A Few Of My Favourite Things
Snapper fillets with bone marrow on pencil leeks with red wine sauce at Belle Epoque
It's time I shared a couple of my favourite local eating places. Restaurant reviews are not my thing. I spend too much time talking and once I've had my first glass of wine I lose all concentration. So these are just my impressions of a couple of places I enjoy enough to return to more than once.
I love Belle Epoque from the decor, to the staff, to the food. Well the mussels and frites anyway. Three times I've been and three times I've ordered mussels and frites. It is seriously Parisien (Some one please tell me should that be Parisienne or Parisien or Parisian). Last time we visited Paris we stayed in Montparnesse. Belle Epoque would not look out of place there.
On our first visit we decided to eat at the bar. Although there were tables available it's fun to dine at the bar when it's offered. We were served by a very chatty bar tender who helped us decide on our wine for lunch by giving us small tastings of the wines available by the glass.
As fabulous as Belle Epoque can be other friends were disappointed with their last visit on Easter Saturday. They arrived for a late lunch before a movie and were not well looked after by the staff . A letter of complaint to the restaurant has resulted in the promise of a dining voucher for a further visit.
We dined earlier on Easter Saturday and were happy with our service but disappointed in the 15% surcharge. The fact the restaurant was almost empty on what should be a busy day makes me think this public holiday surcharge is having an affect. The surcharge would not have been so bad if they had offered the total experience. With the seafood display cabinet empty they didn't.
Belle Epoque
Emporium 1000 Ann Street , Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
T: 07 3852 1500
F: 07 3852 1522
E: info@labelleepoque.com.au
Platter which is the main part of the High Tea
My other favourite dining spot is on the road out to Springbrook, Tokonoma Green Tea Cafe and Gallery at Mudgeeraba. Tables are on the deck outside overlooking the trees and stream. Margaret, one of the owners, spent many years in Japan and the food is served on the pieces she collected while there. Every little dish, plate, cup, teapot and vase is exquisite and adds to the pleasure. We prebooked the High Tea which two of our group enjoyed and the other two would have preferred the green curry from the regular menu.
Matcha cake with kiwifrui, rice cake sweets, coffee jelly with cream.
Tokonoma Green Tea Cafe and Gallery
Tokonoma 442 Gallery & Café Open Thur-Sun. 9:30-3:30 (closed Mon, Tue, Wed) venue hire available 7 days
Address: 442 Springbrook Road, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, 4213, Australia. (Located 20 minutes from Broadbeach
info@gallerytokonoma.com.au Tel: 07-5530-2378 From overseas: +617-5530-2378
We take all our overseas and out of town friends to both places when they are visiting.
Barbara your meal looks wonderful~ however, no matter what the food is like if the service is not good the experience is spoiled. Lets hope your friends find it improved on their next visit.
Posted by: chrisb | April 09, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Hi Barbara
About the correct adjective for Belle Epoque (It's scary how much I love these questions!): seeing as you are writing in English, its Parisian (with capital P).
If we were describing Belle Epoque en francais, it would be le restaurant parisien (lowercase p). And yes, last time I went I had the rabbit. OK, just OK. I should have had the mussels....good god, they were amazing last time I had them. I agree with you about the service- it can be patchy.
Posted by: Pinky | April 10, 2008 at 11:43 AM
that's a lovely batch of meals, Barb!!
Posted by: arfi | April 10, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Both places sounds lovely Barbara! :)
I just made matcha cake...can't believe it's popping up in all these posts! Matcha and kiwi...hmmm, sounds good! :)
Posted by: joey | April 10, 2008 at 12:46 PM
chrisb - I'll always go back as long as the mussels are good.
Pinky - thanks for the explanation.
Arfi - thanks
Joey - I've made matcha cookies and matcha steamed puddings. Will try the cake.
Posted by: barbara | April 10, 2008 at 04:06 PM
The snapper in particular caught my eye here - looks delicious and healthy! Makes me homesick for Brisbane.
Posted by: Cakelaw | April 12, 2008 at 08:56 PM
Looks like quite the feast and I've seen marrow now on sale and for cheap. It's time to corner the marrow market! lol
Posted by: Peter | April 16, 2008 at 11:53 PM