Munch Brothers» Holiday Food

Surfers Paradise – The Captains Table

Justin Sweeney — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:08:25 +0000

Dinner at “The Captains Table”

Located just off Cavill Avenue on Orchard way you can find this simple honest little bistro. From the outset it appears neat and tidy, a good trade of people and no need to book just try a walk up, and we did this with a group of 9 people, a mix of adults and teenagers ranging from 14 to 48. Our group had a couple of special requirements 1 vegetarian and one glutton free dinner, this will test many menus as we travel around Surfers Paradise.

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The menu is simple with a few eye-catching specials, as well as set out menu with entrée and mains easily read and understood. The prices well it is Surfers Paradise in the peak so they are not too bad quite comparable to many of the other establishments. I would say a good meal for a family, business traveller or even a couple.

We tried a few entrées:

Seared scallops on the shell with simple burnt butter sauce and fresh garnish of Italian styled vegetables ($13.95). This was light and fresh the scallops seared on the shell topped with a herb and burnt butter sauce, scallops where small and slightly over cooked but a nice dish.

Vegetarian spring rolls with a sweet chilli dipping sauce ($6.95). As we expected fresh and crispy, the dipping sauce was quite spicy but overall a nice starter.

Thirdly chicken satay skewers ($8.50). The serving was good and the flavour not too spicy would suite most eaters.

Mains:

Garlic prawn entre as a main ($12.50) is a classic dish for any restaurant, and the Captains Table did not disappoint. The dish is presented with the prawns in a light sauces and a cone mould of saffron rice. This dish was balanced and light on garlic, and oil a clean dish that does not repeat for many hours after.

The vegetarian dish was a Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli, this comes dressed in a tomato sauce and julienned vegetables ($15.95). The flavours of oregano and garlic came through the dish, the pasta itself was flavoursome and cooked andante, not a bad choice for a vegetarian and even of you just like pasta.

Then there was the Catch of the Day ($14.95). This was expected to be a great dish, freshly caught fish on the Gold Coast, but when asked the staff did not really know what the fish was in the dish. The fish came battered in what we think was a light beer batter, which unfortunately was well over cooked bordering upon burnt. I would have to say not the best dish of the dinner.

Since we are on the coast we looked and saw the whole Lobster Mornay (snap frozen onboard the ship when caught) ($45.00). This dish was good value the Mornay either had wasabi or horse radish in it, which added a bit of heat which I liked the meat was a little overcooked but I put that down to frozen seafood.

Tasmanian Kangaroo ($25.95). This came out swimming in a sauce, but the meal was well balanced and cooked to perfection, even one of our teenage dinners enjoyed the dish. The appearance did not do the dish justice.

And now for the chicken dish, Camembert Chicken ($17.95). This dish was a real winner great value for money, nicely cooked chicken fillet with a camembert cheese sauce and filled with camembert and avocado. The dish presented well and tasted great, a real winner.

Now the contentious meal of the night the gluten free meal Seafood Platter for 2 ($75.00). When ordering we where very specific that this meal was to come with no wheat flour, breadcrumbs or other gluten products, but upon arrival all of the calamari and fried fish came out with breadcrumbs and had been served on top of the chips. The rest of the dish was great, good flavours and fresh. There where Morton Bay Bugs, Oysters, Mussels, Prawns and fresh fruit. This dish was a good size for 2 people and they enjoyed it.

Just to try most things we also gave one of the deserts a try, the macadamia and mango cheesecake with ice-cream (shop bought ice-cream) the cheesecake was fantastic fresh and light what a great desert.

All in all this was a restaurant that would suit most families or a couple, when on holiday this will be reasonable value they are located just off Cavill Avenue right in the centre of the action. Word of warning they are located just down from the adult entertainment clubs.

Phone: 07 5531 5766

Fax: 07 553 0274

Email: captainstable@bigpond.com.au

Address: 17 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Qld 4217

Swan reach Hotel South Australia by houseboat

Justin Sweeney — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:55:44 +0000

A day and a half cruising up the Murray river on our Expressions houseboat we landed at Swan Reach, once past the ferry we moored below the pub on the river bank, there is ample parking for about 3 large houseboats and additional parking on either side of the ferry on both banks of the river. If you have kids it’s worth stopping on the other side and taking a free trip across the ferry.

The pub has a friendly atmosphere quite laid back and feels like you are a local. The décor is a little dated but very comfortable and fits the historical elements. For those interested in the local history there is a great deal of memorabilia taste fully adorning the buildings walls.

