Melbourne Street Food - Part 2 - Ivan Teh

Melbourne Street Food - Part 2

More Melbourne Street Food that I've tried during other visits to Melbourne, Australia, continuing from Part 1.

Blueberry Ricotta Hotcakes

This list includes dishes not listed in Melbourne Street Food - Part 1. While cuisine is mostly Australian, there are also influences from British and Chinese cuisines.

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Banana Bread is a type of sweet bread made with ripe bananas, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, baking soda, and all-purpose flour. Sometimes, chopped walnuts, chopped almonds, or raisins are added. Although it's commonly known as Banana Cake in Singapore, the texture and density of Banana Bread in Australia is very different. It's heavier, as well as more dough-like than a typical cake, with a crumbly texture, and buttery fruity sweet flavour.

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

The American inspired Beef Chili Cheese Fries features largely the same classic ingredients you'll find elsewhere; thick-cut fluffy soft potato fries coated in beer batter, minced beef chili that is tender with a light chew, crisp spring onions, and gooey thick nacho cheese sauce. The difference here; they've omitted the sour cream and beans, and added sliced jalapeno peppers, to create a unique Australian take. Burst of robust savoury salty meaty spicy flavours.

Beef Chili Cheese Fries

Cut from the upper belly, the Beef Hanger Steak, 150 Days Grain-Fed is so named because it 'hangs' between the rib and loin. Also known as a 'Butcher's Steak', this lesser-known cut of beef is prized for its light tender chew and rich meaty savoury flavour. The cattle were raised for 150 days on a specially curated diet of cereals and grains, which were locally grown in fertile conditions in the Victoria state of Australia. This results in exquisite flavour in this lean cut of beef which has little fat.

The Beef Ribeye Steak, On The Bone, Côte De Boeuf, 40 Days Dry-Aged is cut from the rib primal of the cattle, and is a large, bone-in beef ribeye steak meant for at least 2 people. Because of a good ratio of fat / marbling, and the regular exercise the muscle undergoes, this cut is usually more flavourful with bold meaty savoury notes, and a soft tender chew to texture. The 40-day dry-age results in greater tenderness, and a hint of caramel popcorn notes over the meaty notes of the beef.

The Beef T-Bone Steak, 300 Days Grain-Fed is cut from the short loin of the cattle, and is a medium, beef t-bone steak. The cattle were grain-fed for a whopping 300 days, resulting in an incredible tender texture that almost melts away in the mouth. Big, meaty savoury flavours here, with a hint of buttery fatty notes. Among the most succulent cuts I've had, incredibly delicious.

Other common cuts of Beef Steak include the Porterhouse, Scotch Fillet, and Eye Fillet. A meal of Beef Steak is typically served with a salad (mesclun or garden), steak-cut British English potato chips, and brown meat gravy.

Beef Hanger Steak, 150 Days Grain-Fed

Beef Hanger Steak, 150 Days Grain-Fed

Beef Ribeye Steak, On The Bone, Côte De Boeuf, 40 Days Dry-Aged

Beef Ribeye Steak, On The Bone, Côte De Boeuf, 40 Days Dry-Aged

Beef T-Bone Steak, 300 Days Grain-Fed

Beef T-Bone Steak, 300 Days Grain-Fed

Beef Steak

Beef Steak

Beef Steak

Beef Steak

Beef Steak

Beef Steak

Beef Steak

The Beer Wild Yak Pacific Ale is an American style pale ale, brewed by Matilda Bay Brewing Company in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. It has a hazy, dark bronze golden colour, with aromas of toffee, grass, biscuit, and passionfruit. The body is light, thin, and watery, with moderate carbonation, and tastes of hops, wheat, peach, and honeydew melon. Nicely refreshing with its delicate fruity sweet flavour that has a hint of bitter, but the finish has a metallic undertone that quickly fades.

