Friday, August 13, 2010

Apsleys - A Michelin Star dining experience




A perfect night out starting with an intimate love affair with Dom Perignon. A sip was all it took to find true love. It was the start to another first class experience.

For 35 pounds, we booked a three course meal with a glass of prosecco. What we got was one of the best meals I've ever had and service so attentative you couldn't help but giggle like an idiot. You could certainly pick us out a mile away.

For starters a chefs surprise, I can't recall all the fancy names they were given but it went something like this: Ox tail, egg something, something else, and lastly what we labelled meat aero cause that's exactly what it tasted like, mmm a delicious meaty treat.










For entree, Stu and I had a warm seafood salad and Sarah had the squid ink fogotelli stuffed with cod in a red pepper sauce. Both soooo good and a sign of things to come!



Then it was onto our mains, I had the fish with vegetables. The vegetables were peeled and fried like potato crisps, these guys really know what the masses want, a packet of chips with every meal? YES PLEASE!! Sarah & Stu had Risotto with peaches and braised veal. For those who have never mixed the two, Peaches + Risotto = A taste sensation.



Time for another treat from the chef. Peach bellini, Rasberry Sorbet and panacotta. Oooh how I love you palette cleanser.



And last but not least my favourite time of any meal, DESSERTS!! I had a Rum Baba which was so amazing I could have eaten another 3. Sarah had a variety of icecreams with biscuit goodness at the bottom and Stu had peach with zabaglione and a carrot and yoghurt icecream.



What? Did the waiter just say another Chef surprise?! Oh yes he did!! Chocolate ganache, chocolate and almond stack, something else delicious, rasberry with sugar, dark chocolate coffee bean and an Italian almond biscuit. It was a meal that kept on giving. A true test to see who was worthy of such greatness. Stu and I wiped our plates clean with Sarah struggling to finish her plate. Sarah you are the weakest link. Goodbye!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

First Class

For most of us, the flight from Perth to London is a test of endurance. Crammed seats, a bathroom cubicle so small you wished you were a contortionist, the ongoing search for a comfortable position that won't cause any long term need for a chiropractor, the list goes on. However, if you have money it's amazing what luxury you'll find two curtains ahead in First Class.

Once seated, I put on my complimentary slippers, stored my sneakers in the shoe rack and sat in awe of all that was around me. Initially, I was too scared to touch anything. I had no idea how anything worked, there were little compartments and buttons all around me. The chair, which I referred to as a lounge seat, had so many controls I sat there for about 15 mins finding the perfect angle for my legs, back, hips, and of course lumbar support. Once that was in check, I went to the bathroom and put on my complimentary pyjamas, let's just say the room was big enough for me to do a pirouette in! There were all sorts of free toiletries in there and my favourite thing were the hand towels NO paper towels in sight.



Now in complete comfort, it was time for my 2am dinner. The attendant set up my table, I ordered a glass of champagne or two, had some chicken and beef satays to start with, went onto lamb shanks with mash and veggies and finished off with some fruit.



I set my bed up, complete with a normal sized pillow and silk quilt and got ready to watch a movie on the extra large TV screen. It wasn't long til I fell asleep and slept straight for 6 hrs with no need to reposition due to painful body crinks. When I woke, it was off to the cockpit to meet the pilots. I spent an hr up there learning how little they do, they were highly entertaining.

For breakfast I had a croissant, more fruit, a delicious nasi lemak as the main and muffins as dessert. It was quite an experience and one I'll never forget. A story that many of you will have to hear over and over again for the rest your lives.

Well back to working class for me, wish me luck!
(Video footage to come, once I learn how to get it off my camera and onto my laptop)