Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Blu Ginger (Canberra) 11/2015

Two people, Canberrans, independently recommended this modern Indian restaurant to me. The right up in my suggested this must be a pretty impressive place. 
In Genge St, 














surrounded by competitors, it is a fairly basically furnished space with a glass enclosed kitchen at one end, a bar along one wall 


and small bare tables and rather uncomfortable chairs.
Unfortunately they would not serve me a banquet for one so it turned into a three course dinner. I was served by a delightful Bhutanese waitress, Namgay, who helped me choose a reasonable menu.








Starting with Tandoor prawns served with an excellent lime, lemon yoghurt sweetened sauce, a very good entree.

This was followed by a beef korma with rice and a fatty cheese and spinach stuffed nairn which could not have been much better.




And a mango kulfi, which was a little disappointing.
Concierge, a Canberra guide rather exagerates the quality of this place. To me this is a slightly better than average mum and dad ethnic diner with an not especially refined take on Indian cuisine.
Score: 13.5/20



ESP (Northcote) 11/2015

Scott Pickett has transformed his former restaurant into a Bistro and created a very sophisticated modern eating area next door which, among other things, offers a 7 course degustation menu.The dining area is comfortably arranged around the open kitchen where Scott is very visible inspecting and helping with plating and insuring dishes go out at a reasonable rate.

Table settings are simple, unusual with high quality crockery 



and cutlery

IMenus vary but this is what we had
Cured kangaroo, black rice

Cod Roe, Potato Souffle

Lemon Myrtle, Parmeson


Tomato Burrata, Green Strawberry

Yellowfin Tuna, Baby Peas, Foie Gras
King Salmon Asparagus, Seaweed

Diuck, Mandarin, Turnip, Kombu

And bread of course



Fresh Watermelon Juice,
Waghu, an extra, not on the regular menu

Cheese, another extra,








Rosella Sorel, Macadamia

Mango, Passionfruit, Kaffir

Lemon Aspen, Sherbert, Bombe


Matched wines were generous and fitted the food well




Score: 17/20