Birthday Weekend: Shin Yuu and frolicking in St Regis
Labels:
birthdays,
cakes,
desserts,
japanese,
restaurants
·
It's been almost two weeks since my last posting. It seems as though I have an extremely tough time adhering to regiments. Darn. Just when I thought I had reached a regular stride. Blame it on the coming of Christmas; I'm left exhausted and honestly, just a teenie bit spiritless. Turns out this Christmas has become a record breaking uninspirational one for me. Thank goodness my birthday just falls a step ahead of this busy procession. My birthday weekend was a blast, thanks to my lovely girlfriends and dearest family.
Shin Yuu @ Greenwood Avenue was my choice for dinner. (turning around at this point, I kind of regret my choice) Tucked away in a serene neighborhood of shophouses housing tons of dining choices; I was surprised not to have discovered this till a while back when a young friend of mine mentioned it in his deep perplexing hunger after having to fast then gone through an operation.
We were given the private tatami seating area upon reservation. Extremely claustrophobic in my opinion, kind of tampered with my appetite.
With regards to dinner, there were extremely high points and very depressing trenches of misfortunes. Complimentary items were the stars of the show more often than not, with the tea pot soup and aburi special sushi leading the way. Some other items that you should fill up on is the sashimi. Not because, we're pretentious cheapos and chiong-ing the sashimi would guarantee our money's worth. *snorts* On hindsight, the Sashimi Moriawase was undeniably good. An assortment of Maguro(Tuna), Hiramasa (kingfish), Mekajiki (Swordfish) and Shake (salmon); these set a benchmark so high that caused an inevitable failure of most of the following dishes.
The Kani Kaarage (soft shell crab) was another my favourite dishes. Generous in portion and possessing a crispy light batter that remained crunchy throughout our long dinner. The Agedashi tofu, yum, Hotate Mentayaki, yum, the Wafu tenderloin steak, not so yum. The texture of the meat carrying a strange bite, possibly from an overloading of meat tenderizer.
The dishes right above and below this comment failed miserably, even more so as highlighted dishes by the establishment themselves. The Shin Yuu Special Sakana Chiizu (“Dory Fish topped with Cheese”) had a offensively cloying layer of bechamel like sauce draped over the fish. It could be an error on the chefs part, but most of the roux sauce carried the flavor of raw starch. The description of the dish below eludes me, yes, it was that unimpressionable. Prawns drenched in some kind of dashi stocked cooked egg. A terrible idea gone viral. Avoid this at all cause.
Shin Yuu meaning 'best friend' in japanese did not live to expectations. Thank goodness for real close friends who planned a St-Regis staycation.
From surprise birthday riesling toasts to un-refrigerated birthday cakes from Basilico Sweets; I appreciate all the effort put in by the girls. Transition into mid twenties has been plausibly calmer than expected. The night preceded in true party fashion with us girls let loose in Clarke Quay. We partied hard! Cheers to long standing friendships and many more trips to come. Love you all.
16 Greenwood Avenue
Hillcrest Park
Tel: 6763 4939
Opening Hours: Daily Lunch 12pm to 3pm (Adult - $36.90++, Child - $21.90++)
Daily Dinner 6pm to 1030pm (Adult - $49.90++, Child - $29.90++)
2Fifteen kitchen
Labels:
apple,
brunch,
desserts,
french,
hidden finds,
restaurants
·
Curiosity kills the cat. and the cat rises to heaven after its ordeal.
After spying on an article recently published in the local Food and Travel magazine. I decided to give the establishment a call to find out more about their month old ala-carte brunch buffet offer. To my surprise, I encountered a very friendly and knowledgeable staff member over the phone who graciously explained the brunch buffet and its benefits to me in detail. Taking the time to state the special mains of the previous week as well as to highlight to me the prospects of a lamb roast carving available this week. I was sold instantly, who could say no to such brilliant service standards?
