I've been meaning to stop by these two little hole in the walls since they moved into what was my old neighbourhood in Owairaka, Auckland. L'Ouef is the casual daytime cafe which later gives way to the sassiness of Chinoiserie by evening. Nevertheless they're both packed and spill out into the other's outdoor seating at any one time. L'Ouef I visited here with a few girlfriends on a sunny summer's day as we had heard good things about this place. No doubt there are many satisfying dishes on offer but none more so than the most instagrammed dish in town, the Nest ($17.50). It's described as "two sunflower seed crumbed soft-boiled eggs, in a Kataifi pastry nest, sitting on a bed of rocket leaves and spiced beetroot ketchup". I think the picture speaks for itself, and actually eating it is an experience not to be missed. I've been trying to recreate the beetroot ketchup in my own kitchen but to no avail, theirs is really something special. Overall L'Ouef is not your usual standard cafe fare, and it prides itself on providing beautiful quality food that you won't be able to help yourself but take a picture! Chinoiserie Just recently my mum had heard from her colleagues the gua bao here was to die for - so of course we had to see what all the fuss was about. Immediately upon walking into the place we were greeted by a huge dragon weaving it's way around the ceiling, and I for one was overcome with nostalgia of those days we would visit Nyonya restaurants in Malaysia. Everything from the charming school-time chairs, to the typical Lucky Cats with the waving paws on each table, and the colourful hanging parasols, this was a walk down memory lane. The food on offer is a mix of Chinese-Taiwanese street food, but the real star is their Gua Bao (house-made steamed buns) which comes in a variety of fillings for only 8 bucks! The braised five-spiced Pork Belly is not to be missed, although because it was so good we were a little bit underwhelmed by the fried Squid. We also ordered the Jap Chae ($12) - a glass noodle salad which easily slid down our throats especially after adding a splash of Sriracha. Overall Chinoiserie is the casual-cool, badass older sister of L'Ouef. It is fast food without the pretentiousness, but with all the quality and intrigue that makes this place irresistible.
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AuthorWe're two Kiwi Malaysians navigating life in a modern global society. We love to seek adventure and are unashamedly food fanatics (without the pretentiousness). Most of all, we love connecting with others so please share with us your stories, opinions and recommendations! ArchivesCategories |