Tag: Australia

Cha Cha Char, Brisbane, Australia again…

by gavin, posted in Restaurants

I was in Brisbane for work again last week and the major decision to be made was “where do we eat?”

The obvious answer was Cha Cha Char’s. I’ve dined at Cha Cha Char’s a couple of times and the meals have always been excellent.

We’d had a couple of beers after work at the near by Belgian Beer Cafe and headed off to the restaurant around 6:30 to see if we could score a table. Since we were early we were able to get a table straight away but the restaurant filled up very quickly, so I guess we were lucky.

Cha Cha Char, Brisbane, Australia

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Curry Vault, Melbourne, Australia

by gavin, posted in Restaurants

A friend had told me of a great Indian restaurant in the Melbourne CBD. Yesterday I had the opportunity to give it a try, and I have to say that this is the best Indian restaurant I’ve  eaten at in Melbourne in a long, long time.

The Curry Vault is in Bank Place near the Mitre Tavern off Collins Street. It was a balmy Thursday evening and the restaurant was full. We were lucky to get a table.

Curry Vault, Melbourne, Australia

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Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia

by gavin, posted in Restaurants

It was a public holiday in Melbourne, and the weather wasn’t too bad, so had lunch with a friend down at Docklands in Melbourne.

Not having been to the restaurant area of Docklands before, we walked the length of the food strip and finally came to Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel. It wasn’t too busy (maybe this was an omen), and the menu looked OKish.

Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia

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Wolfie’s Grill, Sydney, Australia

by gavin, posted in Restaurants, Travel

I’ve been to Wolfie’s a couple of times before, maybe even half a dozen, it’s not cheap, but the food is good and the views are to die for.

Wolfie’s is on the waterfront at West Circular Quay with views of the Harbour, Opera House and Harbour Bridge. A great place to bring out of towners for a meal.

Wolfie's Grill, Sydney, Australia

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It’s been a day of eating and drinking, across and between two countries

by gavin, posted in Travel

I’m off to New Zealand for a training course for a week, Auckland to be exact. So this morning started off in Melbourne, where I got up at an uncivilized 8am (for a Sunday) and ended up in my hotel in Auckland… and along the way I’ve had a heap of pretty good food.

The day started off bright and early, the day, not me… I just started off early with a couple of coffees to try to get the senses turned on… finished my packing, got a hire car to the airport and half way there I had a sneaking suspicion in my mind that I’d left the air conditioning on, so back home we go… thank God we did as it would have been a fridge in my apartment when I got home next week. Anyway, make it to the airport, a little later than I should have, and join the queue to check in, and then it’s off to the first class lounge.

Feed #1 – Melbourne

The first feed for the day was at the Qantas first class lounge. It was brunch for me and consisted of a rather decent BLT (made with sun dried tomatoes, which was a nice touch) and a couple of coffees, topped off with an OK strawberry doughnut and a pineapple juice… I’m officially awake by the time we board the plane.

Feed #2 – in flight

On our way to Auckland from the big west island, I’d upgraded myself on points so I got a better seat, better grog and a decent feed. A champagne before take-off and a bourbon and coke after was getting me right in the mood. A choice of two meals was offered chicken and pork. Chose the pork with braised red cabbage and a garlic potato mash (guess I won’t be getting a kiss today!) accompanied by a couple of glasses of a pretty good 2007 Spy Valley Pinot Noir from the NZ South Island city of Marlborough. Followed up by vanilla ice cream and biscotti, and a Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Liqueur Muscat. A small glass of Cointreau polished me off.

After feeling the effects of my over indulgence, a hot chocolate got me back in track just as we started our descent into Auckland.

Feed #3 – Auckland

Surprisingly, I was feeling peckish when I arrived at my hotel. Couldn’t be bothered venturing too far, so decided on room service. A fairly decent beef burger with added egg and bacon arrived soon, along with a glass of Kim Crawford Merlot from Hawkes Bay in New Zealand.

Suffice to say, I’m full and its now time to sleep this all off!