Mind you, but finding 2Fifteen kitchen may lead to quite a treasure hunt. Located at the back of Rochester Mall, it is the easiest to spot from the carpark located at the mouth of Rochester drive. Helmed by Chef Kenny Yeo, 2Fifteen kitchen attempts to bring French fine dining to the ghettos (or should I say to a more approachable level). However, since I was partaking in brunch, there weren't so much references to the french cuisine; still I held high hopes for the finesse of the dishes.
Choice of breakfast items were aplenty, nonetheless, I was lured by the intent of gluttony. Couldn't shake off the notion of a buffet with the added luxury of an ala-carte dish. For those who pick this option, don't raise your hopes too high, the modest buffet spread may not exhibit the grandeur of the usual hotel renditions but please don't be disheartened. On a general note, all the items are akin to the creme de la creme. Here we're talking about artfully presented cold cut selections, salmon and horseradish cream. Beautiful cheeses (not to mention the raclette swiss cheese coupled with a petite pair of gherkin and pearl onion; to die for) served with toast which was brought to the table, piping hot, by the earnest staff.
Special mentions go out to the roast lamb which was carved to order by a chef. It's pinkish hues telling sweet tales of its succulent nature. Our ala-carte dishes arrive shortly after, Pan seared Barrumundi with Pernot Sauce. This was delicious, the fish cooked to a perfect doneness, the firmness of the flesh melding with the complex creaminess of the sauce.
Our other main of Pan friend pork collar with cheese, mixed herbs and tomato sauce was profoundly disappointing, the thick pork steak, alluring cut and all, brought down by the richness of the sauce and the cheese crust that had somehow turned soggy with the spate of tomato sauce.
There and then, we wiped off our knives and leaped on to desserts. An ode to the bread and butter pudding stationed on the line. You are the air that I breathe. It's mind boggling how something so seemingly humble can evoke such a huge response in my palate.It was by all means.. perfect. Layers of thinly sliced apples, buttered bread well soaked in a vanilla custard and a sprinkling of lightly toasted buttery crumble over the top. This was a delight to eat along with the vanilla bean creme anglaise. Until today, I am jealousy of the in-house pastry chef's wizardry. Another dessert item that blew my mind was the apple tart ( a complimentary item courtesy of Chef Kenny); wafer thin with a robust apple zing and toasted almond flakes; this was a sure winner in my books.
Will return for more main courses and desserts one day. Thanks Chef Kenny Yeo for your kind hospitality.
35 Rochester Drive, #02-15,
Rochester Mall,
Singapore 138639
Tel: 66598215
Burgers galore: Soho Coffee vs Fatboy Burgers
Labels:
burgers,
cafe,
coffee,
restaurants
·
I've been obsessed with burgers lately.
I'm obsessed with the magnitude of toasted done-ness to the bun heads. A sprinkle of sesame seeds over the top, good. Generously buttered surfaces, even better. Sometimes I admit to being a snob for good patties where the ratio of fats to meat accentuates a perfect balance of robust carnivorous bite, tenderness and juiciness. Recently, I got down to trying Fat Boy's the Burger Bar located along Joo Chiat Road. A winning joint combining a liberally nonchalent atmosphere with the likes of beer and burgers served way into the night; I was praying to be dazzled. Since I felt like an ordinary burger, I dived in for the Wimpy in beef ~ Single beef chuck patty, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese and fried egg with homemade Fatboy's sauce.
In all honesty, I walked out of Fatboy's feeling a need to tell you guys about the alternative souped up version at Soho Coffee Boutique. Just look at that succulent beef patty below... it's self explanatory, we'll just let the pictures do the talking. (fyi, every bite was a slice of heaven; long wait... totally worth it)
Fatboy's signature burger was a major let-down with a over-seasoned patty encompassing strangely stringy textured minced that crumbled in a disorderly fashion when sliced. Perhaps it's the fillers or the done-ness of the it that was exaggerated (I swore I ordered a medium that emerged more on the matured side). The sesame buns, well buttered were a delight to eat. Otherwise, quite a disappointing experience.
