IN JULY we brought you the story of the long noodle’s long journey from China to Newy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On the day the story went to print Franky’s Lan Zhou Long Noodle pop-up got the news they could no longer operate from their Beaumont Street location.
Now The Star is happy to announce Franky’s has found a new home in Carrington and will soon open its doors with an extended menu.
“After the pop-up we continued with the Newcastle City Farmers Markets, but were looking for another pop-up location,” co-owner Matt McFarlane said.
“We saw the ‘for lease’ sign and the next thing you know we were in contact with the landlord and now we are here.”
The noodle shop, which will do both take-away and eat in, is located in the old Carrington butcher shop on Young Street.
The most recent tenant in the building was Antojitos, now located in Steel Street in the CBD.
However, Franky’s will now make and sell dumplings as well.
Dumpling master Madame Wu has travelled from Sydney to train noodle chef Hua “Franky” Fan in the art of the dumpling. Mr Fan is a co-owner of the business.
“Madame Wu has been making dumplings for 30 years,” Mr McFarlane said.
“We are very dumpling heavy now.
“The wrapper is wheat. There is the pork and fermented cabbage; there is the chicken and mushroom, and the fried tofu, mushroom and cabbage.
“We are also serving a lot of different Chinese teas.”
And of course, the long noodle, a celebratory dish in China that promises a long life to anyone who eats it, will remain on the menu.
The Lan Zhou noodle is named after the city from which it originated. When made the noodles extend about 1.5m, but are chopped into smaller pieces before being cooked.
Mr McFarlane said they were hoping a visit to Franky’s would not only provide authentic Chinese food, but a cultural experience too.
“We have Chinese chess sets, go-sets and calligraphy sets as well,” Mr McFarlane said. “It can be a genuine cultural experience for those wishing to delve deeper into Chinese culture.”
The old butcher shop has been given a make-over with an array of auspicious Chinese icons – fish, a dragon and Buddha murals – painted by renowned Newcastle artist Bridie Watt.
Franky’s has a seating capacity of 60 and will open this month and will open on Tuesday, September 25.
Bookings are not required.
Trading hours are midday to 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday, at 87 Young Street, Carrington.