Bobby’s Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant, Cairns
Ok so last Monday night curiosity got the better of me much to MS’s dismay and we ventured on down to Bobby’s Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant since neither of us had the energy to cook. We had one of those 2-4-1 vouchers from The Cairns Post so I figured ‘yeah why not it can’t be all bad’. I have heard from a few other people that the food isn’t very good but this is one of those instances where I had to try it for myself. And you know what? The food isn’t very good. The service was, well, pretty good. The staff, even though a couple didn’t speak English, were attentive and served us with a smile. I ordered a Pho Tai – Vietnamese Beef Rice Noodle Soup (AU$13.90) and MS ordered the Crispy Skinned Chicken with Lemon Sauce and Fried Rice (AU$19.40). I have only had Beef Pho once before and this was at the Mindil Beach Markets in Darwin at a stall that was reputed to sell the Best Pho in Darwin or the NT or something like that. And let me tell you it was amazing (see my previous post ‘Mindil Beach Markets’). This Pho at Bobby’s, however was not quite as nice as my previous Pho. Yeah it was big, there was lots of noodles, I had fresh chilli and herbs to garnish my Pho with but the broth just tasted like beef stock. It wasn’t anything special. No delicious aroma wafting from my bowl of Pho. I couldn’t taste the yummy sweet and sour flavours in my broth. I was pretty disappointed.
Pho Tai – Vietnamese Beef Rice Noodle Soup (AU$13.90)
After MS’s initial mistake of thinking that the chicken was boneless, he spent the next 20 minutes or so (the time that it took him to eat his meal) picking bones out. I might add that it was his own fault for not reading the menu properly. Still, he said the meal was good.
Crispy Skinned Chicken with Lemon Sauce and Fried Rice (AU$19.40)
Again, nothing special or anything to write home about (definitely something to write a post about however). The restaurant itself had about 8 tables occupied with both locals and tourists in the mix. The atmosphere wasn’t very inviting and it was more like dining at the Night Markets rather than a restaurant as stated in the name. Needless to say I have satisfied my curiosity. I can make my own Beef Stock at home and call it Pho. I wouldn’t have gone there had we not had a 2-4-1 voucher and now I probably won’t be going there if I do, at least not to get noodles anyway. Sorry Bobby but your claim to having the ‘Best Noodles in Town’ just doesn’t stand with me.
Bobby’s Vietnamese and Chinese Restaurant
Ph: (07) 4051 8877
Address: 5 Aplin St, Cairns City
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm 7 days
Website: www.bobbysrestaurant.com.au
Iyara Restaurant and Bar, Cairns Esplanade
Another Friday night and another attempt by my friends and I to stay away from the pubs and clubs. This time we decided to go to Iyara Restaurant and Bar upstairs at what used to be (back in the day) The Chapel. I dined at Iyara about a year ago and found the food delicious so I thought it was worthy of another visit. On arrival we were greeted by the owner Feng who we chatted with about the mysteries of the universe while we ordered some drinks from the Drinks Menu. JM and FM decided to stick with the risque jug of water while myself and HH went for an alcoholic beverage each (beer and wine). As is typical when dining with HH we go ‘the whole hog’ as the saying goes, no expense spared and its always a pleasure. We asked our host to choose 4 entree meals for us followed by 4 mains. He asked if there was anything that we particularly wanted to try and I mentioned a Chicken and Lemongrass dish that I had spied on the list of mains that sounded particularly tasty, other than that Feng had free range to choose our dishes for us.
One of the best things about Iyara Restaurant and Bar is the decor and the view. We were seated out on the balcony, overlooking the esplanade. The city was alive with people strolling along the foreshore and the full moon rising against the mountain backdrop. Inside, the atmosphere in the restaurant is relaxing yet classy with candles flickering, comfy couches, oriental vases and sleek wooden floors. It didn’t take long for our entrees to arrive and it wasn’t just my camera (ok iPhone) that emerged to take photos of them. The entrees looked and tasted delicious. Feng gave us a rundown of the entrees that he has selected for us paying particular attention to the Mieng Kham – Betel Leaf Served with Shrimp, Coconut, Ginger, Peanut, Chilli and Fresh Lime (AU$15). He told us that this entree either needed to be eaten first or last to truly taste the dish. Since it looked so good, it got eaten first. Everyone thought it was divine and I found myself a little sad that we only got one each. Oh well, onto the other entrees.
