I’ve
had some of the best Italian food in Japan. I always hit up pizza and pasta
shops whenever I visit Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. It’s all thanks to my homie Kerby Craig’s influence. The Japanese
take (or known as Wafu) on pasta is especially interesting.
Speaking
about Kerby, he recently teamed up
with renowned chef Hamish Ingham and restaurateur Rebecca Lines to open Pasta Wafu. This eatery is located in the
centre of the newly developed The
Exchange in Darling Square. The focus of their joint venture is Japanese
style pastas. Expect dishes like the classic mentaiko pasta and more with their
very own fresh housemade pastas. So what sets Pasta Wafu from most Italian
pasta you may ask? It’s the fusion of familiar Italian pasta making and cooking
methods with Japanese ingredients and flavours to bring out and maximise umami
in every dish.
The
classic Mentaiko pasta ($14) is
available on menu. It consists of Pasta Wafu’s housemade spaghetti with
mentaiko (pollock roe) butter sauce and nori. This is a staple in all Japanese
pasta shops. The simplicity of the creamy sauce with explosions of umami from
the nori flakes and mentaiko with some subtle sweet notes is what appeals to me
with this style of pasta.
The miso fettucine ($14) has housemade
fettuccine, miso bolognese, shiso and nori. Whilst the miso bolognese had lots
of umami and nori, the shiso added some complexity to the dish. I would have
liked more miso bolognese sauce as it was a tad on the dry side. But I’m taking
into consideration the fact that I was the first customer on their soft opening
and some teething issues is always expected (from any new
eateries/restaurants). Nevertheless, flavours were solid.
My
absolute favourite was their kinoko
spaghetti ($14). Spaghetti with mushrooms, shio koji (malted rice with salt
& water) and shoyu butter. There was definitely no shortage of umami in
this dish. The shio koji brought out umami from the mushroom and gave the dish
complexity. The shoyu butter added depth to the flavour. I added bacon for $4 and onsen egg for $4.
Tiramisu ice cream mochi |
Classic
Japanese sides are also available like crispy renkon ($5) and karaage
chicken ($11).
They
also got you covered with a great line of beverages. The Shokuhin umeshu ($14) is a must try especially if you like sweet
fruity notes in your alcohol.
I miss
Japan and the dishes just took me back to my lovely winter holiday visits to
the land of the rising sun. Congrats Kerby, Hamish and Rebecca on your joint
venture together!
Pasta
Wafu
The
Exchange Darling Square
35
Tumbalong Boulevard
Sydney
NSW 2000
Hours:
7 days
11:30am to 9pm
Agreed. The kinoko was my favourite one too!
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