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Dinner with friends in Canberra
One of my friends loves this restaurant and whenever she is up visiting from down the coast, she invites a few of us to join her for dinner.
I drove to the restaurant which is only about ten minutes from my home and when my friend and I arrived, our two other friends were already seated and enjoying a martini so another round was ordered but I stuck with my usual glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
There is a really good menu of martinis along with non-alcoholic ‘mocktails’. The food menu is scribbled along the back wall ready to be scratched out when the particular menu item is no longer available – this I was told is to ’86 ‘ something which means it is to have an item crossed off the menu. Since my last visit they now have paper menus which are easier to read as on my both visits I have sat with my back to the blackboard.
The dishes at ’86’ are meant to be shared and I really only go to there to catch up with my visiting friend as there are not a lot of vegetarian dishes. My friends ordered the chicken liver parfait with jam and toast (not the jam and toast you have for breakfast!!)…they loved it.
They also ordered the dry aged t-bone steak with salsa verde and béarnaise sauce [this is cut up into smaller pieces before it arrives at the table], the fried chicken pieces with hot sauce and the hoisin duck bun with pickled cucumber.
By this time my friend’s husband had arrived so he ordered a cocktail and after a while another order of the chicken was made as I am told it was delicious.
I ordered the lemon ricotta pumpkin gnocchi with asparagus and chèvre, the cauliflower with house yoghurt and pomegranate and the pea, lime and fennel salad…we all shared my vegetarian dishes and every one of us said the fennel salad was delicious. I love fennel and this salad with mint and leaves was so refreshing. But both me and my visiting friend said the gnocchi was a little dry (seemed like it had been cooked a while before it was served and left out before coming to the table).
I was rather full by this stage but my friends decided to share a couple of desserts; a chocolate ice-cream dish with maltesers and honeycomb and another dish which was based on cucumber. I would never have ordered this but when it came out I did taste a little and it was really nice. Who would have thought a dessert made with cucumber would be lovely. My friends decided to pull funny faces for me to post…(probably one too many cocktails!!).
xiaohuamaobiji said:
Is that fried chicken? Looks delicious~!!
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the dune mouse said:
Food pictures should be banned lol! I always drool. Great pics Sue and a fun evening!
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sileas said:
Everything sounds and looks really appetizing, I’d love to try any of the dishes you posted!
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badfish said:
I don’t eat much but I ALWAYS have room for dessert. But I would NEVER order a cucumber dessert. Never. Again…just lovely photos!
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vinneve said:
I sure got hungry reading your post because the way you described it makes me want to eat haha! also funny thing from your friends doesn’t mind you posting it unless yes too many cocktails indeed 🙂
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Yes it was cut up into shall pieces and coated and fried. Thanks for continuing to read my blog. Very much appreciate it.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you very much for your lovely comment and agree about food photos being banned. I want to eat everything I see. Ha ha.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you so much. Hope you are having a lovely day.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
I do agree and if my friends had not ordered it I would NEVER of. Thanks you again for your compliment. I genuinely appreciate it.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks Vinne. Lovely to hear from you.
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badfish said:
where I come from, dessert means chocolate only!
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Vicky T. said:
The food looks delicious
Vicky
https://vickysscrapbook.wordpress.com/
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you very much Vicky, it was lovely food.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
I agree – cucumber is not a dessert!!!! thanks for your comment; great to hear from you.
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vinneve said:
Sure when I have time I always go and read your post 🙂 cheers!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Well you are very kind and I genuinely appreciate it Vinne.
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vinneve said:
Merry X’mas 😉
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Same to you Vinne. Regards Sue
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the dune mouse said:
😀
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sim1jr said:
I also went there earlier this year. At the time I recall the dishes were rather expensive and although they are designed to be shared, and therefore multiple dishes needed to be ordered, the serving sizes were less than generous to say the least. What I did love however were the desserts! OMG, I would go back and just eat dessert there any time!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Agree. I had the chocolate dessert with maltezers in it or honeycomb or something. Delicious. I think it’s one of their signature dishes.
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