Craving for a good burger? Head on down to Soho Coffee instead and while you're at it, grab a coffee as well; they do it pretty good!
36 Armenian St, #01-08 (Corner of Hill St & Loke Yew St, fronting Loke Yew St)
Singapore, Singapore 179934
tel: 6634 7977
Fatboy's The Burger Bar
465 Joo Chiat Road
Tel : 6346 6081
Vintner's Wine Tour: Cool Climate Wine dinner @ Praelum Bistrot
Labels:
french,
restaurants,
wines
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Who wouldn't want to be part of a function that ended up with a table looking like this?
The mad array of glasses, the cause of a losing battle of logical thought.
Adding to it, an alluring melodramatic sky to greet the eye as we meandered our way through Tanjong Pagar to the doorsteps of Praelum Wine Bistrot. This year, the bf and I decided to participate in the Vintners Wine Tour organised by ewineasia.com with a wine pairing dinner introducing wines from the Jurtschitsch winery in Austria.
Having had a few drinks before at Praelum, I've always been impressed by their good selection of wines offered via their enomatic system. With each diner/drinker offered a personal card which records the prices of the specific volumes and wines chosen with each tipple; it was literally like "Marche" except for the choices of much more potent liquid diets.
This time around, we decided to sign ourselves up for the Cool Climate Wine Dinner held in conjunction with the Vintner's wine tour's stint in Singapore. A wine affair which combines the multifaceted varietals of Austria with a classic french menu pairing. Hopes were risen and the damage was done. After a very thorough introduction by Alwin Jurtschitsch (son on duty in this family run business); who meditated upon the potential of Austrian wines in comparison to the success of Austrian exports like Mozart. We were set off for an exciting meal starting off with a glass of Sekt(Austrian version of champagne, made using Gruner Veltliner grapes)
Dinner commenced with a tipple of Gruner Veltliner Loiserberg 2011 paired with Salmon-En-Croute with Ratatouille. This dish eventually became my favorite of the night. The wine, spicy, finishing off with a slight bitter note almost like cinnamon. Extremely well balanced in my opinion. The salmon was done perfectly and I can't help but sweep up the buttery light puff pastry crumbs feverishly at the end.
The next dish that followed closely was the Roasted Pork Parcels with portobello, tomato-honey and apple sauce. The two wines fighting for rights to the dish being the Gruner Veltliner Schenkenbichl 2011 and the Gruner Veltliner Kaferberg 2011. Despite both wines being very fresh off the press and incidentally harvested from the same region, both varied immensely in flavors mainly because of the type of soil growth. I love the purpose of the choice, being just a play to let the diners decide on what they want. The former struck me as citrusy and much more acidic and assertive than the latter. The Kaferberg won me over with its subtle hints of apple and roasted fruit when consumed together with the pork parcels.
The seafood casserole with tiger prawn, seabass, scallops and calamari was definitely a hearty portion of creamy goodness. The prawns, crisp and turgid to the bite. What I love most was the use of the pomodoro based sauce instead of a cream sauce as suggested by the word 'casserole', the sweetness of the tomato lending a push-pull factor to the balance of the dish. The pivotal point of the casserole would have to be the crisp potato dauphinoise layer that crusted its steamy innards.
Last of the mains came in the form of Beef Bourginon with carrot pea mash paired with a Pinot Noir 2007. As it may be, I was too sated to pass fair judgement; but this course was the weakest of the lot. The beef chunks carrying a liver like consistency. The richness of stew contributed by the red wine addition, absent. The mash on the other hand was ultra silky smooth with immaculate seasoning.
