Trivia at Kettle & Tin

Kettle & Tin may be less than a year old but they are already a Paddington institution, alleviating the weekend brunch stress on Anouk and going that step further with wine tastings (such as the Rose Revolution one I attended last year) and a pretty smashing dinner menu.

In March 2013, they launched once monthly trivia nights, then it was once a fortnight and now trivia is held every Tuesday night. It's free to participate, there are prizes for every round and $10 dinner specials.

Last night I and two girlfriends tried it out. I booked us a table and we arrived promptly at 6:30 for some brain-warming wine and food. The two $10 specials were whitebait and chips and bacon and truffle macaroni cheese. We immediately ordered the macaroni cheese, which a waiter informed us was 'outstanding', accompanied by confit duck nachos (which I have been wanting to try for weeks), the house terrine and orange and walnut salad, washed down with a couple of glasses of Merlot. All of it delicious and the macaroni cheese really hit the spot on a slightly chilly night.

Bacon and truffle macaroni cheese with a side of Penny's Hill Merlot.

The house terrine; pork and pistachio with gluten-free bread.

 Orange and walnut salad

Confit duck nachos

The trivia, now, if we'd been the full six person team I'd booked for, we might have stood a chance. But between the three of us and particularly with our limited (utter rubbish) musical knowledge we were not the best team.

 If there had been more questions about food we might have scored a little higher.

Not that we cared. We were having a great time and were getting reasonable scores, considering this was proper trivia and we were all a little out of practice. We were pleased we knew 'Name the three letter word for where oysters reside' (bed); 'What gas that yeast produces causes bread to rise?' (CO2) and 'What number is Aluminium on the periodic table?' (13).

Asked to name by sight Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift albums, the name of the Professor who once featured in Cadbury ads or the science of moving liquids and we were, frankly, stumped.

Our end score sheet.  Not the best scores but not too poor either.

It was a fun night. Three rounds of Trivia ran from 7 - 9pm, food and drink were quick and tasty and the whole room seemed to be enjoying themselves. Next time we go, we'll be taking a bigger team with at least one person who really knows their music.

If you're interested in partaking of some K&T trivia I recommend booking. The restaurant was packed and I think a few people had to be turned away.

Swirl Sniff Spit: Clare Valley wine tasting

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the first Swirl Sniff Spit event of 2013. 

Swirl Sniff Spit is a monthly wine-appreciation evening put together by a group of Brisbane wine lovers who know that a pleasure shared is a pleasure doubled. These monthly themed events seem to be rapidly becoming a must-do on the Brisbane wine calendar, with places booking out within minutes.
 

Assembled wine lovers at Era Bistro.

I have now been to a Chardonnay night, a McLaren Vale night and a Grampions Shiraz night. Last night it was Clare Valley, a part of the country I have not yet visited but whose wines I hugely enjoy. The host for the evening was Kate Giles, a Clare Valley wine maker who had some delicious drops in the line up. You can follow Kate on Twitter or on her blog.

Swirl Sniff Spit is a bit unique in being a twitter-based event. The general invitation to attend is issued on twitter one week before the event and all updates and RSVPs go through the same channel. The tasting is free of charge on the understanding that you live-tweet the event and tag the wine-makers, and order your dinner from Era Bistro, who kindly provide the space for the tastings free of charge.

 The evening's line up, complete with twitter tags and a map of the region we were 'exploring'.

Exploring the Clare Valley meant a lot of Riesling tasting and a real mixed bag of reds. What I would say it was an ideal tasting night. For my tastebuds at least.

Tastings are divided into 'brackets' for comparison between winemakers, vintages and varietals. By the end of the night my sheet is scribbled on and wine-stained with my notes and the suggestions of others. Seated next to Two Glass Taste, his first suggestion for the O'Leary Walker Riesling was 'lemon cheesecake'.

Bracket two: Watervale Rieslings. Delicious.

I greatly enjoyed the  full-mouth taste of the clos Claire Watervale 2012.

The Pork Cork and Fork Festival

It was called the Pork, Cork and Fork festival. That was reason enough for me to go, and reason enough for a few of my friends to tag along with me. How could one resist such a title? Particularly when the words 'Tiki Bar' are thoughtfully broadcast across the publicity posters as well.

Over last Friday and Saturday 12/13 October, a restaurant bar called Alfred and Constance held a sort of warm-up pre-opening event; the Pork Cork and Fork festival. The restaurant is opening in late October, but they're warming up and educating their potential clientele with some tasters of what the joint will be like. The restaurant is being constructed in two old Queenslanders (on the corner of Alfred and Constance Streets in the Valley, go figure) and is promising to be a relaxed 'come with friends and stay a while' sort of place.

