Sydney offline- April 19th

[sjw_11]

Hey folks,

I am looking to be back in Sydney for a couple of days around April 18/19... I was wondering if anyone might be available for an offline then? Would be good to catch up with some of the old crew and the new faces that have joined in since I have been away. (I can't believe I haven't been back to Sydney at all for over 4 years!).

The theme would be "Sam needs to open quite a lot of wine from his cellar as he only gets back to Oz once a year" ... so in other words, I would bring a disproportionate contribution and then others can bring random gems to shock or surprise us...

Let me know if you could be available and any venue suggestions!

EDIT- let's lock in as the 19th

[Hacker]

Hi Sam, I am keen for the 19th, the 18th is my wedding anniversary, and if I attended on the 18th it would be my last anniversary!
Anyway if that doesn’t suit I’ll happily sit this one out.

[odyssey]

Sounds good!

Yes for 18th, maybe for 19th.

Could also do 20th if that turned out to be an option (extrapolating on the "around" part)

[dave vino]

I should be OK (will know closer to the date)

[catchnrelease]

Put me down as a tentative yes, to follow the theme I'll bring something on my 'I need to drink this ASAP' list.

[TiggerK]

Should be OK for either as well.

For BYO venue, we've recently been going around...

La Bufala (Mascot casual pizza)
La Mint (Paddington Asian fusion)
St Claudes (Woollahra French style)
Osteria di Russo & Russo (Newtown modern Italian)
Peppercorn (Roseville casual French - 8 people max though)
Cafe Lyon (Lindfield French)

Cheers
Tim

[Bobthebuilder]

I’m a strong possible, so please put me down.
La mint is east Sydney / Darlinghurst

[dingozegan]

Please put me down as tentative for both dates.

[winetastic]

Tentative yes for both dates for myself plus one if there is space

[mse]

Hi there,

I am keen for 18-19/4/18 offline. Please count me in.

The condition would be that the venue has to be near railway station.

Thanks.

[Krusty]

If there is a spot i would be keen, cheers.

[pc79]

I will also be keen for this - date dependent

[sjw_11]

OK, let's aim for the 19th then. I have edited the original post to reflect that. It looks like we have about 14 including myself and a friend I will bring. I think with a few tentative we would end up with at least a couple of drop outs and hence 12 attendees which I think is fine especially for a more casual theme.

So, I will close off the list here and if anyone else is keen we can have reserves.

Hacker
Odyssey - maybe
Dave vino
Catchnrelease
TiggerK
Bobthebuilder
dingozegan - tentative
Winetastic +1 - tentative
mse
Krusty
pc79
Me + 1

[sjw_11]

In terms of venue, I have to say Osteria di Russo & Russo looks pretty good to me, quite central and has easy access by train... it doesn't look like it has a lot of space though?? And the private dining area has a hefty minimum spend.

St Claude's also looks good and location would be fine for me, but not so near a train station for others.

[mse]

In terms of venue, I have to say Osteria di Russo & Russo looks pretty good to me, quite central and has easy access by train... it doesn't look like it has a lot of space though?? And the private dining area has a hefty minimum spend.

St Claude's also looks good and location would be fine for me, but not so near a train station for others.

I am fine with St Claude’s as long as a designated driver can kindly give me a lift to Central or Town Hall station afterwards. Perhaps a big ask of favour. :/

[TiggerK]

mse, Uber or even a Taxi is always a cheap option from that area at that time of night, especially if you share it with one or two others heading in the same direction, prob only $5-10 max shared down to Central, compared to the cost of the dinner and wine, it's nothing and hardly worth making it a condition of you coming!! Just saying as there might not be any designated drivers, see how it goes I suppose...

Hmm, not sure about the minimum spend at Russo, maybe a new thing. We've always been upstairs, plenty of space, great service, no minimum spend, although we would typically spend around $100-$120 p.p so that might be within their min spend anyway (haven't checked).

St Claude's has typically cost us around $130-140 p.p all up, taking into account we'd be having oysters and starters, then entree, main, dessert, coffee, corkage, sparkling water, tip etc.

La Mint is a bit cheaper, but not much when all is said and done.

St Claude's would be my current pick of the bunch personally, smart venue, solid food, great staff and feels a bit more chilled and relaxed than the others. But they're all good venues, happy with anything.

[Hacker]

Just looking at the St Claude’s website, looks lovely. Is this the same place as the old Claude’s?