We concluded dinner with a Baked Apple Pie with seasonal berries. *ahem*.. maybe without the berries in this case. A second-thought attempt at dessert in my opinion. A crusty cap of Puff Pastry billowing over a ramekin of thinly sliced baked apples. A bit of spices and perhaps a handful of sultanas or raisins could have elevated the dish up several notches. Pity.
All in all, an enlightening dinner featuring the likes of Gruner Veltliner grape varieties from the Jurtschitsch winery in Austria. After observing the restaurant handling the busy establishment that day whilst juggling the handful of us, wine drinkers; I'm pretty sure I'll be back there soon to sample the ala carte menu. Should you be dropping by, be sure to say hi to the very friendly General Manager and Head Sommelier, Gerald Lu, who would be more than happy to share a snippet of knowledge acquired from his repository of experience regarding wines.
And if you're tired of the usual whites and reds especially after a grand evening such as this one? How about a cocktail? Maybe a Toblerone flavored, Toblerone chocolate shavings, hazelnut liqueur, Kahlua, and Irish Bailey Cream would do the trick. Happy diabetic days...
4 Duxton Hill S089590
Tel 62385287
http://praelum.com.sg/
Good things come to those who wait
Labels:
malay,
restaurants
·
I suppose the phrase has minimal application to the diner's settings as we witnessed that day with the rather fast service of food, but more so for the execution and deliverance of its fare. Some Malay dishes, if not all, are a laborious affair; take it from the rendang.
My cravings for a good nasi padang meal led me to Sabar Menanti II in the Kampong Glam district. It's really happening!!! After settling like a bunch of docile lambs at our table with an array of colorful dishes before us, it wasn't long before we evolved into ravenous bunnies lunging at the food.
Our imperative choice of beef rendang was unreal. smoky with a tender texture. It was braised to perfection. The other stars of the show were the bergedil (one of the best I've had, apparently they use a specific type of potato that lends to it's fluffy texture); the sambal terung was delish as well. The sayur lodeh however was a little weak tasting and could use a little more robustness in the gravy. on the hindsight, the sambal balado (red sambal) served up along with the dishes was absolutely addictive, serving as an excellent accompaniment to the rice.
Doing a bit of side by side comparison with the offerings from Sabar Menanti, it seems as though the choices we were offered that day were a bit lackluster. Could it be our late arrival at the joint or the discrepancies between the two outlets? someone care enlighten me?
747 North Bridge Road
(Jn Jln Kledek)
Battle of the Crabmeat Linguine: La Cantina in Venezia
Labels:
italian,
pasta,
restaurants
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Basically, the story goes that the boyfriend and I had a challenge to find the best crab-meat linguine in town. his vote went out to Etna's linguine with crab-meat in pink lobster sauce whilst mine went to the under-dog, La Cantina in Venezia's Linguine Al Granchio.
Etna at Duxton was our first destination for the throw down. After all the hype and anticipation built up back from our Australia days (the bf often boasts about his find since way back); I was ready to savor a taste revolution in my mouth. Unfortunately, none of that happened, the dish was without a doubt, good, however, it wasn't outstanding. The cream sauce a little under-seasoned in my perspective, lacking edge. On the other hand, the Margherite al Pistacchio Bronte, ravioli stuffed with walnuts and a blend of four cheeses slathered in Sicilian pesto sauce stole the limelight, stealing our focus from the real reason we visited the restaurant. With a technical play on textures and flavors, the dish scores with a combination of crunch from the toasted pistachios, the creaminess yet herbaceous vibe of the pesto sauce and the smoky richness of the stuffing. I had to hide my guilty face as i mopped up the remains of its sauce with relish.
