Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Margaret River

I drove 3,000 kilometers from Barossa Valley to another popular wine region in Australia called Margaret River. It took me 5 days with all stops included. I drove across the Nullarbor, which is the longest straight road in Australia. That part was boring but luckily I had a friend to split the drive...thanks Blandine! She is a wonderful artist from Lyon, France I met on my travels and it was her first time driving on the opposite side of the road so that kept things interesting :) You should check out her website: www.blandine-mingret.com

Bunda Cliffs with Blandine

And it begins...

The Nullarbor...told you it was boring...

Frenchman Peak at Cape Le Grand National Park

View from Frenchman Peak

You know you're in Australia when there are kangaroos everywhere, even on the beach! Lucky Bay in Esperance

So now I'm living in Margaret River which is absolutely beautiful...the Indian Ocean is a site to see! Great surf but let's be honest, I wouldn't know...at least not yet :)

Mellow day

Raging surf

And I am the Restaurant Supervisor at Xanadu Winery! It's a lovely restaurant with a fabulously intricate and tasty menu which changes seasonally. We are currently on our Fall Menu but will be changing to Winter next month and I can't wait! All the restaurant employees come in on a Monday, the day we are closed, and taste the new menu and wines to get the perfect pairing. Check out our current Fall Menu below...yummy!!!

Smoked pork & apple cappelletti with sugar snaps, mint, fetta and crakle

Wild mushrooms with quinoa, butternut pumpkin, salted ricotta, sage and onion

Garlic & tarragon spatchcock with croquette, chickpea chips and celeriac remoulade

Confit duck leg with smoked duck breast, fig salad, orange braised witlof and quince vinaigrette

Grilled goldband snapper fillet with roasted pumpkin, spinach, laska sauce and coconut salad

Dessert plate, a taste selection [from left to right]:
Mandarin & almond cake with almond praline and olive oil ice cream
Poached pear with smoked vanilla cream, oat cookie and caramel ice cream
Milk chocolate tart with pistachio pesto and vanilla ricotta


And meet the boys who cooked it all...Tom and Dan aka Danjamin, just a funny nickname :)