Muse

Muse at Hungerford Hill Wines

This place was the one restaurant we clamoured for the entire trip. One week later now and I still cannot forget the scallops I had there. It was a beautiful experience for us despite the extreme heat and I think you should definitely try your best to get there.

A gorgeous view from our table, the restaurant promotes alfresco dining. We were glad to be under shade on the patio however, it was simply too hot a day to be completely outdoors. The wait staff were very attentive to our discomfort with no airconditioning and our skin sticking to the leather chairs, they constantly refilled our water glasses with ice-cold water and any cold refreshments were brought out promptly from the bar and kitchen upon order.

Pan Fried Canadian Sea Scallop

avocado puree, ginger, coriander and sprout salad, chilli and lime dressing

Here's the crowning glory for the meal. I loved the mix of the sauces and the scallops were cooked to perfection.

Panfried Market Fish

steamed broccolini, ginger, soy and sesame dressing, fresh lime

This Ocean trout was cooked really well, but just using soy sauce for flavour, it possibly wasn't the most impressive dish for an asian crowd.

Orreccheitte Pasta

confit milly hill lamb, truss tomato, fetta, salsa verde

There was not enough flavour in this beautifully presented pasta dish for the person that ordered it, but it was a generous serving and made with loads of freshness.

Lamb and Confit Garlic Burger

blue cheese, balsamic eschallot jam, desiree potato chips, aioli

Awesome chips and aioli and a gorgeously cooked burger and the blue cheese thankfully wasn't a strong one. This meal was too large for one especially on the hot day we had, but nevertheless, a very good dish that is highly recommended.

Chargrilled Milly Hill lamb loin with Jerusalem artichokes, broadbeans, broccolini

I particularly enjoyed this. Tender lamb loins and three veg was just what the doctor ordered after over-indulging the entire weekend. This was healthy but hearty and I wished it wasn't too hot to enjoy this with a mellow merlot or shiraz as it would have matched perfectly.

Peanut brittle sundae

See this? This is THE perfect lunch for such a hot day. If we had thrown caution to the wind like my wise friend did, we wouldn't have had to sit through an entire meal before we could dig into this. Yes, my companion thought it was too hot to bother with lunch and only ordered this instead. We of course followed suit and had it lined up for dessert as soon as we saw this being served. The most gorgeous and gourmet sundae I had ever had.

Strawberry twist to Eton's Mess, served with Chantilly cream. The dessert's only flaw was that it was served on just a hot day. But the meringue was lovely on the bite and the strawberry and cream was just the right classic touch to end the wonderful lunch with.

Hunter valley weekend

I am terribly sorry it's been so long. Work has been hectic locking in three major programs nationally. In between that, I've had to shop for Christmas, plan for the Europe trip and think of outfits to brave the weather there with that I can fit into my suitcase along with all of Mr. HEA's requests for things.
It has been good finally being able to plan the trip because Mr. HEA finally got a permanent job a few weeks ago. Knowing that meant that we could finally lock in the travel and I have plans for Paris, Brussels, Scuol and The Hague for the weekends and over the hols.

But those are posts for later. I did a little travelling over the weekend. You know the scorcher of a weekend that we had? Yeah, we were at Hunter Valley rocking the vineyards and the Golden Door Spa at Elysia, Cypress Lakes resort.

This is my favorite spot in the Hunter Valley. A little vineyard that reminds me of Tuscany with its rustic decor and gorgeous yellow building, infamous for its iconic namesake Iron gate. Their wines are really lovely too, we bought a Sweet Mandala, very easy to drink for summer. Their sweet Shiraz is also highly recommended. Best served with dessert.

These were the Sculpture in the Vineyards that we got to visit. I absolutely love the pink shoes, made to symbolize how beauty can be made from discarded 'junk'. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Beauty is in the eyes of its beholder" you must go down the Wollimbi Valley wine trail to visit the vineyards that are hosting the event and see for yourself the magnificent works as well as have a tipple or two.

We did that whilst my Rally aficionado friends were away training to be race drivers. They had fun, but I don't think they'd be quitting their day jobs just yet. Lol. For an extra $40 they got the experience of real rally car driving from the passenger seat, which they tell me was the most exhilirating ride of their lives.
We also wined and dined, but I'll write the foodie posts separately so that you can be bombarded with the pics of the gorgeous plates. Trust me they deserve their own pedestals.

