99 Spices, Coolamon Cheese: Riverina best international spots
You won’t need a passport to go on a global gastronomic journey in the Riverina, with a wealth of international cuisines available right on your doorstep. Here’s 10 of the best places to satisfy your tastebuds.
The Wagga News
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You won’t need a passport to go on a global gastronomic journey in the Riverina, with a wealth of international cuisines available right on your doorstep.
From Italian to Lebanese, Indian to Chinese and more - there’s a lineup of international food on the menu at a range of first-class restaurants across the region.
Here’s 10 of the best:
Kung Fu Dumplings, 10 Gurwood St, Wagga Wagga
Kung Fu Dumplings is the perfect place to grab all your favourite Chinese dishes, from homemade pork dumplings to spicy Kung Pao chicken.
The aroma of chilli, garlic, onion and more greets you at the small takeaway shop at 10 Gurwood St, Wagga.
Chef Hui Wang said all dishes at the popular eatery are inspired by the Cantonese style of cooking.
Mr Wang said the shop had been embraced by locals and visitors to the area alike.
“We make our food fresh daily, we are up early cooking the dumplings and pork buns which is a favourite of many,” Mr Wang said.
“In the future, we want to hopefully have ducks hanging up in the shop so we can have more duck dishes which will generate more interest in Chinese food.”
Best Buy: If you are feeling extra hungry, go for an eight-pack of handmade beef dumplings, with salt and pepper pork, and fried rice, $30.
Nabiha’s Lebanese Kitchen, 115 Baylis St, Wagga Wagga
Nabiha’s kitchen is not only Wagga’s best place for traditional Lebanese food, it is reknowned far further afield for its homemade baklava and coffee, not to mention its handmade lamb kibbeh.
Hidden away in an arcade just off Baylis St, you walk into the small but cute cafe to see 81-year-old owner and proud chef Nabiha Koriaty cooking away with the smell of herbs and spices from the Middle East in the air.
Ms Koriaty has run the restaurant for over 32 years, using her culinary talents and passion to create what she calls “food from God”.
She’s showing no signs of slowing down, working 15 hours a day to make the amazing creations with the freshest ingredients.
Must trys are the homemade spinach pie and chicken curry, and all your Lebanese favourites such as sambousik, falafels and ma’amoul.
It is a family affair with her daughter Victoria now helping out in the kitchen as well.
“I cook with love and I only cook healthy food because I love giving people food that they will enjoy,” Ms Koriaty said.
“I cook with the passion that God gave me because the Lord is looking over us to take care of us.”
She told The Wagga News the locals love trying something different and said her food is “world famous” with actress Cate Blanchett even popping in to try Ms Koriaty’s fare a decade ago.
“I was so shocked when I served her , I told her this food is made with the love of God, she was so politie and she enjoyed every bit of it,” she said.
You can even try to Ms Ms Koriaty’s dishes via her cookbook Lebanese Recipe of My Life which can be brought at the cafe.
Best buy: If you are looking for something different than your everyday kebab, try lamb kibbi for a starter which is lamb mince, crushed wheat filled with pomegranate and onion.
For main course enjoy lamb curry served with rice and if you have enough room for dessert, finish with homemade baklava or boorma which is katifa pastry filled with pistachios and topped with hot syrup.
Wash it down with a Lebanese coffee, $42.
Thaigga Wagga, 107 Fitzmaurice St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Walking in to Thaigga, you are immediately greeted by the aromas of Thailand - chilli, lemongrass and garlic.
Thaigga, a fusion of Thai and western cuisine, has all the Thai favourites such as pad thai, massaman beef, red and green curry.
But there’s also some unusual options too such as Lazy Duck - deep fried duck served on wilted bok choy in Panang curry with a splash of coconut cream and fried sweet potato strips.
Drunk Duck is another favourite - roasted duck and bok choy served with a Thai red wine sauce - and a personal favourite, crab fried rice.
