The hangover's only just worn off after Christmas/New Years and Australia Day is just around the corner, but it's already time we started talking about the first Adelaide offline for 2008, probably for sometime next month.
Like last year I was thinking something cheap & Chinese to begin with like T-Chow, Ying Chow or Cafe Kowloon again. With the warmer weather it's probably more suited to lighter reds, so maybe we can finally go with that Pinot/Duck theme that's been on the drawing board a while?
At this stage we're just talking about possible numbers of who's going and dates to have it - I'd avoid the week of the 7th February because that's Chinese New Year and it's bound to be busy.
Cheers,
Ian
Adelaide Offline February 21st Bookings
Adelaide Offline February 21st Bookings
Last edited by n4sir on Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
If we're going for duck, we should seriously consider a place on glen osmond rd called 'rice' which has the most amazing peking duck i have had.
We would need to book as it's a pretty busy place, but i'm sure they do BYO. possibly a middle of the week might be better, and hopefully force us to cut down on the massive number of bottles we each bring.
We would need to book as it's a pretty busy place, but i'm sure they do BYO. possibly a middle of the week might be better, and hopefully force us to cut down on the massive number of bottles we each bring.
Pinot and duck sounds good! Unless we're talking end of February, most dates will suit me (I'm getting some wine interested frineds over from Norway second week in Feb that I might bring if it's OK).
cheers
Gustav
cheers
Gustav
Gustav the Norwegian
"Progress is not achieved without deviation from the norm" - Frank Zappa
"Progress is not achieved without deviation from the norm" - Frank Zappa
This is promising - looks like we've already settled on a theme, venue, and (by default) week for this one. 
I'm happy to try Rice as a new venue - does anyone know the cost of corkage (if any)?
With the dates people can't attend above, that leaves us the week of the 18th-23rd February by process of elimination. I'd be flexible enough to probably go during the week, although I'd still prefer Friday the 22nd or Saturday the 23rd.
Cheers,
Ian
I'm happy to try Rice as a new venue - does anyone know the cost of corkage (if any)?
With the dates people can't attend above, that leaves us the week of the 18th-23rd February by process of elimination. I'd be flexible enough to probably go during the week, although I'd still prefer Friday the 22nd or Saturday the 23rd.
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
silkwood wrote:Knowing your luck, Steve, you'll end up in Glenelg, have an argument with the taxi driver and end up being banned...AGAIN!
If it's during the week I'm keen Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (I get back from the Yarra Tuesday).
Cheers,
Mark
I can't afford to be banned from the only other useful taxi company in town... this time if the taxi arrives two and a half hours late I'm going to get in it and not argue with them!
Corkage at Rice is $8/bottle, but I don't know about discounts for a large number of bottles.
Steve wrote:Corkage at Rice is $8/bottle, but I don't know about discounts for a large number of bottles.
While $8/bottle is hardly excessive (at least it's not $50
) it's still a fair bit more compared to $1.50/person we get at the Chows & Co in town. I'd rather go back to Gouger Street and use the extra coin on additional dishes and/or better quality Pinots.
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Scanlon wrote:but the duck at rice is so good!
The Peking duck would have to be, as for the same money (by the time the corkage for say 10 people kicks in) we could have an additional four or so duck dishes somewhere in Gouger Street (that could possibly be just as good).
Sorry folks, but that's the Accountant in me coming out.
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Scanlon wrote:mmmmkay.... perhaps we should go to primo then?
Primo don't do Peking duck.
In all seriousness it's time we started settling on a venue & date, and get an idea of who it suits or otherwise.
It looks like it will have to be sometime the week of 18th-23rd February otherwise it will have to be put back another month. If people don't mind the clash with the Fringe opening weekend it could be on the Friday/Saturday, or say the previous Wednesday/Thursday if we can get enough still interested.
Sarah's dead set keen on Rice at Parkside and Steve's heard good reports - I'd rather a venue in Gouger Street which could end up being up a lot cheaper if we end up with a lot of bottles again (you all know what we're like, so expect the excessive).
It's also about time we heard from a few of the usual suspects like Gavin, Shadrach, Nick, Jordan, Mark, Chris, etc to see if they'll possibly make an appearance and if they have any preferences above, so speak up people.
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Scanlon wrote:I still think stick to one bottle each
I was just thinking - I wonder how much $$ it costs us to be leaving all that leftover wine at the restaurant? Cheap corkage or not, the cost has to be outweighed by the amount of wastage.
If a restaurant is good enough to offer a deal with little corkage (or none at all) it's common courtesy to leave a little behind for the owners/staff to have a taste.
That said, even with two bottles/person we don't tend to leave much behind - at the last offline at Soho there was only about a glass left in each bottle (if that) except for the 1995 Burgundy (corked), 1999 La Testa (crap) and 1981 Rieussec (one that was actually too much of a good thing). It's actually quite a small price to pay really when you think about it.
Cheers,
Ian
Ps. As Gustav has mentioned, it doesn't hurt to have four glasses on the table to use either - this usually means you don't have to tip wine out you don't want to and have more time to let it breathe and drink it.
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Sorry Sarah, but it looks like you've been out-voted on this one - Gouger St it is. 
I'll try and make a booking at T Chow this week - does everyone have a preferred day? To avoid clashing with the opening day of the fringe Friday the 22nd would be out - that would leave the Saturday the 23rd (as long as people haven't already committed to Fringe events) or the Wednesday or Thursday before.
Updated list of who's interested:
Scanlon
Steve
John#11 +1
David & Pam
silkwood
Gustav (+1-3?)
n4sir
ck (maybe)
Cheers,
Ian
I'll try and make a booking at T Chow this week - does everyone have a preferred day? To avoid clashing with the opening day of the fringe Friday the 22nd would be out - that would leave the Saturday the 23rd (as long as people haven't already committed to Fringe events) or the Wednesday or Thursday before.
Updated list of who's interested:
Scanlon
Steve
John#11 +1
David & Pam
silkwood
Gustav (+1-3?)
n4sir
ck (maybe)
Cheers,
Ian
Last edited by n4sir on Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
ck wrote:This sounds good. I've just returned from NSW and am looking forward to a Gouger St. offline. I can get to the Saturday night and will start thinking about some interesting pinot and perhaps something to act as a bit of a counterpoint to all the cherry and strawberry pinot flavours.
regards chris
It will be good to see you there again Chris if Saturday's the go.
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.