Darwin’s best laksa handed Golden Bowl award as festival closes

While it won’t be without controversy among local aficionados, the judges of the Laksa Festival’s Golden Bowl award have named Darwin’s best laksa.

The winner of the 2019 Golden Bowl for the Laksa Festival is Choks Place in the Galleria. Melanie Chin received the award on the chef’s behalf. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

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Darwin’s best laksa has been named.

While it won’t be without controversy among local aficionados, the judges of the Darwin Laksa Festival’s Golden Bowl award have named Chok’s Place in the Smith St Mall as the king of the spicy soups.

The naming of the top dish was part of the celebration of the end of the Laksa Festival, the first year of the event.

Head judge Jimmy Shu said the dish was a standout among about four or five top contenders and the final decision was “extremely close”.

AND THE WINNERS ARE 🏆🏆🏆🏆Judges Choice Inspired By: Cold Rock Laksa Ice creamJudges Choice Laksa: Chok’s...

Posted by Darwin International Laksa Festival on Sunday, 24 November 2019

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“For me, I was looking for the taste of the dried shrimps, and it was present in the winning laksa,” he said.

Meanwhile Cold Rock’s laksa flavoured ice cream took out the honours for the best laksa inspired dish.

“The inspired by dishes were challenging to judge, I’m a traditionalist and I love a traditional laksa, but the innovation and creativity was outstanding,” Mr Shu said.

Asian Pot on Knuckey St took out the people’s choice award for best laksa while Moorish Cafe’s laksa panna cotta was named best inspired by in the popular vote.