Chatswood Nights Roaming Gnomes has arrived in Chatswood featuring 12 large scale inflatable Gnomes (some are 10 metres high) and an animated projection each night from 6 pm on The Concourse façade featuring the Gnomes travelling around the world.
There are 12 international food trails highlighting some of the best dishes from a certain country or region – and Simon Food Favourites reviewed France, Spain, Germany as Raphael the Gnome, and Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia as Hugo the Gnome.
Every Friday night there is world music from the train station down to Chatswood Place AND there is also a competition to win over $20,000 worth of prizes. Travel the world in Chatswood over the next 23 nights from 6–29 May.
Chatswood Nights - Roaming Gnomes is funded by the NSW Government's CBDs Revitalisation Program, part of Willoughby City Council's Chatswood Culture Bites Program.
Spain, France and German Food Trail
https://www.culturebites.net.au/Events/Spain-France-and-German-Food-Trail
Gourmet Nutella crepe at Crepes Mademoiselle
Upon arrival at Chatswood Mall Market I discovered a fantastic variety of food stalls on offer. To help kickstart the day I decided to go for a sweet rather than savoury crepe with the tempting Gourmet Nutella crepe with strawberries and cream ($13) from Crepes Mademoiselle. I always love watching the skill and art of a thin crepe being made to order with the batter being poured onto a traditional round hot plate crepe maker and then evenly spread out using the crepe spreader tool. Plenty of Nutella filled the crepe before being folded and topped with fresh strawberries and two good sized piles of cream. The wait is worth it and be sure to eat quickly before the cream melts too much on the warm crepe.
Chatswood Mall Market, Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Paella Mixta at La Flamenca Paella
Chatswood Mall Market is home to some authentic Spanish food from La Flamenca, paella in particular. I chose the Paella Mixta ($16) because I love trying a bit of everything. It’s a combination of rice, calamari, mussel, king prawns, chicken, onion, garlic, tomato, green beans, extra virgin olive oil, saffron, paprika and homemade chicken stock. It’s a mellow yet tasty dish served up hot from a huge paella pan which first drew me in from the delightful cooking aroma. Great to see such a well-known dish of Spanish cuisine that originated in Valencia being found in the heart of a very Asian cuisine oriented suburb.
Chatswood Mall Market, Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Schweineschnitzel at The Bavarian
My part-European heritage always has a soft spot for a good schnitzel as a comfort food dish. Schweineschnitzel - giant 300g pork schnitzel, cabbage slaw, lemon and fries ($26) at The Bavarian is pretty true to its name and quite a feast for one so be warned. A generous sized crunchy golden crumb around moist meaty pork to please. I love a good cabbage slaw to help cut through the meat-fest and the crispy beer battered fries are on standby to add extra help in lining the stomach, there is also a 500 ml or 1 litre stein beer glass of German beers available to help wash it all down. You’ll certainly be full and satisfied for the rest of the day as you roll out of the restaurant.
Chatswood Central, Shop 4-6, 1-5 Railway St, Chatswood NSW 2067
Churros and milk chocolate at San Churro
How can I resist some Churros and milk chocolate dip ($10.95) at San Churro located in Westfield Chatswood. I love donuts and these long corrugated sticks are like the Spanish version of donuts. I have fond memories of eating these in Spain freshly extruded and cooked in oil to a thin crisp shell and soft inner texture. I remember the ones I had in Spain were a bit thicker in size but these ones are still a joy for a simple sugar hit. They go well with a coffee or simply on their own. I even noticed you can get a churro filled with Spanish choc-hazelnut — oh yes please, maybe next time.
Westfield Chatswood, Shop 609, 1 Anderson Street, Chatswood NSW 2067
Macarons at Pattison’s Patisserie
When I visited Paris many years ago I had to see the Eiffel Tower and visit Ladurée for macarons so when in Chatswood if you’re craving those famed French treats you can get a mixed box of macarons ($18.50, 6 pieces) at Pattison’s Patisserie located in Chatswood Chase and Westfield Chatswood. I always find the hardest decision is trying to choose which flavour as there’s so many to choose from. I chose Pistachio, Fairy sprinkles, Passion fruit, Red velvet, Raspberry & Cream and Honeycomb — Honeycomb was the favourite. Other flavours available are Nutella, raspberry, salted caramel and chocolate which would be classic flavour winners I’m sure. If you’ve never had a macaron they generally have a light crisp outer meringue shell with a slight chewy texture and creamy filling. For me the best ones have distinctive flavours and are well made and presented. They make for a great gift idea when nicely boxed as well.
