A couple weeks ago, I went to The Wooden Monkey for my friend's birthday. I'm a big fan of small plates because it allows me to try more stuff. So as my friends were going for entrees, I opted for the Japanese Dumplings. Once I heard the soup of the day, I was sold on that as well! Soup is my comfort food, and when it's a hearty, earthy-flavoured soup, I just can't pass it up!

 

The soup was a blend of tomato, fennel and Parmesan cheese, pureed just to a medium thickness that ate almost like a chili. Warm, rich and with a slight bite from the licorice-flavoured anise, it was the perfect choice to fill my belly without being too heavy.

 

 

With a crispy outer shell, the dumplings had plenty of crunch and the dipping sauce was slightly smokey with a tangy finish. The stuffing, a tasty mix of veg and tofu was flavourful, though a bit on the skimpy side. A garnish salad tied it all together - a nice addition as it provided a fresh element.