NEWS: Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant reopens tonight

[n4sir]

Magill Estate reopens tonight with a thrilling new look and a menu including $435 ultimate meal
by: Food Editor SIMON WILKINSON
From: The Advertiser
August 28, 2013 12:21PM

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle ... 6705734353

Magill Estate will reopen tonight with a thrilling contemporary look and a regular menu including a $435 food and wine match that can lay claim to being the most expensive restaurant meal in Australia.

During an exclusive look at the refurbished dining room, bar and kitchen, The Advertiser also was given a first taste of the cooking of new executive chef Scott Huggins and his team.

Penfolds' showcase restaurant, the dining equivalent to its world-famous Grange, has been closed for nearly two years, first by delays in approval for major structural changes that have since been abandoned, and then by the surprise departure of previous chef Jock Zonfrillo.

Working within the existing building, celebrated Melbourne-based designer Pascale Gomes-McNabb has created a contemporary wonderland of polished timber and brass, suspended spheres and striking red neon lines.

The space now also includes a bar with a mix of bespoke chairs and sofas, and a rug pattern that represents an aerial view of the historic winery.

The new Magill menu offers only two tasting menus, either five or eight courses, with the option of matched wines.

The ultimate package of eight courses, with elite wines such as Krug champage, Grange and Great Grandfather Port, is priced at $435 - more than any matched combination at Sydney icons such as Quay or Tetsuya's, though they would not include wines of such luxury.

A five-course dinner, without wine, costs $135.

Huggins describes his food as "refined but natural" highlighting the best local produce, particularlyfrom regions where the wine grapes are grown.

"When something is so beautiful, I don't know why you have to mask it with bubbles and foams," he says. "It just needs to be left as it is and shown utmost respect."

Huggins has assembled a team of 11 chefs, including head chef Shannon Fleming and pastry chef Emma Shearer who were part of the previous Magill regime.

His fiancee Emma McCaskill has joined the kitchen as research and development chef, a role that includes locating and experimenting with ingredients.

Making the restaurant's butter, for instance, has involved finding a supply of pure jersey milk and then developing the best way to churn it.

Adelaide-born McCaskill met Huggins in the kitchen of Ezard restaurant in Melbourne nine years ago

"Food is our passion," she says. "It takes up most of our days, most of our lives, so it's what we talk about a lot at home."

[phillisc]

Umm me thinks Pennies have missed the target again, like their wine portfolio there is no balance in the equation below:

On the one hand you can take one up the backside and be looking for a hearty serve of fish and chips on the way home...

"Magill Estate will reopen tonight with a thrilling contemporary look and a regular menu including a $435 food and wine match that can lay claim to being the most expensive restaurant meal in Australia.

or...
A five-course dinner, without wine, costs $135.

and you can go to a wine restaurant and drink San pellegrino all evening....go figure.

Four times the price of some really good establishments in Adelaide that I eat at now and then....don't think so...give it till Xmas for the cobwebs to move in

Happy dining
Craig.

[damonpeyo]

Would rather order some decent local fish and chips washed down nice Tassie sparkling white wine than head to this place

[AndrewCowley]

Is there a helipad so that tourists can be flown in and out? Can only guess that cashed up tourists must be their intended market.

[sjw_11]

To be fair $135 for 5-courses for what used to be one of Adelaides only "3 Hat" places compares pretty favourably with for example Sydney/Melb (c$200), Singapore ($300-400) and Paris ($500-600+++)...

I mean you can always argue why not just have fish and chips, or cook your own roast, but thats not really the point.

Even the option with matched wines of that quality looks OK pricing I have never seen Krug in a matched dego before... but then again if its the same 5 courses and then $300 for the wine alone, I think Id just buy a bottle of something decent!

[mjs]

Would rather order some decent local fish and chips washed down nice Tassie sparkling white wine than head to this place

if thats what you would rather, can I suggest that perhaps you're not going to go to Magill Estate in the first place anyway?

Upfront, I'm Adelaide born and bred but now Melbourne based, however I have never been to Magill Estate. There was a work moment a couple of years ago in Adelaide where we might have had a group dinner there, but they wanted $15k to open the joint on a Monday.

By standards elsewhere, $135 for five courses is not outrageous provided the quality of the food is good. The big bang of $435 with wine includes an eight course meal, so maybe that represents $180 of food which leaves $255 for wine. With Krug and other Penfolds stuff, that's perhaps not too bad. Of course it is a big whack for a meal plus wine by normal standards, but which other places give you that experience??

Gee, we did a Henschke tasting earlier this year that cost $180, just wine!!

[phillisc]

Malcolm, I take your point and have been to ME twice ( once out of my wallet and once out of a "corporate junket wallet")

For a table of 12 the first round of drinks was $25 a head ($300), beers, bubbles, a G&T or 2
Then for the 12 of us for 6 or so courses with wine the bill was a shade over 6 grand...in the cab home with my friend I was speechless and this was 10 years ago.

