Lantern Room, Campbell Shops 1 July 2015

In attendance was Andrew, Jim, John, Karen and Ron.  The occasion was John's birthday.
Wine: Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz Bin 28 2002

All the dishes were fabulous, with the first mushroom dish getting the greatest raves. The combination of flavours and textures, with the accompanying sauce was an amazing way to start the meal.

We have had the prawns with rockmelon before, but all the rest were new. Karen still said the wagu beef would have been better than the beef cheeks.

We got to choose our desserts from the normal menu. The kulfi, zabaglione and pineapple pillows were the choices.

China Plate Kingston 24 June 2015

 Megan, Ron, Karen

Wine: Tamburlaine 2005 Syrah

Beijing duck pancakes.

Eggplant chips with spicy salt

Hot crispy fish fillet

Pork ribs with grapefruit sauce.

Another attempt to get the group to China Plate to do some polly watching but again there was only 3 of us.  Ron thought he saw a liberal senator there, I wasn't sure but we did see another creepy politician picking up his takeaway.

But that didn't spoil our evening entirely.  The duck pancakes were brilliant, tender duck, lots of it, divine, beautiful.
The pork dish was done in batter.  I had one piece and decided that the pork was a bit dodgy, a cheap cut.  Ron begged to differ and scoffed most of it.  The sauce gave it a good lift, it was very tart, not sweet.
The eggplant was, as always, light and delicious.
The fish was quite spicy.  It was done in batter with vegetables and something which we couldn't identify until we were told it was bread!

Decibel count quite respectable, 60-70.

Service quick, friendly, highly recommended place.

Xmas in July on June 14th at Megan's

 















Megan, Ron, Karen, Jim and honorary member Eric
A carefully planned meal, with contributions from all who attended.  Smoked salmon ramekins for entrée, slow cooked pork for main, with a cauliflower bake plus a roasted vege salad dish.  Finishing up with plum pudding and bread and butter pud.  Fabulousl

Morning Tea at Ron's 19 June

A chance to sit in the sun in Ron's backyard and enjoy his scones and jam and cream AND Karen's Italian biscuits.  Well done Ron and Karen.
Present: Ron, John, Karen, Megan

Societea Friday 5 June

The first of our morning tea posts.  We've been meeting for morning tea on Friday, or rather those of us who have retired indulge in this pastime.  Each week we chose somewhere new, and if we like it we go back.  So Societea was a return visit.  It's tucked away in an arcade in Griffith Shops, you wouldn't know it was there apart from the sign at the front.  It's presented very cutely, lots of lovely "old" china, quaint old fashioned silver service sets, old furniture, pictures on the wall etc.  It makes for a very congenial atmosphere.
This time, Ron had preorded the special high tea (no sharing), John and I had the Devonshire tea, which was like a mini high tea and Andrew just had the big breakfast. Note Ron's rather large multi level platter in the middle of the table. 
It's going to be a bit difficult to top this one, but Ron is going to give it a go Friday next.

Lemongrass Thai June 3rd Civic

Wine: Jelka 2006 Canb Sav, McLarenvale

Rapaura Springs, 20014 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand

 Jim, Karen, Megan, John, Kim, Ron, Andrew

We had:

• prawn wrapped in almonds
• spring rolls
• Red curry duck
• mussaman curry
• Pad Thai
• Pork lemongrass
• veges and bean curd stir fried
• seafood stir fry

Great food at Lemongrass Thai, we felt that we had chosen well, there was a great mix of flavours.  The seafood was amazing, stir frieded with egg, malaysian curry and blachan; the pad thai looked ordinary but tasted great; the duck curry always wonderful and mussaman beef also.  The pork lemongrass never disappoints, it was very tender and moist.  The tofu and vegetables were nothing special but still quite nice.

Probably because it serves up such great food, it was busy, full and with all the long tables came the noise and decibel reading of 70-80.  Too, too loud, we couldn't talk across the table.  What a pity, since the food is of such excellent quality

Blu Ginger 20 May 2015

 

 

 

Jim, Karen, John, Ron, Andrew, Megan, Kim

Wine: Gapstead Cab Sav 2003

Baily & Baily Folio Adelaide Hills Sauv Blan

Palak pata Chat

Aloo spinach Tikki

Seafood moily

Miltani Chicken

Shai Ghost

Beef gagwala

Dhal Tikah

mali kofta

Butter Naan

Papadams

banana coconut

cucumber and yoghurt

The palak was yum, but a bit rich, not as crispy as others we have had, but it was crunchy (hence a discussion about the difference between crispy and crunchy).  The aloo was nice also, a patty of potato crumbed and fried.  Ron said it was a bit dry, it had a nice chilli sauce with it.

As to the mains, the seafood was voted the best.  The beef was tender with lots of flavour and went well with the red wine.  The other dishes were nice, but all had heavy, rich sauces.

We had been planning to go to Blu Ginger for ages, and finally made it.  We felt that overall the meal was enjoyable, the entrees were really lovely, different and showed promise.  The mains were quite heavy in terms of the sauces, maybe too rich?  Overall, we felt that this wasn't the best of Indian restaurants we had been to.  It was better than some, but not as good as others89.

Noise level not too high, decibels in the 60s.

Chong Co, Woden, 6 Mary 2015

Jim, Kim, Ron John.
We had four mixed entrees, Duck Salad, Lamb with Chilli Basil, Salmon Fish Green Curry, and Jasmine Rice.
For dessert Jim had Thai Pumpkin Pudding, and Ron had Deep Fried Icecream with Caramel Sauce.
We were impressed with the entrée, and the duck salad. The lamb dish was quite hot. All courses were very well presented. The service was very good.

Tang Dynasty, Kingston Foreshore 22 April 2015

 

 

Jim, Megan, Kim, Ron, John, Andrew

 

Wine: The Ned Sav Blanc 2014, Waihopai River, Marlborough

Cape Mentelle Zinfancel 2001

 

 

The Tang Dynasty has reopened, including the horses at the front door.  Great to see them back.

And they have an all duck menu, so there was no debate on what to have.

Duck pancakes to start with, decent, huge pieces of duck not, as Ron said "just some died up skin".

The next duck course was noodles, with duck and mushroom.  It had flavours of ginger and sesame all through the noodles.  Maybe there could have been a bit more of the duck perhaps, but otherwise lovely.
The salad was maybe the favourite?  It was mixed with crisp apple and maybe rice wine vinegar, it was refreshing and tasty.
The soup was the let down of the night, it just tasted like boiled duck, quite thin, the least interesting of all the dishes.
And of course, dessert was standard, but yummy.

Tang Dynasty is not your ordinary Chinese, it's a bit more upmarket and the prices reflect that.  But for the extra, we get a pleasant ambience, tables not too close together, noise not an issue, and wait staff who were attentive (including the magic show).  Recommended!!