Comments on: AUthentic Asian – SIFF Night Noodle Markets 2009

By: the heart of food − SIFF Ashfield’s Big Yum Cha 2010

the heart of food − SIFF Ashfield’s Big Yum Cha 2010 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 04:00:31 +0000

[...] that you would expected at an event that touts itself as a Big Yum Cha, as with what I’ve come to expect as the norm for Sydney cultural food events, there were food items that had absolutely no relation to event [...]

By: the heart of food − Tasting Notes – A Guide to Taste of Sydney 2010

the heart of food − Tasting Notes – A Guide to Taste of Sydney 2010 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:19:47 +0000

[...] stall at the festival. I’ve seen at least one of those at every food festival, including the SIFF Asian Night Noodle Markets of all [...]

By: Trisha

Trisha — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:28 +0000

The past two Night Noodle Markets (08 and 09!) were very disappointing! They advertise “Hawker” style food stalls but really, they are quite ordinary food that grow cold as soon as you reach your designated dining area.
And I agree about the authenticity (or lack of) of the available food. I was looking for noodles but only 3 types of noodles kept re-occuring: pad thai, singaporean noodles, and pad si ew.
For the cost of the food and the work involved to actually get the food, I don’t think it was worth it.

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:30:01 +0000

Thanks for the comments. Interesting and varied points of few from all :)

Though I do agree with a lot of the points raised (e.g. alfresco dining, general liveliness etc.) my issue stems from a number of factors, if it wasn’t already made clear.

Firstly, for a noodle market, there seemed to be a distinct lack of noodle vendors/dishes (at least from what I saw). Worse still, stalls like the gozleme and Dutch profitjes (thanks for the reminder; totally forgot about them!) I can only see as being an unnecessary distraction.

Then there is the issue of authenticity. If you’re going to sell it as authentic, then actually put a little effort in to give it an authentic feel. I’m not expecting it to look and feel exactly as Asian noodle markets around the world but surely more could have been done than this. Having noodle dishes as the dominant food item, in whatever form, would be a start.

Lastly, if the whole point of the event is to enjoy Asian food in the surrounds of Hyde Park during some wonderful Spring evenings, why not give it a name that better reflects the event. You know, names like The Sydney Asian Food Festival, Alfresco Asian Food Fair, Annual Hyde Park Asian Food Market, Night Asian Markets etc. Call a spade a spade, and not a heart, albeit one that’s been blackened, inverted and having a wedge lodged into it.

By: billy@ATFT

billy@ATFT — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:31:09 +0000

I actually only been to the noodle night market once, and never again. The food is no better than foodcourt quality, and yeah, what’s the deal with Turkish Gozleme and Dutch profitjes at every single night food market?!

By: Simon Food Favourites

Simon Food Favourites — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:27:51 +0000

love your honesty in this post. well done. i pretty much agree with most of what you said. i can’t believe i went twice this year but it was more for the atmosphere and catching up with friends after work rather than the food which i find mostly disappointing every year and expect it to be as such. for value for money and freshness and quality your better off going to any chinese food court or restaurant in haymarket where you get a ‘clean’ table, service and decent food freshly cooked to order and even cheaper than some stalls were charging, eaten with proper cutlery and plates/bowls. was good bumping into you though. once i get my post up there’ll be a pic of you taking a photo of your chicken satay from Pebblle Thai hehe. i’m glad you picked that one because i had it after as well based on what i saw. such good value — the biggest chicken satay i’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. also had japancake, i didn’t mind it though. that’s so disappointing about that char kway teow which i think symbolises the non-authentic aspect which eludes the Night Noodle Market which I think could be so much better, where’s the Laksas, Wonton Noodle Soups, Har Mee, Chicken Rice, Roti, sizzling satays on hot coal grills freshly smoking away etc etc etc. i think that place had one of the biggest lines I saw too i guess because it looked so authentic. the Jackie M malaysian stall, which i saw one night with a queue about 40 metres long, i believe they did a decent char kway teow. :-)

By: FFichiban

FFichiban — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:59:15 +0000

I’m checking this out on the last day so thx for the recon mang!

By: Moya

Moya — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:38:17 +0000

Yep, agree with you all, wandered through about 6.30ish tonight hoping to pick up some dinner but honestly, I wasn’t hungry enough to wait in the queues. Could have had dessert with gelato and poffertjes and a free Ferrero Rocher chocolate but just enjoyed a slow walk through a very crowded park. It was lovely to see that part of the city so alive in the early evening though. Wish it was like that all the time!

By: Jacq

Jacq — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:34:34 +0000

LOL when I was in the queue at the bar I overheard one of the bouncers saying “What is a gozleme stall doing at a noodle market?!”. I was thinking of getting the “Japancake” but now I’m sort of glad I didn’t! Loved the Thai custard gelato flavour as well :)

By: mademoiselle délicieuse

mademoiselle délicieuse — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:51:03 +0000

The markets used to be better before they got so big but I wouldn’t say they were ever any more authentic. I agree with Helen though – it is more of a case about the atmosphere of al fresco dining and creating a hawker-stall type buzz. If people get excited about food, I suppose it’s a good thing?