Beer Wild Yak Pacific Ale

An iconic American breakfast / brunch dish, the Blueberry Ricotta Hotcakes were given a unique Australian twist and popularised here in Melbourne, with the use of fresh seasonal fruits, grains, and flowers. It features large, pillowy soft buttermilk and ricotta cheese pancakes / hotcakes with a moist crumbly spongy texture, garnished with fresh seasonal berries (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry) with bright juicy textures, toasted seeds (sunflower seeds, pine nuts) that lend a crisp crunch, rich creamy smooth airy double whipped cream, thick luscious maple syrup, and edible flowers. Bright and robust flavours of fruity sweet cheesy milky nutty. Plus, it looks so vibrant and attractive. Yum.

Blueberry Ricotta Hotcakes

Blueberry Ricotta Hotcakes

The Burger Beef is a common street snack, sold by casual kiosks, cafes, and restaurants. While quality of beef tends to differ from place to place, it usually features a tender grilled minced beef patty, sandwiched between 2 fluffy soft burger buns, with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, creamy mayonnaise, and thick tomato ketchup or sharp yellow mustard rounding it out. Bite in, and you get the fresh vegetal sweet notes of the vegetables, followed by the meaty savoury salty smoky flavours of the beef. Sometimes, sliced cheddar cheese may be added.

The classic pairing of Burger Beef & Mushroom features all the same ingredients as a Burger Beef, with the additional of crisp red onions and mushrooms. The type of mushroom is usually either wild button mushrooms, or flat field mushroom. While both have delicate earthy savoury flavours, the difference is in the textures; the former being tender soft with a light chew, the latter being juicy dense with a meaty chew. Sometimes, the mushrooms are crumbed or battered, giving it a light crisp crust and lending a bready herbal flavour.

The vegetarian Burger Chickpea Corn Quinoa features a patty made from chickpeas, corn kernels, and quinoa grains, having a crumbly soft juicy texture. Sandwiched between 2 fluffy soft burger buns, with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, juicy beetroot (in mashed, sliced, or relish form), and creamy avocado rounding it out. Bite in, and you get the fresh delicate vegetal earthy grainy sweet savoury flavours. Sometimes, grilled haloumi cheese may be added. A slightly healthier option than a regular burger.

A common Australian style burger is the Burger With The Lot. This loaded Australian Burger will appeal to those who love toppings, a 'mile-high' tower with fluffy soft burger buns stacked with a wobbly fried sunny side up egg, chewy steaky bacon, soft cheddar cheese, a juicy pineapple ring, tender sliced beetroot, crisp iceburg lettuce, juicy tomato, crunchy red onions, tender juicy minced beef patty, crunchy dill pickles, and a medley of sauces including tomato ketchup and yellow mustard. Usually larger than one's mouth, this has complex layering of meaty vegetal savoury salty sweet sour tangy earthy spice eggy cheesy flavour.

Burger Beef

Burger Beef & Mushroom

Burger Beef & Mushroom

Burger Beef & Mushroom

Burger Chickpea Corn Quinoa

Burger Chickpea Corn Quinoa

Burger Chickpea Corn Quinoa

Burger Chickpea Corn Quinoa

Burger With The Lot

Burger With The Lot

Burger With The Lot

Burger With The Lot

The Charcoal Buttermilk Waffles feature bamboo charcoal infused buttermilk waffles, crisp outside and fluffy inside, with a bready sweet flavour. Plated over a thick lemon curd with zesty tangy sour flavour, drizzled with rich butterscotch caramel with floral sweet flavour, and garnished with tender juicy caramelised baby pears with fruity sweet flavour, crunchy nutty almond praline, rich creamy smooth airy double whipped cream, and edible flowers. Paired with an additional side of thick and chewy maple syrup infused pork back bacon, which has a bold salty sweet savoury flavour. The contrast of sweet and salty works well here.

Charcoal Buttermilk Waffles

Charcoal Buttermilk Waffles

Charcoal Buttermilk Waffles

Charcoal Buttermilk Waffles

The Cinnamon Doughnut features a chewy spongy deep-fried all-purpose flour dough that is generously coated in cinnamon sugar crystals. This lends a crisp crunch to texture, with bright floral sweet spice flavour.