Back to the challenge; the both of us managed to steal the ride over a weekday night to the quiet town of Changi village. Located in such an obscure location, best accessed by private transportation, I was surprised by the bustle of the area as we rolled in somewhere around 7 in the evening. However, as expected, La Cantina was an oasis of tranquility. We started of with the Parma Ham on Rock Melon ($18.50) and the pizza with olives and salami and finished off with a curtain call for the diva-ish Linguine Al Granchio ($26.90). A fusion of tomato and cream base sauce, it was having the best of both worlds, the punch of acidity from the tomato easing out the lavishness of the cream. With a generous hand of freshly cracked black pepper, and huge stashes of succulent crab meat, it certainly made for a fine meal.
the Parma Ham on Rock Melon served as an excellent starter. peculiarly sweet rock melon served with parma ham in delightfully sizable portions. No bickering over who gets more of the pie here!
And as I've asserted my choice before in the year 2008, I still proclaim with much conviction that La Cantina has the most awesome Crab-meat Linguine. The bf can't help but nod in unison as he tucked in greedily into the dish. Spinning classes for linguine on forks. His last personal compliment to the chef herself about the "pasta being divine" sealed the deal for me.
It was a landslide victory. Next challenge: Soup Bak Chor Mee.
49/50 Duxton Road
Tel: 62205513
La Cantina in Venezia
Changi Village Hotel, 1 Netheravon Road
#08/09-02, Singapore 508502
Tel: 6546 9190
Eating out: Sussing out Clementi Mall
Labels:
chinese,
clementi,
japanese,
restaurants
·
For me, I found the clementi mall to be of enlarged convenience given that it provided a quick gateway to the whereabouts of Phoon Huat (yay to home bakers!!!), it also brought a public library nearer to me!
Newest read and a definite recommendation would be "Heart, Smarts, Guts and Luck" - Anthony K.Tjan, Richard J. Harrington, Tsun-yan Hsieh. A refreshingly human take on getting into the crux of what it takes to build a successful entrepreneurial venture. I'll leave the book review to another time. Meanwhile, lets not forget THE LIBRARY...*swoons*
In the past two weeks, I've taken to dining at Clementi Mall on two occasions, mainly because it was an after thought and its accessibility was a bonus.
First shot was at Ootoya Japanese Restaurant. The heartland version of the atrociously crowded branches in Orchard Central was barely unrecognizable of its affiliation except for the communal area fashioned with floral tatami style seating. A definite plus point since the two of us managed to score the booth seats due to the few patrons present in the restaurant. Without much ado, we ordered the Sumibutadon set with Hijiki Rice ($23.50 + $1.25) and the Oyako Jyu ($13.00). It was a suspiciously long wait, eyeing the tickets very slowly being marked off by the expediter and the calm in the kitchen, our growing impatience evolving into anger fueled by an insatiable hunger. Shuffling my feet for an odd half and hour, I was ready to gorge down on the food. Then.. reality hit me like a ton of bricks as I lifted my first piece of chargrilled chicken to my lips. This was... really good. The Oyako Jyu, basically grilled chicken with egg on rice, epitomized Ootoya's cooking style and values, authentic homecooked japanese meals. And who would deny the fact that homecooked food always had a highway to the heart, a laborious action of love to produce that desired outcome. I was sold, licking up my unbecoming animosity along with the the remains in my bento box. My boyfriend's Sumibutadon set was an absolute steal too, Charcoal grilled Kagoshima Pork with rice. Absolutely love the genuine char grilled flavor on the meats.
Next up was Soup Restaurant, an old favorite of mine. The company's desire to offer up delectable cuisines with distinctively traditional recipes has brought them to the neighborhood of Clementi Town. With not so much as batting an eyelid, I locked in my orders for the Samsui Ginger Chicken ($15.90), Ah Kong Fan Shu Leaves(s)($8.50) and an irresistible plate of braised peanuts ($2.00). Yes i know of many restaurants that would scam diners with the mandatory peanuts already placed on the table. At the very least, Soup Restaurant has the courtesy to ask first! The only difference, these are worth ordering! The signature dish of samsui ginger chicken was a playground of flavors, fresh lettuce, a delightfully large saucer of ginger with succulent white chicken. You wouldn't stop till the last drop of that intoxicating sauce has been swaddled with a wad of hot white rice. The Ah Kong Fan Shu Leaves have always been a perennial favorite of mine, it's tenderness allowing for a intimate binding with the sambal chili sauce. Top notch dishes indeed.
