melbourne offlines??

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:22 pm

Hi all was just wondering if there is ever any offlines held in Melbourne?

I remember seeing one, probably a good six months ago now, but none since.

My partner and i would be interested if anyone else is? We live about 2 1/2 from Melbourne but would be willing to travel to the city for a night.

Who's up for it? Probably not soonish but maybe in a couple of months, time enough tp organize a decent get together.

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:23 pm

Maybe at the supper club would be a good night if it could be organized??

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:05 pm

Shiraz_Freak wrote:Maybe at the supper club would be a good night if it could be organized??

I'd almost guarantee that they do not do BYO.

Alex F · Post by **Alex F** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:47 pm

The other forum has one being organised. June 22nd or something.

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:53 pm

Yes you are probably most certainly right Nayan.

Having a look at the menu the guys in adelaide have for their offline, for $75 a head.

I might seriously consider putting on an offline at my home, being a qualified chef with plenty of time on my hands i think i could put on a pretty swisho menu for 75 bux a head.

And if done on a weekend when we have no kids we could easily accomodate 4 couples for the night.

How does that sound? Free accomodation, 5 star food and great wine. I think it would be a blast especially for ppl from melbourne to get away for the night.

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:54 pm

can someone pm the other forum's addy please??

crusty2 · Post by **crusty2** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:08 pm

http://www.winestar.com.au/forum

aj_syrah · Post by **aj_syrah** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:54 am

Best BYO in melb - Abla. Zero corkage, + best traditional lebanese in melb. A great place. Banquet is $45/head, and it's very good. Got a chef's hat in the good food guide.

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:44 am

Well that went over like a lead balloon :shock:

aj_syrah · Post by **aj_syrah** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:20 am

Sorry shiraz_freak,

My BYO suggestion wasn't meant to detract from your generous offer to host and cook for an offline, but to the earlier comment about supper club not being BYO. I think your offline suggestion is a great one - I'm sure you'd be able to put on an absolute stunner at any price point, especially considering that you wouldn't have the overheads that restaurants incur.

Andrew.

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 4:38 am

aj_syrah wrote:absolute stunner at any price...
Andrew.

You didn't, perchance, work for The Sun in the UK did you, Andrew?

aj_syrah · Post by **aj_syrah** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:25 am

Nayan wrote:
aj_syrah wrote:absolute stunner at any price...
Andrew.

You didn't, perchance, work for The Sun in the UK did you, Andrew?

Yes, how did you know? I used to edit classifieds for the 'horses for sale' section, where I described every horse as an 'absolute stunner'. I also went by the alias 'Ken Gibson' - see the article link below where I described the new bond car as an 'absolute stunner'. I tried to include that phrase in every article I wrote, as I did in the sports section under the nom de plume 'Niel Custis', where I once managed to describe Wayne Rooney's second goal as an 'absolute stunner' (see link). I'm very proud to have introduced that phrase into the lexicon, and hope that it will forever be associated with the UK Sun, the world's most absolutely stunning tabloid.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003090001-2006520315,00.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007040574,00.html

Examples of my art:
-But this is no ordinary Mondeo. This new model is an absolute stunner.
-His first was a tap-in, his second an absolute stunner.
-Absolute Stunner - Wulfrun Dancing Queen, Welsh part bred 4YR OLD. Blue and white mare BORN JUNE 2003 Currently standing at 15.2HANDS to make 15.3 -16HANDS.

prester john · Post by **prester john** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:41 pm

I might seriously consider putting on an offline at my home, being a qualified chef with plenty of time on my hands i think i could put on a pretty swisho menu for 75 bux a head.

And if done on a weekend when we have no kids we could easily accomodate 4 couples for the night.

How does that sound? Free accomodation, 5 star food and great wine. I think it would be a blast especially for ppl from melbourne to get away for the night.

Shiraz_Freak, if this was a serious offer, I would be one interested party willing to take you up, depending on your location and other factors.

On the other hand, if you were just making a perfunctory comment, I won't hold it against you, but I think a Melbourne offline from this Board's members is long overdue.

PJ.

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:18 pm

Hear hear PJ, on both counts. I'd be keen to avail myself of Shiraz_Freaks hospitality - and a Melbourne offline is long overdue. The last one I went to was when Gavin was in town.

