Noma Australia completes first Sydney service

No red meat. Abalone schnitty. Green ants for dessert.

With a four-time winner of The World's 50 Best Restaurants René Redzepi at the helm, we knew that Noma Australia's sell-out menu (starting at $485 per person) would be full of surprises.

However, the pop-up's first Australia Day service yesterday pushed boundaries in ways no one expected, drawing heavily on unusual native ingredients for its artfully assembled creations.

For months now dishes have be shrouded in secrecy; Redzepi's multiple foraging research trips and plans to incorporate native-leaning produce have been bandied about in the menu speculation. But now, finally, the images, customer reviews and hashtags (#NomaAustralia) are pouring in for our gawking pleasure.

Lucky customers lapped up the sometimes strange menu, featuring everything from crumbed abalone to sorbet topped with green ants, giving a resounding "worth it" when quizzed about whether the menu's monster price tag was justified.

Among Noma Australia's first day customers Janni Kyritsis, former head chef at the Sydney Opera House and Berowra Waters Inn, said of Redzepi's use of native produce to GoodFood: "It has taken a Danish person to come us how to cook Australia ingredients."

The menu hasn't been set in stone for the duration of the pop-up and is set to change dramatically through its 10-week tenure, adapting to what's in season and what other ingredients Redzepi discovers along the way.

Check out just some of the incredible Noma Australia debut food creations below, or browse through the hashtag #NomaAustralia.

Abalone Schnitzel and bush condiments @nomacph No words to describe. #beautifulpeople @oni4649 @vinic #nomaaustralia #reneredzepi #foodporn #twomichelinstar #sydneyaustralia #exquisite #thestreetsofbarangaroo #wulugulwalk #abalone #seaweedpearls #seagrass #fingerlimes #foodtodiefor

A photo posted by Nic (@nicnack2608) on Jan 26, 2016 at 2:41am PST

Think this was my favorite! Porridge of golden & desert oak wattleseed with Saltbush and sprinkled with finger lime pearls @nomacph Congratulations to @reneredzepinoma @benncooks and all the team of talented humans who made this menu so magical. #nomaaustralia #reneredzepi #foodporn #twomichelinstar #sydneyaustralia #exquisite #thestreetsofbarangaroo

A photo posted by Nic (@nicnack2608) on Jan 26, 2016 at 2:29am PST

Tomato & Sea Urchin #nomaaustralia

A photo posted by @monic116 on Jan 25, 2016 at 10:42pm PST

Pie of Dried Scallop & Lantana Flowers. Seaweed crust, lantana flowers at base and topped with dried scallop mousse. How beautiful is that Lantana flower ? Known to be a poisonous flower (its safe - still alive to post ), it was actually quite sweet with slight bitter aftertaste. #nomaaustralia

A photo posted by @monic116 on Jan 25, 2016 at 10:28pm PST

Oyster wattleseed porridge emulsion with saltbush leaf, native herbs, finger lime and aniseed salt #NomaAustralia

A photo posted by Meylissa (@meymeylissa) on Jan 25, 2016 at 10:17pm PST

Berries and "Gubinge" Kakadu Plum - lilly pilly (riberry), muntries, lemon aspen, gubinge, lemon myrtle, seaweed broth. All of these native Australian berries were amazing ! Some were aromatic, some were sour, so many different flavour profiles. #nomaaustralia

A photo posted by @monic116 on Jan 25, 2016 at 10:06pm PST

WA Snow crab with cured egg yolk - one of my fav dish of the day - the crab meat is so sweet with beautiful texture - what a treat #nomaaustralia #sydney #sogood #foodporn #thankschef

A photo posted by @yu4na on Jan 25, 2016 at 11:59pm PST

Marron with magpie goose ragu wrapped with a caramelised milk skin. Unbelievably good. A "dumpling" inspired by "the vast Chinese migrants in Australia" (quoting Rene). #nomaaustralia #cookitnative #noma

A photo posted by Jenny (@jennytwrites) on Jan 26, 2016 at 4:46am PST

My favourite ingredient of all so far in Australia- the finger lime! Like citrus caviar and totally squeezably addictive. #nomaaustralia

A video posted by Honey Spencer (@honeyandvine) on Jan 26, 2016 at 5:40am PST

Peanut, milk & freekah ice cream - more pleaseeee... #nomaaustralia #sydney #bestofthebest #sogood

A photo posted by @yu4na on Jan 26, 2016 at 2:02am PST

Delicious #nomaaustralia #sydney #foodporn

A photo posted by @yu4na on Jan 26, 2016 at 3:43am PST

Texture like a sponge cake but definitely rum ice cream, covered in grated milk and served with tart native tamarind sauce - so good 😍 #nomaaustralia

A photo posted by @monic116 on Jan 25, 2016 at 11:05pm PST

Bonbons with fingerlime #noma #nomaaustralia #latergram

A photo posted by Kevin Luong (@luongk) on Jan 26, 2016 at 3:23pm PST

Compressed watermelon in davidson plum, compressed pineapple in hibiscus flower, mango sorbet sandwich with zesty native green ants served in yes, ice bowl! #NomaAustralia

A photo posted by Meylissa (@meymeylissa) on Jan 25, 2016 at 11:04pm PST