Eateries of Choice

Like most people, I enjoy going out for a good feed. However, I'm quite specific where I would go to find certain food or drink. I've visited a large number of local Adelaide eateries so I think I would be making a reasonably fair judgement call. I'm also quite picky when it comes to food and this gives me a clearer thought process about why I prefer the places that I do. Let's get started.

1. Burger Joint - E'Nuf Burger, Anzac Highway

This one will always be a touchy subject. However, my biggest peeves about burgers are two things; places that shove too much inside such that the heat ratios and flavour ratios don't match and places that do this correctly, but don't have good consistency in their product.

Let me give you an example. There are a number of burger places in the CBD that would be in the Top 5 burger joints. However, on any particular busy day, there is a high probability that you may be served something that would struggle to crack the Top 20. I'm not sure what the reason for this is but if you compare it too a quality restaurant (as upmarket gourmet burgers pretend to be), the wait staff at said restaurants are probably much better equipped at running a kitchen than the 'still finding' themselves or financed by mummy and daddy, kids working at the cool new hip burger bar.

Never been disappointed here

So the solution? There's one place I haven't been disappointed at yet. That's place is E'Nuf Burger on Anzac Highway. It looks like a cross between a take away joint and a diner and given its location, I've never seen it ridiculously busy such that all standards are thrown out the window. They have a great selection of burgers, so if you are after consistency I suggest you give them a try.

2. Bacon at Brunch Places - Queen Street Cafe, Croydon

Bacon is another type of food that can sometimes divide opinion. However, for the picky people like me, I am constantly disappointed by the bacon I am served, at many of Adelaide's fine brunch places. Places noted for mushrooms seem incapable of serving a decent side of bacon; you know the soggy and stringy kind. Maybe it's because the chefs vegan, and therefore all meat is murder, but seriously if you promise crispy bacon, I damn well expect the fatty bacon edge to come out crunchy like french fries. To me, if done correctly this is probably one of gods greatest gifts to man kind.

Gimme my crunchy bacon

Which now brings me to where you can find such a gift. I'm going to harp upon consistency again because I'm please to announced that the Queen St Cafe in Croydon, is once again delivering on this promise. The BLT is back with crispy, crunchy bacon goodness and I can only expect that the other items on the menu would provide a similar level of bacon goodness. If you appreciate good bacon, look no further.

3. Coffee - Bar 9, Glen Osmond

For most people, going for coffee is more about the outing than actually going for a good coffee. We are fortunate that in Adelaide, let alone Australia, that there is such a high level of coffee culture. As such, we are spoilt when it comes to the base level of coffee that is served to us.

I'm not a coffee connoisseur, but for me there is a very fine line between that great, strong coffee flavour and all out bitterness. Hopefully, an experienced barista will be able to confirm this statement; the best baristas can get extremely close to this fine line without ever crossing it. Hence, it is why their coffee tastes so much better.

TBH, I don't really care

If we look at it for a business point of view, this means that you will definitely lose customers if the coffee is too bitter. As such, if you don't have a skilled Barista, you will stop brewing well before you reach the 'tipping point.' I don't blame the many businesses for staying on the side of caution. After all it's your business and livelihood. However, for those of us who do crave to sip of well balanced, strong coffee, my pick (again for their consistency) is Bar 9 on Glen Osmond Road. I just wouldn't recommend their food (mushroom ragu may be the exception); but if you are after a great coffee, this is where I would go.

Like every post contained in this blog, I've really tried to offered reasons for why you should buy, taste or experience something other than following the fad decided by the misinformed rich kid. I hope this helps and I'll include a few more places over the coming weeks.

#Hanbaobao 

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Fun Things to Do at Fancy Restaurants

As today is Valentine's Day, a lot of people will be going out for fancy dinners so I'd thought I'd share my thoughts on fancy dining.

It's a rather interesting phenomenon when you experience silver service for the first time. I'm sure most of us obsess about what clothes we should wear, only to second guess ourselves at the last minute and perform a complete make over. Additionally, more often than not, as this coincides with a special occasion and we therefore put unrealistic expectations on the night.

Already a nervous wreck, we then enter the restaurant only to be greeted by a well dressed maitre d with a funny accent who looks you up and down. You feel judged as you take your seat and look around the restaurant like an idiot hoping to see someone famous.

The menu is explained to you and a lot of big words are said (many of which sound like gibberish and must be made up) and often your waitress can come across as very condescending. At this point, you might feel you made the wrong decision coming here. Fortunately for you, its mostly in your head. You would actually be surprised how much these restaurants will put up with. Considering the amount you're paying (e.g. $20 for a bottle of water is completely ridiculous) they damn well should.

So what can you do to get your nerves under control and start enjoying your night? How about trying the following:

1. Become a Food Critic of Side Dishes

This tip is one of my all time favourites. Often when I hear how the main dishes are prepared, the waiter waffles on and on, describing things you've immediately forgotten. To this I say, flip straight to the side dishes and get them to describe their mash potato and recommend food and wine to match. I'm pretty sure you know something about mash potato and/or garden salads so chances are you will start to feel more comfortable and begin having a more enjoyable night.

Note: My favourite mash of all time comes from EST in Sydney

2. Take Your Photos Immediately

Just do it. To quote nike, the restaurant wants you to 'just do it'. It's their best form of free advertising, so start taking them as soon as you get there and then you can start feeling more relaxed now that you've got those first few awkward snaps out of the way. Just remember to turn off the flash if you're going to be continuously taking photos.

To make your photos and memories truely unique, you could go pro your meal. I recently did this at EST and my waitress was so amused she even offered to help me film my food being brought to me. Don't think I'd do it again though, she wasn't a very good camera woman.

3. People Watch

I don't think you will come across more interesting diners as you do when eating at a fancy restaurant. There are of course some typical diners that you can count on being there; The rich guy with his trophy wife/escort for the night, the 'rich' asian couple constantly putting their night up on social media and the birthday group where everyone is trying to out dress each other. 

However, once you've had your fun making up these people's back story, you might notice the guy trying to win his girl back, the couple that are mid argument or the dad making up for never being there for his kids significant events. Chances are as you people watch, the night will get more and more interesting and you will realise that you are just the same as someone else in the venue. Just don't forget the real reason you came here tonight. Otherwise it would be a waste.

4. Make Up a Compelling Back Story

This night is about you. So if you don't feel like you belong, why not make up a story so that you do? The waiter will probably know, but for the price you are playing he will play along. We've always imagined what it would be like to be so rich that you never have to work again, so why not pretend for tonight?

Good places to start are something that's a bit obscure but still potentially believable; something like my dad invited dice or I was George Soros' junior associate when he broke the Bank of England. What ever you choose, have some fun and enjoy your night.

Hopefully by now you are feeling more relaxed and realised that a fancy restaurant is just like any other restaurant except that because you pay more, you get to get away with more. Happy dining and Happy Valentine's Day.

#Hanbaobao

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