FALL YOU CAN EAT

BEST AUTUMN DISHES, TASTE

MORGAN Walsh loves repetition when naming her venues, but the eateries themselves couldn’t be more different. Bonita Bonita came first, Day of the Dead themed authentic Mexican, with its sister cocktail cubby Bon Bon Bar next door. Last year it was Poké Poké, tropical-themed digs starring the famous Hawaiian poké bowls that the Coast quickly developed a taste for.

Now, it’s FuFu’s turn, an American-Chinese retro diner with a Palm Springs aesthetic and ’50s rock ’n’ roll blaring.

“Because there were already so many great modern Asian places on the Gold Coast I wanted to do something with a point of difference,” Morgan says.

“The space lends itself to a diner format and I love the style of Palm Springs — the decor, the style of their architecture, their cute little gardens. I had the diner aspect and thought I’d incorporate Chinese food, you know, cheeseburger spring rolls, bao burgers — dinerstyle food with a Chinese influence. To be honest I really just wanted an excuse to use pink velvet.”

The pink velvet booths are a standout feature. Their hue, offset by vibrant green palms, sets the scene for touches like arched windows, vintage light fittings and retro sign-writing with cute quips “Closed sometimes,” beside “Open 24/7”.

Cheeseburger spring rolls are just the tip of the fusion iceberg, with a char sui hotdog, cauliflower wings with FuFu sticky sauce and vegetarian meatballs with plum sauce also on the menu.

“I had a little bit of a yum cha influence with the food, so the prawn toast is something you’d find at a Chinese restaurant, but we’ve done a play on that and jazzed it up to make it more modern,” Morgan says.

“The sliders, soft shell crab with yuzu bearnaise and pickled onions, again it’s an American concept with the sliders but with the Asian influence. They’re both from the specialties menu, which is good for ordering a few and sharing. If you’re after something bigger you can go for one of our meal boxes.”

Inspired by boxes of Asian food in American sitcoms such as Friends, FuFu’s meal boxes are a little bit of everything all in one.

“What I realised worked at Poké Poké so well was the bowls – neat meals that people can just grab as a whole,” Morgan says.

“I want my establishments to be really good value – affordable, approachable – and that’s where the meal boxes come in. For $18 you get a whole meal and you know you’re going to be satisfied. For example, the Happy Time box has fried rice, sweet and sour pork, egg foo yung, vegies in XO sauce and prawn crackers.

“There are six different types of boxes all filled with different stuff. They’re just a fun, affordable way to eat.”

FuFu also offers an even bigger deluxe box for $25 and, on weekends, American-Chinese brunch starring a Chinese sausage version of the McMuffin.

The cocktail list features more fun fusions (dragonfruit and raspberry cola mojito anyone?).

Morgan isn’t oblivious to the round restaurant’s rough track record, so she’s warding off the “curse” with good sense and good vibes.

“There was a chicken place, a pie place, Ashy Bines, Burger Fuel — I think the problem was nothing was executed properly,” she says.

“You couldn’t see in here before, it was all garden and you’re right on the highway – that’s how people see you.

“The layout was all wrong. When you’ve got a big space you’ve got to make it feel like it’s not empty, so that’s why we’ve gone with the big booths and the bar through the middle.

“So fingers crossed. That’s why I say no bad juju only good FuFu.”

FuFu American Chinese Diner, 2375 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach