Tea Connoisseur – Civic – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – June 2022

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canberra, Civic, Oolong Tea, Tea Connoisseur, vegetable dumplings

There is a new tea house in Canberra which I read about yesterday, so with me being a huge fan of a good cup of tea, today I decided to drive into the city and enjoy a cup of tea and perhaps lunch as Tea Connoisseur also offers a menu of traditional Yunnan food. When I arrived, which was just after midday, I was the only person in the cafe so I was shown to a table near the window by the owner Yun ‘Coco’ Zeng who told me she was born in Yunnan, a southern province in China and has worked in high-end hotels throughout Asia and Australia including Shanghai and Sydney. Coco said she moved to Canberra and worked at the Hyatt Hotel and then saw the need to open a tea lounge and I am so glad she did. One of the first things you notice when you enter is the array of tea canisters lining the wall; beautiful black canisters with red labels and a range of  pu-erh tea. Also some great looking desserts in the glass cabinet below the teas.

I was given both a tea menu and food menu and whilst I was deciding, Coco talked a little about some of the teas which she did with authority having told me she started picking tea leaves from a very early age whilst growing up in Yunnan and has now partnered with her uncle to import the teas from China. Coco explained that these teas are appreciated much like fine wine, with enthusiasts buying and ageing them for many years. The pu-erh tea that is on display is made from fermented tea leaves which are then pressed into ‘cakes’ and aged with the ageing process lasting from months to several years causing true fermentation rather than oxidisation.

I recall visiting a tea shop in Yunnan during my travels through China where some of the pressed ‘cakes’ were worth thousands of RMB (up to $40,000 AUD). And whilst pu-erh is not the most expensive tea in the world, it is definitely up there. The most expensive is said to be Da-Hong Pao grown in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian province of China and is worth over $1m a kilogram. No adding milk to these teas!!

source: http://www.the-riotact.com

I ended up choosing a Oolong tea, in particular the Tie Guan Yin which as the menu says is one of the most famous oolongs in the world. The tea arrived in a little glass teapot and I could see the tea changing colour whilst it was steeping. Coco had told me to steep for one-two minutes then I was to remove the glass container from the teapot, place it in the supplied bowl and pour the tea into the little glass cup…such a lovely process and the tea was very refreshing.

There was a range of vegetable offerings on the menu but as I wasn’t that hungry I chose the pan friend vegetable dumplings and asked Coco if they could be steamed instead of fried which she agreed to after ensuring me they were vegan. Next time I will definitely order the ma po tofu with mince, chilli and shallots (minus the mince of course) and the three flavours eggplant dish with smashed garlic, chilli and coriander. My dumplings arrived in a steamer with a dipping sauce. Delicious!

The back wall is a painted ‘map’ of southern China to show Yunnan and the city of pu-erh where of course the tea of the same name originates.

There are also many other tea related items on display around the tea lounge including tea leaves, tea cups and boxed tea for sale as well as a range of lovely china tea pots. There are also a lot of dried flowers around the store which add to the ambience of the place.

All in all a really lovely place to sit for an hour or so and enjoy a wonderful cup of tea and some great Chinese food.

Wilma Restaurant – Civic- Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – March 2022

Tags

canberra, dining with friends, Ma Po Tofu, Wilma Restaurant

A new restaurant has opened up in Canberra called Wilma. The location has a bit of a history as there was a murder of a Comanchero outlaw motorcycle group boss at the previous nightclub Kokomo’s. The person who committed the murder was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment late last year. I am not sure if that is why the nightclub closed but it may of had something to do with it.

Fortunately there weren’t any murders on the night we were there! The interior is dark and has a good mood about it, nothing like the bright nightclub it previously was. I particularly loved the booths surrounding the edges of the restaurant, the shiny black stained wood, the low lights and linens sheers. We were seated in a booth and I had direct views into the open and busy kitchen, so was pretty happy about that as I love to see the chefs and kitchen staff bustling about cooking our meals.

Wilma has an extensive menu that focusses on barbecuing using coals and a wood fire but it also has a separate vegan menu so I of course ordered from that.

