I'm on the hunt for a nice new year's eve venue.... somewhere with a bit of sparkle, some nice food, but an easy few steps home without the need to battle for a taxi!
A night in the Hunter Valley is high on my list, and surfing around I came across the NYE event at Esca on Bimbadgen's estate in Pokolbin. It reminded me of the last time I was there - which I haven't told you about!
While visiting Australia, we took from French friends to the Hunter for a wine tasting. They seemed pleased and we had several amazing wines before settling on lunch at Esca.
Now - I don't know what French people taste, but somehow they seem to hone a fine sense for flavour from a young age. So while I enjoy a good atmosphere, nice meal, and a glass of wine with Mr Lamb, they seem to recognise the nuances that pass me by. Sometimes I'm intrigued, but other times I find myself intimidated, especially when I'm hosting or cooking! Will they notice something I'm overlooking with my happy go lucky-ness? I was on the hunt for an Australian restaurant that would impress, and yet represent what I love and miss from the Hunter - the back to basics refinery of farming life, punctuated by exceptional produce and modern country style.
Some Newcastle friends had their beautiful wedding at Bimbadgen - they're chefs and have run several restaurants, so I believed their choice of Esca was a good lead to follow in hosting my out-of-town guests. And indeed it was. Even the car park is a beautifully manicured garden. When you enter the building, the open space where wine is in production places you at the epicentre of their core product. It's clean and shiny and sets the excitement for the restaurant.
We sat on the verandah, with a beautiful view across the green pastures and vines. The atmosphere is simple, with sharp white tablecloths, and open glass to maximise the view of both the hills and the wine in production. We had the wine tasting menu including 4 courses - of course!
The plating was beautiful, and the vegetarian produce was creative. Unfortunately we all had a cheese and tomatoes dish where the cheese was covered in a silicone membrane of some sort. Not a great look as everyone peeled their cheese from the goo at the table, however the freshness of the other produce overrode that blip.
Desert was a stand-out. We all agreed the delicate plating and beautiful colours matched the flavours and style of the restaurant beautifully. A riff on an eaton mess, and a delicate rosewater turkish delight, deconstructed and scattered around the arc of the plate. So while we greatly appreciated the vegetarian set menu for it's creativity, I could easily go back to Esca for wine and desert alone! Lets see what lovelies they decide to dish up as we ring in 2016!
Address: 790 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin, NSW, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4998 4666
Web: http://www.bimbadgen.com.au
A night in the Hunter Valley is high on my list, and surfing around I came across the NYE event at Esca on Bimbadgen's estate in Pokolbin. It reminded me of the last time I was there - which I haven't told you about!
While visiting Australia, we took from French friends to the Hunter for a wine tasting. They seemed pleased and we had several amazing wines before settling on lunch at Esca.
Now - I don't know what French people taste, but somehow they seem to hone a fine sense for flavour from a young age. So while I enjoy a good atmosphere, nice meal, and a glass of wine with Mr Lamb, they seem to recognise the nuances that pass me by. Sometimes I'm intrigued, but other times I find myself intimidated, especially when I'm hosting or cooking! Will they notice something I'm overlooking with my happy go lucky-ness? I was on the hunt for an Australian restaurant that would impress, and yet represent what I love and miss from the Hunter - the back to basics refinery of farming life, punctuated by exceptional produce and modern country style.
Some Newcastle friends had their beautiful wedding at Bimbadgen - they're chefs and have run several restaurants, so I believed their choice of Esca was a good lead to follow in hosting my out-of-town guests. And indeed it was. Even the car park is a beautifully manicured garden. When you enter the building, the open space where wine is in production places you at the epicentre of their core product. It's clean and shiny and sets the excitement for the restaurant.
We sat on the verandah, with a beautiful view across the green pastures and vines. The atmosphere is simple, with sharp white tablecloths, and open glass to maximise the view of both the hills and the wine in production. We had the wine tasting menu including 4 courses - of course!
The plating was beautiful, and the vegetarian produce was creative. Unfortunately we all had a cheese and tomatoes dish where the cheese was covered in a silicone membrane of some sort. Not a great look as everyone peeled their cheese from the goo at the table, however the freshness of the other produce overrode that blip.
Desert was a stand-out. We all agreed the delicate plating and beautiful colours matched the flavours and style of the restaurant beautifully. A riff on an eaton mess, and a delicate rosewater turkish delight, deconstructed and scattered around the arc of the plate. So while we greatly appreciated the vegetarian set menu for it's creativity, I could easily go back to Esca for wine and desert alone! Lets see what lovelies they decide to dish up as we ring in 2016!
Phone: +61 2 4998 4666
Web: http://www.bimbadgen.com.au
