I dunno what happened to the original thread - I added an additional comment, the database froze up and duplicated it, I eliminated the duplicate and the whole thread disappeared!!!
Somehow I've still backtracked to the original window and can cut and paste the original stuff here - hopefully either Gavin or RB can restore the thread/lost data, if not:
Taswegian Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:39 am Post subject: Adelaide Labour Day Offline..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have the fortune of being in lovely Adelaide over the days of Labour day, as my Gf will be preoccupied with her friends baby shower. While I am much aggrieved that I will not be able to attend this most ceremonious affair, is there anyone interested in an offline. This would be my first, and obviously being a public hol could be an issue. But I have some beautiful Tassie cabs to share, as well as some syrah's and maybe if you ask nicely a pinot or three..... Any thoughts???? Piers
n4sir Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Piers - I almost missed this because of your Taswegian login name and thought it was for Tassie!
It may pay to change the title of this heading to something like "Adelaide Labour Day weekend Offline Anyone?". That should generate a few more hits and responses.
I think we can organise something for then - what nights will you be in town? (Fri/Sat/Sun) Maybe we can draw a few more offline virgins along to this one.
Cheers, Ian
Taswegian Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:55 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now i gets it....
Taswegian Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject: Adelaide Labour Day Offline???? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am not sure if this has changed the title??? Anyway, will be in Adelaide on sun night, leaving tuesday at some point. Have only been to SA once before and am looking forward to it before my two week (what is the antonym for rehab?) holiday in November...
Steve Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:57 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm disappearing to Singapore (amongst other places) on October 5, but I can probably do the Friday. Edit: Just read above - nuts. Looks like I miss out
John #11 Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:13 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's a long weekend, so I can definitely make this one.
Gavin Trott Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:23 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- what date (s)?
Wayno Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:26 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At this stage, pending possible get-away decision, I'm keen.
Taswegian Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:41 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Would be the sunday (5th) or Monday (6th). Themes????? obviously I would be looking at cool climate varietals, but I have a few "normal" wines up my sleeve.....
Maximus Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:25 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I will be in town on the Monday night and could be a starter (with two more possible). I have an early flight on the Tuesday morning, however, so we would have to make sure we continue through...
Gavin Trott Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:26 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- hmm Monday night Sounds interesting! I'd be keen?
n4sir Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taswegian, Maxiumus and Wayno...
I guess that could justify calling it the "virgin sacrifice" offline. Maybe we should try and find a virgin venue to match?
Either Sunday or Monday night's okay with me (although I'll have to take it a little easier if it's the Monday).
Obviously my arrival in Adelaide is not as heralded? as once thought. Those dastardly gremlins.
Anyway, I did a tasting a while back that looked at cool climate rhone varietals. I still have a bottle of Moorilla Syrah 05 (TAS), and Te Mata Bullnose 05 (NZ).
Anyone care to have a little comparison to normal rhone-ish areas????
Piers
Never enough Pinot........but now I have found shiraz
A cool climate theme might be entirely appropriate, but do you stick to syrah/shiraz or do you open it up to a range... just exclude the jammy monsters....?
Cheers Wayno
Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.
Cool Climate, Jammy???
Nooooo................
Seriously, I only have 05 or 06 Pinots to play with so no jammy characteristics shown there, just beautiful complex spices and round fruits.
05 was by far the vintage of the century down here.
Even for the row and a half of syrah....
Piers
Never enough Pinot........but now I have found shiraz
I like the idea of mainland Australian Pinot, Shiraz & Cabernet vs their neighbours across the Tasman & Bass straits and maybe even the old world. Could make for a very interesting evening.
I completely agree with you Ian, however, it is fairly rare to get a straight cab from down these parts, usually with a bit of merlot or franc in there. So possibly not great for a straight comparison, but could do the trick. I would like to see the mainland OZ/TAS/NZ go down, could make for an interesting night, as long as no one brings any Kooyong wines.......
Never enough Pinot........but now I have found shiraz
Taswegian wrote:I completely agree with you Ian, however, it is fairly rare to get a straight cab from down these parts, usually with a bit of merlot or franc in there. So possibly not great for a straight comparison, but could do the trick. I would like to see the mainland OZ/TAS/NZ go down, could make for an interesting night, as long as no one brings any Kooyong wines.......
Well, of course the reason we do straight Cabernets here is because apparently we don't need anything else blended in to make up for its shortcomings...
