At Super Ling, chef Michael Li plays with classic Chinese flavours for all-in good times.
Is the ma po tofu jaffle a contender for the Aussie-Chinese hall of fame? Michael Li’s version at Carlton’s Super Ling suggests so. His toasted sandwich is the stuff of cravings, a sesame prawn toast for a new generation that starts with everything that makes ma po great – fermented chilli bean paste, garlic, chilli oil, soy, black vinegar, ginger, minced pork, tofu, water chestnut for texture – and then encases it in a jaffle’s essential toasted fluffy white bread shell. Crunch, spice, heat, familiarity, comfort; it’s a cross-cultural snack engineered for maximum happiness.
The same applies to Super Ling as a whole. Owner Iain Ling is a master of mucking with formula while preserving essence. He also knows how to bring the fun. At The Lincoln, a few doors from Super Ling, he seamlessly blends an egalitarian pub atmosphere and attitude with trend-conscious wine, beer and food lists, footy on TV and eclectic playlists. Here at his 30-seat shopfront diner, he and Michael Li combine a gaggle of influences – their Hakka Chinese heritage, the food Li’s mother cooked when he was growing up in Mauritius, modern mid-range Melbourne bistros, classic Aussie-Chinese restaurants – and blend them into a clever whole that’s seriously delicious without being too serious.
Denne historien er fra August 2019-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra August 2019-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
From personal experience
Former Hope St Radio chef ELLIE BOUHADANA invites you to gather your loved ones and enjoy an evening of good food and laughter with recipes from her new cookbook, Ellie's Table.
Kimberley Moulton
Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we applaud the international curator and Yorta Yorta woman who is shining a light on First Peoples.
Tom Wallace
We share a drop with the head winemaker for Devil's Corner, Tamar Ridge and Pirie Sparkling, a master of cool-climate grapes.
Best in class
The top drops to keep an eye out for on wine lists (and why they're worth the splurge)
A taste of refuge
Fleeing war and persecution, Australia's new arrivals push our food culture forward. DANI VALENT explores the contributions of the country's refugee communities.
BE OUR GUEST
Inspired by the sense of place conjured by Europe's Michelin-star restaurants, local restaurateurs are expanding their hospitality remit to include accommodation
Barcelona BUZZ
A popular drawcard for digital nomads and expats alike, the Catalonian capital offers equal parts sophistication and fun. Here, DANI VALENT discovers the latest dining hotspots.
HEATHCOTE BOUND
MICHAEL HARDEN hits the road to explore regional Victoria's Heathcote, home to this year's Best Destination Dining and a host of other delights.
The art of...relishing restaurants
Does working in hospitality make someone a better or worse diner
HEART AND SOUL
Not a vegetable but rather a flower bud that rises on a thistle, the artichoke is a complex delight. Its rewards are hard won; first you must get past the armour of petals and remove the hairy choke. Those who step up are rewarded with sweet and savoury creaminess and the elusive flavour of spring. Many of the recipes here begin with the same Provençal braise. Others call on the nuttiness of artichokes in their raw form. The results make pasta lighter and chicken brighter or can be fried to become a vessel for bold flavours all of which capture the levity of the season.