Nepalese dumplings come to Manly
The Momo Bar in Manly is bringing something very new to the area – Nepalese dumplings.
Dumplings and trendy poke bowls are all the go here.
Archana Dellala, Momo’s co-owner, says the dumplings won’t be found anywhere else.
And her recipes, she says, are created straight from scratch. It’s all improvised.
“You will never find this flavour anywhere on earth,” Dellala told Broadsheet.
That’s a big claim, but technically, it’s true.
She says she puts a lot of work into the dumplings.
“They’re like my little babies. I get quite emotional about them,” she told Broadsheet.
It’s quite a production line. She and her staff produce 10, 000 dumplings every week.
And of course, each dumpling is adjusted for the Sydney palate.
In Nepal, you can get momo dumplings made from buffalo.
You won’t find that in Manly. The Momo Bar’s offerings are just five fillings: chicken, pork, lamb, organic lentil and mixed vegetable.
The chicken dumplings come with chicken broth and paprika butter. Added to that is a dollop of yoghurt taking the broth from clear to creamy.
The poke bowls include three a-la-carte bowls – Volcano, Tiki and Aloha. Diners also have the option to create their own.
Damian Dellala, co-owner and Archana’s husband says the diverse cuisine offering is a good fit for the area.
“We got told by someone in the business to just do one, but we ignored that advice and just went for it,” Damian told Broadsheet.
“It’s working really well. People share momo as a starter and then have their own poke bowls as a main.”
Momo’s is located in a bustling laneway filled with eateries and cafes.
The place has a tiny kitchen which sits elevated above the service counter.
People can sit and wait for their orders at a long timber bench. Or they can sit at outdoor tables adorned with sprigs of flowers and greenery.
by Leon Gettler, July 12th 2017