Two other recommendations I make to you for a visit to Hunter Valley:

1) call ahead and book yourself in for a treatment at the Golden Door spa.

I had the Dr. Babor AHA Skin Renewal Facial done and it was a real relaxing hour getting my face cleansed and deeply exfoliated whilst being massaged into blissful oblivion. We then soaked in the Jacuzzi and detoxed in the steam room. Love how soft my skin feels after a steam session every time.

2) you must not miss out on a trip to the Ernest Hill cellar door.

They make gorgeous Chardonnays, Shiraz and light dessert wines. I went there to replenish my Luna Spark, but walked away with Moondance instead because the flavors reminded me of the wines I had at my wedding and I hadn't been able to save a bottle of that.

If you have those two things on your list of activities, all the others will very quickly fill up with tasting and shopping trips around Pokolbin and Cessnock. I had a roaring weekend and luckily didn't dehydrate from the heat and alcohol we were tasting.

Hope you get to Hunter soon!

The art of shopping

I sometimes feel like I have lost the art of shopping. It seems awfully rusty having not been accustomed to the cardio of sweeping through shops and the navigation of which labels are positioned in the malls. What one does nowadays when hitting the shops instead of clicking on buttons in Jammies in front of your computer.

Well, @Jay2DaL had to go dress shopping (isn't that the best kind?) for a couple of weddings this month. And so the weekend begins somewhat like this: You wake up and you put on your shopping outfit. Something that's easy to slip in and out off. Something that it stylish and yet comfortable and weather friendly.

I settled on a Kookai top with the shoulder flower details, my new silk Witchery Maxi skirt and Novo Gladiator sandals and my Rebecca Minkoff bag that allows me easy access to my things and still be able to have my hands free for rifling through racks.

We then set off and have lunch after finding parking in the city. There are plenty of flat rate parks on the weekends and the Cinema Centre carpark is only $10 for the whole day. Lunch wasconvenient and cheap, under $10 at Mappen the Japanese self-service noodle bar.

Then we were ready to shop. Quite unsure of where to begin to find the best dresses of the season, we looked in QVB where the dresses we thought we liked were full of inapropriately placed cutouts or slits. But here's a gem we found with simple, modern retro designs that are classy and still on-trend. We bought the clothes entusiastically as they were well made pieces with a soft, feminine fit and very reasonable prices.(30% store opening discount did help too I suppose).

Zeitgeist viscose pants (new purchase) teamed with Zara singlet and Rory Beca lace Blazer

Wayne by Wayne Cooper dress teamed with Tory Burch Red Patent belt

At the crazy Myer one day sale where 30% to 40% was being offered on most labels off the rack. This charcoal capped-sleeves Wayne Cooper dress is one size too big and missing its belt, but at a quarter of its original price (and the mentality that I'll eventually grow into it one day) the dress was too good to give it a miss and so it came home with me.

What we also got to sample today but didn't buy because they've sold out was the Misscha Super Aqua Snail cream, a cell-renewing formula made of snail slime. A big rave at the moment apparently, and I'd give it a go one day I think.

Things I had to remind myself of whilst shopping again was to check how many items one was allowed in the fitting rooms, to take with you other accessories/ items of clothing to pair with the one that were trying on so that you can see what the end result looks like and to check whether there were special sales on in the major departmental stores instead of the boutiques as you could get the same things for cheaper just because. Also, discovering gift cards in your jam-packed wallet is always a really pleasant surprise at the checkout counter and finding clothes that fit you well before handing over the cash is the bonus, instant satisfaction compared to the long, drawn-out experience of online shopping.


What about you? Do you still appreciate the traditional methods of shopping anymore?

 

La Rosa Bar & Pizza

Well if there hasn't been a week of drinking like this one. We began on Tuesday with the flow of Melbourne Cup Day bubbles and wine and I've been drinking every night since then as we had travelled for work and that always involves a tipple of two.

The last drinks to end the tumultous work week though were these pretty cocktails with @Jay2DaL at La Rosa Bar & Pizza on level 3 of The Strand Arcade. A bustling pizzeria in the heart of the city and a very lovely way to end the week.