Manager Ling Newcombe said: “Our Thai food has a modern twist which makes it so popular with the locals in the Wagga and the surroundings.
“We have been here for 10 years and open for lunch and dinner and we are a popular favourite with the customers.
“We make it with the freshest ingredients but also try to make it local friendly by milding down the dishes so all can enjoy the flavours of Thailand.
“We are wanting to expand in the future in Wagga to make more people enjoy the flavours of Thai food.”
Best Buys: If you are with a hungry crowd, I highly recommend sharing a massaman beef, red beef curry and Drunk Duck with a big plate of steam rice and roti, $95.
Coolamon Cheese, 87 Cowabbie St, Coolamon
If cheese is your thing, and quality cheese at that, Coolamon Cheese is the place to go.
Known for its award-winning cheeses inspired by the cheesemakers of Northern Italy, Coolamon Cheese has multiple cheeses to offer according to head cheesemaker Jenn Nestor who has worked at the factory for three years and said: “Who doesn’t love cheese”.
“We are inspired by northern Italian style but also use Australian ingredients infused in our cheese such as hints of Australian native honey, using Australian native herbs and indigenous flavours in our cheeses as well,” Ms Nestor said.
“We also have a cafe as well which has a fairly simple menu, not cheese oriented, but gives people an idea of the food that is offered around the Riverina.”
The cafe ranges from favourites such as a classic meat pie to healthy salads, all decent options after you tour around the home of cheese in the Riverina.
On your tour you will see Ms Nestor making the cheese by hand and will be able try a range of cheeses.
Best Buys: D’Brie artisan cheese: This luxurious, richly flavoured white mould cheese is silky smooth and creamy with a light open texture. The bloomy rind is full of mushroom earthiness and a lasting flavour lingering on the palate, $19.
Soft blue artisan cheese: This soft and creamy interior is complemented by the tang of the blue mould that gives the cheese its distinctive flavour and aroma, $17.10.
99 Spices Griffith , 453 Banna Ave, Griffith NSW
If you’re a fan of Indian cuisines, 99 Spices has the authentic flavours and aromas that you’ll love.
Located on the main st in Griffith, it offers up household favourites such as butter chicken, chicken and beef korma and lamb madras as well as traditional favourites including goat curry, eggplant masala and chicken vindaloo.
Manager Amanda Elvy said the food was inspired by a punjabi style of cooking and had moved towards a traditional way of cooking which the locals enjoyed.
“The original owners were making it a bit of a western style but now we move to more traditional dishes from the north of India which are different but loved by the locals, “ Ms Elvy said.
“We have great reputation among the community and people come from everywhere in the Riverina to try Indian cuisine,” she said.
Best Buy: If you are with a hungry crowd, I highly recommend getting multiple curries, something spicy like chicken vindaloo, and milder options of lamb rogan josh and eggplant masala with saffron rice and garlic naan, $60.30.
Cootamundra Ex-Servicemens & Citizens Memorial Club, 299 Parker St, Cootamundra NSW
The club serves up a great range of western dishes but has the best of both worlds with an extensive Chinese and Thai menu.
Secretary Manager Megan Sawyer said: “At the club we have a great range of Chinese food for your tastebuds such as mongolian beef, beef in black bean, and Thai food as well like pad Thai and beef Thai curry.”
No wonder why people all across the Riverina from towns like Junee, Coolamon and Leeton make the trip to the Cootamundra to try the Chinese here because as Ms Sawyer said: “We have four great chefs from China who make everything from scratch and the food is to die for”.
“It is the closest to traditional as you can get in the country especially,” she said.
They also offer a western-style menu including lamb shanks, burgers and more.
Best Buys: Lunch Special for $12, beef in black bean with fried rice.
Saigon’s Wagga,89-91 Morgan St, Wagga
If you want a full Vietnamese experience then Saigions is the place to be.
