I almost did a double take.

I don’t remember what was there before, but now, through the panes of glass were a trio of women heavily involved in the filling and rolling of dumplings.

They didn’t as much as glance up as I pressed my nose against the window for a better look. Of course, being on show like that, you’d become a immune to the gawkers.

The industrious dumpling makers are employed at Taste Gallery, Sunnybank’s Market Square’s newest and definitely swishiest food venue.

It’s been open around two months and unlike a lot of it’s neighbours, it doesn’t have that crammed in, slighly ad hoc feel. There are no nodding, waving lucky cats on the counter or handwritten signs stating ‘cash only’, nor even tissue boxes on the tables.

Rather it’s open and modern with some forethought having gone into the design, that features booths and tables. It feels a little like a modern Hong Kong tea house.

 

Of course I had to have a sticky beak, despite the fact it was only 11.30am. I’m not really sure how it works-whether it offers yum cha complete with trolley or not. Certainly the table are spaced in a way that suggests it. However, being on my own and not very hungry, I made my way to the counter to order to go. Here I was presented with a Domesday sized book complete with pics of all the dishes, which range from dumplings in denominations of four to meaty main courses.

I chose the panfried spring onion pancake $1.80 each and a little taste of some of the pork steamed dumplings with black fungus $5.20. They were packaged up very nicely in a carry bag with a container of black vinegar.

The pancakes were amazing. Hot, light and airy, crisp and delicious, generously stuffed with spring onion with little eggy bits. Dipped into the vinegar, with it’s sour/bitter/sweet treacle notes, they were perfect.

The steamed buns too were exemplary- soft airy with and perfect balance of bland with a sweet note outside, encasing well-flavoured pork and black fungus. They’re all made to order. Once the ladies are done making them, a bell rings and they’re picked up and taken straight to your table.

Being a big fan of dumplings, and not a great fan in recent years of Chinese food; I’m pleased that this place has opened. There seems to be some regional focus with the dumplings, which I think is the start of the seperation of rubbish generic “Chinese” food with an appreciation of it’s wealth of regional differences.

Apparently it doesn’t yet have a license, but let’s hope that’s a temporary state.

Taste Gallery, Sunnybank

Market Square Shopping Centre

Shop 20B/341 McCullough Street

Ph 3423 8483