Mieng Kham – Betel Leaf Served with Shrimp, Coconut, Ginger, Peanut, Chilli and Fresh Lime (AU$15)
Next entree was the Pla Hoy Shell – Thai Spicy Salad, Warm Scallop, Fresh Herbs, Lemongrass, Kaffir Lime Leaves and Mint (AU$18). Each was served on a white porcelain appertizer spoon (i.e. just one mouthful) and the flavours of sweet, sour and chilli along with the plump, juicy scallop was the perfect blend for this delectable entree.
Pla Hoy Shell – Thai Spicy Salad, Warm Scallop, Fresh Herbs, Lemongrass, Kaffir Lime Leaves and Mint (AU$18)
Next entree was the Goong Hom Pha – Prawn Wrapped in Rice Paper Served with Homemade Chilli Sauce (AU$16). The prawns were nice and big and the rice paper wrapped around them was golden and crisp. These entrees were so crispy I even ate the prawn tail (yum). Again I found myself wishing that we didn’t just get to eat one each.
Goong Hom Pha – Prawn Wrapped in Rice Paper Served with Homemade Chilli Sauce (AU$16)
The last entree of the night was the Tod Mun Pla – Fish Cakes with Snake Bean, Lime Leaf, Crushed Peanut and Sweet Chilli Sauce (AU$17). The fish cakes were, well, they tasted like any other Thai Fish Cakes that I have had. Not to say that they weren’t yummy but compared to the other entrees they weren’t particularly exciting.
Tod Mun Pla – Fish Cakes with Snake Bean, Lime Leaf, Crushed Peanut and Sweet Chilli Sauce (AU$17)
Now onto the mains… They arrived in good time as we were only left waiting for about 20 minutes. Along with my Chicken and Lemongrass dish (Gai Takroi) Feng had chosen us the Gaeng Massaman Neur – Rich Massaman Curry of Chuck Beef, Potato, Peanut and Shallot (AU$28), Pla Sam Rod – Boned Fried Whole Barramundi with a Hot, Sweet and Sour Sauce Garnished with Thai Basil (AU$34), Pad Pak – A Fresh Stir Fry of Green Asian Vegetables with Thai Basil (AU$19). Feng served us each a portion of steamed Jasmine Rice each and we all tucked into the mains in front of us (sharing of course). The Gai Takroi was placed closest to me so naturally I tried that one first. The chicken served in bite sized pieces was succulent and tender. Everyone enjoyed this dish.
Gai Takroi – Marinated Grilled Chicken with Lemongrass, Peanut and Tamarind Sauce (AU$26)
I’ll be honest, I didn’t try the Stir fry vegetables for two reasons. It was placed at the opposite end of the table so it was a bit out of reach (yeah, ok I could have asked FM to pass it up) and secondly because I just don’t like bean sprouts. Again everyone else seemed to enjoy it but there was a little over half of it left by the end of the meal. I can only guess this is because the other non-vegetarian dishes were well, non-vegetarian.
Pad Pak – A Fresh Stir Fry of Green Asian Vegetables with Thai Basil (AU$19).
The Massaman Curry was probably my highlight of the dishes that Feng chose for us. The meat was tender, the potato nice and soft and the sweet sauce was fantastic drizzled over my Jasmine Rice. This dish was delicious but I do have a massive weak spot for Massaman Curry at the best of times. HH and JM, however were also digging into this dish and enjoying it immensely so I guess it wasn’t just me.
Gaeng Massaman Neur – Rich Massaman of Chuck Beef, Potato, Beef and Shallot (AU$28)
Lastly, was the Whole Barramundi and wow did it look good. Once again everyones cameras or phones came out to take a picture of the meal. The Barramundi had been deep fried whole with bite sized pieces of fish fillet for us to share around. Once that was gone however the crispy fish was broken into pieces and eaten skeleton and all by the four of us. I asked Feng where he sourced the Barramundi from and he said that it was farmed Barramundi from Australia. The reason that he bought farmed Barramundi to serve at Iyara is because of its bred to plate size (something I did actually already know but I thought I would ask anyway).