There are still a few establishments in Adelaide and yes I too are born and bred here, that are so much better and so less pretentious.
Staff who are attentive, look the part, great food, good stem ware, great wines can be found else where, the pretty bluestone building, fairly lights at night only go so far

We both know that this restaurant lives and dies out of the corporate sector, Pennies entertaining Chinese "livesavers", and the top end of town spending their mining royalties.
It will not survive on the back of mums and dads celebrating a quiet 30th wedding anniversary.

Cheers
Craig

[sjw_11]

I dont know, I think it could well be the Adelaide old-boys establishment (doctors, lawyers, accountants) who have benefited from 30-yrs of salaries at 70-80% of their east coast peers and far, far cheaper living costs who will drink a wee glass of krug to their savvyness in picking Adelaide before the bull market in house prices!

There aint that many mining royalties in Adelaide, unfortunately the mining boom ship (aka the BHP Olympic Dam multi-multi-billion project) sailed right on by without stopping...

[Scotty vino]

Dined at Magill Estate a couple of years back. Food and service was pretty good. Bought a 87 St Henri off the list for about 90 bux.
I thought it was a bit cold and soulless for my liking.
Give me Russell's pizza @ Willunga, a couple of Majella cabs and an open fire any day.

[mjs]

Malcolm, I take your point and have been to ME twice ( once out of my wallet and once out of a "corporate junket wallet")

For a table of 12 the first round of drinks was $25 a head ($300), beers, bubbles, a G&T or 2
Then for the 12 of us for 6 or so courses with wine the bill was a shade over 6 grand...in the cab home with my friend I was speechless and this was 10 years ago.

There are still a few establishments in Adelaide and yes I too are born and bred here, that are so much better and so less pretentious.
Staff who are attentive, look the part, great food, good stem ware, great wines can be found else where, the pretty bluestone building, fairly lights at night only go so far

We both know that this restaurant lives and dies out of the corporate sector, Pennies entertaining Chinese "livesavers", and the top end of town spending their mining royalties.
It will not survive on the back of mums and dads celebrating a quiet 30th wedding anniversary.

Cheers
Craig

Yes, I agree that ME is not aimed at the mums and dads and probably not us either. Maybe its part of that whole Penfolds marketing approach which I don't really like, try and get as much money as you can, corporates and Asia being the likely targets, as you say. Maybe that makes sense from a business point of view, but not from my point of view as a local wine consumer. But like it or not, Pennies is an Australian institution and it would be better IMO if its outputs, which can be outstanding, were more accessible to Australians.

$500/hd six years ago is serious money. In a similar, but perhaps more enjoyable vein, we had work celebration at Universal Wine bar a couple of years ago, about 45ppl, $50ph or maybe $2.5k for food. The total bill was $13.5k!!!! Had a few good bottles that night!!

[phillisc]

Malcolm, I was just thinking about Sparky's food wine match post...
For $435 I could have a bottle of Krug and an aged St henri and a half of noble one
With the money left over I could have a few oysters, a rib eye with hand cut chips and a pear rocket and parmesan salad and maybe a chocolate tart to finish.

any takers?
Craig.

[Mike Hawkins]

Perhaps I'm being negative, but I can't see this succeeding. The head chef, who has undoubtedly worked at some nice restaurants, doesn't have enough runs on the board (yet) to be getting top dollar. Thinking of all the similar priced restaurants in the US and Europe that now charge big money, they waited until they had established a reputation in their own right before pricing at this level.

[n4sir]

Malcolm, I was just thinking about Sparky's food wine match post...
For $435 I could have a bottle of Krug and an aged St henri and a half of noble one
With the money left over I could have a few oysters, a rib eye with hand cut chips and a pear rocket and parmesan salad and maybe a chocolate tart to finish.

any takers?
Craig.

For a few years I've heard Mark Jappe swear numerous times that Krug and KFC is an absolutely perfect match.

I have haven't been lucky enough to be with someone with deep enough pockets to try that one out, maybe someday...

Cheers,
Ian

[sjw_11]

Malcolm, I was just thinking about Sparky's food wine match post...
For $435 I could have a bottle of Krug and an aged St henri and a half of noble one
With the money left over I could have a few oysters, a rib eye with hand cut chips and a pear rocket and parmesan salad and maybe a chocolate tart to finish.

any takers?
Craig.

For a few years I've heard Mark Jappe swear numerous times that Krug and KFC is an absolutely perfect match.

I have haven't been lucky enough to be with someone with deep enough pockets to try that one out, maybe someday...

Cheers,
Ian

Could we at least make it "home made" KFC i.e. dude food fried chicken? If so I am in!
(has the "dude food" movement gripped Adelaide to the same degree its taken Sydney the last 2-yrs?? every fine diner is turning out pork buns, fried chicken, mexican food or sliders)

[Chuck]

Whilst it is very expensive ME can do it pretty well. A few years back two of us enjoyed some very good food washed down with a 1972 Grange. It was a memorable lunch that will always put a smile on my dial. The '72 Grange, whilst not from a great vintage, was in superb condition and was one of the best aged wines I've ever experienced. I think the total ME experience is worth it.