I had several choices and nearly ordered the sticky eggplant with black beans and cashews dish; with sizzling or sticky eggplant being my favourite dish. However my friends who had eaten here previously, had tried the eggplant dish and didn’t love it. This made my decision easy; the ma po tofu it was. The dish was a little different to what I am used to as it contains not only tofu and fried chilli but sizzling Schezuan Shiitake mushrooms. The tofu was good but unfortunately I didn’t like the mushrooms in the dish.

We also ordered another vegan dish which was the morning glory vegetables in a hoi sin sauce with a chilli garlic crunch. I didn’t take note of the hoi sin sauce on the menu so this was another dish that wasn’t to my liking. My friends enjoyed it though.

My three friends ordered a range of dishes to share including the roast duck pancakes with shallots, hoi sin sauce and cucumber, the Balmain bug and egg noodles with chilli, coriander and sesame dish and the hot smoked char sui pork which were by all accounts delicious. They each ordered a roti bread but unfortunately that is made with dairy so I could not taste.

A bottle of local Canberra wine was enjoyed by us during the meal and lots of laughs at my expense over a particular new neighbour in my complex; not for further discussion here!!

An early evening as it was a school night which meant my three working friends had to work the next morning but we did return to my friend’s home for our obligatory night cap or roadie as we refer to it; being ‘one for the road’. Probably will return to Wilma and try a few other vegan dishes!

Blissiimo – Luxury French Tea House – Braddon – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – January 2022

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ACT, Blisiimo French Tea House, Braddon, canberra, Cire Trudon candles, Enigma Fine Chocolates, Mariage Freres Teahouse Paris

In line with me wanting to visit all new cafes in Canberra, last week I drove to a local suburb, not far from my home, to check out a new olfactory that is now offering a luxury French teahouse along with its exclusive range of luxury international perfumes. The first thing I saw upon entering the arcade was a fabulous luxurious velvet sofa in front of a wall of green plants and then a huge toy zebra in the window of the store I came to visit, Blissiomo; both making me want to see more of this store that looked so amazing on-line.

But before I entered the store I saw a hand made chocolate shop Enigma Fine Chocolates a lovely family owned business specialising in artisan style chocolates, truffles and yes…dairy free chocolates…I knew I definitely had to visit. The staff were exceptionally helpful and I ended up buying nine hand made dairy-free chocolates all put into a little box with a bow. The staff then gave me a list of chocolates I had chosen so I would not forget when selecting one to eat. I haven’t tried any yet, but am sure I will over the next few days.

After chocolate shopping, it was time for Blissiimo; it was lovely to hear beautiful French music, smell beautiful fresh flowers and I loved seeing the piccolo bottles of Moet & Chandon in the fridge alongside iced tea and other carbonated non-alcoholic drinks. Bit too early for me to start drinking champagne so I decided to take a look around the store starting off at the walls lined with beautiful smelling perfumes all displayed according to their scent with a mirrored backdrop, huge vases of flowers and statues. You are welcome to try one or all perfumes if you have the time but I am guessing you might be there all day!

As you walk through this amazing store you might have to duck your head under a fabulous chandelier or walk around a huge table arranged with fresh flowers, lotions and perfumes. One thing you will have to do is take your time to look at all the displays of candles, clothes and many many other gorgeous items. Items you don’t really need but once you enter this store you know you have to have!

The sales girl was so helpful and informative and said that Blissiimo brings more than 30 independent candle brands to Canberra, including a cult favourite Cire Trudon—the most exclusive candle brand in the world and whose history dates back to 1643 where Trudon, a French candlemaker started making bees wax candles to became a candle provider to the royal court of the King of France, King Louse XIV. This visit was like a history lesson on perfumes and candles and I found it all very interesting.

There is also an incense bar in the store and on a Monday you can have a psychic reading or have your tealeaves read! What a fabulous way to spend an afternoon along with a glass of champagne and a couple of sweet treats.

By this time I had bought myself a candle and reeds from an Italian scent and soap company founded in Sicily in 2006. I had been given one of the amazing smelling candles from my friend Mary, who ordered it from Italy for me (very kind) so once I saw the brand, Ortigia Sicilia, I wanted another candle, some lovely smelling reeds and a soap. I also wanted to buy Mary a soap and when I gave it to her, she was very happy that this brand could be bought in Canberra; saving her exorbitant postage costs from Italy. The lovely sales girl also gave me Ortigia Sicilia brand bags to put my gifts in…so beautiful.

