Current location:	Sydney, Australia
Current mood:	loved
Entry tags:	birthday, food, food reviews, friends

SURPRIISE BIRTHDAY DINNER @ THE BOATHOUSE

The Boathouse
Ferry Road
Glebe, NSW 2037
$$$$$

"I'll pick you up at 6:30 after work", he said. This also just so happened to be the evening of my birthday (31 Oct).. so of course I went "Oooooh!!" He'd hinted that friends may be invited, so I poked around best I could to get someone to spill the beans on who's going, and where it was. Unfortunately, my friends are rather good at keeping secrets and convinced me that they knew nothing about the dinner, nor were invited.

So at 6:30pm, I hopped into the car and we picked up one of the girls, then headed to The Boathouse. Oooooooooh!! I'd only been there once, years ago when an agency took me there for a lunch. I remembered the food was blimmin' fantastic with gorgeous views, but just hadn't had the chance to go back. 'Til now :P The restaurant is an expansive open room that looks out across Blackwattle Bay at the fish markets and the city behind, or left towards the stunning Anzac Bridge... and are famous for their awesome modern Australian food.

Mid-way, came the next surprise: call from my parents! Well, I kinda knew the surprise in the car, because the original plan was for Chris to call mum & dad on his phone then pass the phone to me. But his phone died so they called me directly instead :P It was soooo nice to hear from them, right during my birthday dinner! It's one of the most thoughtful things anyone has done for me :)

The service is probably the only not-so-great thing about the restaurant. Whilst professional and polished, it lacked that certain element of warmth and general friendliness. Much to our disgust, Chris had planned to surprise me with a Tiramisu birthday cake (ok, that wasn't the 'disgust' part, that was the 'swoon' part!) but they point-blank refused to cut/serve the cake.. saying "you can order dessert instead". Bloody hell! ;(

Fortunately, the food was really fine and absolutely delish, especially their star dish, the Snapper Pie. We went a little crazy with the oysters at the start too, and polished off the meal with some decadent desserts. It was a beautiful meal, downed with some beautiful wines, and amongst beautiful friends :)

The Boathouse


Interior


Happy as a clam


Hee!!


Beautiful people


Rose wine: Longview "The Boathouse" Nebbiolo Adelaide Hills SA 2007 (AU$49)
White wine: errrr.. some Reisling that I forgot :P


Bread. Not terribly exciting since the butter was plain.


The Boathouse are famous for their freshly-shucked, juicy oysters.
They were divine!! We ended up with 2 platters :P


At ~$4 each, they don't come cheap though..


Ocean Trout Roe with Potato Blinis, Wasabi & Creme Fraiche (AU$45)
This was ridiculously $$$$$$$$$4 but was just WOW.


I've never tasted this mix of flavours before in my entire life *swoons*


Looking rather snotty


Busy eating our caviar & blinis


Random table shot


Me and a girl friend


French friends!


Roast Tasmanian Southern Rock Lobster with Soy Beurre Noisette (AU~$100)
The lobster was tender, juicy and sweet. Ahhhhh!!!!


Roast Blue Eye Trevalla from Browns Mountain with Broccolini, Eschallot, Preserved Lemon & Oyster Salt (AU$41)
Very lovely and healthy, but I think I prefer creamier, richer dishes ;)


Dishing out our Snapper Pie


Snapper Pie with Smoked Tomato & Mashed Potato (AU$45)
BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT. The rich buttery truffle-infused flavour was awesome!


Mixed Leaf & Cress Salad with Banyuis Vinegar Dressing (AU$8)


Hand Cut Fries, Fennel and Lemon Salt (AU$10)


Double Chocolate Pudding, Strawberries, Chantilly Cream & Chocolate Ice Cream (AU$18)


Grilled Mango Sorbet, Mango Pannacotta, Mango Sushi Rice (AU$18)


Petit Fours


All the girls


My wonderful friends


Thank you for organising such a wonderful birthday! :)