The Tastebud Tourist

• Words Di Von Essen

Every time I drive down Beaumont Street, I seem to discover a restaurant I've never noticed before. Recently, this prompted me to make a (somewhat hasty) declaration that “we will try out a different restaurant on Beaumont Street every week and see how many weeks it takes us to try them all!”

Admittedly, what started as a challenge has turned into a bit of an obsession because, as I've realised, it’s kind of like travelling which is an obsession. And, of course, there is an incredible array of different cuisines in multicultural Beaumont St – making it truly like travelling. With your tastebuds!

BUONGIORNO ITALIA at SAPORI AT TAILORS!

For a genuine taste of Italy, particularly Rome and Calabria, Novocastrians need to go no further than Sapori at Tailors. Opened by Romans Fabrizio and Francesca Virgili in January 2021, it is now a firm favourite for locals and anyone looking for the authentic traditions of Italian fare. And when I say authentic, I genuinely mean it – nearly everyone working there speaks Italian or is from Italy, including our lovely waitress, who hails from a small town just outside Venice.

Sapori means ‘flavours’ in Italian, and that’s what this rustic restaurant is all about - flavours and traditional cooking that is true to the origins of the recipes handed down through the family.

“We really care about keeping to traditions. We make everything from scratch with the best produce. We import a lot of ingredients from Italy because if we want authentic flavours, we have to. The Italian speck is much less fatty than the Australian speck; the salami is spicier or more flavourful. It is all about the flavours,” says Fabrizio, our Chef for the night.

And there were flavours aplenty in every morsel – from the Arancini Funghi to the traditional beef and pork Lasagna topped with fresh parmesan and basil, (the best I’ve ever tasted), to my personal favourite – the Gnocchetti with Prawns and Zucchini. There was no room for dessert, but we made space regardless for a slice of Pear and Ricotta Cake from the extensively and deliciously stocked dessert cabinet.

Dining at Sapori’s was unexpectedly remarkable, and we will definitely become repeat visitors. You’ll find this delightful gem at the Islington end of Beaumont St (Number 10, to be exact). Bookings are recommended as this restaurant has quite the following.

LIMOO PERSIAN CUISINE

I'm the first to admit that I know very little about Persian (aka Iranian) cuisine. It doesn’t seem to have the same dedicated following that Italian or Indian cuisine has in this country, yet, as we discovered at Limoo, there is so much time that goes into Iranian dishes (many of which are slow-cooked for four or five hours), the resulting flavour is outstanding and something to be savoured.

We both went for lamb dishes – the Khoresht Bademjan (slow-cooked diced lamb stew with roasted eggplant and tomato flavoured with sun-dried lime and cinnamon served with saffron rice) and the Mahiche (slow-cooked lamb shanks cooked in sauce with Persian spices, saffron and tomato served with saffron rice). The spice was subtle and balanced in both dishes (which we shared), and I found it impossible to choose between them.

If you love a good Baklava, then Limoo is your place. There were four on the menu the evening we dined, and if I could make any recommendation, I would try all four! Pistachio, Walnut, Almond or Hazelnut and Chocolate Baklava – how could any sane person choose? You’ll find Limoo at 74 Beaumont St, Hamilton.

KINGS XI

I love Indian food, but I tend to have a set routine that includes butter chicken and lamb korma – and occasionally, I go wild and order a Mango Chicken. The menu at Kings XI certainly had all of my faves on offer – but in the spirit of a true ‘tastebud tourist”, I decided to try something new.

Named after the city where it originated, the Kings XI Amritsari Fish Curry infused with a mild blend of onion, coriander, and fenugreek was the old-style curry it promised to be, but the hero of the night was the Hyderabadi Biryani. Renowned as India’s most famous dish, it was described on the menu as a concoction of basmati rice, mint, saffron and rose water, layered with steamed chicken and slow-cooked over a very low flame, then served with raita and a boiled egg. Needless to say – I have a new favourite Indian dish! You’ll find Kings XI at 100 Beaumont St, and be warned – it’s too soon for cricket banter!