Now, I was feeling a little thirsty so took a look at the teas on offer. There is an extensive range with 125 different teas available from all over the world with an exclusive range from the Marriage Frères teahouse in Paris which has been in operation since 1854. However, I chose a refreshing Persian mint tea from the Monista Tea Co and went and sat outside on one of the more private sofas around the side of the store to relax a while and enjoy my tea.

There are also stands of Cacao Macarons from Melbourne but I only wanted tea which did come with little biscuits but I didn’t know if they contained dairy so didn’t partake.

The store also has an Afternoon Tea or High Tea available and the menu offers gelati, whipped cream and fruit, parfaits, jelly pots and knickerbockers (layered ice-cream sundaes) for the sweet tooth and antipasto platters for those with a more savoury tooth but either way there is so much food to indulge in!

After tea, I took one more stroll around the store to look at the displays of other perfumes, some with the old fashioned pump and others with a glassed item indicating the scent and bright cushions. How fabulous!

This really is a wonderfully luxurious store – it’s a must if you live in or visit Canberra.

Cakes, cakes and bread – 85ºC Daily Cafe – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – January 2022

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85ºC Daily Cafe, ACT, Australia, breads, bubble tea, cakes, canberra, matcha cake, Milky tea, Taiwanese inspired cafe

Lately I have been making a list of cafes and restaurants that have recently opened in Canberra with the aim of trying them all. One I wanted to visit is a Taiwanese international chain called 85º Daily Cafe selling breads, cakes, desserts as well as smoothies, coffee and teas including milk and bubble tea. So this morning after my walk with my dog Axel, I drove into town to find the cafe. It was pretty easy to find as its located near our university on the fringes of the city.

You walk into this cafe and its interior is quite pink, to say the least. Pink walls, pink chairs, fake flowers on the walls are all shades of pink and there are pastel coloured flowers in small baskets, trolleys and vases near the cash register; pretty much all pink. All very sweet I must say.

I chatted to the young Chinese girl behind the cash register and asked her if she was from Taiwan (considering the cafe originated in Taiwan), she told me she was from Mainland China and we chatted a while about my travels throughout her birth country. She told me that all products in the cafe contained egg so I ordered a Jasmine tea and chose a small table near the window to sit and enjoy. The tea arrived in a teabag which was a bit unfortunate but it was nice all the same!

As for the cakes; there are so many lining the walls of the cafe in refrigerated glass side boards. And they look great; there are slices of layered sponge cake, chocolate mousse cake, cheesecake, strawberry cream cake, egg tarts and so many more…including several Asian flavours like a matcha (Japanese green tea) red bean roll and pineapple cakes.

All different sorts of breads and brioche are also sold including cheese bread, cheese twists, chocolate chip bread, coconut twists and croissants. So much choice! Unfortunately for me, similar to the cakes in the store, these savoury treats are non-vegan as they contain either milk or egg or both. These are also beautifully displayed in cabinets where you will also see more beautiful flowers above and lovely take-away boxes on display. I can imagine taking one of the larger cakes as a gift to a friend, looking fabulous in a see through box complete with bow!

The waitress told me that the name of the cafe 85º Daily Cafe actually comes from the idea that the perfect brewing temperature for espresso coffee is 85º Celsius. Interesting! But back to the cakes…there are also full cakes on display for any occasion I guess, then again who needs an occasion to eat cake!

So whilst I could not eat any of the sweet and savoury items on display, I did very much enjoy the visit and the opportunity to practice my Mandarin and view the cuteness of this cafe!

Sage Dining Rooms (another visit) – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – October 2021

Tags

ACT, canberra, dining with friends, Sage Dining Rooms, vegan dishes

Sage Dining Rooms is a local Canberra restaurant I have been to many times and have always loved the food, wine and service. The last time I visited this restaurant was before Covid-19 struck and it was for a friend’s birthday – I really love the Mint Garden Bar where you can enjoy a glass of wine at any time or of course a cup of coffee. It was raining on the day we arrived so I went straight into the restaurant – this really is so lovely inside; cosy with beautifully presented tables.

Well this time it was for a post Lockdown catch-up with three of my good friends who I had not seen for quite some time so each of us was looking forward to a good catch up. Sage has a fully stocked bar and the bar area is gorgeous and am sure any drink is available but we decided on a bottle of Aussie riesling…good choice I think.