Pla Sam Rod – Boned Fried Whole Barramundi with a Hot, Sour, Sweet Sauce Garnished with Thai Basil (AU$34)
We all enjoyed our meal at Iyara Restaurant and Bar so much so that my friend FM was raving about the Barramundi for the next week until she went back and ordered it again. The atmosphere is fantastic and would be a good choice for a romantic dinner on the balcony for two. The service however was lacking in some areas and while our waters and drinks were topped up at the beginning of the night it seems we were forgotten about after that. It was also very difficult to get anyones attention if you wanted another drink. Feng however was a gratuitous and friendly host, it was more the rest of the staff that let down the service. From the entrees to the mains the food was delicious but paying upward of AU$28 for a Thai dish is (I think) a little steep, especially when the service is lacking. The restaurant was quite full on this particular Friday night but there was still plenty of room down the back for more diners. If more people had come the three wait staff would not have been able to keep up at all considering they were struggling with the number of people already there. If the service was improved I would have no problem paying the higher price for these meals but as it stands hmmm I think I might stick to the cheaper Thai restaurants in town. But then again, that Massaman Curry was pretty damn good.
Iyara Restaurant and Bar
91 Esplanade, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4041 4748
Opening Hours: Open till late for dinner 7 days
The Bavarian Beerhouse, Cairns
Got a craving for sauerkraut? Then maybe you should try out the relatively new German restaurant opened up on Spence St so aptly named The Bavarian Beerhouse. Two of my friends and I tried it out last Thursday night and found the place to be well worth the visit. The service was fast, enthusiastic and authentic with all of the wait staff being fluent in German and dressed in the traditional lederhosen. My two friends CM and MJ ordered a 1L stein of beer each, which the waiter told us is imported from Munich in barrels. I opted for a risque glass of water rather than the beer since I’m not really a beer drinker and I was driving.
Stein of Imported German Beer
Only two other tables were occupied by diners on this particular Thursday night but I have driven past many times and noticed that it has been very busy mostly on the weekends. CM and MJ both ordered straight from the specials board – an XXL Schnitzel with Chips, Mushroom Sauce and 1L of beer for AU$29 (that would be their 2nd litre of beer for the evening) while seeking to satisfy my odd craving for sauerkraut I ordered the Kilsekransky, a Grilled Cheese Kransky served with authentic German Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes and Bavarian Mustard (a bank breaking AU$9.50).
We didn’t wait long for our meals to arrive and when they did we were all pretty staggered at the size of the schnitzel. Well, the special board did say XXL! CM managed to polish off the entire thing as well as 2L of beer minus a few stray chips left on his plate while MJ struggled to finish it all. They both reckoned it was a pretty good deal and enjoyed it although they did say that the schnitzel was a little bit tough and chewy in parts and they also suspected that the mushrooms in the mushroom sauce may have been tinned.
XXL Schnitzel with Chips, Mushroom Sauce and 1L of beer (AU$29)
I managed to more than satisfy my craving for sauerkraut since my meal came with a massive pile of it! I was pretty wrapped about that and pretty happy with my meal in general as it was super tasty. It was quite a big feed and I couldn’t finish it all as much as I tried. Great value for $9.50!
Kilsekransky, a Grilled Cheese Kransky served with authentic German Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes and Bavarian Mustard (AU$9.50)
My two friends and I enjoyed our hearty meals and we were all very impressed with the attentive service and the authentic staff. I have only heard good things from other people that have dined at The Bavarian Beerhouse. It’s difficult times to be opening a restaurant in Cairns especially considering the fate of the last restaurant that occupied this corner (Wink) but I am really hoping that this restaurant does well and by the amount of people that I have seen dining here over the last few weeks I think The Bavarian Beerhouse will be here to stay. I’ll be back.