There has been a seamless process to book this table. The staff engages very attentively to the booking process and remembers every single request made, including one that asked for the centerpiece table in the restaurant. The one under the chandelier:

 These were the pretty cocktails we had:

La Rosa Rosolio- La Rosa Rose Cocktail

 A sourish refreshing gin-based cocktail. Girly enough to look pretty but strong enough to lift the spirits.

Espresso alla Liquerizia Martini-Espresso & Liquorice Martini

 A sweet coffee martini that is that awesome wake-me-up from a long day at work.

 We started with some shared entrees and that included a selection of cured meats with Grissini, bread and Olives. The Wild Boar sausage was divine and definitely more-ish.

Mains were also great sharing plates too. Of particular enjoyment were the pizzas and pastas:


 

Spaghettini with Braised Chicken and Rosemary   

Prawns, Zucchini, Tomato, Mozzarella and Garlic

Rigatoni Pasta with Prawns, Minced Calamari, Olives & Chilli 

 Everything was of the right flavours, fresh and beautifully seasoned. I didn't have to even use any of the Chilli oil or Parmesan cheese that was brought to the table. Pastas were the right kind of al dente and the seafood was perfectly cooked. We certainly didn't mind overloading on the carbs that night. I must say though, one does fill up really quickly on the pizzas as they are quite sizeable ones. It is truly difficult to restrain I know when the Mushroom pizza comes highly recommended too.

Zeppola - Traditional Potato Dough Doughnuts with Vanilla Bean Gelato   

A lovely way to end off the evening was a small Potato Doughnut steeped in Caramel sauce. Sickly sweet and so sinful, but we've got the sunny weekend to work it off, that's alright.

Food Society in Darlinghurst

The casual dining experience we had this weekend was meant to showcase Modern Eastern European cuisine, paired with an excellent wine list and infused spirits. Having never been to Eastern Europe, it was hard to judge the authenticity of the good, but boards and plates of familiar foods with foreign names throughout the night did not fail to impress, so for the group menu, $55 per pax spent, we all went away with satisfied tums. Here's some of the food we savored:




Mamaliga chips with smoked paprika salt and spicy ajvar were polenta fried chips with a delicious relish that had the flavors of the spice but packed no heat. It was a delicious dish to begin the meal with certainly.




Fried cauliflower with paprika, parsley, watercress and
red wine vinegar. Whoever turns down fried cauliflower must be a fool. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside- Its yumminess trumps the void of nutritional value.




Pierogi of pork belly with speck, apple cider vinegar and chervil. A tough ravioli- like dumpling. I'd much prefer the thinner texture of Italian pasta, but this al dente dumpling was full of bite and with its pulled pork filling, definitely better than the floury dumplings I have had in goulash, so whilst I won't be rushing back for this, it didn't detract from the great menu at all either.




Twice cooked lamb ribs with sliced potatoes, tomato,
eggplant and rosemary. Lamb that just falls of the bone and is seated on a bed of vegetables, the dish is very substantial and is good comfort food for the cold as I'd imagine this'll be a dinner favourite for the harsh winters in Eastern Europe.




Grilled cuttlefish on squid ink risotto and parmesan. I think most people get squeamish with squid ink food. And rightfully so, it is black and uninviting. But the taste of the sea is embodied into this risotto and paired with the burst of tart cherry tomatoes, its acids cuts through the salt and makes the entire dish an interesting party in your mouth.

We paired all that delicious food and more with bottles of 2006 tin shed 'three vines' mourvedre/shiraz/grenache from barossa, known for their soft reds.

It was truly a delightful experience. The bare wooden tables almost makes you feel like you are sitting at a Polish grandma's kitchen bench and getting fed honest wholesome cooking with great company.

Although this part is one I am not sure Grandma would ever serve: the restaurant serves vodka straight in little carafes, on ice or over ice with lime. And the specialty vodkas are either infused or flavored. One potato vodka really stood out from the list, but at 30-40% alcohol and the fact that I was driving myself home, I really had to pass. We bought the birthday boy a shot and it got served with a cherry tomato as its chaser. He says it burns. But it was really good vodka all the same.

The place is easy to like. The service is relaxed yet attentive. And it's got a bar that's opened till quite late. I am definitely gonna have a vodka the next time I am back there.

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