ADELAIDE: The d'Arenberg Cube

Back from our Japan trip and back to work boohoo. While travelling we stumbled across several articles writing about this new structure that has been developed in Mclaren Vale and the fine dining restaurant it house.

I was working really hard in vascular, doing many weekends and I remember one day I just told Nick, we are going to the cube this weekend, I need to spend some money, I am buying Lunch.

We started off the lunch with some tour in their gallery.

I'm actually smelling the different flavours they have in their wine hahaha just in case you were wondering what I'm doing. No I have not gone mad because of work

Nick in the painting collection room

Then we headed up to the restaurant. I would like to apologise in advance because I actually can't remember what the dishes are.. So it's just mostly gonna be pictures 

First course: The last grape

reminds me so much of Heston's ( read here) meatfruit mandarin 

Nose candy 

Nick snorted it and he loved it :p Nah just kidding, sorry would love to leave you guys hanging and wondering if it's the truth but I'm so scared somehow the medical board stumbles upon this and takes this literally. There goes the second income of the family hahaha.

 3D Printed dessert !

$420 poorer ( meals were $190 each excluding drinks)  but I really enjoyed this experience

ADELAIDE: Hill of Grace

It was Nick's birthday the other day, and I was stressing so much over it because I had no idea where to bring him. I mean, I dare say we have tried almost every easily accessible fine dine restaurant in Adelaide. Except Hill of Grace.

I've always wanted to give this place a try, however, I had people continuously telling me not to because ' it's not good at all' and every time I tell nick to visit this place with me, he'll go " huh? are you sure it's gonna be good?" I remember when they first opened, they had really terrible reviews on the magazines :/

But, I guess regardless of how bad the reviews they had, it's always good to have first hand experience. I mean, food is subjective yes? And even if I was thoroughly disappointed with the food... I heard that the view is SPECTACULAR. I'll just take it that I'm paying for a nice view.

Overlooking the WHOLE stadium! 

I think I deserve a close up picture because it's one of the very few occasions I apply make up.

Hill of grace serves both a la carte as well as degustation. We naturally went for the $175 per person 8 course degustation. 

Oysters for starters

These oysters were so succulent and fresh!

Chicken wing

The gravy really reminded me of home - chilli crab sauce.

Nicholas' favourite meat is probably chicken, and chicken wing is his favourite part.

 he was naturally super stoked when he heard chicken wings was on the menu

Kangaroo tartare

I was initially put off when I heard it was kangaroo. I haven't had the best experience with kangaroo. I always felt that it was too gamey. However... hmm.. this... was quite enjoyable. 

Enough said, I've always loved octopus.

 The service staff mentioned that this is a filipino street dish - Grilled pork with soft egg. ARE YOU SERIOUS STREET FOOD IN PHILIPPINES TASTE LIKE THIS? BECAUSE IT WAS SO GOOD. 

Lamb neck. Nick enjoyed it but I've never been a fan of lamb. Oh god, the smell ):

Beef fillet. Went really well with the onion caps and leek and carrot puree. 

This blue cheese ice cream was SOOO GOOOOD!

Chocolate dome. I enjoyed it too, though it was literally a dome, I had such a hard time breaking the chocolate cap haha. 

 I really love it when restaurants go the extra mile to make a special occasion memorable.
Look at the Happy Birthday Nick written on the dessert :D

And Nick being the birthday boy, scored himself a signed menu!

And they also gave Nick a complimentary chocolate bar as birthday gift.

I really have no idea why critics were hating on Hill of Grace. Maybe they improved, because I really enjoyed my meal. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICK

Hill of Grace

King William Road 

North Adelaide

website ( click)