The Phat Mango restaurant in Darwin, Australia, has a simple, uncluttered interior decorated with aboriginal art and a large, carved wooden crocodile looming over the bar. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
Phat Mango in central Darwin, started by English chef Martin Bouchier, serves food made only with Australian ingredients. Sometimes that includes some of the exotic creatures the country is known for.
Australia’s Northern Territory is a wild land with more than its fair share of dangerous creatures, including monster crocodiles that can have you for dinner.
Phat Mango in central Darwin gives diners a chance to be on the other end of the fork.
The eatery, started by English chef Martin Bouchier, serves food made only with Australian ingredients.
Phat stands for “Pretty Hot And Tempting” and mangos are plentiful in the Northern Territory.
The restaurant has a simple, uncluttered interior decorated with aboriginal art and a large, carved wooden crocodile looming over the bar.
They were serving crocodile meat at one stage and plan to put it back on the menu, according to Bouchier, but it wasn’t available when Stars and Stripes stopped by for lunch in late August.
We made do with the Home Made ‘One Mile’ Damper, $7.40, to start.
The Home Made ‘One Mile’ Damper, left, and kangaroo tartar from the Phat Mango restaurant in Darwin, Australia. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
Damper is a kind of thick, homemade bread traditionally prepared by early European settlers in Australia. Phat Mango’s version includes some whipped, smoked butter and mango dukkha seasoning.
It was nothing special, but healthier than munching on chips.
The kangaroo tartar at $12 is a dish you won’t find many places outside of Australia. It includes red kangaroo loin with shallot cream, radish and focaccia. The meat didn’t have a strong flavor, but it is, apparently, quite healthy.
The country has been harvesting wild kangaroos since the 1950s, according to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Around 3% of Australia’s 50 million kangaroos are used for meat production each year. Only red kangaroos, eastern grey kangaroos, western grey kangaroos and common wallaroos are permitted for commercial harvesting for meat export, the department states on its website.
Phat Mango has plenty of other local fare such as Australian beef and barramundi fish.
You can wash it all down with Australian wine and beer.
Phat Mango, an eatery in Dawin, Australia, started by English chef Martin Bouchier, serves food made only with local ingredients. That includes kangaroo and crocodiles. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
PHAT MANGO
Location: Corner of Knuckey Street and Austin Lane, Darwin, Australia
Directions: A short walk from the Mitchell Street bar district.
Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Prices: Small plates will run you $7-$13, Australian; Large plates are $23-$30.
Dress: Casual.
Information: Online: phatmango.com.au
