Having already chatted about the lunch celebration my Mum and I hosted for my Grandpa on his 90th birthday, it seems only fitting that I tell you about his birthday dinner at The Boathouse By The Lake, one of Canberra’s fancier restaurants.
I must admit that I found the food this year a little less spectacular in innovation and execution than it has been in the past. Still, it was tasty, and more importantly the night itself was buckets of fun. I haven’t laughed so hard in yonks, and throughout the night I kept thinking how lucky I was/am to have such a fantastic family.
I’m here sharing not only some of the night’s dishes, but a few of its moments of giggling too. My hope is at least something in here makes you smile.
The freebies: an amuse bouche of Saffron and Mussel Soup, and a palate cleanser of Amaretto Sorbet. My soup was a vibrant orange whereas my neighbour’s was a lovely creamy colour. I think hers was the ‘right’ way, for mine tasted simply like melted butter with some chilli. The Amaretto Sorbet was a bit too sweet for a palate cleanser, so my Dad valiantly finished off about four of them. Bravo, good sir!
Conversational Tidbit #1 (en route to restaurant):
Me: What’s a Chef de Commis? Am I pronouncing it right? [i.e. "commie"]
The Brother/E.TeacherLord: The communist chef.
Me: Ah, so I guess they make all the red sauces.
The Brother/E.TeacherLord: [spreading his arms wide] And then hand them out to everyone!
[pause]
Me: And then eat your babies.
My entree: Nine Coffin Bay Oysters with Ginger and Mirin Dressing, Yarra Valley Salmon Caviar. I religiously order natural oysters in fancy restaurants.
Conversational Tidbit # 2 [en route to restaurant]:
Me: I think I should have worn my contacts. Everything’s really blurry.
Mum: Why on earth didn’t you?
Me: Well, I got excited because, as I wasn’t driving, I didn’t need to wear my glasses. I didn’t think to put on the contacts.
The Brother/E.TeacherLord: But you just said everything’s blurry.
Me: Exactly! I was excited by not wearing glasses and I forgot that I can’t see.
My main: Gippsland Shadows of Blue Cheese Ravioli, Caramelised Onion and Spiced Beetroot Salad, Kardinia Riesling Foam. This was, without a doubt, my favourite dish of the night. I have an anti-foam stance, but this version truly tasted like Riesling and played beautifully with the ultra creamy (albeit mild) blue cheese ravioli filling and the sweet beetroot relish. The highlight of the night, foodwise.
My dear seat-neighbour’s Crispy Skinned Tasmanian Salmon Fillet on Avocado, Pinenut, Roast Capsicum, Sweetcorn & Rocket Salad, Mango Aioli. She quite liked the salmon, but the salad beneath suffered from the restaurant’s tendency to over-sweeten some of its savoury dishes.
To showcase how absolutely awesome my grandpa is, I’d like to share with you some of the 20 quotes he handpicked for us to read aloud throughout the night. You might be inclined to think that a 90-year-old choosing quotes for his relatives to read out on his birthday would opt for emotional, Hallmark-esque platitudes.
In that case, you don’t know my family.
Words of Wisdom Chosen by my 90-year-old Grandpa
Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. (Charlotte Whitton, 1896-1978)
Never try to keep up with the Joneses … drag them down to your level. (Quentin Crisp, 1908-99)
I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars – the rest I just squandered. (Geo Best 1946/2005, Irish soccer player, who died of liver failure aged 59)
Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. (Einstein)
My uncle’s Kobe Beef Fillet on Sautéed Garlic Desiree Potatoes, Lyonnais Onion, Parsley Coulis, Red Wine Jus, Shaved Foie Gras (Marble Score 9)
Conversational Tidbit #3 [returning from restaurant]:
Me: I actually wanted to order the venison entree, but my conscience wouldn’t let me because of the foie gras that came with it.
Mum: Me too. I felt too guilty to order it, so I got the kingfish ceviche instead. Foie gras’ production is horrible.
Me: I know. I couldn’t order it, even though I wanted the chocolate sauce and sesame puree it was served with.
Mum: Oh… I wanted the foie gras.
My dessert: Valhrona Chocolate Soufflé, Pistachio Ice‐cream and Feuilletine.
Camille, remember how I thanked you for showing me that chocolate-based treats can be fantastic? I am tempted to take that back. Because of your influence, I went against my anti-chocolate-dessert instincts and ordered the chocolate souffle.
Never again. This was not at all good, as the souffle tasted of nothing but egginess and sugar. Funnily enough, it was the only dessert to make the rounds of the table and be tasted by almost everyone, the majority of whom confirmed my opinion. Boathouse By The Lake? I know what Valhrona should taste like. Not only have I blogged about it, but I’ve eaten most of its range and have several favourites in my stash at the moment. Valrhona is rich, and deeply chocolatey, and this souffle wasn’t. At least the ice-cream was serviceable, and the cookie crumbs the ice-cream was served on were nicely buttery. Still, next time I’ll go with my gut and order the cheese plate. That, my friends, was tasty (I stole some from my dad). Apparently the passionfruit tart was pretty good too…
Passionfruit Curd Tart, Crème Fraiche, Coconut Shard.