[TiggerK]

Hi Hacker, yes indeed, great venue. Ryan is such a star on FOH, makes the whole night so enjoyable, relaxed and fun. Downstairs for groups up to 6, upstairs for larger groups. Excellent oysters and duck confit in particular.

[cleanskinlover]

hello people, definitely interesting... is there are wine theme?

[Bobthebuilder]

hello people, definitely interesting... is there are wine theme?

No cleanskins!

[TiggerK]

hello people, definitely interesting... is there are wine theme?

The theme would be "Sam needs to open quite a lot of wine from his cellar as he only gets back to Oz once a year" ... so in other words, I would bring a disproportionate contribution and then others can bring random gems to shock or surprise us...

[cleanskinlover]

hello people, definitely interesting... is there are wine theme?

The theme would be "Sam needs to open quite a lot of wine from his cellar as he only gets back to Oz once a year" ... so in other words, I would bring a disproportionate contribution and then others can bring random gems to shock or surprise us...

OK, Good..... random gems it is....... no cleanskins.

[Hacker]

Hi Hacker, yes indeed, great venue. Ryan is such a star on FOH, makes the whole night so enjoyable, relaxed and fun. Downstairs for groups up to 6, upstairs for larger groups. Excellent oysters and duck confit in particular.

Hi Tim, loved the old Claude’s, the food, the ambience, and the discrete front door.

[odyssey]

+1 to st claude’s, my thoughts on this excellent venue have been made elsewhere and I’m very happy to bring more business their way!

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f ... 30#p147836

[winetastic]

I would selfishly vote for Russo & Russo since its local. Food there is solid.

[sjw_11]

St Claude's would be my current pick of the bunch personally, smart venue, solid food, great staff and feels a bit more chilled and relaxed than the others. But they're all good venues, happy with anything.

OK I would be happy with this, I always wanted to try the old Claude's and never got around to it.

Any strong objections from anyone?

[9redpens]

I'm keen for the bench or a wild card entry!

[mse]

Hi Hacker, yes indeed, great venue. Ryan is such a star on FOH, makes the whole night so enjoyable, relaxed and fun. Downstairs for groups up to 6, upstairs for larger groups. Excellent oysters and duck confit in particular.

Hi Tim, loved the old Claude’s, the food, the ambience, and the discrete front door.

Ditto, I only visited the old Claude’s at its final days 3 times where Ms. Chui Lee Luk was in charge. One of the best value experiences in terms of Sydney fine dining scene, I was twice as happy at Claude’s compared to Tetsuya’s, where you could feel the hubris from the waitstaff. :/

Has anyone tried the new venture at Barangaroo by Chui Lee Luk?

Michael

[sjw_11]

OK, let's aim for the 19th then. I have edited the original post to reflect that. It looks like we have about 14 including myself and a friend I will bring. I think with a few tentative we would end up with at least a couple of drop outs and hence 12 attendees which I think is fine especially for a more casual theme.

So, I will close off the list here and if anyone else is keen we can have reserves.

Hacker
Odyssey - maybe
Dave vino
Catchnrelease
TiggerK
Bobthebuilder
dingozegan - tentative
Winetastic +1 - tentative
mse
Krusty
pc79
Me + 1

Howdy folks,
OK I have confirmed a booking at Claude's for 7pm on Thursday April 19th
As per previous indications this is the current attendees, let me know if anyone now cannot make it.

Reserve list:
9redpens

[sjw_11]

I would also like to know if anyone has a preference what I bring from my cellar... I will probably bring at least 4-5 bottles. If we have too much left over people can take away the remainders or we can gift to the staff as appropriate. Below is an example of things marked to potentially drink, so if there is anything you particularly want to look at let me know:

2011 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir
2010 Dalwhinnie Shiraz Moonambel Pyrenees
2002 Galah Shiraz
2011 Grosset Riesling Springvale Watervale
2012 Head Wines Shiraz The Contrarian Moculta
2011 Lake's Folly Chardonnay
2010 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri
2006 Ridge Monte Bello
2011 Pooley Pinot Noir Clarence House Vineyard
2006 Domaine A Petit A Cabernets Stoney Vineyard
2010 Bindi Pinot Noir Composition
2009 Rockford Rod & Spur
2006 Charles Melton Richelieu

I may also bring a magnum of Brokenwood 2004 Semillon for shits and giggles.