Food Republic

**Food Republic** is a news website founded in 2010 by Marcus Samuelsson and the Samuelsson Group. Focused on food and drink, it was later acquired by Static Media in 2023.

In 2012, representatives of American rapper Lupe Fiasco reached out to the website to inquire publishing Fiasco's culinary writings during his visit to Australia for Supafest (April 14-22). Along with an interview, Fiasco posted four reviews in the collection "Lupe Fiasco Does Food Down Under Blog" which visited restaurants Wagaya, Hugo's Pizza Bar, Donut Burger, and Seafood Bar: Caviar House & Prunier.

## Interview

**Is there a city in Australia that you're particularly feeling, in terms of the food?**

Melbourne is pretty good for food. But Sydney, man, that is good too. Those are the food cities, I'm telling you.

**When I was in Melbourne, I went to some crazy spots. Go to Vue de Monde (if somebody else is paying). When you think of Melbourne food, what do you think about?**

The selection is very international. There are whole blocks of Italian restaurants. There are whole blocks of bakeries and Chinese restaurants. It reminds me a lot of Chicago in that sense. Like in Greek Town there are real Greek restaurants.

**What types of food are you looking forward to the most?**

My diet is somewhat restrictive. I try to eat halal as much as I can because I'm Muslim. Last time I was in Melbourne I found this Malaysian café and they had this barbecue chicken dish that was just awesome. I ate it like every day.

**Let's talk about Sydney. It's got a little different vibe you feel…**

Sydney is more like a mix of San Diego, Miami and maybe a little San Francisco. The feel and vibe is definitely a complete 180 from Melbourne. Whenever I go to Sydney, I always get tons and tons of seafood.

**It's some of the best in the world. What kind of seafood are you eating?**

I always get barramundi when I go to Sydney. It's a really meaty fish that I guess you could relate to a tilapia. It's almost a national dish. It's the Australian fish for sure. There's a place called Fishmonger's. It's almost like a little franchise across the country, but there's only maybe three or four of them and they're mostly near the beach. The one in Sydney is actually near Bondi Beach.

**Who are you touring with in Australia?**

This tour is called Supafast, which is more of a hip-hop and R&B tour. Chris Brown is headlining. Rick Ross is headlining. I was almost reluctant to do it because I've done the cream of the crop tour in Australia [Big Day Out]. But any chance to go to Australia, I'll take it. It's almost like a vacation tour.

**Are you looking forward to going out to dinner with any of the people you mentioned?**

The last time I went with Australia I was with a bunch of locals and those were the best meals I had. One of the big comedians down there, I got invited to his house for barbecue.

**A barbie!**

I always find myself running around with the locals. Last time I went I bumped into Mary J. Blige and it was her first time ever in Australia. That was a few years ago. I was like ‘Wow, you've never been here?' Now, I'm sure there are some people on tour who've never been. I'll have to show them around.

**What do you like to eat before shows? Any food rituals?**

I try not to eat a lot before shows. For instance, the last show I had was in Dayton, Ohio and I ate like a lobster roll at some random place. It was actually really bangin'. It depends on what city we're at. If we're in Philadelphia, we eat cheesesteaks all day. If we're in New York, there's this soul food spot in Brooklyn called Soul Spot. That's off the chain.

**I look forward to your food blogging and challenge you to eat some things you haven't had before. We want to hear about your discoveries Down Under!**

I'll definitely run the gamut for you. One thing I haven't had is true Aboriginal food. And there are some fast food spots down there that definitely have some items that need to be blogged about.

## Reviews

### Wagaya

Tucked inside the sprawling gastronomic outpost that is Brisbane's Chinatown we find the tech-savvy Wagaya. The whole deal is utterly Japanese, not only in its cuisine, but also in its efficiency. All orders (even drinks) are placed via a touch screen computer mounted at the table while a flesh-and-blood human quietly, and quickly, whisks the order to the table — vanishing in much the same fashion that she arrived.

What Wagaya lacks in prolonged human-to-human contact it thoroughly makes up for with one of the finest examples of Wagyu beef steak that I have ever had. The grilled mackerel had its shining moment too, as well as the Ebitan avocado roll. While the lunch menu is quite slim, the dinner menu is almost overbearing in the amount of simply gorgeous looking Japanese dishes on offer. The "Nobu-esque" décor is chic, but not excessive. A well executed menu in a great atmosphere that literally brings the digital revolution to your table. 3 1/2 out of 5 Lupes.

### Hugo's Pizza Bar

Hugo's Pizza Bar is a trendy supper club in the King's Cross district of Sydney. It specializes in—what else?—pizza. But what impressed me most was not the pizza at all but the fact that it was a world-class seafood restaurant too. Scallop carpaccio was finished with lime, herbs and chilies and served in the scallop shell. It was unbelievably smooth and light, but with a slight kick and richness that just screams nothing short of perfection. Really really good!

The seafood pasta in cream sauce was also quite notable. Also the five virgin pineapple, coconut and passion fruit cocktails I had, served in tiki cups, must be saying something about the bar. Shouts to the friendly owner/operator for coming out to chat for a bit. Wonderful, wonderful place. 4 1/2 out of 5 Lupe's.

### Donut Burger

In a departure from the normal—with a headlong dive to the realm of what can only be called as Fool's Food—I present to you the storied Donut Burger. My touring crew and I have developed a rite of passage called the "Tokyo Chicken Challenge," which involves various culinary expeditions.

The Donut Burger is a product of one such challenge.

There's nothing to be subtle about here—it's a hamburger patty along with any of the condiments that tag along for the ride (a veggie patty will suffice as well), placed between two donuts. It defies words as to how the horrid flurry of alien flavors attacks the senses.

You can literally taste it in your stomach, which is quite the feat seeing as how your stomach lacks the capacity for taste. Misery. 0 out of 5 Lupe's.

### Seafood Bar: Caviar House & Prunier

A fitting departure from my gastronomically involved duties. It all culminates with an all-out luxurious feast at the Sydney International Airport. It's here at the Seafood Bar: Caviar House & Prunier, where we order some of the finest Australian cured salmon (atop rustic and hearty black bread), accompanied by what can only be described as an utter beauty disguised as a house prepared garlic mustard potato — assisted by salt, dill, sugar and a twist of lemon. Show stoppingly badass!!!

With caviar being the flagship at this joint, I was forced to dive back into the menu for a taste of the Tsarina. A dish of 10 grams of fine black fish egg gold with a slice of Tasmanian smoked salmon served on a toasted English muffin (they were oddly out of blini) with a slathering of cool and smooth crème fraîche. Cold blooded.

Great staff, including a waitress who regularly inquired "Yummy?" in her comfortably settling Uruguayan accent, to which I replied "Yummy!" DO NOT MISS! It's something about the relationship between sugar and salmon and lemon juice that needs intense scientific research. 5 out of 5 Lupe's!

## References

1. ↑ Rodbard, Matt (April 10, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Is Our New Australian Food Correspondent". *Food Republic*.
2. ↑ Fiasco, Lupe (April 17, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Is All About the Wagaya in Brisbane". *Food Republic*.
3. ↑ Fiasco, Lupe (April 23, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco, Blown Away by Sydney Seafood". *Food Republic*.
4. ↑ Fiasco, Lupe (April 24, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco, Attacked by Donut Burger". *Food Republic*.
5. ↑ Fiasco, Lupe (April 25, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco: Salmon + Lemon + Sugar. WTF!". *Food Republic*.