The meal options include a five course degustation and a three course degustation. On my previous visit I ordered the five courses and boy it was way too filling. It’s funny the portions don’t look that big on the plate but after bread/amuse bouche and little delights in between courses…five courses is just too much for me.

My friends ordered the shucked signature oysters as an entree which arrived beautifully presented and whilst my entree didn’t look that great it was actually quite nice..it was kohlrabi (after an internet search I now this to be a German turnip), peas, grapes, summer squash and a sorrel (again after an internet search I now know this to be a herb).

Our second courses arrived and my friends had ordered the barramundi fillet with scollops, tomato and lemon myrtle. This also arrived with a salad and a serving of crispy baked potatoes that my friends said were delicious…but unfortunately I could not eat as they were not vegan.

My dish was a barbecued sugar loaf cabbage with green tomato and a chilli crunch. I must say I have always loved the food at Sage but really didn’t love the cabbage dish …it tasted a little bland unfortunately, maybe just not to my liking. I guess I thought it was also just some cabbage on a plate – probably expected more!

Our desserts arrived and it was the cheese platter for my friends which came with a house made condiment, crisp bread and also a creme brûlée. Mine was a fruit compote with a coconut cream…quite nice; a really nice crunch in the fruit – like a granola – I really liked it!

We stayed for more drinks and then we had to leave, unfortunately. Service here is exceptional and we all enjoyed such a lovely catch up. So many laughs and just a great couple of hours.

Old Parliament House National Rose Garden – Barton – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – November 2021

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ACT, Barton, canberra, National Rose Garden, Old Parliament House, Paperback trees, sightseeing with family

There are a lot of different places to see around Canberra for visitors and it’s usually the more tourist spots that people are taken to. I had my Goddaughter Stephanie and her husband Anthony visiting so as it was pouring rain pretty much all weekend we decided to have a late breakfast on the Sunday at a local cafe that I have grown to love. The Knox Made cafe has a large vegan menu and on this occasion I chose the Vegan Benny which has smooth avocado with sautéed spinach and Miso mushrooms and a pumpkin almond hollandaise all on house made sourdough. I have never tried a vegan hollandaise before and I must say I loved it…so delicious…and I had a pot of peppermint tea. Anthony ordered the Eggs Benny with bacon on a house made English muffin along with all the usual sides and loved it so much there was nothing left on the plate. Steph ordered The Avo which came with poached local eggs, smashed avo, pickled cucumber, confit tomatoes on the vine, marinated feta and a quinoa and herb salad with dukkah…and a side of haloumi.

The moment we left breakfast the rain stopped which was great, so I decided to take my visitors to see the roses at the National Rose Garden which is located at Old Parliament House. The gardens opened in 1933 and exhibit both Australian and overseas roses and also a variety of beautiful trees. The first I saw was when just about to enter the gardens; a stunning tree, a Paperbark I think and then various other beauties inside the garden.

The first thing we noticed when we went into the garden was how much the heavy rain and wind had damaged the roses but when you walk through the garden you can still see how gorgeous some of the roses are and the fragrance is just beautiful! There is wisteria and also rose covered pergolas, unfortunately the wisteria had already bloomed but the walkways were still lovely.

The three of us spoke about how fabulous it would be taking a break from work and enjoy your lunch on one of the benches under a trees or out in the open in the sunshine. A lovely way to relax and look at and smell the beautiful roses.

But it was the roses we really came to see and apart from some of them looking a little weathered as I mentioned, from the elements, we still enjoyed a lovely walk with delightful aromas every time you walked past the different rose bushes.

And then it was time for me to take close ups of some of the different coloured roses. One thing I found very interesting was how many different varieties of roses there are; such different blooms and all beautiful! Such a great place to visit and my visitors loved it too which was great.

