In the first episode of Classic Bites Series 2 - chef Jean-Paul (JP) El Tom takes our host Mitch Orr to Hurtsville, the Sydney suburb where JP grew up. He takes Mitch to one of his favourite neighbourhood restaurants, Shang Lamb Soup, where they specialise in lamb. Here they try a variety of chef Simon's specialty dishes before heading back to JP's restaurant Baba's Place in Marrickville. Back at Baba's, JP gets to work on his dish - inspired by the flavours of Shang Lamb and the nostalgia of growing up in Sydney's western suburbs.
Discovering Northern Chinese Cuisine
Jean-Paul, discusses his initial ignorance about the flavors of Northern Chinese cuisine, which heavily features lamb and spices. He shares his fascination with the crossover between Lebanese and Northern Chinese food, highlighting the cultural diversity of the region.
Jean-Paul enjoys the clean and simple yet flavorful dishes at Shang Lamb Soup. He's in awe of the delicious Northern Chinese-inspired cuisine and eagerly anticipates discussing his experience with the chef.
Cooking at Baba's Place
Back at Baba's Place, Jean-Paul prepares a dish inspired by his experience at Shang Lamb Soup. He plans to create a lamb dish with prawn, bacon, chili, Koji chili sauce, chewy noodles, cucumber, shallots, and Koji oil.
Baba's Place celebrates the story of Suburban Australia and the migrant experience. The restaurant's menu is a reflection of the diverse cultural backgrounds in the region.
Jean-Paul and the chef prepare and taste the dish, which includes the inspired lamb and prawn-bacon concoction. The flavors reflect the suburban culture and diversity that Baba's Place aims to celebrate.