Discovery XI

Cherating is a town in Malaysia. According to the Wikipedia article, it "houses a cultural village and a turtle sanctuary. The turtles lay their eggs between July and August."

Too late for the turtle eggs but closer to home is Cherating restaurant in Kew East, at Harp Junction. We have high hopes of the Harp of Erin hotel over the road, but it turns out to be a soulless place that has been overrun by gaming and betting. After a very quick VB and Bulmers (not a Harp in sight), we head back across the road to the charming Cherating.

Cherating

Cherating has a dim and streamlined interior and is quiet and comfortable. There are not many people dining out in this corner of Kew tonight. We are made to feel welcome and the service is friendly and attentive.

We start with beancurd wraps and curry puffs. The beancurd wrap is not the thin crispy parcel we are expecting, but a hollowed out piece of beancurd stuffed with beanshoots and other crunchy slivers of vegetable, with a brown peanut sauce and sesame seeds. The dish has a pleasant contrast of flavours and textures but proves to be almost identical to the gado gado I have for my main course. The gado gado does however come with egg slices and pappadams for a bit of contrast.

The carnivores share a couple of dishes from the extensive specials board: black pepper scallops and Mongolian beef, with Sambal spinach for a green accent. The black pepper scallops and the spinach win the votes for the most interesting dishes of the night.

Another chapter in the Discovery narrative closes with a trip down High St and Church St to Richmond, then back to the city of Boroondara via Riversdale Road. The roads are almost as quiet as Cherating.

 

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