The Bavarian Beerhouse
Corner Grafton/Spence St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4041 1551
Opening Hours: Lunch Mon – Fri 11am – 3pm, Sat – Sun 10am – 3pm, Dinner Mon – Sun 5pm – 12am
Website: www.bavarianbeerhouse.net
My Favourite Salad @ Perotta’s, Cairns
I simply had to include a post about one my favourite meals at one of my favourite restaurants in Cairns. The Chilli Salt Squid Salad with Spiced Popcorn (AU$19) at Perotta’s At the Gallery is so damn good you just have to go there and try it! I have been going to Perotta’s for years and ordering this salad and I have never been disappointed with it. Sure the spiced popcorn may be a bit of an odd ingredient but that with the pomegranate, rocket, pumpkin and dressing is mouth wateringly good! Not only is the salad amazing but Perotta’s is the perfect place for people watching (if you are into that kind of thing). Get down there!
Perotta’s At The Gallery
38 Abbott St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4031 5899
Opening Hours: 7 days 6.30am – midnight
$10 Dozen Oysters @ Yorkeys Knob Boat Club
I have a huge appetite for oysters, natural and kilpatrick, they’re both amazing! Every Saturday for a limited time Driftaways Restaurant and Bar at Yorkeys Knob Boat Club are serving natural and kilpatrick South Australian oysters for just $10 a dozen from 10am. The oysters are super tasty and yeah, ok, they aren’t enormous but who cares? Are you listening to me? They are $10 a dozen! Get to Yorkey’s Knob Boat Club on a Saturday and enjoy the views and the oysters!
Yorkeys Knob Boating Club
25-29 Buckley St, Yorkeys Knob QLD 4878
Ph: (07) 4055 7711
Opening Hours: Mon – Thur 10am – midnight, Fri 9am – 2am, Sat 8am-2am, Sun 8am – midnight
Website: www.ykbc.com.au
Swiss Inn, Cairns City *CLOSED DOWN*
Last Friday night while trying to avoid the usual Friday night town affair two of my good friends and I ventured into the city in search of somewhere to go for dinner. As we wandered aimlessly along Spence St tossing up a few places in and around that area to dine at someone suggested the Swiss Inn. The Swiss Inn is actually a restaurant that I regularly drive past and continue to say ‘I must go there one day’ so on this particular day we went there.
On arrival we were greeted by a gentleman by the name of Peter who ushered us into the restaurant area and told us we could have the pick of all the tables since we were the only ones there. I thought it was a bit of a disappointing turnout for 7pm on a Friday night but as we ate our meals a few more people did turn up. Peter gave us our menus and we ordered some drinks. Ever the wine drinker with dinner I ordered a glass of Giesen Sauvignon Blanc while LL stuck with a glass of coke (in preparation for OctSober) and AL asked for some recommendations for a bottle of red wine. Peter recommended a bottle of Cimicky Shiraz from the Barossa Valley which AL promptly ordered. We looked around at the decor of the restaurant which is rather dated with white lace curtains that could only be described as vintage and the fake plants hanging in baskets in each of the corners. But all this along with the candles burning on each of the tables and the booth in the corner added to the overall atmosphere and made the whole restaurant feel really warm and cosy (in a non-temperature kind of way).
As we perused our menus LL was delighted that snails were on the entree menu and I too was just as delighted that he decided to order the 6 De-Shelled Snails Covered in Garlic Butter, Grilled and Served with Garlic Toast (AU$12.50). This is another case of ‘I have always wanted to try snails but never gotten around to it’ but at the same time I wasn’t game enough to order snails for myself. For his main LL ordered the San Dominican Rabbit which is White Rabbit, Artichokes and Black Olives cooked with Herbs and White Wine (AU$29.50). Seated in front me AL skipped the entree and went straight for the main ordering the Crumbed Pork Fillet Filled with Swiss Cheese, Lean Leg Ham and Pan-Fried ($29.50) or as its more commonly known ‘Cordon Bleu’. Peter also recommended a side of Spaetzli (small egg-noodle dumplings) to go with AL’s Cordon Bleu.
Spaetzli – Small Egg Noodle Dumplings
I was almost sold on the duck until I turned the page and spotted the Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue described on the menu as a Combination of Imported Swiss Cheeses, melted in Dry White Wine and served with Cocktail Onions, Gherkins and Crusty Bread (AU$37.00). On ordering our mains Peter informed us that all main meals received a complimentary salad bar and bread.