That was certainly the vibe of the 'Festival'. Held on a grass patch opposite the restaurant, next to a car park, it had a blissful  young-garden-party atmosphere with tents, benches, a Tiki bar and coloured lights. It was enchantingly kitsch and very laid back. People were just there to hang out and have a good time. Aside from a couple of drunken fools treating it like a dodgy beer garden, the atmosphere was convivial and low key. The drinks were tasty, the pork sandwiches cold but flavourful and the DJ played a great mix of mostly 80s tracks that had us gently swaying where we stood.

 The chef may be blurry but the pork is in focus.

Pork sandwich and jar formerly containing luscious passionfruit flavoured beverage. The desserts were all delicious too, but there are no photos of them because they got demolished too quickly. 

 
I did, as you see, take some photos. They aren't my best, I am quite prepared to admit, but I was there to enjoy an evening out with my friends. Plus, there seemed to be at least 4 pro-am photographers hanging around that evening, so if you wanted to see some good photos I am sure some will be popping up on newsletters coming to your inbox soon.

 

 I don't know how people got leis.

 

We appreciated the DJ, even if we didn't dance.

I really enjoyed the vibe of the evening, as did my fabulous friends. If Saturday night was anything to go by, I can't wait to give the proper Alfred and Constance a try when it opens. Good food, good drink and a nice place to chill out and spend some time sounds like my idea of a nice night out in the Valley.

Pork, Cork and Fork Festival

I almost want to go to this just because of the name.

We're going to a hen's night tonight. So there's going to be a bit of this:

The inaugural Diner en Blanc, Brisbane

Several months ago I persuaded my good friend Caroline to register with me for an event I found out about on Twitter but neither of us knew anything about – Diner en Blanc.

Diner en Blanc is the most sophisticated flash mob picnic you could imagine. Participants gather together in a location that is kept secret until the very last minute. You sit at long rows of tables decked out in white linen, candles and flowers. You enjoy a sophisticated picnic with wine and the company of your fellow diners. At the end of the night you pack up, pick up and move out, leaving no trace that several thousand people had gathered to wine and dine together.

It's called Diner en Blanc because Everything at the evening must be white – clothes, chairs, table decorations. Everything classic white and elegant.

This event has happened in countries all over the world – France, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, even Rwanda. Brisbane was the first city in Australia to host the event. I believe Sydney and Melbourne events will be hosted in the next few months. If you ever have the opportunity to attend, I suggest you jump at it.

Caroline and I gathered together with our fellow diners at New Farm Park – one of 5 or 6 meeting points around the city - at 6pm sharp. We had no idea where we were going and to be honest, I hadn't really thought about it at all. I was relishing the suspense. Ideas bouncing around the bus included King George Square and UQ Main Court. However, the super-secret spot turned out to be the QPAC forecourt, the perfect, picturesque Brisbane location. 

 

Arrival and set up.

 

There are dozens of rules for participation in Diner en Blanc, from the size of table that is allowed, to the process of being invited, to what you can wear. The answer to the last one was 'elegant white'. No colours allowed.

Us in our elegant whites.

We took up one whole side of the QPAC forecourt.

 The Wheel of Brisbane and the ABC/QSO building behind us adding to the dramatic backdrop.

When I registered the two of us for Diner en Blanc, I ordered everything we could need for the night; table, chairs, hamper, wine. The food was delicious and the only problem with the wine was that I had foolishly thought one bottle would be enough for two. I will know better next year. 

Looking rather happy and a little smug with the city lights behind me and 

my candle-lit dinner in front of me

 

Our neighbour's Mumm and table decorations.

There were some fun little traditions to the night. Very French, if I may say so. To mark the start of dinner, everyone stood up and waved their napkins in the air. Then at 9pm, we all lit sparklers that had been handed out and the park lit up with glittery, fizzy light.

Kicking off the night.

9pm sparklers.

It was a perfect night out. The setting was exquisite and photos – at least, my photos – don't show just how beautiful it was, and how wonderful we all looked together. No one had come at this half-hearted. There were candles on every table, flowers and fairy lights; white hats, white gowns and white cravats. 

  

Looking down the length of our table.

We made friends with the people surrounding us. The couple to one side were celebrating their 16^th wedding anniversary that night. Another woman was telling us about her recent trip to Paris, a trip she'd been wanting to take for 30 years. We got to meet the caterer and compliment him on the deliciousness of the food. He told us that he had prepared 1,200 hampers for the night and there were 2,000 participants.

