Nth QLD Adventures
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:36 pm
A week in Townsville,followed by a week in Cairns. I tell you what,it's just beautiful up there this time of year. Interesting to see how the places are changing too,there's a lot going on,especially in Townsville on the waterfront. Some people are making a lot of money.
Despite really enjoying both weeks, I have to say I had some disastrous food experiences in Townsville. Not wanting to slag anyone in particular,because I'm sure there's some great food to be had,but the story is worth telling. No names, but the some of the parts is quite amusing....
Night one, roomy Ed and I head down to the Strand( Waterfront) for some dinner. Drive around,spot a fish restaurant,think,that'll do. Looks great from the outside,inside though is very basic in layout and furnishing but thats no prob, the food is what we're here for. To cut a long story short,said restaurant is one of those where you pay for your fish,then if you want vegetables you pay another $6,then if you want fries you pay another $5 etc. Therefore, your $26 piece of fish ends up costing closer to $40. To me that is fine dining prices,and this was nothing like that. Fish was OK,service average,left feeling a bit dudded.
Eat in a couple of nights,then venture out for another try,this time to a pub on the waterfront. Not looking for anything great,just want to sit and watch Friday Night Footy with some Pub grub and a couple of beers. We both order the Chicken Tandoori salad. Both can only eat a couple of mouthfulls. The chicken,well,I don't know what they did to it but I have to think it was boiled,and then had some tandoori paste spread on it. There was this watery matter floating through the salad; I've got a cast iron,boarding school tempered gut but I couldn't come at it. Off to Macca 's.
Did find a great butcher though who did the best Italian sausages I have ever had,amongst other great cuts. Stuck with him for a day or so.
Two days later,can't be bothered cooking,decide to get takeaway for the last night. Scan through the phone book,find a Indian Restaurant in North Ward not too far away. Can't go far wrong we think, ring up and order a few dishes.
All I wish to add to this part is that when we got the meals back to the room,we were in fits of laughter. The first one we opened was supposed to Chicken Tikka. What we found was a tray of chicken,again floating in a grey watery substance with a mass of frozen peas decorating the surface! We just looked at it and cracked up,it was one of those weeks. The other two dishes were OK,but without much flavour at all,definitely the worst takeaway experience I've ever had.
Off to Cairns,where I have to say the food was very good, but quite expensive. Nice Thai at Sawadee,also good food at the Art Centre cafe. By far the best meal though,and one of the best meals I've had in the last 5 years,was at Tamarind at the Reef casino. Fantastic,imaginative, and most importantly flavoursome, modern asian cuisine. The only let down was the very poor wine list and terrible stemware that detracts from what is an excellent eating establishment. The manager is in the process of updating the wine list, a bit constrained by loyalty deals between the casino and the big wine companies though. I'd love to go back and try it again with some better wine,I think it is a real winner.
There you have it. Hope I didn't offend any Townsville-ites, I think I'll ask for some leadership if I ever go back as per where to eat. I guess you just get unlucky sometimes!
Cheers
Despite really enjoying both weeks, I have to say I had some disastrous food experiences in Townsville. Not wanting to slag anyone in particular,because I'm sure there's some great food to be had,but the story is worth telling. No names, but the some of the parts is quite amusing....
Night one, roomy Ed and I head down to the Strand( Waterfront) for some dinner. Drive around,spot a fish restaurant,think,that'll do. Looks great from the outside,inside though is very basic in layout and furnishing but thats no prob, the food is what we're here for. To cut a long story short,said restaurant is one of those where you pay for your fish,then if you want vegetables you pay another $6,then if you want fries you pay another $5 etc. Therefore, your $26 piece of fish ends up costing closer to $40. To me that is fine dining prices,and this was nothing like that. Fish was OK,service average,left feeling a bit dudded.
Eat in a couple of nights,then venture out for another try,this time to a pub on the waterfront. Not looking for anything great,just want to sit and watch Friday Night Footy with some Pub grub and a couple of beers. We both order the Chicken Tandoori salad. Both can only eat a couple of mouthfulls. The chicken,well,I don't know what they did to it but I have to think it was boiled,and then had some tandoori paste spread on it. There was this watery matter floating through the salad; I've got a cast iron,boarding school tempered gut but I couldn't come at it. Off to Macca 's.
Did find a great butcher though who did the best Italian sausages I have ever had,amongst other great cuts. Stuck with him for a day or so.
Two days later,can't be bothered cooking,decide to get takeaway for the last night. Scan through the phone book,find a Indian Restaurant in North Ward not too far away. Can't go far wrong we think, ring up and order a few dishes.
All I wish to add to this part is that when we got the meals back to the room,we were in fits of laughter. The first one we opened was supposed to Chicken Tikka. What we found was a tray of chicken,again floating in a grey watery substance with a mass of frozen peas decorating the surface! We just looked at it and cracked up,it was one of those weeks. The other two dishes were OK,but without much flavour at all,definitely the worst takeaway experience I've ever had.
Off to Cairns,where I have to say the food was very good, but quite expensive. Nice Thai at Sawadee,also good food at the Art Centre cafe. By far the best meal though,and one of the best meals I've had in the last 5 years,was at Tamarind at the Reef casino. Fantastic,imaginative, and most importantly flavoursome, modern asian cuisine. The only let down was the very poor wine list and terrible stemware that detracts from what is an excellent eating establishment. The manager is in the process of updating the wine list, a bit constrained by loyalty deals between the casino and the big wine companies though. I'd love to go back and try it again with some better wine,I think it is a real winner.
There you have it. Hope I didn't offend any Townsville-ites, I think I'll ask for some leadership if I ever go back as per where to eat. I guess you just get unlucky sometimes!
Cheers
