Dai and Dal's LBQ MKR BBQ
Where? Little Beer Quarter (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map
When? Saturday December 6, 2014
Who? Mana
Food Style? Laotian
Little Beer Quarter have been hosting teams from New Zealand's version of My Kitchen Rules over the past few weekends, each of them using the barbeque to cook up an extravaganza on Edward Street. This week, Dai and Dal, the two Laotians, were on the roster, so Mana (also of Laotian descent) pulled me along for a squizz. He'd met the two before at a party and knew I'd be interested, so I was super keen to see what the fuss was about and have a chat. Unfortunately, only Dai was there but the quality of the food was still top notch. They partnered with Yeastie Boys to produce a menu full of great South East Asian flavours.
Starter
Grilled Prawns Marinated in Chilli, Garlic, Yeastie Boys White Noise and Lemongrass, served with Mango Salsa
The prawns were succulent and grilled so perfectly, with that lovely aromatic garlic and chilli shining through. I was a bit confused by the mango however; it wasn't the tangy, sour green variety common in Thai Mango Salads, nor did it have that delightfully sweet flavour so characteristic of mangos. It felt like it wasn't quite ripe. The idea, however, was there and I could see potential. I have had some excellent mango salsas before so I wondered if perhaps that particular batch of fruit just wasn't ready for use. I asked Dai about this afterwards - trying not to sound like a dick - and she agreed. Still, a very simple but flavoursome dish that's easy to do at home. I must try this one day.
Mains
Tom Khem - Caramelised Braised Pork Belly with Coconut Rice Balls, Cucumber Salad and Nam Jim
I opted for the smaller portion so I could also enjoy the prawns as well; Mana had the large plate, which came with an extra piece of the pork and more coconut rice balls. The pork was wonderfully soft and melted in your mouth. It was perhaps a little too salty by itself, but balanced out nicely with the cucumber and the coconut rice balls. I was so impressed by the intricate textures of the coconut rice balls; it was just so satisfying crunching the coconut bits in my teeth, and yet its simplicity and plainness fit the rest of the dish so nicely. I'd never had anything like that before, so I asked Dai if it was a Laotian thing. She confirmed that it was, and Mana piped in to say that his mother used to make something similar too. Good stuff!
Me, Dai and Mana at Little Beer Quarter
Dai never stopped smiling while we were there, and she was such a warm and bubbly personality to talk to. More than anything, I think her food is a reflection of what kind of person she is, and I love that food can telegraph personality like that. I had a really good chat to her after the meal and expressed my gratitude, but forgot to ask where Dal was. In any case, Mana and I left quite satisfied with the food, but it's a shame that these MKR teams are only there for a week!
Posted by Jeremy at 10:30am on Sunday December 7, 2014 :: 1 comment :: 
Hey, like your blog! Just going to suggest RAD cafe in Mt Eden - seems like their menu might just be down your alley! Franklin