 

Our delicious hamper courtesy of Dalton's Hospitality.

Unbeknownst to us, at 9pm a DJ started up and we hustled to the dance floor. I hadn't had a good dance in years but everyone on this floor was just letting go! The perfect end to the night. Even if I did have a stitch from too much cheese.

Some seriously impressive moves on the dance floor.

It was a truly magical night out. There was that strange feeling of togetherness amongst us all. We were all there for this slightly bizarre event, priviledged to be there for the first occasion; in this strange sort of club. Like it was our secret night out, that no one else would understand. 'You had to be there'.

To cut a long story short, it was one of best, most fun nights out in Brisbane I have ever enjoyed and I cannot wait for next year!

Review: The QSO performs The Lord of the Rings

On Friday night Rowebotic and I became the envy of our friends when we got a little nerdy and went to see the Queensland Symphony Orchestra perform The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at QPAC.

 All images copyright of the Lord of the Rings and New Line.

The ‘performance’ of the Lord of the Rings premiered in late 2003, on the same weekend as the premiere of The Return of the King, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Howard Shore, the composer. Since then the production has toured the world, under strict licence by the New Line and having been performed by both the Sydney Symphony and the MSO, it’s Brisbane’s turn.

We started out night by trying out the recently opened Champ kitchen + bar, under the new ABC/QSO Building in Southbank. The latest venture by the owners of Anouk, it’s a delightful café restaurant that is perfectly placed to tend to the dining needs of show-goers, tourists and of course, office workers.

We each had a glass of white ($8 / $10), I had the Crab and apple salad on scallop ceviche with baby pea shoots and a trickle of jus ($19) and Rowebotic devoured her Peking duck dumplings in duck consommé with shiitake and scallop and scallop mushroom ($17). They were both divine; amazing flavours and the freshest ingredients. Unfortunately, not quite enough for a light dinner on a Friday evening. The rest of the dinner menu was equally mouth-watering and I would love to go back soon to try the duck confit or the tea-smoked barramundi.

We sat on the outside terrace overlooking the bougainvillea, the river and the street traffic. With a  glass of chilled Muscadet in hand, it was a lovely way to spend an hour. I predict that come summer and long warm evenings, one will have to get in early to get one of these ideal spots.

The film

Brisbane bars: The Retro Bar, Kenmore

Brisbane’s bar scene had undergone a metamorphosis over the last few years. Thanks to changes in  the liquor licencing laws and perhaps a slight a shift in the city’s personality, great small bars full of character are springing up left right and centre. Canvas, Scratch, SuperWhatnot and Archive spring to mind. If you haven’t been to any of those bars – go no, you’re missing out!

Now the next stage is to get the bars into the suburbs. I’ve heard of both The Junk Bar in Ashgrove and Stockholm Syndrome in Albion that I’m keen to go to. Any takers? But last night, a close friend and I headed out to Kenmore to try The Retro Bar.

Comfy seating and a bit of retro style in the heart of Kenmore.

Photo courtesy of The Retro Bar website.

The Retro Bar is a fully themed bar, with huge leather booths, beautiful retro loungers, eclectic 70s-ish décor and a playlist that included The Rolling Stones, The Who and ABBA.

Chatting to the owner, he told me that The Retro Bar has been open for a year, but I had no idea it existed until Monday. If I still lived in the area I would have been ridiculously excited to have a proper bar to go to rather than the Kenmore Tavern (don’t get me wrong, decent place, chips ok, but cocktail bar it is not).

The Retro Bar has a very extensive cocktail list and I came so close to ordering a martini or a mint slice. However, I was driving so I stuck to wine – a good drop of cabernet sauvignon for $10 a glass. There is only a bar menu on offer but the stuffed squid ($12) and quesadillas ($15) we shared were both very tasty and fresh.

Last night was quiet, just us and three other patrons. However, judging from the website, when they host special events the bar is packed! Movies nights twice a week, themed parties on special occasions. The Retro Bar is The place to be seen in Kenmore.

We can only hope that bars like The Retro Bar continue to pop up in Brisbane’s suburbs, so it will be longer be necessary to head to the CBD or the Valley for a night out. It bodes well for Brisbane as a new-world city to have a vibrant and sophisticated nightlife, even in the middle of suburban soccer fields and supermarkets. If I only have to drive 3 minutes down the road for a well-made fluffy duck, I am a happy and contented woman.