Thursday, June 4

Dinner was Gorge-ous!

Last night Tim and I ate out at the Launceston Gorge Restaurant for our 2 year anniversary. It was a beautiful setting - in fact, not actually the spot I'd pictured. I'd seen the building before but not realised it was actually the restaraunt in the Gorge!! It was lovely at night - lit up and surrounded by very wet and drippy trees!


The waiter with his slightly English accent was very helpful and frequently refilled our water glasses, attended to the wine glasses and looked after us well. The winter special was on so we got 3 courses for $40 which was a very good deal.

We got a bottle of wine - some WA one called Bandit, because it was one of the cheaper ones, but also because it had a grape called Tampranillo which we'd never heard of. We asked our English waiter, and he said he'd not tried it but the bottle was pretty and it had been very popular and it was possibly the last bottle left - so we got it! Reading the bottle told us that the Bandit label was based on a WA bushranger, Moondyne Joe who was caught drinking wine in the Houghton cellars in the 1860s.


For Starters, Tim had half a dozen natural oysters, and I had deep fried King Island Brie with tomato and peach chutney. We shared of course because I'm not sure how that much deep fried cheese would have felt later - but it was delicious!


For mains, Tim had Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon with Proscuitto and some herb butter or something, while I had confit of duck with shiraz figs I think. The duck was delicious! Tim's fish was tasty although he did confess to wondering how the steak (his other shortlisted option) would have been!


By dessert time, Tim was very full. Still, he pushed through and managed to eat all of his chocolatey swirly icecreamy thing (didn't look at the names as carefully) with kahlua and a meringue nest on top. I also enjoyed by duo of brulee's - although I believe they were different flavours and mostly I could taste creme and brulee! But I always love the crunchy top and the smooth stuff underneath!

Then we were done.. we finished up the wine, and had a quick play in the gardens! It was raining and late but while we waited for Tim's Mum we had a quick wander around the pogoda thingy!





5 comments:

Jac said...

Gorgeous photos again and that dinner looked delicious, although I hope that huge dollop on Tim's salmon wasn't all butter!!

tempranillo is a Spanish grape but seems to be taking off in Oz. When I was at Tintara in March I tasted theirs - would still prefer it in a blend but was pretty good!

CupKate said...

I don't think it was all butter but I'm not sure what it was! Will have to go back again and look at the menu... one day!

According to the googling I did about that Bandit wine, it was around or less than 10% tempranillo and I guess the rest shiraz - so it seemed like a good blend! I'm not a wine expert but we enjoyed it - and the bottle was pretty. Maybe I'll get it for Hamish one day since it has convict arrows on it!

Big A said...

Sounds like fun! Perhaps you should have walked home!! Anyway, Tim needs feeding up.

Love from Boat Harbour.

The Bears

Emily said...

I've only been there once, for a work dinner a few years back, but it was great. I can't remember what the vegie option was, but I liked it. It was summer when I went and we had glasses of champagne overlooking the pool first.

Clare said...

Kate we had tempranillo in Spain - I think it is a Spanish grape and style of wine. Hamish is very partial to it - but hang-on, it is wine . . . but with added arrows - WOW!
Glad you had a lovely evening anyway. And I hope you have at least an inkling of how lucky you are to have someone who remembers all those special occasions - most women can only dream of such a thing..
I know it is a bit late to post to this, but I have a moment
xxxx Mum