Regional Chinese

30/31 daily posts as part of WeblogPoMo2024. Expect (and forgive) more words and less editing.

Lucy and I spent the night in Goulburn, NSW.

Short review: seems like a lovely town. Neat as a pin. A 'high street' many towns would kill for. You should visit.

But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm here to talk about Chinese restaurants.

These regional towns invariably have at least one. And they've become a highlight of our trip. We actively seek out the 'regional Chinese'.

Because they're a blast from the past. The menus are identical: chow mein, prawns in translucent goop, special fried rice.

The decor is invariably a shade of pink.

The wine is ... well, technically it's wine.

There's even an ABC show, Chopsticks or Fork?, celebrating this great Australian institution.

Perhaps our favourite to date is the Jade Garden, Smithton, TAS. I mean have a look at it.

We have this photograph printed and framed on the wall.

We went there two nights in a row because there is literally nothing else to do in Smithton. Do not go to Smithton.