While waiting for our mains LL and I ventured over to the Salad Bar and helped ourselves to the selection of, um, salads. There was a nice little array of salad type things to choose from – a bean sprout salad (not my cup of tea), beetroot salad, boiled eggs, cucumber salad, a type of Greek salad, marinated artichokes and green salad. The boiled eggs and artichokes got my attention and I ate them while I awaited my fondue.
Complimentary Salad Bar
It didn’t take long for our meals to arrive, LL’s snails came first in a ‘purpose built’ porcelain snail dish and Peter told LL that because the snails were a little small he got 12 snails instead of 6. We were all happy with that explanation as AL and I reached over for a snail each to try. They were very nice and I really couldn’t taste much of a difference in the taste and texture between a garlic snail and a garlic prawn. I decided that I would order them if the opportunity ever arose again. LL ate the rest along with all garlic butter sauce mopped up by the garlic toast.
Schnecken Montreux – 6 De-Shelled Snails Covered in Garlic Butter, Grilled and Served with Garlic Toast (AU$12.50)
My fondue arrived almost at the same time as LL’s snails because I guess it is kind of a mixture between an entree and a main, although I had made it my main. The fondue came out with little squares of toasted crusty bread, as well as cocktail onions and gherkins.
Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue – Combination of Imported Swiss Cheeses, melted in Dry White Wine and served with Cocktail Onions, Gherkins and Crusty Bread (AU$37.00)Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue accompaniments – Cocktail Onions, Gherkins and Crusty Bread
In hindsight I probably should have ordered the Beef Fondue Bourguignonne which includes beef tenderloin because my dish was really just melted cheese with bread. It was nice but not really worth the $37 that I paid for it, still there was plenty for the three of us to munch on and I was pretty full afterwards. Having said that the cheese wasn’t too heavy even as I was scraping the bottom of the dish for the very last bit.
Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue accompaniments – Cocktail Onions, Gherkins and Crusty Bread
Peter bought out the two remaining meals – LL’s rabbit and AL’s Cordon Bleu. LL was extremely pleased with his rabbit and even shared a bit with his dining buddies to try since I have never tried rabbit and well AL just wanted some. I didn’t mind the rabbit but I found the colour of the meat a little bit off putting. It had the texture of chicken but didn’t taste like chicken. It was however plump and juicy and as I have been informed rabbit tends to be tough and gamey.
San Dominican Rabbit – White Rabbit, Artichokes and Black Olives cooked with Herbs and White Wine (AU$29.50)
AL however has given me a blow by blow account of his encounter with his Cordon Bleu, enough so that I feel it is necessary to let him extend his creative flair over his Swiss Inn experience on this post. ‘The first bite was succulent enough to know I was in for something special. Each layer of the Cordon Bleu was perfected in the amounts used, the way it was used and the combination of the ingredient with the other ingredients. The Spaetzli had it’s own unique flavour that didn’t overpower the original dish and created a perfect side dish that stood on it’s own merit. We enjoyed tucking into it long after the main dishes were finished’. There you go. Speaks for itself really.
Cordon Bleu – Crumbed Pork Fillet Filled with Swiss Cheese, Lean Leg Ham and Pan-Fried (AU$29.50)
To conclude our Swiss Inn experience we shared a Creme Brulee for dessert with ice-cream on the side. The Creme Brulee dotted with clearly visible vanilla beans was fluffy, decadent, not too eggy as you can find with some Creme Brulee’s and presented oh-so beautifully.
Creme Brulee
When we first sat down at our table I asked Peter how long the Swiss Inn had been open for because it seems to have been around ever since I can remember. He informed me that the Swiss Inn had been open in Cairns for over 34 years and in that time it had had 4 different owners. It’s most certainly a restaurant that has stood the test of time. The service provided by our host of the evening Peter was exemplary even though we were the only people in the restaurant but his fantastic service still did not faulter when more diners arrived. Peter happily chatted with us and his suggestions from the wine to the best side dish to have with a main meal proved excellent. The restaurant is cute and cosy and the food is both flavoursome and satisfying. I might just have to go back for that Beef Fondue.
