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Chicken Tikka Masala
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Chicken Tikka Masala is know all around the world as one of the most popular Indian dishes. Served off the bone, the chicken is cooked in a tandoor oven and then braised in a creamy, coconut sauce with a hint of tomatoes and masala spices. Mild to medium heat and served with pilau rice and peshwari naan bread, you rarely see anything left on the plate! Add Mango chutney for a little more sweetness, or lime pickle which will blow your socks off!
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Indian
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Lamb Madras
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A hotter, sharper dish, but very popular. Strong tomato based sauce with lamb that has been marinated and braised over a period of time. Spices used include chilli, garlic, cumin, coriander and ginger, creating a much stronger flavour and without the sweetness of coconut used in many Indian dishes. Accompany with deep fried onion bhajis, naan bread and cucumber and mint raita to cool you down!
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Indian
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Pad Thai
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If your not sure what to order at a Thai restaurant you can't go wrong with Pad Thai! Definitely one of the most popular Thai dishes that consists of noodles, dried shrimp, chicken, red chillies, tamarind and thai basil. Some restaurants are now introducing a ‘chilli beef’ pad Thai which gives a whole different texture and flavour to the dish.
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Thai
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Thai Spring Rolls
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Not unlike the Chinese version, these are served in most thai restaurants you come across. Deep fried in pancake rolls, some are vegetarian and others include chicken, duck or prawns with herbs and spices. Usually served with a sweet chilli dip or a sweet plumb sauce, they are delicious as you crunch into the pastry wrapper and reveal the delicious contents!
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Thai
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Tom Yum
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The most famous of Thai soups, Tom Yum is spicy and sour and utterly delicious. Served usually with prawns and chicken, the flavours are created by crushing all the herbs into a paste and stir frying in oil. To make the soup, stock is added and topped off with fresh herbs. Tom Yum Soup is often served with a bowl of steamed rice.
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Thai
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Butter Chicken
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Butter Chicken is a much loved dish in Australia. Usually served mild in restaurants, you can of course ask for added heat. It is creamy, smells divine and is full of flavour. If you have someone in your group who is not a fan of hot curries this is certainly the dish for them to try. Cashew Paste is often used to thicken the sauce which adds the richness to the dish.
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Indian
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Crispy Duck with Pancakes
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Served in virtually every Chinese restaurant around the country, Crispy Duck is a sociable way of eating with a group of friends or family. The duck is air-dried and then roasted in the oven with a honey and soy glaze and Chinese 5-Spice. This renders the skin crisp while the flesh stays tender. It is then shredded and served with a plum sauce, pancakes and finely sliced matchstick pieces of cucumber and spring onion. Take one of the pancakes from the bamboo steamer, a spoonful of sauce and top with the shredded vegetables and duck. Roll up and crunch it to it, simply delicious!
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Chinese
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Onion Bhaji
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One of the most popular starter or side dishes in Indian restaurants. Shredded onion is mixed with herbs, spices and flour then deep fried in either flat rosti style cakes, or round balls. Usually served with shredded lettuce, onion, cucumber and tomato and a tray of dips, including cucumber raita, mango and red hot lime pickle.
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Indian
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Spaghetti and Meatballs
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Traditional Italian dish, with meatballs made of minced pork and beef, herbs and minced onion and garlic, and served in a rich thick tomato based ragu sauce. Can be served sometimes with shredded fresh basil or oregano and shavings of parmesan. As with carbonara, it tends to be served with garlic bread and side salad.
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Italian
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Chilli con Carne
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The staple dish served in Mexican restaurants. They normally ask you how hot you want it! The usual minced beef with tomatoes, chillies and kidney beans and served with rice and a side salad. Plenty of bread is also served in a basket to mop up the final bits of sauce.
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Mexican
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Quesadillas
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These are similar to burritos but the filling is wrapped inside the tortilla, cheese is grated over (and sometimes a white sauce) and then baked in the oven.The fillings differ – minced chilli beef is the most popular but they can be filled with spinach, peppers and jalapenos, with grated cheese. Usually served in an oval dish, bubbling from the oven, with a side salad. Mexican version of garlic bread with jalapenos is a must if you like lots of spice!
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Mexican
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Thai Green Curry
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Thai food is famous for its curries and the Green curry is probably the most famous of the lot. Made from fresh chillies, lemongrass, shrimp paste, galangal, garlic, lime leaves and coriander, Thai green curry paste has a fabulous distinctive flavour and is mixed with coconut cream to make the curry creamy. Quite often served with green beans and pea aubergines and mountains of jasmine rice, it is a heart warming dish that is loved by Thai food fans around the world.
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Thai
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Lamb cutlets with garlic and rosemary
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Usually on every Italian menu, small trimmed lamb chops or cutlets are served steeped in fresh rosemary and garlic and pan fried or grilled. Served with sauté potatoes and vegetables, it is a hearty plate of food and delicious flavours. Tender pink lamb is enhanced by the earthy rosemary and garlic.
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Italian
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Minestrone Soup
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The classic and renowned Italian soup, comprising small pasta shapes, a rich chicken stock and finely diced vegetables such as celery, onions, tomatoes, carrots beans and herbs. Created in Ancient Roman times this soup is now served in many different ways, some finely and others much more chunky and hearty. A sprinkling of parmesan and a good basket of bread makes this really filling.
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Italian
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Napoletana pasta sauce
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An amazing vegetarian italian option. Crushed tomato, onion, garlic, basil and parmesan. Sounds simple but bursting with lots of flavour.