Chatswood Chase, Shop B/50, 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia Food Trail
Chatswood is home to flaky golden roti from the highly popular Mamak for Malaysians looking for some comfort food to remind them of their homeland. Roti canai ($9) — the original roti, is light and wafer crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and served with two curry dips and a spicy sambal sauce. Be sure to try and watch the cook making them to order over the large hot grill, constantly stretching and folding the dough in preparation to achieve the many layers. Finally served steaming hot ready to soak in a spicy dipping curry to excite the tastebuds. Roti is always best made fresh and this place does it justice.
Chatswood Central, Shop 9, 1-5 Railway St, Chatswood NSW 2067
Hainanese Chicken Rice at Ya Malaysia
Hainanese Chicken Rice ($15.90) at Ya Malaysia is a classic Malaysian dish to enjoy solo with poached chicken, flavoured rice, fresh cucumber slices, chilli sauce and a small bowl of clear soup. It all works harmoniously together and the chicken thigh is served boneless here. Love the flavour pop of adding some of the ginger spring onion sauce with some chilli sauce on a piece of chicken followed by some rice is the way to go. The soft silky chicken skin adds extra flavour and juiciness to the dish. I’ve enjoyed this dish in Malaysia as well where it was served with some blanched bean sprouts on the side.
Chatswood Interchange, Shop 78, 436 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Ais Kacang at Amah by Ho Jiak
For a fun Malaysian dessert that’s big enough to share you can’t go past an Ais Kacang ($12) at Amah by Ho Jiak. Freshly shaved ice covers a sea of kidney beans, palm seeds and grass jelly and then topped with creamed corn, peanuts, Carnation creamy evaporated milk, rose syrup, gula melaka and green melon syrup. What a colourful sight of flavours. Slowly mix the ingredients together and eat it quickly before the ice melts away. I’d say it’s a bit of an acquired taste but it’s grown on me over the years since my dad is Malaysian and always got me to try it when I was growing up. You’ll find many variations of ingredients depending on where you go so finding an ais kacang that suits your taste will be a journey of discovery.
Chatswood Interchange, Shop K1-K2, Level 3, 436 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Located in the Mandarin Centre I checked out Rumah Makan Petok Petok for some Crispy Fried Chicken ($12.50) served Indonesian style. The chicken skin was thin and crispy and the homemade chilli sambal will knock your tastebuds out of the park. The plentiful supply of kremes crispy batter granules go well with the large bowl size of steamed rice and chilli sambal to help extend the dish as a complete meal. Fresh iceberg lettuce and cucumber slices are on hand to cleanse the palate. Indonesians sure know how to make a yummy fried chicken.
Mandarin Centre, Shop 202, 65 Albert Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067
Penang Char Kway Teow at Kreta Ayer
If there’s one Singaporean and Malaysian dish I’ve had more often than not, it’s the traditional hawker style CKT. You’ll find the Penang Char Kway Teow ($17.90) at Kreta Ayer located in Chatswood Chase. I’m always keen for a good wok hei in this dish to help create some smoky flavours. This flat rice noodle dish came with prawns, Chinese lap cheong (sausage), sliced fishcake, egg, bean sprouts and had a mild curry spice flavour. If you’re lucky you might find some golden crisp croutons of pork lard in a CKT and traditionally it comes with blood cockles as I’ve had in Malaysia but that seems very hard if not impossible to find in Sydney, although they do tend to use clams instead. For some extra flavour I’d suggest chilli sauce on the side to enjoy with the dish.
Chatswood Chase, 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood
Gnome illustrations and maps by Chatswood Culture Bites
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