Our gratuitous host Peter at the Alpli Bar
Swiss Inn Restaurant + Bar
45 Grafton St, Cairns
Ph: (07) 4051 6020
Opening Hours: Open for lunch and dinner Tues-Fri, dinner Sat
Website: www.swissinn.com.au
Worst Salt and Pepper Squid EVER @ Trinity Beach Tavern
Yesterday I was unlucky enough to have the worst Salt and Pepper Squid I have ever tasted at the Trinity Beach Tavern. The menu described it as ‘Salt and Pepper Squid with Pickled Cucumber Salad and Dipping Sauce’. Sounds pretty damn good but it tasted like it came straight from a frozen packet, which I suspect it did. I have eaten a lot of Salt and Pepper Squid in my time and I know my sh*t when it comes to seafood. I would even go as far to say that my parents actually make the BEST Salt and Pepper Squid I have EVER tasted (NO KIDDING) but this was absolutely foul and even dousing it in the dipping sauce made no improvement. Sorry I didn’t get a picture but it really didn’t warrant one, just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I ate two pieces and left the rest. There is NO EXCUSE for serving crappy, imported seafood! That is my second and last disappointing meal at the Trinity Beach Tavern. Yeah, ok, the atmosphere is good, but I ain’t coming back for a third and most likely disappointing round!
Dinner @ Wink II Restaurant and Wine Bar, Cairns Esplanade
A few months ago AA and I met some friends for a couple of drinks at Wink II upstairs at the Mantra Esplanade. As we arrived a little earlier than expected our friends were still eating their main course of Slow Braised Beef Cheeks with Pumpkin and Brown Onion Puree, Garlic Mustard Seed Mashed Potato, Topped with Orange Roasted Carrots and Port Wine Red Sauce, which they insisted we try. Last week AA and I were contemplating just where to go for a ‘classy’ Friday night dinner with friends when I suggested Wink II. Both AA and I instantly recalled the Beef Cheeks that we had tasted on that memorable night a few months back and agreed that this was where we should go. On arrival at Wink II we were greeted by a friendly waitress who escorted us to a table for four that we had booked on the balcony. Most of the balcony was taken up by other diners however the restaurant did seem a little ‘unoccupied’ for 7.30pm on a Friday night. Water was poured and drinks were ordered, however this did take a little longer than usual as there seemed to be a little bit of confusion as to just which one of the four waitresses was actually in charge of our table. In the end it seemed that in fact all four were in charge of serving our table which was a little overkill as I would prefer just to have one waitress to deal with since it does help to personalise the whole overall dining out experience. Moving on….
At Wink II they have a set menu for dinner to choose from as well as an a-la-carte menu but since we noticed that a lot of the menu items that are on the a-la-carte menu are also availabe on the set menu we all opted for the two course set menu for $39.50 per person. Pretty damn good deal I think, plus the Beef Cheeks were featured of the list of available mains for the set menu so I was ‘in’. We ordered our entrees, mains and desserts in one hit and anxiously waited for our first meal to arrive however before our entrees came out we were each brought a ‘palate cleanser’ consisting of a morsel of Chicken and Avocado Puree beautifully presented on a white porcelain spoon. It was small, delectable and really set the mood for the entrees to come.
Palate Cleanser: Chicken with Avocado Puree
Impressing my friend PM with the elegant but somewhat minimalistic food at Wink II (as would be expected at a fine dining restaurant) was going to be a problem considering his rather impressive appetite at local buffets in and around town (I mean it, this guy can eat). However tonight was not about eating as much as you could eat, much to his dismay, but more about a chic dining experience with friends. PM ordered the Wink Oysters Kilpatrick style and since PM doesn’t tend to say a whole lot the fact that he gobbled all four oysters down in record time and then proceeded to eye everyone elses entrees goes to show that he certainly enjoyed his entree.