White Rabbit Cocktail Bar – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – July 2021

Tags

ACT, canberra, drinks with friends, White Rabbit Cocktail Bar

Isn’t it great when you find a lovely bar where you can catch up with friends for a glass of wine, a cocktail, a spirit or a cup of tea and some delicious snacks then also enjoy the ambiance! Well I have found one such bar in Canberra and over the past few years have frequented often. A few months ago I chose the White Rabbit Cocktail Bar to meet up with a couple of friends for a quiet drink. It’s in the middle of Canberra city and everything is quite heavily themed to Alice in Wonderland and even the movie (soundless) is played on a large screen; it’s pretty fabulous! Beautiful orchids (real) adorn the individual seating areas as well as a white picket fence lining the walls and a floral archway leading to the bathrooms. And..velour comfy couches to relax in enabling you to enjoy your wine and your company.

White Rabbit also hosts regular events, in particular Tipsy Tea which really is pretty much a boozy high tea available every weekend with an assortment of savoury and sweet treats paired with cocktails or sparkling wine. How can that not be great! It’s pretty cool when cocktails such as Alice Be Curious arrive in a teapot along with a cucumber finger sandwich. Every drink has something delicious served with it, for example the Mad Hatter – 12yr old rum, bourbon and cognac with cream and egg comes with a side of cognac-soaked flaming black cherries or even the Tweedle-Rum.

A Tweedle-Rum (source: Facebook.com/WhiteRabbitCocktailRoom)

My friends and I only enjoyed a glass of wine on our occasion of catching up but I have eaten here before and the food is very good – charcuterie boards and the most amazing desserts.

(source: TripAdvisor)

(source: http://www.whiterabbitroom.com.au)

(source: http://www.whiterabbitroom.com.au)

As soon as you walk in there is something pretty spectacular that catches your eye…a collection of glass-fronted cabinets along one wall. Each cabinet contains bottles of alcohol which is actually a locked vault for personal drinks – you can own a cabinet to store a special (I guess expensive) bottle or your favourite wine, which will be brought out for you whenever you visit. How cool is this!

This really is a lovely place for a relaxed drink and something to eat. I like it too because it’s dimly lit adding to the ambience but really why would you not enjoy a place that serves great wine/delicious food and most importantly you can relax in a comfy lounge!

Jerrabomberra Wetlands – Fyshwick – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – July 2021

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ACT, Australia, canberra, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Latham's Snipe, Telstra Tower

Canberra has so many walks on offer and one I had been meaning to explore was about half an hour drive from my home. Jerrabomberra Wetlands is a refuge to several protected species and is a habitat for local birds and also for species migrating from the northern hemisphere and also from inland Australia. It’s a truly lovely place to visit and is looked after by the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust with wonderful views of Telstra Tower, Canberra’s iconic telecommunications tower.

There are three route options; Kellys Swamp Loop, The Woodlands Walk and The Billabong Walk – as the walks are not long, I decided to do all three on the day I visited and it was well worth my time. My first sighting was a mob of kangaroos. I always love seeing kangaroos in the wild, they are either resting on their sides or standing up and staring right at you. My photos are not that great as they were a bit far away and I only took my mobile phone to capture photos.

The different walks are very easy without any inclines. There is no way to get lost as the dirt paths are well set out and well worn and throughout the reeds there is a corrugated iron pathway; making it very easy to walk along.

There are no dogs allowed at this location, which is completely understandable. I read that one particular bird Latham’s Snipe (an endangered waterbird) flies directly from Japan (Hokkaido) to arrive at these wetlands; how amazing is that. And I also read that other wildlife that call this environment home are water rats, turtles, water dragons and platypus. I must say I missed all these species but did see a few ducks and other birds.

One of the things I particularly love about a bushland walk are the trees and these wetlands have plenty to see and photograph; some I managed to capture with the sun shining through in the background.

I just happened to choose a day when there were very few other visitors. I saw a few people riding their mountain bikes along the pathways and some other walkers but was so lucky to really have the place to myself. No noise just the chirping of the birds; loved it. Something else I really love are the reflections of anything on water but especially trees and I was lucky it was great weather to capture these reflections.

And there were a couple of old buildings I saw on my walk, one I am sure is not used as it was just old and worn and near the water but the other one is actually not on the wetlands but on neighbouring property and I think it’s used for storage of tools or hay, not really sure as didn’t walk up close.

Such a lovely morning out and an absolute treasure in the heart of Canberra!

