Night Noodle Markets

Last night was the first night of the Sydney International Food Festival's Night Noodle Markets.  We are so lucky because this great event is taking place just a few blocks from where we live! For two weeks, the north end of Hyde Park is transformed into an authentic hawker-style market. For those of you who do not know what a "hawker-style market" is-- it is the name given to open air market in Hong Kong, Singapore and Riau Islands where they  sell a variety of inexpensive foods.  The Hawker centre or cooked food centre sprung up in the 50s and 60s to address the problem of unhygienic food preparation and sales by unlicensed street hawkers.   

At the Night Noodle Festival here in Sydney there are 40 different stalls selling everything from noodles to dumplings to desserts.  Hundreds of tables fill the park and Chinese lanterns hang all around. 

The market is a little overwhelming at first- so many choices and so much that is unfamiliar. So after a quick sweep of the grounds, we headed to a stall that sold satay. I knew that the boys would eat the satay. We also bought a few pork buns and then grabbed a table to eat.  The satay was a big hit. The pork buns were okay, not something we would get again. Coop had a great time using the chopsticks and was very proud of himself for actually getting his food into his mouth. Tucker stuck with using his fingers- smart boy. After dinner we went for the desserts.  First we had some Japanese pancakes with chocolate sauce, powdered sugar and strawberries. Then it was off to try the mango and sticky rice which was amazing!  Fortunately neither of the boys liked it so I got to have it all for myself. :)  

After dinner, the Lion Dance was performed to bring good luck to the vendors and guests.  It was a beautiful performance. The Lion went to each stall to "bless" them while a few musicians played a large drum and cymbals as the dance went along. Many children followed the lion on his journey. Every once and a while the lion would stop and "scare" the children. Speaking of being scared, Tucker was horrified by the Lion Dance. He kept pointing to the entrance and saying, "Door! Door!" Poor guy.  Cooper, on the other hand, loved it- loved it with his hands over his ears that is. :) Overall it was a wonderful evening with the boys. Tonight we go back with our friends from music class. Can't wait to see what tonight brings.  Hopefully some more of that mango and sticky rice!

Noodle Market- Visit #2 

We had our second visit to the Night Noodle Market tonight. We went with our friends from our music class- Archie and Millie and their parents. We met them outside our apartments and walked the few blocks to the festival. When we got there we sat down and got our food in shifts- so nice to have more than one adult there!  We had the satay again- why mess with a good thing, right? Tucker and I ate some delicious spring rolls and I had these amazing "money bags" filled with coconut and corn-YUM!!!  For dessert, yes, you guessed it, I had the mango and sticky rice and the boys had some frozen yogurt with sprinkles.  The kids had a great time running around the park and tasting some new foods.

After dinner came the Lion Dance again. This time the lion was different colours and it was not as quick moving and forceful as the night before. Not sure why, but I am on it and will find out! Stayed tuned... I was not able to get as many good pictures of the lion tonight, but got a few to give you an idea of what it looked like.  Tucker was still afraid, but a little less so.  Hopefully after a few more visits, he will be just as excited as Cooper is. 

Cooper and Archie

Cooper and his namesake, Coopers beer

souvenirs