Gourmet Shootout - Gyoza (Dumplings)

http://www.gyozabarann.com.au/ versus http://harajukugyoza.com/

Godzilla versus Megalon

I must admit I am a bit late to the Gyoza phenomenon.  Don't get me wrong, like most people I love a good dumpling, but for me they have always been the starter for the 'main show' in some of my favourite asian restaurants.  It is with interest that I have watched the birth of the Gyoza movement in Brisbane and most notably in the Valley with the opening of specialist dumpling houses.  Even more amazing to me is the queues I have seen forming out the front of some of these restaurants.  With the recent opening of the newest Gyoza restaurant down in Emporium in the Valley, I though it timely to test out the Ann Gyoza, new comer and (slightly) more established Harajuku Gyoza.

The new kid on the block

Irasshaimase!

After a long hot walk from the CBD to Emporium in the valley it was great to be welcomed into Ann Gyoza the the traditional Japanese welcome.  I had heard a lot of really positive things about Ann Gyoza lately and decided there was no better way to confirm than coming in to check it out.  Located in the Emporium complex, Ann Gyoza is tucked away around the back and certainly looks the part of a Japanese Gyoza restaurant with the area transformed by lots of clean lines, hanging tapestry with fittings and fixtures made almost exclusively with wood.

Gourmet Shoot Out Fish and Chips

http://www.thefishmongerswife.com/ versus http://swampdog.com.au/

The Champion versus the Contender

One of my staples over summer and for many Australians is the humble serving of fish & chips.  I'm not sure why, but during the colder months I don't often think of eating fish & chips, but once the warm weather strikes, I eat it pretty regularly.  The thing about a meal like fish & chips is that everyone has their favourite place to go and ends up being quite parochial, and I am no different, usually sticking to my own favourite.  Every so often though, along comes a challenger that makes you sit up and take notice of what they have to offer and my post today is about the two vying for my attention right now.