Lure Me Down Under with Your Lamb
The easiest way to lure me to somewhere new is with the promise of adventure; down and dirty, outrageous and insane. A far off place, remote, potentially dangerous and raw. Whisper those words in my ear and next thing you know, I am mailing my passport to and fro and signing on the dotted line for visa applications. Australia has yet to temp me with its vastness, the opera house or Uluru (I forever associate it with Meryle Streep screaming, “the dingo ate my baby!”). It always seem so civilized, together, clean — lacking in that edge and rawness which I thrive on. As an AFAR Ambassador, I was recently invited to a special dinner, Evenings Afar, at the James Beard House, hosted by the Australian tourism board. Chef Alla Wolf (Executive Chef & Managing Director of Lake Daylesford, Victoria) presented a fantastic meal based on ingrediants typical of Australia with wine pairing from Wine Australia.
Hors d’Oeuvre
Chestnut-Armagnac Veloute Kangaroo Tartare with Pepper Berries and Bush Tomatoes Endives with Fresh Curds and Grain-Seed Praline Fowles Stone Dwellers Sparkling Chardonnay-Pinot Noir NV Shingleback Black Bubbles Sparkling Shiraz NV
Dinner
Freshwater Trout with Buckwheat Vinaigrette and Fennel Fowles Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Riesling 2012
Smoked Eel with Pancetta, Beet Remoulade, and Horseradish Heggies Chardonnay Eden Valley 2011 Dexter Chardonnay 2011
Pork Croustillant with Choucroute Garnie Giant Steps Pinot Noir 2012
Butter-Poached Pheasant with Foraged Mushrooms and Black Truffles D’Arenberg The Derelict Vineyard Grenache 2012
Desert
Brioche French Toast with Goat Cheese and Local Pears Late Harvest Apples with Caramel, Buttermilk, Honey, and Oatmeal Yalumba Museum Reelase Antique Tawney Desert Wine NV
Each course was more exquisite than the previous and each wine held distinction and character. Each course was a delight, I couldn’t tell you which course was my favorite. However, there was a course in particular, the way it melted on the palette reminded me of a hot love affair I once had. An unexpected combination of flavors resulting in a push-pull, a momentary pleasure disappearing just as quickly as it appeared. Which course? I will let you guess. I don’t kiss and tell. Australia may not peak my interest in way of danger but I do have an abundance of adventure loving friends there. Now my taste buds have been introduced to the wonders of Australian cuisine, I might need to seriously consider adding the continent to my list.