Clementi Mall does have some pretty great finds stashed in its sleeves. So do give it a chance should you be considering some mid-range, 'go out in your slippers and shorts' alternatives to dining.
Clementi Mall
#03-53
Tel: 66592644
Soup Restaurant
Clementi Mall
#03-62/63
Tel: 66593688
drinking out: @ Penny University
Breakfast came in the form of Prawn noodles. Originating from the pioneer stall at Beach Road, this brunch clearly has acquired a steady fan base with the entire coffeeshop filled with patrons tucking into their steaming hot bowls of mee. Located next to the stall is a Ngor Hiang stall apparently operated by a relative. Despite the heat, I braved the impending doom of an inherently unglamorous look after the meal, armed with a pack of tissue paper and a cup of lime juice. Pardon me but acclimatization I reckon is still a bitch.
I went for the $5.50 option. Portion wise, it was thoroughly disappointing with two mediocre sized prawns slit into halves parting the brown seas of rich broth and yellow noodles. For that price, I would have expected much more. As a result, raised my expectation for the broth. That turned out to be alright, not as va-va-voom as I would have liked. I shrugged it off with the alluring sight of coffee land beckoning from a distant.
From there, we trudged down the street to the new kids on the block. Penny University. A term that was derived out of poetical sense, from a coffee house where even the poorest of university students could pay a mere dollar for a coffee to linger in a place with immense prospects for enlightenment since these places were known to house many people from different levels of society. If you ask me, the concept of the name itself embodies the spirit of the business, a casual place where social interaction was the main focus and key factor in pulling in the crowds. Brilliant.
At Penny University, Oriole's Raven Blend and Nylon's el Primero seasonal espresso blend are deployed for action. Being a big fan of Oriole, I had no qualms about the final product. The espresso with 5oz milk was absolutely perfect. Sinister and deceivingly warm to taste with an edge at the end. A possible citric note. The pie we ordered on a whim to keep the lonely cup of joe accompany was surprisingly dazzling on its own. From windowsill pies , the morello cherry pie was exactly like it should be. With every forkful, the crisp puff pastry crust, tanned from it's arduous hours in the oven, crushed under the pressure of the crimson red sour cherry filling. The large sugar crystals littered on the crowns adding to the tenacity of it's structural integrity. If the crust were only a little bit more fresh, I would have pulled out a 10 on this one.
Penny University calls a long shot by opening on the far side of singapore. A smart move considering that its the first of its kind, appealing to the true coffee addicts to be stationed in the far east. But a little deranged given it's positioning within a part of singapore teeming full of famous food stalls and local food. I sincerely hope it does well given that it feeds my buzzing addiction on my repeated visits.
Note to oneself, that same stretch of east coast road seems to be laden with many "undiscovered" eateries, still undeniably foreign to a cross country traveller like me. Al Forno, Two fat man and many more... another trip awaits..
370 East Coast Road
S428981 63457196
8am-4pm daily
Closed on Tuesdays
402 East Coast Road
Tue - Fri, 0830 - 2130
Sat - Sun, 0830 - 2230
Closed on Mondays
Dining out: Qantas Sydney First Class Lounge
Labels:
australia,
restaurants,
thoughts,
travelling
·
as Gerald Butler's character narrates in the latest movie 'Chasing Mavericks', "fear and panic are two separate emotions. Fear is healthy, panic is dangerous." and thus evoking torrent of thought bubbles through my head. Okay, maybe I should release the catch to the panic button.
Recollections of this past years ridiculous acts come crashing down on me. A collation of memories so vivid yet so distant from the current reality of my now imprisoned world. and ohh.. the upcoming holidays.. Christmas and Chinese New Year.. daunting celebrations for any pastry chef when the prospects of over-bearing orders weighs down heavily. I reckon my new year will be non-existent.
