17 November 2017

Aubergine restaurant Griffith - 15 November 2017

 
 
Everyone was there except Megan who was down the Coast on a rock and fossil expedition.
 
Not many comments, but Ron said Yum.  The Friday morning group had a few more comments.  The main one was that we were not allowed to bring our own wine, but had to buy their really expensive wine (Clonakilla $400?  I don't think so).  Also more generally, food was nice but a bit fiddly and not really over the top.  Plus it was very noisy.

06 November 2017

China Town, Weston 1 November 2017







 
 
Ron, Jim, Megan, John.
 
Andrew was tied up somewhere, Kim and Karen were not well.
 
We selected this restaurant at random at our previous coffee morning, while we were browsing google maps.  One of the reviews suggested that we ask for dishes not on the menu so we did that, and what a fabulous meal we had and what a find this little restaurant is.
 
Linda, the owner and chef came out and had a chat to us and then said leave it to her and proceeded to bring out some fabulous dishes one after the other.  She did ask us if we liked spicy and Ron said no, so none of the dishes were hot, but fabulous all the same.
 
First off was rock salt and pepper seafood, a fairly standard Asian dish but done to perfection.  Fresh seafood and absolutely to die for scallops, freshly fried, crisp with a light batter.  Best we've had for ages.
 
Then a chicken in black pepper sauce with potato, a recipe from Linda's grandmother in Laos.  Different, subtle, great pepper flavour with mushrooms and veges. 
 
The prawns in vermicelli and XO sauce was to die for.  Fabulous smokey flavour with pork mince, complex but simple at the same time.  Voted the favourite of the night.  And to finish we had seafood with ginger and broccoli in a light sauce.  A very subtle flavour also, but great with the ginger.
 
Linda's enthusiasm was infectious and was keen to get our feedback and praise.  She's been there for 35 years she said, and she seems to have a loyal following, most of the other people in the restaurant seemed to know her.  We'll definitely be back, next time to taste the duck with mushrooms and sprouts in oyster sauce.
 
She did say that she couldn't do a special menu for people on popular nights like Friday and Saturday nights though.