Cinnamon Doughnut

A common snack, the Cookie Sandwich features 2 pieces of crisp, crunchy cookies, usually butter or chocolate flavoured, between which is piped a rich flavoured cream; either buttercream, chocolate, strawberry jam, raspberry jam, lemon curd, ice cream, peanut butter, cookies & cream, vanilla cream, cream cheese, or nacho cheese. While the majority tend to be mass factory produced by famous biscuit / cookie brands, Melbourne also has several small-batch, handmade brands.

Cookie Sandwich

Popular in South Melbourne, and typically sold by Fish & Chip shops, the Dim Sim is a Chinese inspired dumpling snack. With minced pork and cabbage, seasoned and spiced, wrapped in a thick, all-purpose flour dough dumpling wrapper, it's then either deep-fried or steamed. The fried version has a crispy crunch to the exterior, with a moist tender soft interior, and deep meaty savoury sweet salty flavour. The steamed version has a slight chewy texture to the exterior, with light meaty sweet savoury flavour. It's a local take on the iconic Chinese Shumai / Siew Mai pork and shrimp dumplings. Most versions of Dim Sim don't really appeal to me.

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

Dim Sim

The Hong Kong diaspora here have taken classic Chinese Cantonese dishes, and remade them with local ingredients. This Double-Boiled Fish & Pork Soup With Preserved Silverbeet has a medley of tender ingredients, including pork belly, preserved silverbeet, barramundi fish, and carrots. While the soup has a thin texture, it carries robust salty sweet earthy flavour, helping to open the appetite. Served at the start of a meal by really traditional restaurants, if you order in Chinese Cantonese only.

Double-Boiled Fish & Pork Soup With Preserved Silverbeet

The Egg And Bacon Roll has a fluffy soft bread roll that has a delicate bready grainy sweet flavour, halved and filled with fluffy fried egg and thick chewy pork back bacon. Drizzled with rich barbecue sauce to complete. This gives the sandwich a bold salty sweet savoury eggy flavour.

Egg And Bacon Roll

Egg And Bacon Roll

Egg And Bacon Roll

Egg And Bacon Roll

Egg And Bacon Roll

The Fried Pig's Intestines are spice marinated then deep-fried, resulting in a slightly crisp exterior, with a tender and moist interior. This traditional Chinese snack has a deep savoury salty spice flavour, and the less gamey it is, the better.

Fried Pig's Intestines

Fried Pig's Intestines

Fried Pig's Intestines

The unique Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles features a large steamed Australian mud crab, stir-fried in a rich ginger and spring onion gravy, and served over thin crispy chewy yellow egg noodles. While the crab has a clean sweet savoury herbal flavour, the star is actually the noodles, which absorbs all the aromatics of the ginger and spring onion gravy, and the essence of the crab and crab roe, making it luscious and delicious.

Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles

Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles

Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles

Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles

Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles

Ginger & Spring Onion Crab Noodles

The once common Chinese Australasian dish of Honey Chicken is thankfully, getting less common, as good quality Chinese cuisine starts to become more accessible and prevalent. This fast-food dish features thin tender slices of chicken, coated in a thick crisp all-purpose flour batter, generously drizzled with a honey and sweet and sour sauce mix. The result is a bold flavour profile of floral sweet sour savoury. I've yet to see a good quality version of this dish, it's mostly decent at best, and underwhelming at worst.

Honey Chicken

Honey Chicken

Honey Chicken

Honey Chicken

The popular American snack of Hot Dog Classic here tends to feature a large, meaty juicy pork or beef bratwurst sausage, with deep savoury salty meaty flavour, sandwiched in a fluffy soft bread roll that has a delicate bready grainy sweet flavour. The sausage may sometimes have additional herbs or spices. It will always be topped with at least 2 or more of the following condiments; namely tomato ketchup, mild American mustard, chopped caramelised red / white onions, American sweet pickled relish / gherkins, lettuce, sliced cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, mayonnaise, or cheddar cheese / nacho cheese.