Wink Oysters – Kilpatrick Style
On my left AA ordered the Local Gazpacho with Avocado Mousse Drizzled with Smoked Oil and Crispy Crouton. On ordering the Gazpacho the waitress asked AA if he was aware that Gazpacho was actually cold soup. As I had expected, AA being a knowledgable friend with a plethora of both useless and useful information stored in his cranium, was fully aware of this. He enjoyed his cold Gazpacho very much and I do remember the words ‘Oh wow, this is really good’ escape from his mouth in between mouthfuls quite regularly.
Local Gazpacho with Avocado Mousse Drizzled with Smoked Oil and Crispy Crouton
To my right LL ordered the Stuffed Avocado with Spicy Creole Prawns and Pickled Watermelon, Carrot Ginger Puree and Wink Salad, which he was most pleased with. Enough so to declare that he had in fact ordered the best entree out of everyone at the table both prior to tasting our dishes and after.
Stuffed Avocado with Spicy Creole Prawns and Pickled Watermelon, Carrot Ginger Puree and Wink Salad
I ordered the Lightly Curried Lemon Scented Goat Cheese Served with Crispy Crouton and Pickled Beetroot Puree and Salad, as I am ever the cheese lover and the description of the Pickled Beetroot Puree on the menu really sold me. The goats cheese was delicious and light, matched perfectly with the Crispy Crouton and the brightly coloured Pickled Beetroot Puree. It was a suberb entree and also a very good sized serve, not too little and not too big.
Lightly Curried Lemon Scented Goat Cheese Served with Crispy Crouton and Pickled Beetroot Puree and Salad
Before the arrival of our mains another palate cleanser was brought to our table but this time it was a shot glass with a small mouthful of Orange and Mango Sorbet. No one at the table was expecting these little palate cleansers but they were certainly a nice little surprise which everyone enjoyed very much.
Palate Cleanser: Orange and Mango Sorbet
For the mains PM, AA and myself finally got to fulfill our dreams and ordered the Slow Braised Beef Cheeks with Pumpkin and Brown Onion Puree, Garlic Mustard Seed Mashed Potato, Topped with Orange Roasted Carrots and Port Wine Red Sauce. The Beef Cheeks were just as good as we remembered except to our delight the serving size was larger than our friends had been a few months ago when we had sampled theirs. The Beef Cheeks were so tender that they melted in my mouth and the Pumpkin and Brown Onion Puree was heavenly and hearty. Beef Cheeks verdict = simply delicious!
Slow Braised Beef Cheeks with Pumpkin and Brown Onion Puree, Garlic Mustard Seed Mashed Potato, Topped with Orange Roasted Carrots and Port Wine Red Sauce
LL ordered the Chargrilled Angus Rump with Crispy Potato Skins, Sour Cream and Red Wine Sauce and on tasting some of my Beef Cheeks declared ‘Your’s is really good but mine is better’. The steak was ‘amazing’ and cooked medium rare just as he had ordered it and although that should be a given at any restaurant anyone that dines out even once a year knows that steak cooked to order is hard to find.
Chargrilled Angus Rump with Crispy Potato Skins, Sour Cream and Red Wine Sauce
One thing that must be noted is that when your food first arrives you notice that it really is like art on a plate. Head Chef Leon has truly and admirably mastered the skill of both aesthetically pleasing and delicious food. As the saying goes… ‘It’s almost too good to eat’. My friends and I really enjoyed our ‘classy’ dinner at Wink II and we were not let down by our mouth-watering memory of the Slow Braised Beef Cheeks. The palate cleansers that were bought out between courses was both a delightful and tantalising touch to our memorable Friday night meal.
Wink II
53-57 The Esplanade, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4041 6346
Dinner Menu: 6pm – late Mon – Sat
Website: www.wink2.com.au
Breakfast @ Frame Espresso, Cairns
My new haunt for a late breakfast and a divine cup of coffee is new cafe Frame Espresso located on the Upward St side of Frame Oz Images. This uber cool cafe has only been open for a couple of weeks so it still remains a little bit of a secret and although I would love for it to stay that way I understand that for a cafe to stay open I can’t just have it all to myself.
