredients), we soon realised getting this cake was a mistake. Given these ingredients, we think it probably takes a genius to balance the flavours without the dessert ending up like a sugar explosion.

Brownie $7.5

After the initial taste test we crossed our fingers hoping this one wouldn't be another sugar bomb... but again this was another cake buried in sweetness 😰

At this point our mood hit a low point of the day, and then we remembered the name - Don't Lose Your Temper - you can't say you haven't been warned! Overall, our impression was that the two cakes we got were both sugar heavy, and lacked depth and refinement. For those looking for a sugar high this is the place.

Food: 3/10
Service: 8/10
Atmosphere: 6/10

Highlight:

Friendly crew
Good presentation

Lowlight:

Cakes don't taste as good as they look

Website: https://dontloseyourtemper.com.au/

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Located in a quite neighbourhood, Lolo and Wren serves up comfort food in a cafe setting, with a chilled and relaxed environment, an extensive menu, and large portions.

Pork Jowl $17.50

We were shocked at the size of the pork jowl when it arrived at our table. The panko egg (almost like a scotch egg except there was no meat wrapping) was coated in a layer of thin breadcrumbs, and was perfectly fried with a gooey yolk centre. We were less excited about the pork jowl. We ordered this dish for the egg and didn't expect much for the pork, and our expectations were proven correct. The pork was served lukewarm and the meat was still tough despite being slow cooked. This particular piece we got was also very fatty making most of it unedible, and the coleslaw didn't help cut through the grease as it was rather sweet.

Crispy Crocque Monsieur $18

Is this the ultimate cheese sandwich? Originated is France, Crocque Monsieur is a ham and cheese sandwich that's either baked or fried. This humongous sandwich was loaded with cheese and few slices of ham. With additional bread crumbs added on the outside, this sandwich was fried until golden brown, leaving the outside super crunchy and the inside bursting with melty cheese. The bad? This sandwich was no one-man task as it can get pretty heavy in the end with all that cheese (the tomato relish did help a little bit).

Spanish Omelette $23.50

It was a good move that we got this Spanish omelette, as at this stage we desperately needed some vegetables. The omelette had a crispy edge while the inside was packed with tomato, capsicum, potato, avocado and chorizo. The dollops of sour cream and shaved parmesan cheese provided some creaminess. There was also a bowl of rocket salad on the side too.

Food: 5.5/10
Service: 5/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Highlight:

Large portions

Lowlight:

Food was not bad but delivery may improve with a more focused menu
Cafe goers expect a good meal to mark a good beginning to the weekend, and if the waitress has a negative attitude this really rubs off on the diners.

Website: http://loloandwren.com.au/

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On this very trip to Melbourne, I must say Mörk was one of the great surprises we found. Revolving around a chocolate theme, this place offers an array of cacao drinks. The characteristic menu takes on inspirations from Australia's natural landscape, and turns that into a theatrical and a culinary experience - the whole thing is destined to impress. For chocolate lovers this is as good as chocolate gets.

Forager $10

Mörk has managed the impossible: it has created a sweet, enjoyable concoction that captures Australia, in one small bowl. Using a familiar smell, the perfume of oak moss immediately sets you in the outback bush. This aromatic sensation of being in Australia is reinforced by the sight and taste of eucalyptus. The hot chocolate blends well with the ice cream, which had a subtle macadamia and wattle seed flavour, keeping the focus on the chocolate.

Campfire $10

There is something about smoke and burnt marshmallow - a typical treat to be had around a campfire. Again Mörk engages all your senses, with the clever use of maple smoke and charcoal salt, taking a simple idea and executing it to perfection. The individual elements showcase extreme attention to detail while complementing the chocolate.

The Whole Nut (Vegan) $8

It was hard to believe there was no milk in this. The dark chocolate made with hazelnut milk was smooth and creamy, highlighting a unique hazelnut aroma. It's no secret hazelnut and chocolate are best friends, but just how well they went together without anything else was an impressive feat.

Hazelnut Wafer (comes with The Whole Nut)

As well as a la carte, Mörk also sells a range of chocolate related products off the shelf.

Pre-made Chocolate Milk

a variety of Cacao Powders

What a fun and memorable impression Mörk has left us, something we'll miss until our next visit!

Food: 10/10
Service: 9/10
Atmosphere: 8/10

Highlight:

Go for the experience, or the chocolate, and you won't be disappointed
Good value

Lowlight:

We have not found a comparable chocolate place in Sydney (or anywhere else for that matter)

Website: http://morkchocolate.com.au/
Address: 150 Errol St, North Melbourne, VIC 3051
Hours: Mon Closed
Tue-Sun 9am-5pm

Phone: (03) 9328 1386

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Even though we came early in the morning on a Sunday, Lune was already packed with hungry people. Luckily there was more than enough pastries for everyone.

While Mr Piggy was in the line, I took a little peak of what's going on behind the scene. It was fascinating to watch how the puff pastries were handled with so much care and love.

The pastry chefs seemed to greatly enjoy making the pastries. It was strangely satisfying to watch them skillfully create the pastries.

Pecan Pie $10.50

A pocket packed with sweet delights - an upscale version of your typical pecan pie. As you bite into it, the crispy shell flakes away exposing the soft, fluffy pastry inside, filled with maple-infused chunky crushed pecans. A generous dollop of airy maple bourbon cream smothered atop - the perfect accompaniment to the pastry.

Lemon Curd $7 (L); Spanakopita $9.50 (R)

We were stuffed at this stage but as Mr Piggy is a big fan of lemon curd, he wasn't gonna leave without piggybacking one for the journey till our next food destination 😂 Lemon curd filled the cruffin all the way to the top. Even for the more sweet-toothed (vs sour) of us, this pastry was very enjoyable as the tartness of the lemon curd was well balanced by the sugar dusted pastry. The citrusy fragrance also helped to cut through the otherwise rich dessert.

Our only savoury pick of the day, the Spanakopita was a simple and delicious swirl, with layers of spinach and ricotta cheese inside. A nice intermission before we move on to the next dessert!

Coconut Rough $10.50 (L); Miso Caramel $7.50 (R)

This coconut rough was almost too cute to eat as it resembled a cute, spiky porcupine... but we weren't gonna let it go. The super crunchy toasted coconut chips juxtaposed the soft, airy bun, and the creamy filling inside. The chocolate and desiccated coconut filling added to the coconut theme. However, it was a little bit too sweet and rich for us, perhaps less (chocolate) would have been more.

We had to get the miso caramel, a dark cuisine fusion that has come into fashion. We've never tried this flavour and the combination proved unexpectedly outstanding. The caramel was gooey, and alternating levels of smoky saltiness added contrast to every bite. The sugar dusted cruffin had us licking our fingers guiltily at the end of the treat. Oh, and the black sesame crisp on top was a distinctive tribute to the Japanese inspiration, a nice salty-sweet touch.

Looks like Lune has refreshed the menu since our visit, with more interesting flavours. We'll be back!

Food: 10/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10

Highlight:

Some of the finest pastries in Australia (watch out Paris!)

Lowlight:

Wish they have a shop in Sydney...
Not ideal for those on a diet

Website: https://www.lunecroissanterie.com/

Phone: +61 3 9419 2320

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