We were greeted with a glass of Italian white bubblie with thin slices of nectarines soaking up the flavour. It was very easy to drink (and get drunk on) and was a refreshing start on that scorcher of a day.
The first course was truffled-honey figs with gorgonzola, which was very sweet, but somehow balanced well with the creamy and salty gorgonzola.
Scallops were plump and juicy (almost feel like they're uncooked?!). Orecchiette with pecorino was absolutely delicious - freshly made pasta just taste that much better, and the pecorino cheese- mmm.
The marron with spicy butter was a surprise - never had marron before (it'slike a yabbiebut bigger, or a crayfish but smaller), very sweet meat thatwouldtaste great even if it was plain BBQ'ed. The pizza with pancetta and caramelised onion and baby rocket was old fashioned but its the kind i enjoy. Except the basewas a bit too thick.
We wrapped up with a cabernet sauvignon granita with red currents.
Three thumbs up for this - spicy, sweet, aromatic, finished my meal perfectly (and was great timing for the hot afternoon).
My favourite was the dessert - cab sav simmered with cherries and spices then made into a granita. I loved the pasta too - fresh made pasta just taste that much better than dry pasta.
The marron was a surprise for all of us and (whispers - I want some more!!) it was so good it would even have tasted great if it were just BBQ'ed with absolutely nothing on top. The figs - I'm not normally a 'sweet non-dessert dish' type gal but the salt of the gorgonzola and the sweet of the figs and honey actually worked for me. Salted cod also deserve a mention as I enjoyed the crispy outside and soft and savoury inside (cod herbs and potato i think). The
scallops come last (for me) in this amazing meal, I guess because I have something similar at Chinese restaurants. Coffee - way strong - the way I liked. And I enjoyed the Italian white bubblie at the start of the meal too...
Wines - Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz 2005, lightly chilled. I bought this a few months ago and this was a perfect opportunity so I brought it along. Chilled shiraz for summer actually worked, and I think everyone who had it said it was good to drink. I also brought a 2002 Miranda Golden Botrytis (which was a good year for this wine!) and this one never fails.
I'm starting to think that degustation type meals are worthwhile - this meal
was $60 and we were all stuffed as! And we got to taste a variety of unusual and carefully prepared dishes. One would easily pay $30 for a main, $15 a dessert, $15 wine and drinks and $3 for a coffee at a reasonably good restaurant ..... Degustation rocks.
Cibo e Vino Cafe and Restaurant - Shop 2 299-301 Old Northern Road Castle Hill 2154
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