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Italian
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Osso Buco
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A dish invented in Ancient Roman Times and perfected over the years to a more sophisticated Italian meal, consisting of cross-cut veal shanks, braised in red wine, onions, celery and carrots and served with a gremolata on the top (optional).
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Italian
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Bruschetta
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Delicious slices of bread, rubbed with garlic and tomato and seasoned before grilling. Various toppings are served, the most popular being diced tomatoes and red onion with finely chopped garlic and basil. Can also be served with a pesto topping, and sometimes with roasted aubergine and mushrooms. Usually a starter, but can be purchased as a main course.
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Italian
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Taco
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There are food trucks doing great tacos around the country. The Fish tacos are delicious with lime sauce and pickles. Our recommendation is to seek out the food trucks, grab some tacos and chill out in the sunshine.
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Mexican
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Burritos
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Another version of chilli but wrapped in a soft tortilla roll and served with sour cream, more diced chillis and onions. The tortilla is normally soft grilled or steamed to make it softer so that you can wrap the filling inside and eat with your hands if you want! Salad on the side will certainly cool your mouth down!
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Mexican
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Nachos
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Everyone loves nacho chips, particularly when they are smothered in salsa, jalapenos and grated cheese and when the cheese melts under the grill – delicious! Can be served with a side order of guacamole and sour cream, its almost a meal in itself, but usually a sharing bowl on the table as a starter or with drinks.
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Mexican
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Kingfisher
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This is probably the most popular beer served in Indian restaurants, the brewery being owned by one of the richest men in the world! 5% alcohol content, but the taste is quite light and quite refreshing with a hot curry.
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Indian
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Mango Lassi
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Served in most Asian restaurants, it is probably a ‘signature smoothie’ type of drink. Fresh mangoes with yoghurt and light spices poured over ice – absolutely delicious and refreshing to the palate and takes away any heat from spicy food still burning your tongue!
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Asian
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Beer
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Singha and Kloster are the most consumed Thai beers. Singha was originally brewed over 80 years ago in Thailand by members of the Thai nobility. Fairly strong and ‘hoppy’ tasting, it is made from barley and has 6% alcohol content. Kloster is a much smoother beer and a little more expensive.
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Thai
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Whisky
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Some restaurants in Australia serve a selection of Thai whiskies. The whisky is made from rice and is sharp and sweet, but very high in alcohol content at 35%. Mekong and Kwangthong are popular brands. It is not a cheap drink to buy, even though its cheaper in Thailand than beer!
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Thai
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Beer
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Tsingtao is the most popular Chinese beer in China. Best served with spicy food, it is crisp and refreshing when ice cold. It has a nutty, sweet taste and is a perfect accompaniment to Chinese dishes. It is a lager style beer and a modest 4.8% alcohol.
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Chinese
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Jasmine Tea
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Jasmine Tea is a famous Chinese tea brew, deeply aromatic and usually served at the end of a meal with great ceremony. Always served with a teapot and cup, often on a bamboo mat. The unique flavour and aroma is caused by the jasmine blossom fragrance being absorbed into the tea during growth. Subtlely sweet, is is renowned throughout the world.
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Chinese
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Lemongrass Soda
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Very refreshing drink made with lemon grass syrup and mixed with soda or sparkling water, garnished with lemon slices and served over ice. Sometimes garnished with Thai basil to give a more herby taste.
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Thai
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Thai Papaya Smash
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A wonderful cocktail mainly served in the medium to larger restaurants. Made with fresh papaya, orange and a shot of tequila and dash of freshly squeezed lime it has both a bitter and sweet taste. The addition of agave nectar brings more sweetness, but sometimes you have to ask for it.
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Thai
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Chianti
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In rustic Italian restaurants, you can still see empty bottles of Chianti grouped together and hanging around the bar or ceiling! Old Chianti bottles used to be covered in a basket weave, and often used to house a candle on your table, so that the wax dripped down the outside of the bottle! The wine itself is red and relatively light in comparison to heavier Italian wines such as Barolo. Chianti is produced primarily in the beautiful region of Tuscany, and is eminently drinkable!
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Italian
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Soave
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Another popular wine, this white wine is produced in the Veneto region of Italy, around the city of Verona, home to many Shakespeare plays! It is comparatively dry and was once the ‘in’ drink in the 1970’s but was overtaken by Pinot Grigiot towards the 1980’s
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Italian
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Peroni
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The most popular of beers served in Italian restaurants, it is not the cheapest one around but still sells more than any other. 5% alcohol, a slightly ‘hoppy’ taste but very refreshing when served in iced cold frosted glasses.
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Italian
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Beer
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There are some great ‘Mexican’ beers, which can also originate from Spain! Bottled beers are served such as Sol and Mexicana, usually served with a wedge of lime in the neck of the bottle.
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Mexican
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Tequila
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Tequila has become popular drunk as a shot, and followed down by an ice cold Mexican beer! Very strong spirit, served with wedges of lime and salt to eat off the back of your hand! Definitely a drink originating from Mexico and drunk in pubs and bars as well as restaurants. Can also be drank as a long drink such as a Tequila Slammer, which is made using a fizzy drink such as lemonade or ginger ale. Slammer Royale is a serious drink for the ‘professional’ – Tequila is mixed with champagne!
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Mexican
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Green Tea
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Green tea is very popular in Chinese restaurants and sushi bars. This could be due to its apparent ‘healing properties’ and distinct flavour. Green Tea aids digestion of raw food and has a slightly earthy but not unpleasant taste. Served in a cup that is often prettily decorated.
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Chinese, Sushi
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