CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Anthony Albanese’s has today learnt that the menu at Marrickville’s Addison Road Chinese is not very representative of modern Shanghai dining.
In fact, it seems that ‘Mongolian Lamb’ and ‘Dimmies’ aren’t really available at any of the restaurants that high-level diplomat would be visiting.
This comes as the Prime Minister and his partner Jodie taking part in a six-day trip to China to boost economic ties. This is his second visit of this kind since becoming the Australian leader in 2022
On Sunday in Shanghai, he launched a tourism campaign featuring Australian icon “Ruby the Roo” and fielded questions about his government’s plan to invest $57 billion AUD in defence over the next 10 years.
With last night’s duties over and done with, the Prime Minister’s entourage retired to a 5 star restaurant for dinner, at the invitation of his hosts from the Chinese government.
After being served a Barossa shiraz mixed with Coca-Cola, Albanese began rattling off his favourite ‘Chinese meals’.
“Do they serve it on a sizzling plate here as well?”
“What’s that one I love, Jodie?”
“Mongolian lamb. That’s right. How’s that one go. Can I get that?”
After being informed that the region known as Mongolia was 2264 kilometres away, the PM decided to broaden his order.
“Got any honey chicken?”
“How bout sweet and sour pork? Jeez I wouldn’t mind a Tsingtao right now”
The waiters gently informed the Prime Minister that his order appeared foreign them them, and that his request of a Tsingtao was the only item that they would be able to provide.
It was at this point that Jodie attempted to intervene, further explaining to the PM that maybe it was better to let their hosts order.
With a beer in hand, the Australian Prime Minister wholeheartedly agreed.
“Yeah yeah for sure. Don’t mind me. I forget how big this place is…”
“But surely you’ve got some dimmies. With that pink sauce they do down Adi road? Don’t tell me you’re out of dimmies!”
The hosts were quick to appease the overexcited foreign leader, and assured him that something very similar ‘Dimmies’ were on the way.
At time of press, Albanese was frantically ordering another beer, having erased his taste buds after munging into the basket of xiao long bao the moment they arrived at the table.
