Tag: Food

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Pavilion Dining @ Pialligo Estate

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.

Benjamin Franklin

This was an exciting weekend! After months upon months of almost total isolation, I ventured out of the house for a beautiful weekend in Canberra celebrating my sister’s birthday. We had an UNBELIEVABLE long lunch at Pavilion Dining at Pialligo Estate – all kinds of bougie and decadent in a gorgeous, sun-drenched setting. Due to the current restrictions, we also had an entire dining room to ourselves, which did dangerous things for our egos. I could get used to lunches like this.

We all skipped breakfast in order to take full advantage of the menu. By the time we got to dessert, I was so full I couldn’t think straight, and I forgot to take any photos. No regrets.

  • House baked sourdough with Pepe Saya butter and Estate olive oil
  • Beetroot carpaccio with cashew cream, candied walnuts and merlot reduction
  • Roast king prawn caponata with romesco and salsa verde
  • Pumpkin, feta and lemon myrtle rotolo with smokehouse chorizo crumb
  • Grilled pencil leeks, torn maple brisket, horseradish and curly endive
  • Grass fed scotch fillet, blackened brussels and red wine jus
  • Spring chicken with wilted leaves, hazelnuts and mustard emulsion
  • Roasted barramundi, parsnip and pistachio with saffron and kohlrabi remoulade
  • Confit mushrooms with kale barley, soft garlic and hard herbs
  • Pork belly with charred corn puree, zucchini and mint salad

When we had finished lunch, the sun was setting over the vineyard so we carpe diem-ed and had another drink outside. Even in Canberra in the middle of Winter, it was gloriously warm in the sun, and the wine was delicious.

10/10 would recommend. If you’re ever in Canberra, make a trip out to Pialligo Estate. Whether you’re in it for the food, the wine, or even just the views – you won’t be disappointed.

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Easter Feasting

Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.

Anthony Bourdain

We are still in isolation, but so thankful that the sun has come out for a beautiful Easter weekend. There’s nothing more therapeutic than Vitamin D in my humble opinion.
In the absence of our favourite smoker, Sam cooked an amazing Wagyu brisket in the coal Weber. It’s a long process at 10 hours total cooking time, but it’s definitely worth it for the sake of a particularly succulent Easter meal.

In a time where I am trying to actively practice gratitude – I am grateful for a wonderful husband who loves to cook delicious food!

In she goes!

1 hour in

2 hours in

3 hours in

4 hours in

5 hours in

6 hours in

Wrap and rest…

4 hours later

And now…we feast!

Happy Easter y’all

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Dubrovnik

You think Earth’s gravity is really something when you’re climbing the stairs.

Rainer Weiss

We made it to our apartment in Dubrovnik after a 4 hour ferry ride, 30 minute uphill walk, and what felt like a million stairs. While we welcomed the exercise after so much delicious food, I’m not sure we needed quite this much!

It didn’t take us long to get used to the stairs, and they made for some wonderful views. We walked up and down the steep, narrow lane ways; and made our way around the city’s outer wall. It was beautiful to take in all the terracotta rooves alongside the enormity of the ocean. There are entire sections of the Old Town that were destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence – some areas are being rebuilt, while others are now home to lush greenery, which I think adds a touch of charm.

In the following days, we strolled around the Old Town seeing the main sights. The entire city has been built from limestone, and almost all the pavers are rectangular. There is one perfectly square stone in the main street, which marks the exact centre of the Old Town. We stumbled across a bar perched outside the city walls. They call these Buza bars, where people grab a drink and scatter themselves across the cliff face before jumping into the sea for a swim.

Another quirk we noticed throughout the whole city was the number of cats roaming the streets. A few times, we saw people coming out of their homes or workplaces to place food out on the street for their furry friends.

We went for a walk beyond the Old Town to explore a little further. Along the way we found delicious food (surprise!) and more amazing views of the wide open ocean.

Four days was the perfect amount of time to see Dubrovnik – and enjoy some welcome relaxation time too! We’ve had no shortage of things to see, stairs to climb or food to eat. What a beauty.

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Split

My perfect beach town isn’t a fancy resort or glitzy planned community. It’s a place with a hometown grocery that has decent meat, seafood, and a deli…

Mary Kay Andrews

We have arrived in Croatia to the warm welcome of Split. What a contrast! Here you will find beautiful stone buildings and cobblestone paths, and to our delight, a dog on every corner!

There are old towns and then there are old towns. Garbage trucks make their way through the narrow lanes all day, while residents and shop-owners emerge from each side to empty their rubbish into the back. At the local market, vendors weigh their produce using traditional balance scales.

We were lucky enough to experience a culinary tour of Split with a very charismatic and knowledgeable guide named Jacov. He showed us around the fish markets and taught us all about classic Dalmatian-style seafood. We bought the most exotic looking fish, and took it to Diocletian’s Wine House, where the chef prepared it into a delicious feast. We then spent the afternoon eating and drinking to our hearts’ content. Strongly recommend!!!
https://splitwalkingtour.com/package/split-culinary-tour/

We’ve had a magnificent time in Split. Great food, quality family time and fascinating culture. Looking forward to seeing more of Croatia as we make our way to Dubrovnik!