Made in Mudgee

Words by Gregor Stronach I received an invitation a couple of weeks ago, by email – and it took me all of about 20 seconds of frantically stabbing at my keyboard to type “Yes please, of course, I would love to be there, it sounds amazing!” to lock in my seat at the Crow Bar for the Made in Mudgee event on August 25.

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

May 20, 2015

Alexandria, Food, Healthy Eating, Lunchbox Angels, The Grounds, Workshops

Food Revolution Day with the Lunchbox Angels

Lakiesha Mundy

May 20, 2015

Alexandria, Food, Healthy Eating, Lunchbox Angels, The Grounds, Workshops

"FOOD REVOLUTION DAY IS FIGHTING TO PUT COMPULSORY PRACTICAL FOOD EDUCATION ON THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. With diet-related diseases rising at an alarming rate, it has never been more important to educate children about food, where it comes from and how it affects their bodies." - Jamie Oliver

A brisk Autumnal Friday morning, the animals are awake and the Garden is starting to fill with the rich smell of morning coffees and fresh bread coming out of the oven... the scent of a big weekend ahead!

It's Food Revolution Day and The Grounds of Alexandria are hosting the Lunchbox Angels on a weekend of food education and fun for the whole family!

Lakiesha Mundy

October 10, 2014

Cheese, Fine Dining, Guillaume, Mudgee, Paddington, Sydney, Truffle, Week Night Dinners, Wine

Guillaume - elegant, refined and well worth the wait...

Lakiesha Mundy

October 10, 2014

Cheese, Fine Dining, Guillaume, Mudgee, Paddington, Sydney, Truffle, Week Night Dinners, Wine

As eagerly anticipated by Guillaume and his team as it has been by diners! I finally set aside a night to experience it for myself!

The website was yet to launch, so the excitement about the menu was the topic of discussion in the cab ride over...

"What do you think he'll keep from Bennelong?" "Ohh I hope the Tuna is still on the menu!!" "Can't wait... so hungry!!"

With rumbling tummies and the 9 months of waiting... 'we couldn't wait', is an understatement.

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.