Dinner @ Garden Court Restaurant

The rest of our afternoon is spent relaxing and watching the league final - it was tense, it was tight, it had the most biased commentary ever heard, Eddie McQuire calling a Collingwood match has nothing on this, but in the end, the result was simply beautiful.

Now it's time for our final meal in Sydney and this was probably the second thing we arranged on our trip. We knew that if we came to Sydney we would have to catch up with one of our favourite maitre d's Matt. We first met Matt at Fenix and he then moved on to Les Boucheries Parisiennes. A few months ago he left and took up a position at the Sofitel Sydney. You always knew with Matt around, an evening of excellent service, food and wine was guaranteed. So tonight we're heading back to the Sofitel and this time we're visiting the Garden Court Restaurant.






We begin with glasses of Champagne Vincent D'Astree which is followed shortly by the amuse



warm, creamy sabayon given an edge with champagne works well with the velvety texture of the oyster.




To drink: 2008 Domaine Christian Salmon Sancerre

Visually stunning dish, it's an edible work of art. Goat cheese and Beetroot is a combination that you see often because it works so well but this dish dramatically elevates that combination. It's a play on textures with the beetroot being presented in a various forms, from puree to pickled.




To Drink: 2007 Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Messwein Grüner Veltliner



Another beautiful dish - from its appearance to the taste. Perfect sliced lobster tail on one side, a creamy lobster studded salad on the other.




To drink: 2007 Chateau Sainte Marie Superieur Cabernet Merlot

A wonderfully thick slice of perfectly pink lamb, herb coated skin permeating the flavour into the meat. The best of spring vegetables, peas and asparagus partnered with luxurious fondant potatoes.



Lovely Laguoile knives - I'd not seen the coloured ones before.




To drink: 2006 Torbreck "The Steading" GSM

A feast of Wagyu - presented in three forms, the sirloin, the 24 hour short rib



and a foie gras and wagyu cheek raviolo.




To drink: 2005 Grande Maison Monbazillac

The yoghurt lightens the pannacotta and gives it a slight tang which works well with the naturally sweet strawberry jelly. Hint of rose pleasantly perfume the dish.




Before the white chocolate sauce is poured



and after the white chocolate sauce is poured

To drink: 2008 Brown Brothers Moscato Rosa

What's not to love - raspberry souffle and white chocolate sauce and white chocolate ice cream, I need say nothing more.


To finish:



Cheese and



Crackers with McWilliams Handwood 10yr Tawny

We always thought we'd have a good night and indeed we had a fantastic time with excellent food beautiful wine and great hospitality. There's really not much more you can ask for - a perfect end to a great day and to our short sojourn to Sydney.


The details:

Garden Court Restaurant
Level 5
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
61-101 Phillip Street
Sydney

Phone: +61 2 9228 9188

Open:

Breakfast
Monday to Friday: 6.30am to 10.30am
Saturday to Sunday: 6.30am to 11am

Lunch
Monday to Friday: 12pm to 2.30pm

Dinner
Monday to Sunday: 6pm to 10pm