My man friend MS and I rocked into Frame Espresso on Tuesday morning for a light breakfast and a cup of coffee after a bit of morning exercise (and I do mean exercise). On arrival we met Eddie, the owner of Frame Oz Images who was most friendly as he introduced himself, Gary and Justin the Barista while happily chatting about his new business venture that is Frame Espresso. The cafe is accessible through the front door of Frame Oz Images or around the side on Upward St. Outside there is a deck area with tables and chairs complete with an awning for shade from the afternoon sun. Inside diners will find beautifully finished large wooden benches and round tables with a myriad of magazines for the homemaker at heart along with a few fresh copies of The Cairns Post to enjoy with your morning coffee. The art, wall decor and furniture on show at Frame Oz Images is most certainly incorporated into the design and layout of Frame Espresso enabling the diner to admire the art while they are enjoying their coffee.
I ordered a Cappuccino and Poached Eggs on Toast with Rocket, plus extras of Tomato Chutney and fresh slices of Avocado, which cost me less than AU$15. I was advised that the bread on that particular day was freshly baked (not by them) Pane Di Casa, however the type of bread available does change regularly. The rocket was fresh, the eggs perfectly poached and the Tomato Chutney and fresh Avocado ideal extras.
Poached Eggs on Toast with Rocket, a Side of Avocado and Tomato Chutney (AU$14.60)
MS ordered the Scrambled Eggs on Toast with Leg Ham Off the Bone, Rocket and a side of Pesto as well as a Cappuccino again for less than AU$15. He gave it two thumbs up and ate the lot along with additional large cup of coffee.
Scrambled Eggs on Toast with Rocket and a Side of Pesto (AU$9.50)
Now the breakfasts aren’t enormous, like one particularly popular breakfast establishment in town that will remain unnamed but it was the perfect size for MS and I and like I said the coffee made by both Gary and Justin was divine! (Extra thumbs up for the Cappuccino art!)
My Cappuccino (AU$4.50)
Frame Espresso also does pastries and tasty salads for lunch with a selection of cakes and slices on display in their food cabinet (I’m definitely coming back for a piece of the Baklava I spotted in there). I was most impressed not only with the food and coffee at Frame Espresso but also the funky layout, very reasonable prices and friendly service we received. Plus anywhere that has a fresh copy of the newspaper for my perusal gets another thumbs up from me! Sssshhhhh.
Frame Espresso
105 McLeod St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4031 1776
Open: Mon – Sat 7am – 3pm
Kanpai, Cairns
If you are looking for a cheap Japanese lunch in town during the week and don’t really feel like the usual Sushi Train then check out Kanpai (means ‘cheers’ in Japanese) on Shields St. They have a $12.90 Eco Lunch special available Monday to Friday with over 10 items on the menu to choose from, including sushi, sashimi and teriyaki chicken.
LL and I walked through the restaurant and took a seat in the alfresco dining area at the rear so we could enjoy the beautiful weather that Cairns has been putting on lately, and also because all the booths inside were full. The waiter poured us a glass of water. I ordered the sushi platter while LL ordered the Teriyaki Don with sushi on the side. We were informed by the waiter that because the restaurant was busy it would take a little bit more time for the sushi platter to be prepared. I asked ‘How long?’ and was told ‘about 20 minutes’. We decided that was ok as we weren’t in a hurry and it was good to be forewarned. However, considering that the lunch specials are only during the week and city workers on their lunch break probably don’t want to be waiting around too long maybe Kanpai should employ some more sushi chefs. LL’s meal came out about 10 minutes before mine did and even though I was told that I was going to have to wait it would have been better if they had bought the meals out together, since LL has little to no manners he had finished his meal before mine had even arrived.
Chicken Teriyaki Don
Having said that when mine finally did arrive with many apologies from the waiter it was delicious, good value for money and also a good size meal for lunchtime.
Sushi and sashimi platter
Again I was met with apologies from the waitress who I gave my $12.90 to at the counter as we left. Kanpai has good, cheap food and friendly service, just don’t go there for lunch on a Friday and expect a quick meal.
Kanpai
64 Shields St, Cairns QLD 4870
Open: Lunch 11.30 – 2pm (Wed-Fri), Dinner 5pm – 11pm (Tues-Sun)
Ph: (07) 4041 6084
Website: http://www.kanpaicairns.com
foodvixen 