The Big Night

Well – it has taken a number of days to recover from our first ever ‘Dessert Evening’.

It was a triumph that we could not have imagined!  We served amazing creations to 20 very receptive guests who were very willing participants in our experimental event.

After long hours in the kitchen, we were ready when the first guests arrived at 8pm.  The dining room looked fantastic with mini orchids and candles adorning the table.  Each place was set with enough of our vintage mis-matched cutlery to get through all 5 courses.  Our 2 large mixing bowls were filled with ice ready to house the delicious bubbles and sweeties brought in by our enthusiastic patrons.

After the last guests were seated [sadly quite late, thanks to the Pride Parade], we served the appetizers…

Foie Gras Ice-cream, apple crisp, drunken currents [this one may have been a little too drunken at time of photo taking!]

Cherry sorbet, black pepper cellophane, pistachio

Saffron caviar

Once appetites were suitable whetted, our composed cheese course was presented….

Goats cheese, horse radish tuile, beetroot parfait

Dwarf pear, gingerbread crumble, chestnut honey

Parmigiano Regianno Canolli

Then came perhaps the most impressive ‘course’ – the pallete cleanser…

Rosewater ice, barberry sorbet

By this stage our guests were not only salivating and loosening waistbands, but wondering what on earth was in store for them with our feature dessert of the evening….

Chocolate + Tonka bean marquis, sable, saltwater caramel, milk sorbet

Very clean plates were cleared to the kitchen with resounding compliments to the chefs…

But wait, there’s more…..

Our still enthusiastic guests were then presented with a ‘cappuccino’ – our desserty spin on this cafe fave comprised an espresso espuma, warm caramel foam, chocolate salt and sugar cubes [actually pan fried vanilla butter cake – OMG... delicious and thankfully as small as real sugar cubes!]

And finally, everyone was presented with our embossed passionfruit marshmallow lollipops.

We were all blown away by the success of the whole evening  ……. the wines our guests brought [well done Max!] ……. the fact that they all dressed up [the boys in skinny suits win best dressed with a very honorable mention to Karen and her smokin’ off-the-shoulder number]  …………. the dinner table conversation [Ramon and Rob, you’re always entertaining] ………… the efficient and relaxed service [thank you Romana] ………… the inspiring and technically perfect food [Sandro, Brendan and Jade – YOU were the stars of the night]

Lastly, one very special thanks to photographer and gourmand extraordinaire, Jimmy Teo of IZO Photography – we didn’t count on a real live picture-taker being part of our guest list, but we are oh-so-glad you were!  www.izo.com.au or http://www.facebook.com/pages/IZO-Photography/225299833087

Menu planning began on Sunday for the encore on December 4!