Honestly, I think the Cabernets of Domaine A would give most things a good run, and Stefano Lubiana/Dalrymple/Pipers Brook Pinots would be the equal of (at least some) from Kooyong. New Zealand on the other hand, I just don't understand the fuss... (apart from that one Super Shiraz blind tasting when I swear I must have been blind)
Just popped a 99 Domaine A last week actually. Thought it was a bit green still, might have to look in the back for some older ones......
Stefano Lubiana/Dalrymple/Pipers Brook Pinots would be the equal of (at least some) from Kooyong.
Seriously, you guys on the mainland need to get onto what we actually make down here, not just marketed.
Now, the aforementioned wineries do make the occasional decent pinot, but are no where near the forefront of PN production in TAS.
Looks like I might have to bring out the big guns.....
Piers
Never enough Pinot........but now I have found shiraz
Taswegian wrote:Just popped a 99 Domaine A last week actually. Thought it was a bit green still, might have to look in the back for some older ones......
Stefano Lubiana/Dalrymple/Pipers Brook Pinots would be the equal of (at least some) from Kooyong.
Seriously, you guys on the mainland need to get onto what we actually make down here, not just marketed. Now, the aforementioned wineries do make the occasional decent pinot, but are no where near the forefront of PN production in TAS. Looks like I might have to bring out the big guns..... Piers
Now that does sound interesting! By all means bring out the big guns, and this could be a very interesting and enjoyable offline for all.
Looks like I might have to bring out the big guns.....
bugger, now that i have put my foot in it, I will have to hide these ones from the missus on the way over, or at least get her a bottle of something sparkly.
But, I have a few very nice 05 Pinots, and some older CS that are ready now that did not cost me anything, so would be happy to share the love around.
Lets get dining options worked out (I have less than no idea about Adelaide, I have only eaten at Jolleys, but have heard about Ying Chow???) and then maybe work out a structured/unstructured theme?????
Never enough Pinot........but now I have found shiraz
Looks like I might have to bring out the big guns.....
bugger, now that i have put my foot in it, I will have to hide these ones from the missus on the way over, or at least get her a bottle of something sparkly.
But, I have a few very nice 05 Pinots, and some older CS that are ready now that did not cost me anything, so would be happy to share the love around. Lets get dining options worked out (I have less than no idea about Adelaide, I have only eaten at Jolleys, but have heard about Ying Chow???) and then maybe work out a structured/unstructured theme?????
We've got a month to work it out, and a couple of weeks to think about it.
I think I'll be able to canvas a couple of places about an offline for that weekend, but at the moment I'm still focused on tomorrow night. Be patient for a week or so, it will fall into place.
Be patient for a week or so, it will fall into place
Yes, I know............
Just all that talk about cool climate reds got me all fired up. Will have to cool down now with some lovely looking Cascade Green I have in the fridge
Piers
Never enough Pinot........but now I have found shiraz
If this is going to be on a holiday monday night, then we should
1: Limit numbers of bottles, I suggest a bottle of <<premium>> wine each
(the last thing we need is 20 people and 30 bottles)
2. Make the venue appropriate (we can work this out)
John #11 wrote:If this is going to be on a holiday monday night, then we should
1: Limit numbers of bottles, I suggest a bottle of <<premium>> wine each (the last thing we need is 20 people and 30 bottles) 2. Make the venue appropriate (we can work this out)
I agree - 1 bottle/person or 2 bottles/couple of a high quality wine should be enough, especially with a few of us having to show up to work the following morning...
We started floating around venue ideas at the last offline - there's a good Greek place at Holdfast Shores that has great food and does free BYO if people don't mind a tram ride there. There's also a couple of other places closer to the city I can call too - it will depend on what people prefer and what's open/who's willing to do a deal for the public holiday.
Yes, perhaps my mentioning <<premium>> wine was not quite what I meant to say.
Something <<interesting>> would be appropriate, and cost should not be a factor. If you've found something great-tasting and a real bargain, then we need to know about it ASAP.
Ah, fantastic!
I'm actually tempted to bring along a rather cheap bottle that I discovered which punches very far above its weight. If no-one objects, I might bring that and my partner will bring a more.. respectable bottle
A quick update - I went to one of the new venues I had in mind last Friday and was frankly disappointed with a few things. One of the others I was thinking of mightn't have the type of food to match the cool climate Pinots & Cabernets we're talking about either.
I'm getting the feeling it might be best to head back to T-Chow for this one.
I'm not sure what price range we generally try to go for in these things, but I've had very good experiences recently at Vileroy on Kensington road (but it's probably a price bracket above T-Chow).
Vileroy want $12.50 a bottle corkage, and when asked about volume discount, simply just weren't interested in a large group with many bottles of wine. They DO have a nice wine list, but this is just counterproductive.
