Absynthe - A trip down memory lane

Those of you who can spell will realise this is not a treatise on the booze-inspired artistry of 19th century France. This is me returning to 2009, for the first and best degustation experience I have had. Sadly, there was no actual absinthe involved, but that was only because by the end of the meal my stomach was bursting and I was the epitome of cheerful intoxication.

Eating at Absynthe is the only great thing I've done on the Gold Coast, and thankfully, it's amazing. The decor is tasteful and modern, the service is friendly from the get-go, and as soon as you sit down, Absynthe reveals a unique trade secret: bread. You see, Absynthe operates a nearby bakery of the same name, which produces bread of excellent quality. And they serve it at the restaurant. As much as you want. And even when you're full, you can't say no. It's just that good.

What? Filling up on bread at a degustation? Fortunately chef Meyjitte Boughenout crafts a creative menu that ensures the fun never stops. We opened with an exciting egg based creation ("Golden Egg, Cucumber Gelee, Soft Green Olive & Vanilla Crouton"), which was delightfully beautifully balanced in taste and texture. I then discovered that eggplant ice cream works really well with tomato, 'nuf said. The seafood dishes were beautifully balanced, the lamb tender and delicious. And the desserts did not disappoint, the first being an exciting set of textured foams flavoured with various berries, and the latter an exciting yoghurt "bubble" accompanied by a variety of floral flavours (including actually flower petals). Check out the menu below for details.

On the wine front, I must admit I knew very little about food/wine matching at this time, but I found them enjoyable and they seemed to make sense. Perhaps the winos among you can fill me in here. Crucially, the waiters won a special place in my heart by cheerfully refilling glasses when I finished the wine before I'd eaten half the matching dish. No stinginess. Awesome. I got drunk. I may be biased as a result.

One bad point, which I didn't actually care about, was that the restrooms are located out the back of the restaurant, so you actually walk outside to get to them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience, and would recommend the degustation to anybody. Recent reviews still indicate the degustation is excellent. 4.5/5

DISCLAIMER: Do not buy vouchers for this restaurant. If you read other people's reviews, it looks like the chef is an arrogant French dick, and only treats people properly if they order the degustation. Arrogance does mean he makes good food though...

Damn I'm sad now.