The Blue Cheese Ravioli truly was stunning, though, and nothing could dampen what was a joyous night.
I think I’ll end this rather long post by co-opting the language of Generation Whatever-Is-Below-Mine…
I heart you all, my family.
the idea of your family reading out handpicked quotes sounds odd but I can see that it could be fun!
shame about the souffle – I have always avoided them but was persuaded by a friend to have one at a dinner party from the green and blacks cookbook – it convinced me how good a chocolate souffle could be
lasagna look interesting too
Yes, but I didn’t order the foie gras did I? Great post WC that captures beautifully what was a lovely evening. (Oh, and you can tell Joanna that we can be a bit of an odd family at times).
I’m so sorry this restaurant didn’t do justice to the Valrhona! What a shame. Otherwise, the food looks lovely, and it sounds like a great night was had by all!
Corker of a post Hannah. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this one. I’ve wanted to go to the Boathouse for a while, but never made it. I tried last visit but it was shut on whatever day we were loitering outside the door. I love the quotes your Grandad picked- George Best is my favourite one I think. Did he write Geo Best? Or was that you? I presume it was your grandfather. In the family history research George is usually written as Geo but it’s not really in common usage now I think. I’ve never been impressed by foam, I mean, come on, foam, but haven’t fully taken it to an “anti foam stance”, I think I shall from now on. I did think that the foam craze had largely disappeared. Sad to see it making an appearance. I also share your oyster ordering technique. I can proudly say that Tetsuya taught me to eat and like fresh oysters, and I agree that the oysters that are worth eating hang out in nice restaurants.
Too bad that chocolate souffle was disappointing; it sure is beautiful! I suppose looks can be deceiving, huh?
I would have loved to have joined your family celebration!
I’m with you on the ‘never order a chocolate dessert’ rule too. And souffles are never worth anything other than a look before moving on to somethign with ‘tart’ in the title
Haha I loved the conversational tidbits interspersed throughout the story and your grandpa’s quotes. Have you seen the twitter guy who writes down gems that his father says? It’s at http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Johanna: We’re a very word-oriented family (one grandma has even edited Macquarie dictionaries) so it didn’t seem at all odd to us
I’ve had and made some lovely souffles, but this was just fail! Yet to have a good choc one though…
Whisperinggums: No, you were good.
Camille: The desserts needed your magic touch! It was a great night
Louise: Thank you!! You’re right, it was my grandpa who wrote down “Geo”. I didn’t even know it stood for George. Hurrah for anti-foam! It just looks like… well, a variety of bodily fluids, really. Ugh!
Bittersweet: Sadly, yes! Who knew souffles could teach life lessons?
Kath: I would’ve loved to have you there! I think you’d fit in
I do think souffles do have some merit, but this didn’t. And yes, “tart” is my favourite word on a dessert menu! (That, and “cheesecake”, but cheesecake is a little bit tart itself, kinda…)
Lorraine: Thank you – both for your kind words and the link. Hilarious! ((I love the May 11 one))
Wow what a gorgeous post – the food reportage was what I visited for but the personal bits in-between were really funny and touching! This is my first visit and I’ll be visiting regularly after this.
Cheers
Sarah
Hannah, promise me when we’re travelling the world with our poetry that we’ll go back to Canberra every now and then to have meals with your family. Actually, I’m in Melbourne right now – Melbourne isn’t THAT far from Canberra is it? No?
We should get our families together. With the powers of our Dads combined, noone’s leftovers would be safe.
wow, I am drooling over all that food!
Your blog always makes me smile!
And so did the conversational tidbits. If only my family were as funny!
Sarah: Thank you so much! I’m always a bit nervous posting things like this. I do hope you come back!
Conor: I’ll even pinky-promise. *Ahem* “Once we’ve travelled to cure our itchy-wanderers’-feet / We’ll return to the ‘Berra to eat eat and eat.” Oooh, Melbourne? My brother’s teaching in Melbourne! Go knock on his door and you can make the drive up together, and then we can fly in your dad, and then our families can send each other Christmas cards forever and ever.
Simply Life: A few parts were drool-worthy!
Agnes:
But remember, you and your friends are the masters of puns!
I’m glad you thought it was a great party; as hosts we enjoyed it , both food and company, but especially the company. I seem to remember that it was the Birthday Boy who introduced you to oysters all those years ago so he is glad the introduction was so successful. Families are wonderful – well ours is anyway.
GmaSydney: Indeed it was! To let you in on the secret, I didn’t like oysters at first. BUt I kept ordering them because I wanted Grandpa to think I was All Grown Up… and then one day, voila! I loved them!
Haha, sounds like good laughs indeed! I love the foie gras quote
Riesling foam? Intriguing…
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