Thursday, February 16, 2017

You had me at Dumplings - The Art of Asian Food at Zoo Family Restaurant.

Well I think this is actually my first restaurant/food review ever, in 10 years! But then it does not say Street Food Sydney it says Fashion. That said good food is always in fashion and good food is exactly what you will find at the Zoo Family restaurant, tucked in amongst the explosion of residential tower blocks that have sprung up in Waterloo. It's quite near that warehouse venue that used to be Doug up on Bourke, the recent home of the Other Art Fair, yes less than a 10 minuet walk from Danks Street. So all my art friends should now have a bit of an idea where we are. So on with the food, lets get started.
Peking Duck Pancakes at Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
I love dumplings and I wish I could have three types and styles of dumplings every time I had dinner or (in this case) lunch. And I wish they were as tasty and as artfully presented too. We had steamed Xiao Long Bao, that's one pined by my chop sticks, the fried dumplings, and Shanghai Pork Wonton in Special Chilli Sauce, they were all delicious as was the large sharing bowl of Chongqing Spicy Noodles a Szechuan delight. Spice, chilli, flavour, check two three! Vivienne my Taiwan born partner and I were discussing the chilli factor with our host after the meal. We would have liked a little more heat, but then we eat chilli nearly every day so we are very used to it. The flavours are great but if you love heat perhaps let the kitchen know. Of course we started our Zoo Family journey with Peking Duck Pancakes, terrific, as good as ever.
Szechuan Chongqing Spicy Noodles at Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Vivienne was very impressed with the authenticity of the flavours and the quality across the board, including the crab. The crab is served with gloves, a section of instruments to crack shells and extract the meat with; and I find all this a huge chore. So after a few easy bits and bites I relinquished any extra share. The crab eaters were however unanimous in their praise of the Singapore Mud Crab with Salted Egg Yolk coating. Well done you I say! We finished our culinary outing with sesame cakes, red bean and pumpkin filling, a lovely light way to end the meal. Highly recommend!
Serving of Chongqing Spicy Noodles at Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Shanghai Pork Wonton in Special Chilli Sauce is delicious and packed with prawns and pork. Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Shanghai Pork Wonton in Special Chilli Sauce.
Tasty an fried dumplings and dark dipping sauce. Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Our hosts serving the mud crab. Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
A speciality of the house, Singapore Mud Crab with Salted Egg Yolk at Zoo Family Restaurant.
A speciality of the house, Singapore Mud Crab with Salted Egg Yolk at Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Kai gloves up to take on  the crab as Jill photographs the dish. Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Mixed pork and vegetables with chilli. Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
We were all pretty full by now so most of this dish went home with us - maybe even better the next day!
Sesame cakes with red bean and pumpkin filling for desert. Zoo Family restaurant. Food photography by Kent Johnson.
Thank you to the Zoo Family Restaurant.
21 Archibald Ave, Waterloo NSW 2017, (02) 8937 3026, Open Lunch 11:30am-3:00pm, Dinner 5:30pm-9:30pm. www.facebook.com/ZooFamilyWaterloo/

Full disclosure, Street Fashion Sydney was a blogger guest and did not pay for this meal and was not paid for this review.

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863