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:10 pm

michaelw wrote:Hear hear PJ, on both counts. I'd be keen to avail myself of Shiraz_Freaks hospitality - and a Melbourne offline is long overdue. The last one I went to was when Gavin was in town.

I'll be back in town soon, early July.

y

Wine Girl · Post by **Wine Girl** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:09 am

If it was in Melbourne, I would be happy to come along.

prester john · Post by **prester john** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:59 am

I'll be back in town soon, early July.

Gavin, I'd be quite content with July (or in fact any time) but like Wine Girl the only possibility for me is in or close to Melbourne CBD, unless it's a weekend. Your prior recent visit to Melbourne led to an offline in the hills somewhere as I recall, which wasn't the best of locations as far as public transport was concerned.

To what part of Melbourne do you intend to saunter this time?

Michaelw, we'll just have to wait for Shiraz_Freak's response to see if his place is a viable option.

Nevertheless, I'd like to see an offline soon. They happen far too infrequently in Melbourne. I've visited the other forum with it's vaunted offline on 22 June, but I'm not sure that it's my sort of place (without wishing to be too biased).

Best,

PJ

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:48 am

Hello all,

Yes, i was serious about my offer as being a chef who can't cook in restaurant kitchens anymore (another story) i get a bit bored, i would love to put together an enticing menu matched to wine brought along my us all, and am sure it would be a match to any place in the city foodwise.

The thing will be location, i am in shepparton which is about 2 1/2 hours from melbourne, which may be too far for some. We do have plenty of room for those that might wish to stay the night for bacon and eggs in the morning

could be a good getaway?

Might be a good idea to plan something like this, 2-3 moths in advance?

We are also happy to come to offlines in melbourne whenever they may be, would be great to meet new people with a love of a fine drop.....or 2

So if anyone is interested, speak up and we can organise something either here in a couple of months or in Melbourne when it's organised.

Gasman · Post by **Gasman** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:56 am

Be happy to attend on offline near the CBD in early July. Hard to head out of town with a one year old bub.

Can I suggest one of the BYO restaurants in Rathdowne St. - Moreton's Brasserie has excellent French bistro food, reasonably priced, and has an upstairs section that can be used exclusively if their are enough people. Corkage is about $5 a bottle.

Wine Girl · Post by **Wine Girl** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:36 am

If Gasman is going, I might have to chicken out :shock:

.

Only kidding. I like the Abla's suggestion - flat price of $45 a head to avoid the awkward bill-splitting stage of the evening, delicious food, relaxed and casual, plus no corkage. Pretty central for public transport too.

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:35 pm

We would be up for an offline in melbourne, depending on the date.

Checked out the website for Abla, looked good.

aj_syrah · Post by **aj_syrah** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:34 am

Would be up for an offline, july is good for me. It's not far away, should we start organising it?

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:28 pm

How about Abla on either Friday 13th or 27th July?

prester john · Post by **prester john** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:26 pm

michaelw wrote:How about Abla on either Friday 13th or 27th July?

I'd prefer 13th July, but I could also achieve 27th July as an alternative. I also like the Abla suggestion because I've read some good reports, and I like the notion of no corkage.

Would you suggest a theme for the evening is appropriate, or will anthing do, as long as it's over $100?

I suppose we can deal with these details after we glean the number of people attending.

Additionally, I suggest the mandatory presence of Gasman and Wine Girl, just to spice up the evening a little. :lol:

Finally, I would have been most keen to take up Shiraz_Freak's most generous offer, but the tyranny of distance and other obligations makes this difficult for me. Of course, I'd love to see your here, S_F.

Let's see if we can make this happen, whether it just a small intimate gathering or whether it's a grand multitude.

Best,

PJ.

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:26 pm

27th would be good for us, 13th would be stretching it as we are already doing this weekend in melbourne. so if it turns out the 27th count us in.

As for a theme we are open for just about anything.

Abla sounds good too.

Our invitation still stands for something later on in the year at our place, as someone pm'ed me it may be better to meet ppl first, before a do like that, Then that way you can see if i am a total wierdo first :shock:

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:43 pm

Looks like we're gaining some momentum slowly. I'll start a new thread and see how much more interest we can raise.