Carl

[Mark Carrington]

Mrs C & I had dinner there 3 years ago. Overall we enjoyed the meal: lovely setting, good food & we shared both matching wine selections; quirky start to the meal - nothing laid out on the table, no menus when asked to select an initial drink & there was a 'soulless' atmosphere though service v. good.
We're back in town later this year & my wife wants to eat there again & I'm happy to revisit.
Any other recommendations, preferably near the city centre?

[George Krashos]

Lots of smart casual dining in the CBD and surrounds, but not much in the fine dining Magill Estate-esque mode anymore. What style of dining are you after?

-- George Krashos

[n4sir]

We're back in town later this year & my wife wants to eat there again & I'm happy to revisit.
Any other recommendations, preferably near the city centre?

Bistro Dom
Auge
Celsius? (haven't been there for a while now)

If you want to go the cheap Chinese BYO option there's about a zillion places around Gouger St & its surrounds...


Cheers,
Ian

[sjw_11]

Chianti Classico on Hutt St .. haven't been for a couple of years but good up market Italian
Is the Italian place on Carrington St any good these days? The old Italian function centre, Enoteca Cucina, I think that gets good reviews
Melting Pot Hyde Park (again always heard good things, haven't tried myself)
Auge is very nice in the middle of the city, go for a cocktail before/afterwards at La Boheme just up the road, wonderful little bar

Or BYO from east end cellars, have a palate cleansing Coopers Vintage on tap at the Austral and then walk up to Gouger St for BYO Chinese ... I think the place I always like is called Ying Chow just past the china town bit, but there are lots of options as N4sir points out

Or get out of town and go and stay around McVale/Willunga/Sellicks and go to the Victory Hotel ... cannot recommend more highly for any wine lover

[Scotty vino]

Chianti Classico on Hutt St .. haven't been for a couple of years but good up market Italian
Is the Italian place on Carrington St any good these days? The old Italian function centre, Enoteca Cucina, I think that gets good reviews
Melting Pot Hyde Park (again always heard good things, haven't tried myself)
Auge is very nice in the middle of the city, go for a cocktail before/afterwards at La Boheme just up the road, wonderful little bar

Or BYO from east end cellars, have a palate cleansing Coopers Vintage on tap at the Austral and then walk up to Gouger St for BYO Chinese ... I think the place I always like is called Ying Chow just past the china town bit, but there are lots of options as N4sir points out

Or get out of town and go and stay around McVale/Willunga/Sellicks and go to the Victory Hotel ... cannot recommend more highly for any wine lover

For Italian in Adelaide I'd be heading to (in no particular order) Enzo's , Rigoni's or Pranzo.
Out of town I'd be heading back to Fino in Willunga. The Victory Hotel is worth a visit for the cellar alone. Impressive collection.

[Mark Carrington]

Thanks for your suggestions.

[mjs]

We're back in town later this year & my wife wants to eat there again & I'm happy to revisit.
Any other recommendations, preferably near the city centre?

Managed to spend a fair bit of time in Adelaide with work in 2010-11, not much since then. Apart from my usual Thai fetish and trying 23 such restaurants in that period, in the CBD really enjoyed ....

Rigoni's for quality Italian
Cos for steak and other modern Australian
Jasmine for Indian
Amalfi for everyday good value (love the garfish main dish), was the go to place every week
Wah Hing for chinese and duck, particularly with a couple of bottles of byo pinot
T Chow for larger groups, fish and scallops excellent amongst other treats.
Both Argentinian steak joints (Gaucho's and Sosta) for slabs of meat

Plenty to choose from

[Scotty vino]

We're back in town later this year & my wife wants to eat there again & I'm happy to revisit.
Any other recommendations, preferably near the city centre?

Managed to spend a fair bit of time in Adelaide with work in 2010-11, not much since then. Apart from my usual Thai fetish and trying 23 such restaurants in that period, in the CBD really enjoyed ....

Rigoni's for quality Italian
Cos for steak and other modern Australian
Jasmine for Indian
Amalfi for everyday good value (love the garfish main dish), was the go to place every week
Wah Hing for chinese and duck, particularly with a couple of bottles of byo pinot
T Chow for larger groups, fish and scallops excellent amongst other treats.
Both Argentinian steak joints (Gaucho's and Sosta) for slabs of meat

Amalfi's Pizzas are some of the best going around.
Kenji on Hutt street is also a winner for japanese fusion.
Gaucho's is an institution if you wanna eat awesome steak.

[daver6]

Surprised Good Life Pizza hasn't got a mention yet

[sjw_11]

Personally I prefer a burger...
http://www.google.com.sg/url?sa=t&rct=j ... 9249,d.dGI

[n4sir]

I read an article by Tony Love in the Sunday Mail (I can't find it online though ) that five senior staff including Shannon Fleming and the head Sommelier have already walked out on the reopened Magill Estate to join Jock Zonfrillo's new restaurant.

Talk about a rocky restart!

Cheers,
Ian

EDIT: Someone found a link to the story at the other place.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle ... 6723883349

[wheel]

Any of you guys been there since it reopened??

[phillisc]

Wheel, when the 6 numbers have come up...I will give you a call.
Could shout an offline perhaps

Cheers
Craig.