Archives for : August2015

Red Sichuan – Canley Vale

WP_20150529_19_16_09_ProThere aren’t a great deal of Hot Pot specialty restaurants in Sydneys south west. So I thought i’d give this one a try.
Red Sichuan -basically offers an all you can eat hot pot option or a la carte option. I went for the Hot Pot.

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You have a choice of broths to cook your food in. Mild to Spicy, and a plain chicken broth option too. The medium spicy broth was chosen. It had great depth, and was plenty spicy for medium.

WP_20150529_19_44_36_ProWP_20150529_19_19_49_Pro WP_20150529_19_18_34_ProAn array of options are available.

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Sliced beef looks nice when it comes out. But disappointing as it is frozen.

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Very cool tea pots.

In summary, The Red Sichuan isn’t too bad of a place to go to for dinner if you are feeling something a little spicy and warm. There are a great deal of options to choose from,  the food tastes alright mostly with the exception of the frozen meat. However the broth is pretty tasty.

The only qualm I had was in regards to the service. The staff were friendly but they didn’t really have the basic hospitality skills. Basic greeting, order taking, etc would go a long way. They did seem a little timid and shy.

 

Mazar – Traditional Afghan Restaurant

Merrylands isn’t the typical place you would chose to go out for dinner, and with the abundance of cafes and restaurants available in Parramatta only 5 minutes away it is easy to see why. However, if you venture out of your comfort zone, you will discover a place rich in culture, and probably some good food while you are at it too.

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I decided to try out an Afghan restaurant called Mazar. This first dish is called ” Mahecha Palaw”.

Tender lamb shanks combined with a delicate palawi rice topped with carrots and sultanas.

The servings are massive! And bursting with flavour.

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The mixed platter. Pretty much contains a little of everything. Definitely try the mantu dumplings.

Steamed lamb mince dumplings with a tomato, onion and garlic sauce topped with yoghurt and dried mint.

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Bulani – Afghani bread pockets with fillings such as potato, chives, pumpkin and more. (Not sure what the and more part entails…)

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Delicious bread served with your meal. Massive size.

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Finish off with a little Afghan Tea.

WP_20150522_19_30_17_ProForgot to mention the Dough. It is a cucumber and mint yoghurt drink. The restaurant next door makes it a little thicker and ‘yoghurtty’, whereas this version is little less thick and saltier. I prefer this version as it tastes a little more refreshing.

WP_20150522_19_30_50_ProThe feast. (Banana peel not included)

Mazar is conveniently located just a short stroll from the station (for those non-drivers). Some areas can be a little quiet, so bring some friends along and enjoy a traditional Afghan feast.

 

 

 

Aqua S

Tried the Aqua S sea salt and pineapple ice cream with Fairy Floss as topping.

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My verdict? I’d say it is a novelty more than anything else. Unfortunately, it tasted a little plain, and the pineapple needed a little tang.

You can find Aqua S near town hall near Regent Place.