Give Us A Poke

This new kid on the international cuisine block is fast becoming the biggest food trend of 2017. We take a closer look at the little dish making a big impression.

What is it?

Before you end up getting accused of making unwanted sexual advances, let's start with the basics: it's pronounced "POH-keh". Now we've gotten that potential awkwardness out of the way, poke hails from the island paradise of Hawaii, where it's been a traditional local favourite for centuries. In its simplest form, it's a raw fish salad, and in practically every supermarket in Obama's native State, you can find an entire deli counter devoted to various varieties. Despite its long-established heritage in the Hawaiian islands, it's only relatively recently, over the past year or so, that poke has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the US and more recently still, elsewhere in the world including Down Under.

Why is it blowing up right now?

Poke ticks a lot of boxes, for the health conscious and die-hard foodies alike. Up-market twists on the simple original incorporate hipster staples like quinoa, zucchini noodles and heirloom tomatoes, although poke purists from the Aloha State are far from fans of cosmopolitan makeovers for such a historically significant dish. Cultural faux pas aside, enthusiasm for poke is on the rise in Australia. High in protein, extremely low in fat, and delicious to boot, it's little wonder that it is fast becoming the dish of choice for gym junkies and health food enthusiasts.

Where can I get some?

Poke
This hole-in-the-wall eaterie is easily the most authentic option for those looking to set and authentic benchmark for their poke tastes. There's just six varieties on offer, in a range of different sizes to satisfy most hunger levels.

Shop 3, 55 Dudley Street, Coogee.

Kobe Jones
Unsurprisingly, Japanese restaurants are jumping on the poke bandwagon. At Kobe Jones, the Japanese influences are still very much front of mind, with soy, mirin and sesame oil marinades hitting those quintessential sushi notes.

29 Lime Street, CBD

Stitch Bar
This basement bar in Sydney's CBD have thrown a Mexican twist into their bar food Poke. Served with crisp tostadas to scoop up the delicious fishy goodness, the combination of textures is amazingly successful.

61 York Street, CBD