Goodbye my lovers

It’s been a long, sad week of writing heartfelt messages in farewell cards, reminiscing funny stories and memories over drinks and countless hugs and re-hugs. This week I said “Goodbye” to two amazing friends as they leave Adelaide (and me) forever. Or at least for the foreseeable future.

One friend is moving to San Sebastián in Spain, where he’ll be learning to speak Spanish while relaxing by the pristine blue ocean and eating tapas. I’m not jealous at all.

I will miss the laughs at work – especially the tram antics that have kept me wary of catching them for the last year now, the random facial hair and the drink bottle that made Thursdays of 2013 go by quicker. Thanks for teaching me that it’s safe to eat watermelon skin!

My other friend is moving to Melbourne to do an MBA before moving back to Phuket. I’ve known Sushi for about 10 years now and we’ve come from wearing goofy looking safety glasses in Chemistry classes to …something more classy.

I feel like I’ve lost a little bit of my heart now that the four of us will never catch up for birthday dinners (which we’ve done since we were 15). There are so many memories, so much laughter and a terabyte hard drive worth of photos to cry over when you’re gone.

I’m so melodramatic. I don’t take goodbyes well, so I’ve been sulking in bed licking my wounds for the past week. It doesn’t help that one of my best friends at work has temporarily flown the coup and my pod mates have been forced to move desks to another floor. Why is everyone abandoning me?

I have “Free Beer”* tonight to drown my sorrows.

*the Fringe show

A Trip Down Sebel Lane

One rainy Saturday night, four girls met up in the heart of Adelaide to take a trip down memory lane. Seven years ago, they had come to the Sebel Playford on North Terrace for their year 12 formal. On this night, armed with a borrowed 2013 Festival of Food brochure, they were celebrating life, a birthday and each other.

Upon arrival, the French valet directed them to the dining area in the most endearing accent. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively thanks to a live band playing in the adjacent bar lounge and the lighting was warm and inviting as it reflected off the gold chandeliers – a perfect contrast to the weather outside.

Having been voted 2012 SA Restaurant and Catering Association ‘Best Restaurant in a Hotel’, expectations for food were high.

First up was a course of bread. More specifically, Boulangerie 113’s semi sourdough with aerated / whipped butter and pickles. The bread itself was the stand-out (with a visit to the Goodwood based bakery now planned) and had been lightly toasted. Unfortunately, the butter was tasteless (and therefore pointless) and the pickles were a strange and unwelcome addition.

The entree tasting plate was visually pleasing but again, missed the spot in terms of taste. The cold black sesame taro square (bottom) contained bits of mystery meat that was only partially made better by the bed of refreshing green apple and mint salad. The prawn and spanner gumbo (aka thick soup) had nice texture when the puffed wheat was added but wasn’t particularly appetising. The only words for the quail would be gritty and undercooked.

Luckily the main meals were superb. The sumac crusted lamb cutlets served with baba ghanoush, broccolini, peas, lemon and bean salad was a really nice combination of flavours. The sumac on the lamb added crunchiness and spice, which was balanced by the smooth baba ghanoush.

The other mains devoured included the steamed fish with crab dumplings, tomato consommé, yoghurt and apple; and

A 220gm char grilled beef fillet with cafe de paris sauce served with watercress and vine ripened tomatoes.

Dessert was heavily ice cream based, beginning with a honeycomb paddle pop dipped in cacao and hokey pokey (honeycomb pieces).

And finishing with the Twisted Ferrero Rocher, which included Ferrero Rocher flavoured ice cream, dark chocolate mousse, a vanilla taille, a sprinkle of peanuts and a drizzle of hazelnut liqueur. So good, but so bad (for you) at the same time.

Last but not least was the Fruit de Bois – a pretty raspberry tart with mixed berry panna cotta and dehydrated basil. The panna cotta was silky smooth and the wild berries flavour was surprisingly refreshing.

Overall, it was a magical night with amazing lifelong friends. Until next time 🙂