Grain fed porterhouse steak (500gram) with fresh Mushroom sauce, roast potatoes, pumpkin and steamed Broccoli and Carrots [$25.90]

Grain fed porterhouse steak (500gram) with Surf and Turf sauce, roast potatoes, pumpkin and steamed Broccoli and Carrots [$25.90]

Barn Raised Chicken Breast Schnitzel [$17.50]

Roast of the day was Turkey with vegetables

Caesar Salad with Cajian Chicken, Cos lettuce, Bacon, Croutons, Poached egg and Caesar dressing (it was optioned without the anchovies)

Battered Butterfish served with fresh cut chips and sliced lemon [$16.90]

Set upon the top of a cliff face this historical pub is well worth the 10 minute walk from the houseboat mooring.

The meals would fit in any city restaurant of upper end pub, but the prices are quite reasonable. All the produce is locally sought and on the night we went in the meat man had not been able to deliver the Eye Fillets that we got our hearts set on. I must admit the Poorhouses’ did not disappoint the meat had been hanging for 12 days and was cooked to perfection a true medium. Tender and juicy it had been rested to perfection, the vegetables that had been baked had a smooth country lard flavour, it took me back to growing up and enjoying Sunday lunch as a child.

The Butterfish was moist and flaky, we went for a crumbed version, but you could have chosen to have it battered we chose a side of chips instead of roast vegetables. Great value here.

The Roast of the day was a hearty serve of Roast Turkey, was moist and enough with the vegetables (unfortunately it came with a non-gluten free gravy option) otherwise it was a value meal. I must admit we did not ask if there was an option for gluten free sauces, but I feel the kitchen would not have too much issue with this request as they treated us as if we had been guests in their homes.

The obligatory Australian meal had to be ordered, yes you guessed it Garlic Prawns on a bed of rice, and in this case they where a hit. The prawns fresh and sweet (not frozen) the garlic butter with a hint of chives was a fresh accompaniment to the meal. You usually expect a fatty sludge when you order this meal which generally reeks of garlic. This Garlic Prawns is up there with the best we have ever had and great value.

The next obligatory Aussie favourite chicken Parma, or at least grain fed chicken breast fillet, this was for a plain eater it had the option of gravy, or the following sauces, Pepper, Dianne or Mushroom. The chicken was fresh and the crumbing quite light it came with vegetables or chips and we chose ships.

Drinks where at bar prices which is reasonable almost RSL pricing and if you are lucky with the machines or Keno you can end up having a really cheap night.

Then there was the Cajian Chicken Caesar Salad, which looked fantastic and was ordered less the anchovies. The soft boiled or poached egg for the top was cold and almost hard boiled, but the rest of the salad redeemed itself, all in all a fresh alternative to the heavy meals the rest of us went for.

The Swan Reach Hotel is located in Main Street Swan Reach South Australia (08-8570-2003) if you are in the area or just touring the Barossa Valley you would do yourself a favour to visit the Swan Reach Hotel, they also have accommodation at reasonable pricing but you know the rule please check first as prices can vary dependant on the season.

Do you think macaroni and cheese is the appropriate food to donate during holiday food drives?

Munchbrother — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:56:02 +0000

i would have to say no! given the fact being poor my self we eat enough of it all year long.just my biggest pet peeve people whom donate are not putting much thought of it being the holiday season..enough said.

Mac & Cheese is poor food. It's yummy sometimes, but it is what it is. I'd say there's plenty of stuff like Mac&Cheese that might make a holiday meal more satisfying – green bean casserole (yum), rice a roni, uncle ben's, all that kind of stuff.

Holiday food for Dogs after dinner is over?

Munchbrother — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:04:02 +0000

My boyfriend and I cannot agree on this. I know you should not be feeding a dog people food during dinner time, but I want to know if feeding our puppy a few small (like only a little bit) amount of Turkey after our Holiday dinner would affect his begging habits.

First of all he doesn’t beg. We do not EVER feed him from the table.

I feel that if we wait until we are done eating our dinner and everything is cleaned up, and then if we just put a few bites of Turkey in his bowl with his food, he will not beg.

Wait until after you guys are done eating and there is no food around. You don’t want ur dog to associate when ppl eat that he will get a treat. After the meal, wait a few mins and then give him the treat. Do it like you would his regular dog treats.

