Friday, October 17, 2014

Seasoned (Townseville) 10/2014

* Click on pic's to enlarge them
If you look at Gourmet Traveler for a place to eat in Townsville you will go hungry, but not deservedly so. There are about half a dozen restaurants along a short strip in Palmer St as well as an Ibis and a Rydges hotel. There are steak and rib places, pubs and sundry others. I have no doubt that the pick of the bunch is Seasoned and it would not be out of place among the fashionable city restaurants in Melbourne or Sydney. I had a short time so it is unfair to be too fulsome but I did have a praiseworthy meal. 
It is a pleasantly and simply furnished and decorated venue

with three dining areas. White linen give the place a good quality appearance. 

There is a well stocked bar near the entrance

and at the far end of the room three wine refrigerators topped by a structure like a book shelf for wine with the bottles laid out in racks.
 
The owners, who work in the restaurant, seem to be genuinely friendly so there was a pleasing ambiance. 
The menu is fairly traditional with half a dozen starters, entrees, vegetarian dishes, mains, sides and a separate dessert menu. Gluten free dishes are indicated. (GF). There were a few unusual things such as sticky pork bell, honey and chili glaze ($12) which I w ould have ordered if I had more time, and venison fillet wrapped in kangaroo prosciutto, chestnut puree, baby beets, heirloom carrots, puffed rice, balsamic and beetroot jus, which I did have.  ($45) It was excellent. The venison tender and moist, fat free and quite delicate in taste. I would have preferred a tastier prosciutto but it certainly kept the juices in the fillet  No gaminess at all. The accompanying vegetables were also nicely prepared. 


My colleague had an eye fillet, charred spring onions, brussel sprouts, tempura noki and truffle potato ($36) ordered medium rare and served medium rare.
He said it was excellent. 

We were sorry not to be able to stay for dessert. 
Wines are around $10 by the glass and there is a 2% surcharge for credit cards.
 Score:  based on a very small sample 14.25/20

Saturday, October 04, 2014

Tree House (Balaclava) 10/2014

We often come here because it has always been a pleasant place for breakfast, brunch afternoon tea or dinner. Popular with tourists food is good and serves handsome and wine acceptable. We dropped in last week and enjoyed their soup of the day. There was a lot of onion and not much beef cheek but it tasted fine.


 
Sandra enjoyed Eggs Benedict with lashihings of house made Hollandaise which she requested. It had a bit more lemon than she would have liked.
 
and I enjoyed a Thai inspired spicy chicken salad. This was very very mildly spiced, full of a great variety of healthy vegies, including pomegranite seeds on a bed of chicken breast. It was a bit sweet and had no detectable chili but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  



 Score:13.25 /20

Chatter 54 In the Garden (St.Kilda) 10/2014

It's spring and our garden is so filled with colour I could not resist a few photographs.
A few years ago I did a post of what could be seen within a couple of kilometres of home http://1001dinners.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/chatter-40-melbourne-garden-city.html  Well here are a few more from our own back yard!