Thai Culture and Food Festival
Melbourne is absolutely going off with a supurb range of events such as the Grand Prix, FINA World Swimming Championships, Avalon International Airshow and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (all in the same week!). You would think these would be enough to satiate our craving for things to do - but with a heap of tourists in town, the Thai Culture and Food Festival was just one more distraction to add to the list.
In it’s fourth year, the day is dedicated to celebrating all things Thai (as well as celebrating the 80th birthday of the much revered His Majesty The King of Thailand). Now due this blogs’ bent, here is my celebration of all things Thai food. And with over twenty food stalls, this wasn’t too hard to accomplish.
Our first nibble for the day was a container load of lightly spiced fish cakes, squashed down and deep fried. They were doused in a sweet/sour/hot dressing and flecked with fresh coriander leaves, sliced red onion and cucumber. This was nothing too out of the box though - I think you can pick up these ready-made style of fish cakes in most Asian grocers.
Next up was an artery clogging serve of spiced pork stew (mmm…see all the gelatinous fat and skin?). The flavour was heady with five spice, and it was so unbelievably sweet as to almost taste like a dessert. To be honest, I couldn’t go the fatty goodness, despite the fact it was amazingly tender. My arteries doth protested too much!
These guys were cooking various chicken bits at the Singha beer tent. I didn’t sample their very nice smelling fare - there was too much other stuff to try.
Next up was a dish I don’t exactly know what to call. The menu posted on the tent was entirely in Thai (with no translation). So we pointed to a sign (in the red box above) and just hoped for the best. And seriously, this was the BEST. It was like a thick hearty coconutty soup, packed to the hilt with spices and chilli. Egg noodles bathed in the thick broth around the bottom of the container, and crunchy fried noodles topped it. A dirty great big chicken drumstick was wedged in the depths, along with sliced celery, coriander, and an extra dollop of chilli paste. Can anyone translate what this dish is? It rocked.
We also sampled some rather divine little chive dumplings, which were seared on a large BBQ (these things were selling like hotcakes, pardon the pun). Obviously the dumplings had split, releasing their uber green insides into the light soy dressing. Mmm…very good.
Then it was time for dessert no.1, fruit chunk ice-cream.
Thankfully my ice cream didn’t have chunks, but then I’d hate to find a lump of taro in my cup! On a side note, I am loving the taro flavour at the moment. I think it beats vanilla!
Then it was time for dessert no.2, Thai coconut juice. Your little container comes frozen, with straw and ice pick attached. You unwrap and unlid, and then attack the block of sweet coconut ice - slurping when you get some juice, hacking when you don’t.
As you keep drilling down, you unearth (unice?) wonderful slivers of fresh coconut. Mmmm. Soooooo goooooood. This little cup kept me occupied for near on half an hour!
Then it was time for a bit of foodie celebrity spotting. Look…over there…Matt Preston, food writer for Epicure (The Age). He was heartily enjoying his container of food (I wasn’t close enough to see what he is eating). But kudos to him, I usually see him at these foodie type events.
Written by mellie on
March 19th, 2007 | Tags: festivals, Thai | Category: Uncategorized
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March 21st, 2007 at 10:21 am
Yum! Don’t you just love Melbourne? Thanks for sharing those fantastic photos-it brought the sights, tastes & smells (okay maybe I had to imagine the last two!) of the Thai festival to someone who didn’t make it this time.
btw> Are you going to any more Food & Wine Fest events? I look forward to reading and seeing the tasty results!
March 21st, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Hey there m’s nemesis - uh huh, I just LOVE Melbourne. We are such a fantastic town (if I do say so myself!).
My participation in the Food and Wine Festival is somewhat limited this year as I’m flying out to Sydney tomorrow. But I did get an Express lunch at Oyster (OMG…so good!), which I shall blog soon.
But never fear, it is not all doom and gloom. One of the reasons for my trip to Sydney is to go to Tetsuyas ((screams in excitement)).
March 21st, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Mellie, this year’s Thai food festival was my first. I will definitely return next year. I almost went the pork stew route too. I wish I had now, looking at your photo.
I love how Melbourne is so diverse that all Melbournians are able to experience and celebrate different cultures right in the heart of the city.
March 21st, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Hey cherrie pie - you should subscribe to the Federation Square email newsletter, as it gives you a good headsup of all the multicultural events held at FedSq (of which there are MANY!).
Another great one to attend is Buddha’s birthday on 21/22 April 07. Lots of food to be had there!
March 21st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Hi
Just wanted to tell u I like ur blog so much and will definately try the restaurant recommended by u
I am a foodie from Malaysia and just shifted to Melbourne with my fiancee months ago, really enjoy the life style and food here. And i just started to blog, have a look at my blog if u r free.