Located just off the main road in Wagga, it offers all the classic vietnamese food from homemade Pho and beef noodle soup with a hint of fresh chilli to spice up the dish.
Proud owner Peter Vu said “It is great to give the community something different and I think before they travel to Vietnam, they come to our restaurant to see if they like the food and get an idea of the mixture of spices, soups and other dishes we like to offer”.
“We make everything in the kitchen with fresh ingredients and we have a lot of regulars from town who enjoy the food we offer,” he said.
Saigon's also offers more than Vietnamese, it also dishes up an array of Chinese dishes as well which go down well with customers.
“I think by offering both options it conquers that gap in the market of sit down dining option for chinese not just takeaway,” he said.
Best Buys: A big bowl of pho for starters and a plate of pork with lemongrass and chilli with steamed rice, $40.
Roll VIET cafe and restaurant, 1/123 Baylis St, Wagga
Another Vietnamese restaurant in Wagga, and if you are looking for the street style this is the place to be.
Owner Harry Ly said they offer a range of traditional Vietnamese street food like the classic bhai mi roll which is a baguette with crispy pork, pate, coriander, bhai mi sauce and fresh chilli; also pho and a range of handmade rice paper and spring rolls.
“We are inspired by the street style of Vietnam and the French style with fresh baguette and butter, we also make traditional custard tarts as well,” Mr Ly said.
“We get great feedback from everyone and office workers, tradies love coming here for lunch during their workday.”
They also offer traditional Vietnamese coffee and desserts like custard tarts.
Best Buys: Their lunch special bhai mi, combo Vietnamese roll (roasted pork with crackling or grilled BBQ chicken) with drink, $12.
Il Corso, 140 Banna Ave, Griffith
They don’t call Griffith little Italy for no reason. It has a range of Italian food but if you are looking for an up market choice Il Corso Cafe is the one.
Ranging from multiple pastas to pizzas and the clear favourite of many, veal saltimbocca with asparagus and mash potato with a white wine sauce, it is the place to be.
Operating for over 20 years, owner Joseph Gioia said the food is made with love and with inspiration from his Nonna in Vita Gioia.
“Our food is inspired by my grandmother in Vita Gioia’s cooking, she comes from Sicily and we cook with a southern style to create simple dishes,” Mr Gioia said.
“I have to give praise to my staff and our suppliers as with them we are able to create fresh food, and by keeping loyal to them it has helped our business grow.”
Mr Gioia said he highly recommends peri peri chicken pizza or their homemade gnocchi was to die for.
“Our gnocchi is freshly made and what we like to call little clouds of heaven,” he said.
“The people of Griffith have been loyal to us, we make sure we make fresh and simple food that all people can love and enjoy.”
Best Buys: Veal saltimbocca topped with prosciutto cooked in a white wine, sage and garlic sauce served on a bed of mashed potato and greens for $35 and a large peri peri chicken pizza for $26.
Bertoldo’s Bakery , 324 Banna Ave, Griffith
If you love your Italian coffee and cake , then Bertoldo's is the place to be.
Based on the main street of Griffith for over 70 years it has been a favourite among visitors and locals.
Owner and manger Steven Bertoldo said the bakery started when his grandfather emigrated from Northern Italy as a qualified baker and was able to set up the business, and it’s grown ever since.
“My grandfather and father came from northern Italy during the war period and qualified as pastry chefs in Sydney and came to Griffith and started the business in 1951,” Mr Bertoldo said.
They offer a wide range of cakes to hot food such as pies and pasties and sell traditional Italian biscuits.
Coffee and Italian gelato are on offer as well as the bakery, which takes you back to the streets of Italy.
“We do everything fresh throughout the day and have a wide range of food and I highly recommend to try everything,” he said.
“We use the most freshestof ingredients and we have a great relationship with our customers who come Australia wide,” he said.
Best buy: Try the homemade cannoli for $3 and for a savoury option, the classic meat pie or a fresh salad roll ranging from $5 to $9.
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