Fork In Review

Since October 2008 when we went into financial meltdown, restaurateurs have had to cook and eat humble pie.  Those who don’t will probably the cat-fattening troughs in the CBDs. There will be diminishing returns on the average $40 main or $70 portion of Wagyu.

Some of these lazy-thinking and smug places might have might have to suffer having their egos and testicles taken into the workshop and fitted into the vice for an enforced reduction. If not a solicitor or bailiff will have to write some encouraging letters.

All this would be a pity because most restaurants are wonderful places which bring out the best in us; a civilising influence until you see some diner having cutlery management problems.

Expensive dinners encourage dinner parties in an economic downturn. This is a real problem for those who can’t cook, or a too damn lazy.

So we then surf the net for special deals. For example, Uccello, where you could get two courses and a glass for $35. Two of us arrived ahead of time and did a tour of the Ivy compound on George Street, Sydney. There was a bar on level 3, which was packed with suits, and gave us the impression of “what recession”?

Apart from special deals, comfort food always slides down well during the winter of recession.

The type of food which equates to furry slippers and a hot water bottle.

You can be on first name terms with dishes your mother made; or if she wasn’t a good cook, then, Elizabeth David.

I had an entree of beans and Italian sausage and another stewy thing with prawns and tomatoes. Both were comforting and my mother made neither of them because she cooked Anglo-Celtic comfort food. This was washed down with a very comforting and undepressing NZ Sauvignon Blanc.