As for new year resolutions... it's time to brainstorm a few. Not that I think I need any adjustments from the previous years except for a relocation. One thing's for sure, its time to pick up the pace. Adventure racing, holidays to Bali with the girlies, business proposals in the pipelines and maybe more self-exploratory backpacking trips. Let's not get ahead of myself though, as far as we know the month of November will disappear in a flurry of meetups and December in a sweet ripple of cream and sugar. It's safe to say that today will be a quiet and simple friday night. So let's take this day to tally the feeding session that led up to my arrival in town.
flight delays... ahh..a turf i'm rather familiar with. Sorry dar for dragging you into the murky waters with my shadow of bad luck. An incessant pursuer. Thank goodness with some strings pulled, we managed to get ourselves into the Qantas first class lounge. A real upgrade given that we were homebound on a budget airline.
preflight gluttony, I wasn't sure of what I was getting myself into. But within minutes of stepping into the lounge, met with a cold gush of fragrance laden air, I was intimidated. These people that we see lounging around with their expensive hand carriages and state of the art hand held technologies, are willing to spend thousands of dollars just for a plane ticket. In some instances, not only for themselves but for their 6 year old daughter still innocently cradling a bunny stuff toy. And here we're only talking about taking a plane, a mode of transport we deem so trivial; that we use it as the biggest avenue for budget cuts when it comes to making travel plans. Golly... Thank goodness for the lovely hostess from Singapore, a personal friend of our chef acquaintance who made us feel so at home.
Presenting us with a menu each and the authority to order anything we please. It was like setting a bunch of monkeys loose in the streets. We went at it like ravenous rabbits. Add Neil Perry to the equation and we knew we were in good hands.
Not to mention, the enchanting views of Sydney City across the tarmac naturally enhanced our appetites. Gorgeousness when paired with the radiance of the setting sun.
For starters we had the Sashimi of Bluefin Tuna with organic soy dressing. This was absolutely delicious. The complexity of the dressing covering up for any inadequacies in terms of freshness of the fish.
Then we went on to devour another pretty dish. The Shaw river buffalo Mozzarella with spring greens and lemon oil. With such delicate flavors on the plate, the creaminess of the handmade mozzarella really stood out. The crispness of the zucchini flowers reinforcing it's richness.
My favorite dish of the night had to be the salt and pepper squid with green chili sauce. Fried to perfection, the batter stuck to the firm yet juicy flesh of the squid. Paired with the spicy Thai inspired chili sauce and a dollop of aioli for the nudge of sour tang, it was just a symphony of bright notes on the palate. An excellent dish.
Mains were the Tasmanian Salmon, caper, lemon and anchovy butter with pancetta crisps and leeks for me. Paired with a glass of Heemskerk Riesling 2001 from Tasmania. And the Lamb Cutlets with rosemary and Parmesan crumb for the boy. These were mediocre albeit for the sides that were thoroughly engaging. The leeks were cooked beautifully and I wished I had a whole plate of that to chow down on. Whereas the classic slaw that came with his dish had top notch seasoning in the works.
As we sat by the couches, the lights being dimmed to a pale amplitude, we waited for our delayed plane to begin boarding in silent contemplation. I pondered. I reckon this will be the first and last time I ever step into a first class lounge. Not because I don't think I'll ever be able to afford it. Besides, what are the odds being a pastry chef and all? And even so in some parallel universe I do earn a fortune, I would never bear the investment of throwing it all on a first class ticket whilst I can instead spend more on a luxury hotel stay or even an out of this world adventurous experience. Priorities my dear...
Still, it was a surreal experience not to be forgotten.
Note: Some of the photos in this post are courtesy of Fabian Brimfield of Fly me Funky. Thank you very much for the wonderful shots.
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