It’s a familiar question in Chinese restaurants across regional Australia, and one that fascinated Lin Jie Kong when she discovered the rich culture of Chinese restaurants while travelling across the countryside.

So much so, it became the namesake for a six-part ABC TV series featuring herself and Jennifer Wong.

These stories have now been immortalised in a delicious hard-cover book, dedicated to the families who own and manage Chinese restaurants in small Australian towns – and the diners who love them.

Moree’s Ernest and Whitney Lai have run New Bo Wa Restaurant since 2017, and are a feature of both the series, and the book, and Jennifer and Lin revisited the iconic Moree restaurant recently for a special Chopsticks or Fork? book launch.

The launch, which featured a Q&A with Whitney and Ernest, was well attended by locals, many of whom stayed for dinner.

Jenny was also thrilled to be back in Moree, enjoying the local cuisine.

“It was so special to celebrate our shared love and appreciation for Whitney and Ernest, and the Bo Wa team, and their wonderful cooking in a restaurant filled with some of their most devoted diners and dearest friends,” she said.

“My mouth is watering just thinking about their salt and pepper squid,” she grinned.

Chopsticks or Fork?, published by Hardie Grant, features a number of New Bo Wa’s most beloved recipes and is widely available.

Words and Images: Georgina Poole