The popular American snack of Chili Dog here tends to feature a large, meaty juicy pork or beef bratwurst sausage, with deep savoury salty meaty flavour, sandwiched in a fluffy soft bread roll that has a delicate bready grainy sweet flavour. The sausage may sometimes have additional herbs or spices. It will always be topped with a rich savoury salty spicy minced beef chili gravy, along with at least 2 or more of the following condiments; namely tomato ketchup, chopped red / white onions, kidney beans, sour cream, sliced jalapeno peppers, sliced tomatoes, or cheddar cheese / nacho cheese.

The popular German snack of Sauerkraut Dog here tends to feature a large, meaty juicy pork or beef bratwurst sausage, with deep savoury salty meaty flavour, sandwiched in a fluffy soft bread roll that has a delicate bready grainy sweet flavour. The sausage may sometimes have additional herbs or spices. It will always be topped with sauerkraut, which is made by pickling finely shredded cabbage with salt and caraway seeds, giving this a bold sharp tangy sour sweet savoury flavour. Usually, there's an option to add at least 1 or more of the following condiments; mild American mustard, chopped caramelised red / white onions, or American sweet pickled relish / gherkins.

Hot Dog Classic

Chili Dog

Chili Dog

Chili Dog

Sauerkraut Dog

Sauerkraut Dog

Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Hot Dog

Also known as a Toasted Sandwich or Toastie, the Jaffle is an enclosed toasted sandwich, cooked and sealed with a clam shell sandwich toaster iron. It can contain a variety of fillings. The Jaffle Ham & Cheese features a filling of sliced honey baked ham and cheddar cheese. Bite in, and you get the crisp charred crunch of the sandwich, followed by the tender ham and gooey cheese. Layered flavours of bready savoury sweet cheesy. Other common versions of Jaffle include; soft baked beans with tomato sauce and cheddar cheese that has vegetal earthy sweet cheesy salty flavour; and soft tofu beancurd scramble with tender chicken ham and cheddar cheese coated in creamy hollandaise sauce with bright sweet savoury cheesy salty milky flavour.

Jaffle Ham & Cheese

Jaffle

Jaffle

Jaffle

Jaffle

Jaffle

Jaffle

The Hot Jam Doughnut or Jelly Doughnut is a popular street snack, consisting of a chewy spongy deep-fried all-purpose flour dough that is filled with a rich, sticky, thick fruit compote; usually either strawberry or raspberry. Decorated with icing sugar, this has a bold burst of fruity sweet bready flavour. Always served hot, it's almost an Australian tradition to scald your mouth or tongue eating this.

Hot Jam Doughnut

Hot Jam Doughnut

Hot Jam Doughnut

Hot Jam Doughnut

The Lamington is an iconic Australian dessert common in Melbourne. It is a light vanilla or chocolate sponge cake set in a square shape, coated with a thin layer of chocolate icing / chocolate sauce, then covered in desiccated coconut. The Lamington is often served with layers of cream or fruit jam (strawberry or raspberry). It has a soft spongy texture, with bright fruity sweet flavour. Named after Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie 2nd Baron Lamington, or Lord Lamington, though ironically, he actually disliked the dessert, calling it "those bloody poofy woolly biscuits".

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

Lamington

The Lemon, Lime, And Bitters is a refreshing, cooling, non-alcoholic beverage made with a blend of lemonade, lime cordial, soda water, and Angostura bitters. As its name suggests, this has a bright tangy zesty sour sweet herbal bitter flavour, with a thin fizzy texture.

Lemon, Lime, And Bitters

The Lemonade is a refreshing, cooling, non-alcoholic beverage made with a blend of water, lemon juice, and cane sugar. It has a bright tangy zesty sour sweet flavour, with a thin fizzy texture, and a cloudy look.

Lemonade

An Australian Meat Pie is a hand-sized meat pie, containing diced or minced meat, root vegetables, and gravy, in a solid pastry pie crust. Often consumed as a takeaway food snack, it's similar to the British style pie.

