Restaurant Review – Faro at Mona

29/06/202029/06/2020

A new addition to Mona art gallery is the contemporary Australian restaurant called Faro.

Entry is via the museum but it is open out of hours and the entry is from the car park.

I really like the space and openness of the restaurant.

In the middle of the room is an art exhibit which is in keeping with the randomness of Mona. You can sit and have a funky cocktail or dine by the water.

On the first day I dine with my sister and we score the table overlooking the water. It is a gift.

The food is very good, a little pricey but it is 5 star dining. I have the seafood extravaganza which is perfect for a snack for two.

The service is OK. It could be better with just a smile or two. For those of us mere mortals traveling through Mona this is a radical experience for us, help us enjoy it.

The second time I visit here is for an afternoon cocktail. They are delicious – very pricey ($20 and up) but extremely delicious. I would suggest ordering some nibbles, such as the olives, as the cocktails can go down too easily.

My over all rating is 4/5 and it only loses out because of the staff and pricing. Otherwise a world class venue.

The Lawn

21/10/201721/10/2017

Reclining back, watching the last of another magic Balinese day, I giggle at the outlook of The Lawn. It is like a piece of Seminyak in Canggu. A little piece of glamour in the surf village. I don’t mind it for a change but I know it wont’ become my local. I am still an “Old Man’s” gal!

The Lawn is impressive though.

Perched on the beach, tastefully hidden, and discrete, you can chill on reef mats, watching the sun set.

It is pseudo kid friendly with an infinity pool, chez lounges and a couple of bar areas.

The cocktails are fairly standard for Bali – good, still cheaper than most parts of the world. I was a little disappointed with the menu and food but that might because I had been spoilt for organic raw choice all day, and gorging on pizza really didn’t tick my fancy. I am sure many would love their American quasi global menu.

The Lawn in summary is definitely worth a sunset visit – it maybe your thing, but you won’t know until you have been there at least once!

P & O Cocktail mix classes

01/07/201703/07/2017

On board drinking experiences are they worth it?

If you like a wine or cocktail I think the tasting experiences are a must.

On the cruise I am doing there are a few days at sea which means forced rest and recouperation. I take this part of my life very seriously and aside from writing travel blogs, dipping in and out of the spa, I will always sign up for a few drinking experiences.

The wine tasting one is fantastic.

Wine tasting course on board the P & O Dawn Princes

So often in life I feel wine is drunk not enjoyed. The wine tasting enables you to thoroughly enjoy the true experience of wine – the joi de vie, the elixir of the Gods. I love wine so slowing down to have some one walk me through each quality and aspect of the wine, the colour, the aroma, the palette and to tell me the story about the wine maker and his intent on creating the wine is like attending a liquid art gallery.

The ship often shares one or two high end bottles which are beautiful to enjoy. I highly rate the wine tasting, the random people you meet at your table and the funny staff.

A different liquid experience and equally as fun is the cocktail mixing hour. For a modest sum you can make 4 delicious cocktails , have some fun and consume them all!

I found it very enlightening and learned that you can infuse your own vodkas with anything from chillis, to fruit to chocolate eclairs! I also discovered that many cocktails made behind the bar include sugar syrup and explained many so called “hangovers” that hadn’t made sense in the past – now I know they were sugar crashes.

We made an expresso martini, a humming bird, a caprioska and a chocolate one….

Book your cruise here.

18 Degrees Broome

01/12/201601/12/2016

I was expecting some indigenous food fan fare when I landed in Broome and was tipped that 18 Degrees was the place.

It was one of those days when it got hotter as the day went on.

You know hot during the day (but a slight breeze) to sweltering at night, no breeze and suffocating heat.

That was this night….

Probably coupled with the fact we had been floundering in the pool (which temperatures alone) would have topped any UK summer’s day. We headed off to 18 Degrees.

Seated at our table (simple decor) by a beautifully friendly girl on the deck and off we go.

Apparently their cocktail has won an award… it is a fusion of mango nectar, chilli, soda and gin. Their cocktails turn out to be the highlight….

It was sublime hot yet cold. Nearly as good as my chilli margaritas from La Calitas in Canguu.

This is what we ordered:

Scallops and Octopus

Calamari and octopus tenticls and kale… sounds great but was over cooked and salty. Which sucks because I love all of those ingredients.

Shrimp Cakes

It sounded fantastic on the plate but they were missing all the subtle flavours one would expect in a delicate dish….

Wild Caught barramundi

This dish should have been succulent, melt in mouth and subtle flavours. Instead it was dry, and flavourless. What a waste of a wild, beautiful fish!

All in all, a little disappointing.

If I was asked to rate them, I would give them, based on last night’s meal:

Service: 7.6/10

Cocktails: 9/10

Food: 2/10

So my lesson is… regardless of how exotic, how magic and seductive the herbs and spices and unusual the ingredients, it comes down to the artisian flare … the chefs intent… and commitment to use the food to enhance and bring to life a food experience.

Unfortunately on this night these guys failed to deliver.

Overall a rating 5/10.

Wine Tasting at Sea

18/09/2016

On board drinking experiences vary and being the seasoned wine taster that I am, it felt mandatory to try the wine tasting experience on the P & O Cruise as well as the Mix-It Cocktail Experience.

I take this part of my life very seriously (days at sea) and aside from writing travel blogs, dipping in and out of the spa, I will always sign up for a few drinking experiences.

The wine tasting one is fantastic.

So often in life I feel wine is drunk not enjoyed.

The wine tasting enables you to thoroughly enjoy the true experience of wine – the joie de vie, the elixir of the Gods. I love wine so slowing down to have some one walk me through each quality and aspect of the wine, the colour, the aroma, the palette and to tell me the story about the wine maker and his intent on creating the wine is like attending a liquid art gallery.

The ship often shares one or two high end bottles which are beautiful to enjoy. I highly rate the wine tasting, the random people you meet at your table and the funny staff.

A different liquid experience and equally as fun is the cocktail mixing hour. For a modest sum you can make 4 delicious cocktails , have some fun and consume them all!

We made an expresso martini, a humming bird, a caprioska and a chocolate one….

A REAL must do if you are at sea for longer than half a day. Don’t second wonder, just do it.