The new Lunar Year is just a week away, and to celebrate, the Vikings Group have planned activities and special menus in their venues.  We visited BaaMoo Bistro & Grill at the Town Centre Vikings, feasted like a local and are now ready to celebrate the Year of the Rooster as we welcome the new Lunar Year.

BaaMoo Bistro & Grill sits away from the general bustle of the Town Centre Vikings club in Greenway with views of the Brindabella range which light up as the sun sets.  We are warmly welcomed and shown to our table, and I have to take a moment to remember that I am at local family club and not a restaurant.  Owner Katie McCulloch has created an atmosphere and environment where her staff thrive and develop.  You can see it in their smiles and their genuine interest in their patrons.

As I look around I notice that there is a queue of people waiting to place their orders, and that they are all smiling.  I quickly realise why as our dishes arrive.

Deliciously fresh with some wakame and mushroom soy

We tried the Japanese style oysters.  The delicate oysters are topped with strands of Wakame (the super seaweed which is attributed to fighting diabetes, breast cancer, fat gain and hormonal imbalance among others) and splashed with mushroom soy, which complement the oysters wonderfully.  We are told that they go through 120 dozen oysters a week – a popular and well priced item on their menu, which I can see patrons enjoying (they do them in 7 different ways).

with 12 oyster you can indulge on your own or share with your dining companions

Head chef (and Katie’s son) Josh McCulloch has created two special dishes for the Lunar New Year (available until the end of January), a crispy skin snapper fillet with chilly caramel and larb salad, and Peking Duck pancakes with sesame cucumber and hoisin sauce.

Both dishes are exceptional.

Crispy skin Snapper fillet with Chilly Caramel and Larb Salad

The snapper is moist and crispy, and the salad that accompanies it, is fiery with hints of sweetness coming through from the caramel sauce.

Peking Duck pancakes

For me, the dish of the day was the Peking Duck pancakes.  Josh and his team prepare the duck in the BaaMoo kitchen, and the result is moist and flavoursome.  The generous serving would adequately feed two as an entree (there are 6 pancakes per dish), and we shared ours.

I am impressed by BaaMoo.  From the initial warm welcome, the attentive staff, the generous portions and the delicious menu, I can understand why this restaurant has both regular and new patrons flocking to it

The Vikings chefs have put together a selection of Asian street food known to bring fortune and good luck:

Kutas Bistro, Erindale Vikings

• Whole steamed Snapper with soy, ginger and coriander and Jasmin rice
• Steamed Prawn Dumplings with chilli and sweet and sour dipping sauces               

BaaMoo Bistro & Grill, Town Centre Vikings

• Crispy skin Snapper fillet with chilly caramel and larb salad
• Peking Duck Pancakes with sesame cucumber and hoisin sauce

Red Rock Bistro, Lanyon Vikings

• Chinese spinach with shrimp and pork dumpling served in traditional bamboo basket accompanied by Asian dipping sauce

Champs Bistro, Chisholm Vikings

• Buddha’s Delight with Monkfish

Or rein in the Lunar New Year on Saturday 28 January with a signature all you can eat Asian banquet at Lanyon Vikings.  Also look out for Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance Troupe.

Full details available on their website www.vikings.com.au.

Things to note about BaaMoo

• BaaMoo Bistro & Grill operates 7 days a week for lunch and dinner – this includes public holidays.
• Lunch every day between 12 – 2pm
• Dinner Sunday to Wednesday 6pm – 8:30pm, Thursday to Saturday 6pm – 9pm
• Bookings are recommended as they can get quite busy (02 6208 6307)

*The So Frank team was invited by the Vikings Group to sample the Lunar New Year special menu items at BaaMoo.  All opinions are their own.