Pinkster Gin: Cocktails and Conversation

Following a rather strenuous week, my better half and I went along to Madame Brussels for an evening of cocktails and conversation, to try a new gin from the UK called ‘Pinkster Gin’. Former chartered accountant, Stephen Marsh, turned his hand to creating an easy drinking beverage, when he found that other drinks such as beer or red wine no longer agreed with him.

Stephen wanted a drink he could have with food that was light on the palate and the gut. Necessity was certainly the mother of invention, and in Stephen’s case through a series of trial and error found that raspberries, blended with juniper gin was the perfect match. Indeed, the Pinkster Gin gets name by the pink-ish hue of the gin, as it is infused with raspberries.


We tried the gin with a combination of raspberries and mint; slightly peppery taste, with a hint of berries, very refreshing… and after a sip I had forgotten all about the ‘Utopia-esque’ week I had.

Chef Lagenda, Hawthorn by Obelix

J suggested Chef Lagenda in Hawthorn for a nostalgic night of reminiscing with the girls.  Like all the other Chef Lagendas dotted across Melbourne (see our reviews for Chef Lagenda at Flemington and Deer Park), it was jammed packed and dealt with rapid fire through put.  We went to get filled up before a more relaxing catch up over cocktails down Glenferrie Road.  

We perched on little stools at a communal table and tried to keep our chatter from disturbing others.  The service was rapid and the menu straight forward.  Chef Lagenda was geared towards serving Malaysian hawker style noodles/rice dishes.  We shared our dishes between us.  

P's pick was the vegetarian curry laksa.  A huge serve.  It was fragrant like all good curry laksa should be.  It was the pick of the bunch.   

Il Bacaro, Melbourne CBD by Bureaucrat

5 stars. 10 out of 10.  A+.  100%  First Class Honours.  How else can I convey our experience at Il Bacaro?  Honestly, we were blown away by the quality of the food and service at Il Bacaro.  Over the years, we've been lucky to have a few memorable dining experience - either in terms of luxe eats (e.g., Collins Kitchen and Melba - you just gotta love a lobster seafood buffet!) and establishment restaurants (e.g., Jacques Reymond and Stefano's) - but all of them fall short of what we experienced at Il Bacaro.  This intimate Italian restaurant on Little Collins Street raises the bar not just for Italian food but for all restaurants.  Period.


Duck breast, confit duck leg, beetroot puree, baby figs and nasturtium leaves

While originally we had planned on taking Boy Chick to our lunch, it turns out that Il Bacaro doesn't have high chairs.  Instead, the Lawyer and I took the opportunity to have a leisurely lunch and chalk it up as date night (or in our case, date lunch).

Gasthof zur Waldbahn, Zwiesel (Germany) by Foghorn Leghorn

I’ve holidayed in the Bavarian Forest a few times, and there’s one place where I always return for food: Gasthof zur Waldbahn. The Waldbahn is the forest train line winding 70 km from the Danube plain up to the Czech border at Bayerisch Eisenstein. The Gasthof zur Waldbahn is a restaurant/hotel opposite the railway station in Zwiesel, 15 km from the border.


Courtyard view

During a summer stay in Bayerisch Eisenstein, we cycled along forest paths down to Zwiesel for lunch. We had booked beforehand, but we’d forgotten to specify that we wanted to sit out in the courtyard. No problem: the restaurant was busy, but the staff quickly re-arranged tables to accommodate our group of six people. Upon request, we got English-language menus, and settled in.

Souk, Melbourne CBD by Foghorn Leghorn

You’ve probably had the experience of going to a friend’s place expecting a quiet evening of chit-chat, and maybe a round of Trivial Pursuit. Then you arrive, and you find a raucous party with people downing shots and dancing on tables. Something similar happened to me the other night at Souk.

The invitation had arrived a few days earlier. Come to an exclusive launch of Souk’s new spring menu, headed by an award-winning chef, it said. “Souk's new menu plays to the traditions of Middle Eastern meze - numerous small & large plates - with a stylish nod to modern Melbourne dining.”


Kibbeh

I could see it already. A restaurant with exquisite Middle Eastern architecture, and waiters in tuxedos gliding around silently. The sort of place where the other diners give frosty glances to anyone who drops his fork or blows his nose too loudly.

Oh boy, was I wrong!

Le Fangourin, Mauritius by Obelix

Mauritius is known for its sugar cane fields and for an educational visit at L'aventure du Sucre (sugar plantation museum), Le Fangourin makes for a tasty pit stop.

"Off the menu" lentil stew

Le Fangourin is located in the old administration building of the Beau Plan sugar estate. It's has a lovely ambience with the meals served in the breezy veranda overlooking the manicured gardens and the Pieter Both volcanic mountain range.

Maison Eureka, Mauritius by Obelix

Maison Eureka is a traditional colonial house built in 1830 near river Moka. It's one of the largest colonial houses on the island. The original family living there had 17 kids and by the 20th century there were more than 100 heirs.


The decision was made in the 1980s to restore the Maison and open it to the public as a museum. To assist with the upkeep, there is an admission fee or you can order a three course lunch and tour the house, garden and cascade waterfall for free.

Kuanfu Tea, Mauritius by Obelix

Trying to overcome extreme boredom during my long haul flight to Mauritius, I had poured over their in-flight magazine. I came across an intriguing ad for Kuanfu tea. It was billed as a product of Mauritius replete with dodo bird branding. It was organic and due to a specialised production process, each batch had been fermented for a year.

 

Dodo tea cup and Kuanfu tea in the background

Being a tea enthusiast and lover of all things naturally fermented, I was hooked. The purported benefits being - a digestive aid and a sleep aid. Ding, ding, ding!!! It ticked all the right boxes! I was slightly dyspeptic from my over indulgence during my layover in Perth (my epic dinner at the Epicurean) and weary from travel. It came to me at the right moment in time.