Fine Dining

There was a period of time back in the early 2000's when I was a bit of a fine dining aficionado. I'm not sure what prompted it, but at some point in 2002/2003, Adam, Gully, Yvette and I all started going out once per month together to a flash restaurant. It was only ever once a month or so as we always went the whole hog, so it was usually $250+ per head.

Balthazar https://www.balthazar.com.au/ is the first one that springs to mind. The four of us went there a couple of times, and I have been since, and it remains to me, one of the best eating and drinking experiences in Perth. It's a nice balance between cool chic character and intimate private dining, and we always had a blast here. This is the place where I found Trumer Pils, my favourite beer of all time. It is also the place where we found Pierre The Dirty Little Spider. That was a cocktail, and one drunken night we had a huge laugh talking with the German waiter about it. "Oh Pierre, you dirty little spider!". I'm not sure the webpage still works, but the restaurant is still there. Very much worth checking out. The food is absolutely superb.

Friends http://www.friendsrestaurant.com.au/ is also a cracker. This was more a place I went to with Richo and Merryn, old friends from the KCGM days originally, and from almost everywhere else I worked since! It is also a fine dining place, but really more of an upmarket bistro than a 5* restaurant to be honest. Not knocking it, but that's how it felt to me. Still, the steaks there, especially the wagyu, were first-class, as were the desserts and the wine list. It was a wonderful place to have a great meal, numerous drinks, sitting in a comfortable, classy location.

Fraser's https://www.frasersrestaurant.com.au/ is an absolute hoot of a joint. Classy, beautifully located and established in King's Park, and a wonderful place to spend an evening indulging in food and drink. I spent many a memorable night there, with groups mentioned in both the first two fine-dining joints being among them, as well as numerous others. It's a wonderful location among the trees, and the food and wine list match that perfectly. I have always had great food here, and was always excited for a return visit.

So that period lasted about a year or so, at least until I left W.A. and ventured over to Queensland for a look. G & Y are no longer together, so it's unlikely the group will reconvene. Still, Adam and Gully are both still in Perth these days, so possibly a boy's version could be an option if I ever get over for a visit. I'd really like to.

I can't finish without a more contemporary addition to the list:

Lafite http://www.shangri-la.com/kualalumpur/shangrila/dining/restaurants/lafite/

Lafite is a fine dining French restaurant in KL, and was my introduction to degustation. OMG. Seriously, that has to be the most indulgent and funnest way to have a fine dining experience. I have done it twice, once with my baby, and once with Brian and Ailish. Far out it was good. 8 small courses, each paired with wine. So delectable, so opulent, so damn good.

Yeah, if life ever permits me to go and briefly relive those halcyon days where I could afford fine dining, it's going to have to be a degustation for me!