Not the L I was expecting…

It always starts with a mild plan…

I started with the mild plan of going to Les Bubbles a week ago. I unfortunately left it too late to book the time I wanted. So a mild plan of going to Les Bubbles turned into a lemon and herb plan of going to Longtime.

For those who don’t get the Nando reference; I wasn’t completely committed to the first plan, I thought I was at the time but mild doesn’t really do a lot for me, and I haven’t been a fan of lemon and herb for a long time, not since I discovered that extra hot Nandos is my favourite. So when it came time for me to leave the party I was at on Saturday to head to Les Bubbles, I flipped a coin.

Heads I ventured forth into the Valley and to whatever I found that was open, had space and preferably started with L.

Tails I stayed at the Brook, in Mitchelton, and continued to party.

2 coin flips of “Tails” later and a magic 8 ball reading, which said it was inevitable that I stayed (paraphrasing), and I wound up having dinner at the Brook. Which I will get to later, but it was not the L  I wasn’t expecting.

The L I wasn’t expecting…

About a month and a bit ago Lady Marmalade’s shut its doors for renovations. Not too long ago it reopened its doors. I hadn’t been there since the renovations, and there is a more convenient cafe on my way to work where I can sit and draw and feel slightly less rushed.

Sunday I figured it’s time to go back. Some of my friends had already been and said it was very different.

I was a little afraid of what they may have done. I was prepared to look in, look around and go “This is not my Lady Marmalade’s”. I didn’t.

I walked through the door and was instantly greeted by the people there that recognised me, and ushered through to a seat at the bench/bar. Every one was asking how I had been and if I was still drawing. It was pretty welcoming actually. It felt like they would have moved the furniture to make space for me, it was pretty awesome.

I sat at the bench and began to work on the tattoo design I am doing. I got a long black while I debated what I wanted to eat. Finally I asked if they still had waffles, ice cream, salted caramel and berries, which I usually added sriracha to. They did not. They did have french toast with rhubarb, ice cream and FAIRY FLOSS. It was brilliant.

I only managed to get a few mouthfuls of all the flavours at once, fairy floss doesn’t last very long with me. The whole thing worked really well together, and tasted a bit like sweet, sweet breakfast decadence. I think coffee goblin and booze monkey may become a 6 day a week comic.

Also, whoever decided we need to have more flowers in dishes, thank you. I love eating flowers.

The Brook

As I mentioned before we went to the Brook for a friends birthday on Saturday night. It has been a while since I have eaten at a pub.

I ordered the rump fillet with ribs. When asked how I would like the rump I said what I always say. Blue. As blue as you can make it. The guy looked at me and asked me to repeat myself. I said blue again, he said no one had asked for blue before the whole time he’d been working there. This is something I have gotten used to. It is also becoming a good sign, as places that don’t question it tend to give me rare or medium rare.

I watched everyone else getting their food and began to get a little worried, if blue takes too long to get to you, probably not going to be blue.

Then I heard the magic words, ‘rump and ribs, dianne sauce Blue’.

That was mine. It was rare. It was also only a centimetre thick so I am not going to hold that against them. Doing a thin steak blue is very difficult. The other reason I am not holding it against them, it was pretty good. As I cut it open I could see that a definite attempt had been made to make it blue, which I appreciated.

The ribs were pretty good too. The chips were too, but very rarely have I had bad pub chips.

The only thing that I wasn’t much of a fan of was the slaw. When did a little bit of cabbage, some carrot and a small fleck of dressing dancing around the cabbage like it had a phobia of plants. I have had slaw like this a few times from various places now. Maybe it’s the new trend. Next time, no slaw.

I also finished off someone’s wings. They were pretty good too. Definitely have to go back some time.

Now for something completely in character…

Soooo, Jilder bought me a packet of “2 x Spicy Chicken flavoured noodles”. They claim to be the hottest you can buy. They have their scoville score written on the back, 8706 apparently.

I discovered today there have been people doing this as a youtube challenge or a blog challenge.

This was neither of those. I like really hot food. I have been able to tolerate spicier food as I have been eating it, and it was gotten for me because I would like it.

I did. I ate all the noodles, but didn’t drink the broth. The burning lasted for 45 minutes, but I loved it. My eyes were watering so bad I had to take my glasses off. Every mouthful was burning and a really nice chili flavour. When you get used to it, chili has a flavour. I actually like the flavour.

Next time I have it I will drink the broth. I am also thinking of adding dumplings to it, and maybe some wurst from the Brat Cave.

hmmmm wurst.

Have fun people, I have made myself hungry and am now off to find a snack.