Tipsy Bull restaurant (2) – Braddon – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – February 2021

Tags

ACT, Braddon, canberra, Gin, Lunch with friends, tipsy Bull restaurant, vegan dishes

photo courtesy of http://www.weekendnotes.com

There are so many nice restaurants to choose for lunch in Canberra and Tipsy Bull is definitely one of them. It’s located in the city suburb of Braddon which is about an hour’s walk from my home and whilst I have been to this restaurant a few times, it was lovely to revisit as they now have a very good vegan degustation.

The restaurant is actually well known as a gin bar. It has over 100 local and international gins to choose. When you order a gin, it arrives deconstructed on a wooden platter with gin, tonic, ice, gin making tools and garnishes chosen specifically to enhance the flavour of the gin you have selected.

There is a good range of wines to choose from including vegan options. On this occasion I went with four of my friends just to get together and enjoy a chat and a meal. We ordered a bottle of South Australian sauvignon blanc and whilst looking at the drinks menu, I saw a mocktail of pineapple, ginger and mint I really liked the sound of, so ordered one and it was thirst quenching and so delicious!

Everyone started off with crusty bread and cultured butter, mine arrived with olive oil. I always have to limit my bread consumption as I eat way too much and become full even before the first main dish arrives. My first dish to arrive was a very tasty salad of spinach and other leaves, fennel (my favourite), pomegranate, tomato, pepitas (or pumpkin seeds really) and a delicious lemon dressing.

The next two dishes were the cauliflower with garlic puree and olive oil and a dish that wasn’t on the menu but made for me by the chef and consisted of some sort of grain that I can’t recall the name of, a couple of vegetables topped with goji berries and parsley – this was so delicious.

The dishes here are really quite large so I was happy that my friends were willing to taste mine even though they had their own non-vegan dishes. My friend Ray, who is not vegan loves trying my vegan dishes and at this restaurant he particularly loved the grain dish. It’s funny with a degustation, even if the portions are small, I find after about three dishes, I am full. My final dish was dessert and I think I was lucky here as it was sorbet, so nothing too heavy after all the food I had eaten. From memory my friends had heavy dishes but even though they were full, all were finished! Another lovely lunch with great friends.

Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar – Canberra – Australian Capital Territory – Australia – March 2021

Tags

ACT, Brulee, buvette bistro & wine bar, canberra, cold pumpkin dish, dinner with friends

With my good friend, Sandy, visiting from Queensland, a group of us decided to book a French restaurant in Canberra called Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar. Most of us had been before and enjoyed the food so wanted to revisit. We all started off with a beverage from the extensive wine list which did include a couple of vegan choices. Mine was an Australian Riesling whilst my friends enjoyed a French chardonnay and a glass of red.

The menu is also pretty extensive with many vegetarian options but only a few vegan. There was a cauliflower steak but as I had eaten that the last two times I have been out, I really didn’t feel like it. Anyway, I wasn’t feeling very hungry so ordered a small dish of roasted pumpkin with a tahini yoghurt dressing and topped with coriander and pumpkin seeds. When it arrived it looked so good but unfortunately I didn’t ask if it was a hot dish and it was not…cold pumpkin is not for me (the flavours of this dish were very good though).

My friends ordered a few dishes to share which included the Kimchi dumplings with pickled red cabbage, chilli and ginger oil. Unfortunately when we asked if the dumplings were vegan we were told the Kimchi was made with fish sauce. My visiting friend from Brisbane had been to this restaurant the previous week and had ordered the dumplings and said they were delicious. Shame on this occasion, they were not all that warm!

A few other dishes were also ordered; firstly the Snapper ceviche with buttermilk, cucumber and green chilli and also the grilled Queensland scallops with a miso glaze and seaweed butter. Time then to order another glass of wine; same drinks all round.

The final main meal to share ordered was the 36-hour slow-cooked Angus beef short ribs with gremolata and crispy polenta. My friend Naomi said the polenta was absolutely delicious but of course I could not eat it as it had been sitting in meat juices. We nearly ordered a fresh serve minus the meat but as I was not that hungry, we didn’t bother.

And to top off the night as we were finishing our wine and Naomi was driving, she decided on a dessert rather than another glass of wine. She ordered the brûlée. It arrived looking fabulous and she said it was. This used to be my favourite dessert before I became vegan!

Oh and nearly forgot to mention, we of course ordered the obligatory bowl of chips!

photo from internet as I forgot to take one on the night!