The Meat Pie Beef, Red Wine, Rosemary features a palm-sized pie pastry crust that is crisp and flaky, filled with a rich medley of beef chunks, carrots, celery, and rosemary, infused with red wine. The ingredients are chunky yet tender, yielding easily when bit, and have a robust meaty savoury earthy salty flavour.

The Meat Pie Chicken, White Wine, Tarragon features a palm-sized pie pastry crust that is crisp and flaky, filled with a rich medley of chicken chunks, potato, button mushrooms, and tarragon, infused with white wine. The ingredients are tender with a light chew, and have a soulful creamy savoury sweet herbal flavour.

The Meat Pie Beef Steak & Cheese is a traditional classic meat pie, with tender juicy beef steak chunks, soft carrots, and gooey cheddar cheese. This has robust meaty vegetal salty savoury sweet cheesy flavour, with the crisp flaky pie crust carrying buttery sweet savoury flavour.

The Meat Pie Beef Steak & Guinness Stout has chunky beef steak stewed in Guinness stout, giving it a tender juicy chewy texture with bold earthy meaty savoury sweet boozy flavour. The crisp flaky pie crust has a buttery sweet savoury flavour.

The Meat Pie Beef Steak & Kidney is an acquired taste, with the tender chewy beef steak chunks and tender beef kidney pieces combining for a deep earthy mineral savoury salty flavour. Contrasted by the crisp flaky pie crust with its buttery sweet savoury flavour.

The Meat Pie Chicken & Mushroom is lovely and light, with the crisp flaky pie crust shattering beautifully to reveal the filling of tender chicken chunks, soft caramelised white onions, tender button mushrooms, and a light cream gravy. This pie hold bold meaty sweet earthy vegetal savoury flavour.

Meat Pie Beef, Red Wine, Rosemary

Meat Pie Beef, Red Wine, Rosemary

Meat Pie Chicken, White Wine, Tarragon

Meat Pie Chicken, White Wine, Tarragon

Meat Pie Beef Steak & Cheese

Meat Pie Beef Steak & Cheese

Meat Pie Beef Steak & Guinness Stout

Meat Pie Beef Steak & Guinness Stout

Meat Pie Beef Steak & Kidney

Meat Pie Beef Steak & Kidney

Meat Pie Chicken & Mushroom

Meat Pie Chicken & Mushroom

The Milkshake Nutella features a blend of vanilla yoghurt, milk, and nutella / chocolate hazelnut spread. With a thick creamy texture, this has a layered taste profile of milky chocolatey sweet nutty flavour. This typically appeals to the young, or the young at heart.

Milkshake Nutella

Milkshake Nutella

The Milkshake Salted Caramel features a blend of vanilla yoghurt, milk, and salted caramel sauce. With a thick milky texture, this has a layered taste profile of milky floral salty sweet flavour. Depending on where you get this, it can range from balanced, to rich and cloying.

Milkshake Salted Caramel

Milkshake Salted Caramel

A popular side dish, there are many varieties of Onion Rings available. Usually made with sliced rings of white onions, these can be thin cut or thick cut, but usually have a juicy sweet earthy bite. The batter is typically crisp, light, and may sometimes be seasoned with spices. A guilty indulgence.

Onion Rings

The Oysters Bruny Island are fresh, juicy, and carry a plump meaty juicy bite. These burst with an intense briny salty flavour of the ocean.

The Oysters St Helens are fresh, juicy, and have a succulent slippery creamy bite. These carry a delicate sweet briny salty metallic flavour, very pleasing.

Oysters Bruny Island

Oysters St Helens

Oysters St Helens

Oysters St Helens

The Spanish inspired Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus is given a local spin through the use of fresh, sustainably sourced, locally farmed produce. Served with lemon wedges and a large slice of crisp toasted sourdough bread that has delicate bready sour flavour, this dish features a base of sticky chewy paella rice in tomato sauce, stringy boiled chicken, succulent octopus chunks, bouncy deshelled prawns / shrimp, and snappy chorizo pork sausage. With bright juicy flavours of earthy sweet savoury salty meaty, this hearty plate is so appetizing and fulfilling.

Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus

Paella, Chicken, Chorizo, Prawn, Octopus

The classic Italian Pizza Margherita features a crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside pizza crust, garnished with fresh San Marzano passata / tomato paste, salt, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella cheese, and extra-virgin olive oil. This has bright floral sweet savoury herbal cheesy flavour. Simplicity at its best.

Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita

The Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus features locally sourced, sous vide then roasted pork belly, cut thickly, with a tender succulent texture. Plated over creamy smooth mashed potatoes infused with grainy mustard seeds, tender juicy caramelised red apple slices, bouncy chewy chorizo pork sausage, micro-greens, and edible flowers. Drizzled with a rich roast apple jus gravy, the layered and complex flavours of meaty savoury salty fruity sweet earthy herbal are distinct yet complementary. Yum.

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus

Pork Belly, Chorizo, Seeded Mustard Mash, Roast Apple Jus

The Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon is a beautiful and healthy plate. The star is the medium sized chunks of hand made pumpkin gnocchi dumplings, which are crisp outside and chewy soft inside, with a delicate earthy sweet flavour. The juicy pickled zucchini strips burst with a bright tangy sour vegetal sweet flavour, while the tender flaky fillets of house smoked salmon fish have an appetizing salty savoury sweet smoky flavour. The unique sage and walnut pesto has a grainy rough texture, with deep vegetal herbal bitter sweet nutty flavour. Completed with goat cheese and micro-greens, this is an enticing, addictive dish that is also rather filling.

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon

Pumpkin Gnocchi, Zucchini, House Smoked Salmon

The American inspired Reuben Sandwich usually features chewy corned beef, soft Swiss cheese, juicy sauerkraut, creamy Russian dressing, and crunchy pickled gherkins, all sandwiched between 2 thick slices of crisp rye bread. The local version has replaced the sauerkraut with pickled purple cabbage, and swapped out the pickled gherkins for pickled cucumbers, as well as used a seeded caraway bread. It has a big juicy meaty bite, with robust savoury sour salty flavour.

Reuben Sandwich

Reuben Sandwich

The Chinese Cantonese Roast Duck here is as good as any, with the beautiful roasted duck having a tender, juicy, succulent chew to texture. Each bite carries a lovely meaty savoury salty smoky flavour, and the duck fats lend a touch of decadence.

Roast Duck

Roast Duck

Roast Duck

The Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid features medium sized chunks of bouncy chewy calamari squid, scored then coated in a light and crisp spiced batter, made with rice flour, salt, white pepper, chili, and lemon juice. Often served with thick cut English potato chips, the squid has a delicate sweet salty savoury spice flavour. Condiments to accompany this usually include mayonnaise or tomato ketchup.

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Salt & Pepper Calamari Squid

Fresh chilled Scallops, served raw, can be found in many markets around Melbourne. The sashimi grade scallops can be eaten on the spot, and have an appetizing juicy bouncy bite with delicate sweet flavour. So luxurious.

Scallops

Scallops

Scallops

The traditional Chinese Cantonese dish of Soy Sauce Chicken is done well here. The chicken is tender, moist, and succulent, with a gentle chew to texture. The soy sauce gravy infuses it with bold salty savoury notes, complementing the natural sweet savoury flavour of the chicken. The chicken skin has some fat, keeping it bouncy and enticing.

Soy Sauce Chicken

A typical Chinese Cantonese dish, the Hong Kong style Steamed Barramundi Fish In Hong Kong Superior Soy Sauce is given a twist with local ingredients. Otherwise, it remains largely the same, except for the tender flaky fresh barramundi fish used, which has gentle sweet savoury flavour, the aromatics of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, ginger, shallots, spring onions, Shaoxing rice wine, sugar, and sesame oil, all infuse the fish with herbal earthy salty savoury flavour.