Sorry to disappoint...

But there will be no review of Monty degustation which happened tonight. Mainly as I am STILL in Brisbane - hopefully coming home Monday. Everyone is now either sort of healthy or has a plan to GET healthy (gotta love oncology!) so I have finished sittng in doctors offices/hospitals/emergency rooms and can come home to real food and decent prices.
Have eaten out a few times but have come to the conclusion that hobart does suburban cafes SO much better than Brisbane.
Had what was supposed to be breakfast with a very dear friend last sunday at the local cafe. Its supposedly got quite a good rep - and I used to fence with the owner when he was younger - heck I still do now ocassionally. It was a sunday morning, about 10am. A large table of about 20 was getting served as we arrived. We plopped overselves down and waited, and waited some more. About 10 mintues later we got menus. Ordered fairly quickly. (poached eggs on toast with a side of hash browns for me, big breakfast for JJ) And started waiting for our food. More people come in and order. Its jumping. Its obvious they are slightly short staffed.
I see Tony (the owner) rush in looking slightly hung over and harried. And still we wait. 20 minutes later after 2 tables who I think arrived after us get thier meals, I got up to the counter. Tony sees me says hello and asks what he can do. I ask for my B'fast. They look it up, and go check. Its going to be a few more minutes apparently. So we keep waiting. Thankfully its been awhile since JJ and I sat down and talked, so we chatted away. Our food arrives. I look at my watch - by my reckoning its 3/4 hour since we ordered. We eat - my toast was pre buttered which made it soggy and the eggs were poached in slightly vinegared water, which made them taste odd. The hash browns were nice. JJ's big breaky was adequate but uninspiring apparently.
When we went to pay I was asked how I enjoyed my meal - I made the comment that it was ok, but 3/4 of an hour was a slightly exessive wait. The waitress overheard and claimed it was 25 minutes. I just raised an eyebrow, mentioned that if FELT alot longer, paid and left. The intention was good, the execution was lacking. Though apparently others rave about it, its not on my list of places to revisit in a hurry.

ARGH!

Due to family emergency I am now in Brisbane. Will be here till Thursday. Leave for East coast adventure (ie thesis writing) Friday next week. Hope to be trying Ebb sometime next weekend. This blog will be even more sporadic than normal due to said family emergency. I will however post reviews that are due soon.

National recognition

Just wanted to say well done to the crew at Montys for a very favourable review in the Australian this weekend. A few secrets coming out (ie they are going to expand upstairs) but otherwise a good review that they justly deserve.

Very quick update.

Firstly HI! to the girls in S's office who put two and two together and got me!

Secondly - I swear I haven't forgotten the Me Wah review - I'm currently drowning under 2nd year assignments which need to be marked - should not be a problem but there are a 100 or so at 2000 words each and its an area which is only tangentially related to my own.

Thirdly - Jay at Pigeon Hole rocks my world. I have been bugging him for ages to start selling the granola so I have a ready supply at home - today out of the blue he offered me a jar with a "bring it back when its empty and I'll re fill it" type comment and he wouldnt take any money for it. THATS the way to get people coming back. So now I have Jay granola!! YAH! Just need to stew the ruhbarb and all will be right with the world.

Fourthly - As far as I know the next Montys degustation is on the 25th of this month and will involve showcased wines from Nat and Matts busmans holiday.

BURP!

Me Wah last night was GOOD - much amusement from the table next to us....Grub at Newtown for lunch....yummy. Longer review to follow - currently VERY content.

Upcoming Reviews...

Am off to Mee Wah on Saturday night so sometime next week there will be a review on that. I think we are going driving next weekend, so expect something from down the Channel way (or maybe up the East Coast - depends on my mood I guess). Had lunch at Zum on Wed so need to post about that....other than that my ear is slowly getting better - still have to see the ENT next month though.

Just about coherent.....

Just to let everyone know, I am still around, just ill and thus not eating out much. I seem to be spending an inordinate amount of my eating out time at Pigeon hole devouring granola and apple puree and talking with Jay and the rest of the staff. Must admit I got more reading done for work there today then I have for AGES at either my desk at Uni or at home.
The salad today (eaten on Jays reccommendation) was lovely. Greens, honey walnuts, goats curd, warm grilled mushrooms and a light dressing. For 10 dollars it was JUST right for how I was feeling.
Other than that I have had a few bento boxes at Yume in town - consistantly yummy and good value, and been subjected to catered lunches at Uni - generally sandwiches etc, but the pizza slice was quite nice.
Am in week 7 of the ear infection from Hades, so now have to get the timings right re food and the new antibacterial drug we are trying (drug attempt number 4 on this particular infection). off to hte ENT next month to try to work out WHY its not going way. Why is this relevent? Well its stuffed my tastebuds to a certain extent. I am getting the stronger tastes but suspect I an missing some of the nuances and delicacy that I generally enjoy in food.
Anyhow, will be back soon with more reviews....I suspect as thesis submission date gets closer, yu will get more and more random food reviews as I procastinate.