I missed the Thai food festival this year and hopefully i won’t missed it next year.
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:00 am
Hi there lao cha jhl - I’m so glad you enjoy reading my blog
And hey…welcome to Melbourne! I hope some of my experiences will lead you to some wonderful food experiences too.
You have some great recipes on your blog. I must try the vegemite chicken and the Lao Cha special fried rice. Looks yum!
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:20 am
Oooooooooooo yummy. Working weekends sucks sometimes!!!
Enjoy Sydney. Shame I couldn’t remember the name of the yum cha place that is just so good. Ah well, next time!
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:15 am
“dessert no.2, Thai coconut juice.”
Also available (daughter and I know this on account of we bought one today after she read your reference to it) at Minh Phat (THE place to go for every thing edible and Asian and where we shop each week) across from the Vic Market.
BTW, Minh Phat has more than acceptably edible packets 10 frozen gyoza.
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
PS. re “You unwrap and unlid,”
You make that process seem SO simple.
Reckon the manufacturer attached the outer cover with either Supaglu or mega industrial strength Araldite - and my daughter DOES have long finger nails. (I would have been totally knackered an left thirsty were she not with me.)
March 24th, 2007 at 3:30 am
Hiya lord sedgewick - thanks for the tip on where to find dessert no.2. Funnily enough I was only in there the other day (two nights ago).
The “unwrap and unlid” procedure is certainly complex, but not so for a female with a craving for coconut
My technique - teeth and fingernails. But if it makes you feel any better, my boyfriend also couldn’t get into his either 
March 24th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Hi there lao cha jhl,
I am glad to have another new person in Melbourne. You can’t and won’t go wrong with Melbourne. It has pretty much the best of everything Australia has to offer.
If you are craving food from back home, don’t even worry! Tonnes of UNCOMPROMISING exotica are here to satisfy your lust.
Here are a couple:
* Durian gelati at
Il Dolce Freddo
116 Lygon Street, Carlton.
It is not dumbed down ice cream or anything like that. You can literally bite and feel chunky durian flesh. It is simply invincible east-meet-west food!
* Fish head curry at
Rich Maha at Equitable Lane, Melbourne
* a couple shops at top end of China Town serves Pork intestine and Jelly fish
* Oolong tea at Just Make tea house , Russell St, Melbourne. I am pretty sure after you try their King Hsuan oolong tea, any other tea will just taste plain, coarse and unappetising.
* Variety of Chinese buns at Nam Loong, Russell St. I can safely say for sure now that this is indeed the best bun across Australia. MUst try their BBQ Pork Bun!
Hope you will try all that mentioned above , =).
Btw, do tell me if you are in search for any non-Malaysian exotica in Melbourne.
I will help you point at least a dozen places in CBD and nearby area.
March 26th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Thanks for your recommendations to lao cha jhl, marvellousmelbourne. I can attest to the buns at Nam Loong - the custard one is my particular favourite
And I still have to try that durian icecream. It is haunting me!
March 26th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Hi Mellie, Came across your blog searching for food in melbourne. Would you like to link up with Mcity.com.au? My email is vincent at mcity.com.au
March 27th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Bugger didn’t make it! Looks good especially the fish cakes!
By the way, I’ve moved my “A Gastronomical Voyage in melbourne” to http://www.gastronomicalvoyage.blogspot.com. When you get a chance, please update. Thanks!!
March 27th, 2007 at 4:49 am
Hi there Vince - uh huh, email coming your way.
Hey kazmic - congratulations on the new move over to blogger. I have changed the link on my blog to reflect your new address. Also, you may want to change your link to me, as I now have my own domain http://www.tummyrumbles.com.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:32 am
Lol, no worries Mel!
The durian gelato is so good that the next step is of course to find who can possibly topple this place ( in Asian countries at least =) ). I am almost certain even if you pay an equivalent amount of money back in Malaysia, Singapore or any other Asian countries you won’t get anything that good.
I have been looking for worthy rivals in Sydney but yet to find one that can churn that uncompromising exotica, durian!
That’s one of the thing I will promote Melbourne for when I head back home, Jakarta.
Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Melbourne Cup and of course our unprecedented culinary excellence!
March 28th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Hey again marvellousmelbourne - well fingers crossed I get to Il Dolce Freddo this Friday. I have a dinner booking up the road, and how can one not have dessert afterwards?!
Will blog the results here
March 28th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Hi Mel,
I believe you come to that place in the best time slot I guess. No other gelato joint along Lygon St is more clogged (with Asians) than that place.
Keep in mind, that durian flavor is not for the faint hearted, =). And never mix any strong/full bodied flavor with that durian flavor. It will seriously sicken you!
March 29th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
…and I was so looking forward to durian and licorice gelato
Thanks for the warning!