I'm really surprised about Vileroy, as they had excellent and accommodating service last time I was there. Ah well, back to the drawing board, I guess!
Actually, as I've been writing this post I had a thought:
I know the chef/owner at Glaze: Food & Wine, which is on the west end of Hindley street. It's a bit of an odd place, but the food is quite good, and I'm sure if I asked the chef I could get a decent deal on corkage.
I've got an old menu from when I organised a function there a long time ago, so I'm not sure if it's current, but to give you an idea of the food/prices: http://www.mikebee.id.au/wp/glaze.html
PaulG wrote:I'm really surprised about Vileroy, as they had excellent and accommodating service last time I was there. Ah well, back to the drawing board, I guess!
Actually, as I've been writing this post I had a thought: I know the chef/owner at Glaze: Food & Wine, which is on the west end of Hindley street. It's a bit of an odd place, but the food is quite good, and I'm sure if I asked the chef I could get a decent deal on corkage. I've got an old menu from when I organised a function there a long time ago, so I'm not sure if it's current, but to give you an idea of the food/prices: http://www.mikebee.id.au/wp/glaze.html
Let me know if you'd like me to ask the owner
Thanks for the suggestions Paul.
First impression is Glaze looks expensive - Adelaide offlines usually have a ceiling of about $50-$60/person including all corkage otherwise not many people show up. It depends on how well you know the owner and what kind of deal you can negotiate, but it could be a stretch - menu looks good though.
Ambrosinis looks promising, but the website says they're open Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday only by arrangement. Would they be open?
I must apologise about my level of enthusiasm in making suggestions. I hope you all don't mind me putting out suggestions.
A few more thoughts:
A bit more casual, but consistently good: Sapore on Paynham Road
A bit left field: Baan Thai on magill Road. This is yet another place that the more I think about it, the better it seems! The place has some exceptional thai food. Having just returned from a trip to Thailand, this appears to be the most authentic thai food I've had in SA. The owner is quite friendly, and being a regular there I'm happy to have a word to him to see if we can get a corkage discount (although I couldn't guarantee anything!) - http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/resta ... nthai.aspx
Otherwise, T-chow is fine It's a great restaurant, and I'd be happy to go there. I just though as the last one was held there a different venue may be fun.
Anyway, I'll stop making random suggestions before I start becoming annoying!
Hey guys,
quick update: Spoke to the chef/owner at Glaze - he wouldn't charge any corkage apparently. I'm not sure if that makes any differences, as the prices on the updated menu ain't cheap, but just some more food for thought, I guess
He's going to be emailing me an updated menu - I'll edit this post and upload it when I get it.
Ahh, didn't mention to him we were looking at a public holiday, and he may not be open on the Monday anyway, so this could be academic. I'll double check with him, but this could make my entire post irrelevant for this meeting in any case. My apologies!
Last edited by PaulG on Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.
PaulG wrote:I must apologise about my level of enthusiasm in making suggestions. I hope you all don't mind me putting out suggestions.
A few more thoughts: A bit more casual, but consistently good: Sapore on Paynham Road A bit left field: Baan Thai on magill Road. This is yet another place that the more I think about it, the better it seems! The place has some exceptional thai food. Having just returned from a trip to Thailand, this appears to be the most authentic thai food I've had in SA. The owner is quite friendly, and being a regular there I'm happy to have a word to him to see if we can get a corkage discount (although I couldn't guarantee anything!) - http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/resta ... nthai.aspx
Otherwise, T-chow is fine It's a great restaurant, and I'd be happy to go there. I just though as the last one was held there a different venue may be fun.
Anyway, I'll stop making random suggestions before I start becoming annoying!
No problem with your suggestions Paul - your enthusiasm is welcomed.
The suggestions are very welcome, but the main factors will be how difficult it will be to negotiate a deal with a new venue this time. I'm guessing quite a few new places for consideration could either be closed for the long weekend, or will treat the Monday as a normal weekend day and could be difficult to budge in regard to corkage, etc.
To be honest I'm going to have pretty limited time leading up to this offline to organize something, and I haven't had much luck with other (new) venues I've scouted over the last couple of weeks. At this stage I'm leaning towards booking T-Chow for this one, and will look at new venues next time.
Apparently my friend at Glaze is quite enthusiastic - When I emailed him to tell him that this wouldn't work due to it being a public holiday, he wrote back saying he'd open just for us!
Anyway, the ball is squarely in your court guys, just thought I'd give the option
