How to UnWINEd on a Friday Night...

"Sumptuous food with complimentary wine choices. A fun, relaxing and educational evening." - Matt Slee, Tulloch Wines

TGIF! After a long week, there is nothing better than settling in with a glass of wine... Our guests at The ArtHouse Hotel were lucky enough to do just that last Friday!

Lounging on the Chesterfields with a Tulloch Cuvee in their hand, our guests were well and truly “UnWINEd”ing into their weekend. As the last guest arrived and the last of the bubbles disappeared... our first “UnWINEd” dinner began.

Whisky & Cheese @ The Hive Bar, Erskineville

I’ve long been a fan of cheese pairings – but I’ll readily admit that they’ve all been pairings done with a range of wines, from the ‘top shelf’ end of the decadent scale to some seriously mediocre offerings lined up alongside a bowl of well-beyond room temperature cheddar cubes.

But even longer than I’ve been a fan of a cheese-pairing evening, I’ve been a devotee of whisky – specifically, Scotch whisky (with the occasional smattering of Irish, Bourbon, Canadian, Rye, Japanese… and especially Australian whisky thrown in for good measure…)

A night of indulgence... with life's guilty pleasures...

Wine was breathing, cheese bubbling on the stove and you could faintly see your breath in the air when you spoke... yes, Winter was here and so was the Fondue Feast! As the last candle was lit, the first guests started to filter in up the stairs...

Lakiesha Mundy

August 5, 2014

Cheese, FoodPath, Ilawarra Prime Alpaca, Li Sun Exotic Mushrooms, Small Cow Farm, Southern Highlands, Sydney, Taste-E, Tertini Wines, The Far North, Truffle, Turramurra, Week Night Dinners, Wine, Wine dinner, Wine Region

Alpaca, truffle, shimeji... all discovered along "a foodie trail through the Southern Highlands"...

Lakiesha Mundy

August 5, 2014

Cheese, FoodPath, Ilawarra Prime Alpaca, Li Sun Exotic Mushrooms, Small Cow Farm, Southern Highlands, Sydney, Taste-E, Tertini Wines, The Far North, Truffle, Turramurra, Week Night Dinners, Wine, Wine dinner, Wine Region

The smell of freshly baked bread wafts around the room... as the Tertini 2009 Sparkling Cuvee Pinot Noir Chardonnay is being poured. A wintery night, reminiscent of my drive down to the Southern Highlands just a few weeks ago... you could faintly make out your breath as you spoke..

Lakiesha Mundy

June 27, 2014

Bunnamagoo Wines, Cheese, High Valley Cheese, Kookaburra Estate, Lowe Wines, Mudgee, Mudgee Honey, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Turramurra, Uncategorized, Week Night Dinners, Wine dinner, Wine Region

Indulge your senses with a "Taste of Mudgee"…

Lakiesha Mundy

June 27, 2014

Bunnamagoo Wines, Cheese, High Valley Cheese, Kookaburra Estate, Lowe Wines, Mudgee, Mudgee Honey, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Turramurra, Uncategorized, Week Night Dinners, Wine dinner, Wine Region

A hint of frost on the windscreen… rows of naked vines line the side of the road… rolling low hills in the distance… Yes, it is early Winter in Mudgee.

A region that is not defined by any one Wine or grape varietal, but is “good at many wines” Rob Black, Winemaker - Bunnamagoo Wines. This historic town is oozing with character which is reflects in its winemaking.

Lakiesha Mundy

May 4, 2014

Cheese, Mandagery Creek Venison, Midweek Dinner, Orange, Philip Shaw Wines, Printhie Wines, Ross Hill Wines, Second Mouse Cheese Co, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Trunkey Bacon & Pork, Turramurra, Wine dinner, Wine Region

Food, wine and a 'Taste of Orange'...

Lakiesha Mundy

May 4, 2014

Cheese, Mandagery Creek Venison, Midweek Dinner, Orange, Philip Shaw Wines, Printhie Wines, Ross Hill Wines, Second Mouse Cheese Co, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Trunkey Bacon & Pork, Turramurra, Wine dinner, Wine Region

A warmth fills the room as guests filter in to the bar... the hum of conversation and laughter steadily grows, casually interrupted by the pop of a cork followed with a gentle clink of a champagne flute... an event is definitely underway here.

The scents are ambient - a waft of blue cheese, venison stewing on the stove from the kitchen, a yeasty fragrance from the flow of sparkling wine.. the recipe for a great night out!

Upon arrival at The Far North, our host venue for the evening, guests are greeted with a glass of Printhie's sparkling range "NV Swift Cuvee" and a canape of House sugar cured Ocean Trout Crostini with Tzatziki caviar. The Cuvee complemented the oily fish on the Crostini nicely with the richness from the pinot.

Lakiesha Mundy

January 18, 2014

Fraser Gallop, Midweek Dinner, Surry Hills, Uncategorized, Wine Region

Nomad

Lakiesha Mundy

January 18, 2014

Fraser Gallop, Midweek Dinner, Surry Hills, Uncategorized, Wine Region

"Friends, like wine, get better with age..."

This week's favourite... Nomad, Surry Hills

After receiving the brief: "I want you to take me somewhere hidden away with good food and wine... I will leave it up to you..."

I started perusing the internet for reviews, blogs and Sydney's best kept secrets... After sifting through countless websites, one restaurant jumped out at me.. Nomad.

I was drawn to the concept, the wine list and most importantly.. the FOOD! A seasonal, ever changing menu that encouraged diners to share.. perfect! After receiving the OK! from my good friend and dining companion for the evening.. I called, booked and penciled it into the diary...

Lakiesha Mundy

December 16, 2013

Fine Dining, Wine Region

DAY 3 - Foodie Gourmet Escape to the Margaret River, W.A.

Lakiesha Mundy

December 16, 2013

Fine Dining, Wine Region

DAY THREE

Today was about food. It was a day of grazing, hopping from one gourmet delight to the next.

Starting with breakfast at the very quaint "Margaret River Bakery". We started the day well with homemade Granola, Eggs Benedict, orange juices and a couple of coffees. While sipping on our coffees we studied the map... circling the "must go" places. We mapped our route and we were off...