Mr. Woog and myself do not have a lot of
things in common. Really, we don’t. He is Type A and I am Type “can’t be
assed”. But apart from the Woogettes, one thing that we do have in common is
our love of food and travel.
With the arrival of the Woogettes, we have
been unable to indulge in the travel as much as we used to. We used to be mad
for it. We would save and save and then take off somewhere. No feeling like it.
Thank heavens for Gourmet Traveller!
I am lucky enough to have been able to eat
at some sensational places around the world, and I thought I would share a few
of my favourites. Hope you are wearing elasticized pants or at very least, that kaftan!
Lets do this…
Lets do this…
THAILAND
SEAHAG – PHUKET
Kenya owns Seahag in Patong,
Phuket. I have been to his restaurant many times over the years and it is just
the business. He is a generous host, will go out of his way to make your visit
amazing. He will invent cocktails, tell you in detail about how dishes are
prepared and will bring you out things from the kitchen for you to try. And he
shops from the street outside his restaurant!
Oh yes he does!
All evening, farmers and fishermen walk the
streets with their offerings. Kenya then designs his specials around what is
the best produce on offer. I could talk about this place all day, but we best
be off because we will be late for our flight to…
HUNGARY
FATAL – BUDAPEST
So, Woog is Hungarian and Mr. Woog has many
relatives still living there, so where there are relatives there is free
accommodation and wherever there is free accommodation, there is me and Mr.
Woog!
Hungarians take their food seriously. In
fact, they rank 7th in the world when it comes to the highest rate
of heart attacks. The first? The Ukraine. I knew you would ask.
I suspect that they feature so high on the
list because the food is hearty, and fatty, and salty, and sweet and all the
other good things that will eventually kill you if you eat too much of it.
In Hungary? You must go to Fatal. Ironic
that it is called that, but it is an institution. I had a schnitzel that
literally hung over the edge of the table. They look at you strange if you
don’t clean your plate. If you are into goulash and langos and percolt "Paprikáscsirke nokedlivel" and
the like, take your blood pressure; get medical clearance and head to Fatal.
Next on the list?
ENGLAND
LONDON - THE LORD PALMERSTON
Many fond memories of this, one of the
first “gastro pubs” on the scene in London. Going back 15 years ago or so, Mr.
Woog and I would often indulge in the Ten Quid Roast here of a Sunday
Afternoon. Washed the yummiest food to be found in London Town down with a
couple of pints, and then roll down the hill, back to our little flat.
Traditional food with a twist and I hear it
is just as good as ever. Comfort food on crack.
Now pack your bags because we are off to….
NEW
YORK
SOHO - BALTAZAR
The world famous French Bistro in downtown
Manhattan, where I was lucky enough to dine with some "colleagues" earlier in the
year. I think I will let the pictures do the talking.
Cannot even…
We need to start thinking about heading
home but we must drop into somewhere special on the way back…
BALI
KEROBOKAN - SARONG
We happened to be in Bali when this
restaurant opened a few years back, and went along to have a bit of a squizz.
Little did I know I was about to begin a gastronomical love affair that I
suspect will last a lifetime.
The best meal I have ever had, and I have had a
lot!
Here is a selection of just the salads on
the menu, to give you some sort of idea of what we are talking about…
Do you see what I mean? In an ideal world, I would find a suitcase
of money somewhere and treat everyone to a meal here. It is just that good. So long Sarong. I will be back.
To help me deal with the fact that
globetrotting gastronomical galloping has slowed down to a tiny trickle, I now
take solace by reading Gourmet Traveller with a vegemite sandwich in my hand, thinking of days gone by and telling the cat to piss off, it's my lunch.
A kind relative gave me a subscription last
year for Christmas and I take great joy in devouring it every month. If you
purchase a subscription through Magshop, you pay only $65.00 a year , saving $42.40 off the cover price. PLUS you will make someone love
you a lot.
(Note to my relative, my subscription is
about to expire…. Just saying)
And if you do choose to buy a Magshop Subscription for
someone this year, not only will you be able to select from dozens of titles,
you will go in the running to win the Ultimate Australian Adventure Package.
Got room to park it somewhere?
Could you imagine buying a subscription for
someone and then winning this?
Seriously... could you imagine? So keeping it.
Do you have a favourite
restaurant or dish that you found in a far-flung place? One that you just can't forget about?