KitchenAid KEMC378KSS Architect Series Oven Microwave Combination – Stainless Steel

Munchbrother — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:54:30 +0000

Featuring the sophisticated look of stainless steel, this Architect Series combination oven offers you the standard benefits of our high-performance oven, as well as the versatility and speed of a microwave oven with the appearance of a built-in wall oven. Our exclusive Crispwave technology feature allows you to cook juicy hamburgers, crispy pizza – even bacon and eggs – in less time and with less mess. A drop-down microwave oven door complements the efficiency of a microwave with the look of a built-in oven. The self-cleaning system with soil level/time selection automatically cleans your oven, and eliminates scrubbing and fumes. Plus, an automatic door lock secures the door during the self-clean cycle. The CleanBake Hidden Element provides more evenly balanced heat distribution by warming both the bottom & the sides of the oven cavity, resulting in better baking performance. Because it is ‘hidden’ from view by the porcelain oven cavity, the bake element is protected from spills & drips that fall to the bottom of the oven. The True Convection cooking system with a Third Hidden Element (T.H.E.) utilizes both a rear element and a rear fan to circulate preheated air around the oven cavity for faster and more even cooking results than conventional cooking. Our EasyConvect Conversion System offers you professional, even results every time. You simply enter your conventional cooking time and temperature, and the oven makes the precise conversion. Maxi and econo thermal broiler settings feature two broiling elements so that you can choose the right setting for your needs. The inner (econo) element can be used for smaller portions, while the inner and outer (maxi) feature is used when broiling an entire pan of food. Both are adjustable temperatures. The Sabbath mode feature makes it possible to use the range on the Sabbath and other religious holidays without having to turn it on. Tones, lights and error messages are over-ridden, and a set temperature can be maintained for extended periods of time. The temperature probe in our Thermal-Convection oven makes it easy to get perfect roasts every time. Simply set the internal oven or food temperature, based on your recipe or preference, and insert the electronic temperature probe in the roast. The probe will signal the oven to turn off automatically once the desired temperature is reached.

Product Specification :

Capacity :5.0 cubic feet
Size :family size
Microwave Type :built-in
Oven Feature :Convection Oven

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park

Munchbrother — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:31:23 +0000

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park has been providing safe and affordable family fun for generations. The Park includes more than 30 rides and attractions, an extensive water park, go-kart track, mini-golf course and “America’s Best Amusement Park Food.” Free Parking and Free Admission to the Ride Park. www.delgrossos.com

Duration : 0:1:29

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Steven’s Indoor Theme Park 4

Munchbrother — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:44:19 +0000

Steven’s Indoor Theme Park 4

This park might not have as many rides as my previous indoor theme parks, but there is still a lot to see.

This building has two food courts, one at the front of the building, in the sloped glass roof area, and one in the observation deck in the tower.

There are two roller coasters in the park, and some flat rides on a raised platform in the centre of the park, accessed via the lifts in the central tower.

The winner of my Bumbly Beach contest named the roller coasters in this park. They are:

“Pavilion”
Extended Roller Coaster

Excitement Rating: 7.32 (High)
Intensity Rating: 5.34 (High)
Nausea Rating: 2.64 (Medium)

“Looper”
Corkscrew Roller Coaster

Excitement Rating: 6.98 (High)
Intensity Rating: 5.42 (High)
Nausea Rating: 2.64 (Medium)

As usual, no custom scenery or cheats were used.

Duration : 0:9:15

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Japan 2007 – Food Theme Park Restaurant Fun

Munchbrother — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:56:11 +0000

Having fun in one of the restaurants in the Food Theme Park

Duration : 0:4:59

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Mega – Shopping Centre in Kaunas, Lithuania

Munchbrother — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:55:57 +0000

Mega on Christmas time 2007

The first regional shopping and leisure centre in Lithuania MEGA (further MEGA SLC) was opened in the central region of Lithuania, in Kaunas on December 2, 2005.
MEGA SLC covers 72,000 sq. m. and is situated in 101 kilometer of highway A1 Klaipeda-Vilnius. Shopping area covers 52,000 sq. m. with more than 110 shops, leisure and entertainment area covers 8,500 sq. m. with restaurants, cinema, bowling and other entertainments. The shopping centre has the biggest aquarium in Europe shopping centres, with 170,000 litres of water. It is 10 m high, 4 m wide, 11 m long and has 800 exotic fishes, including 6 sharks. Parking space is designed for 2,500 cars. Petrol station next to the centre’s parking lot for clients’ comfort. Viaduct and tunnel constructed near the MEGA shopping and leisure centre above the highway in order to connect the shopping centre and the city.

Source: www.mega.lt

Duration : 0:0:52

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Projectile Restaurant – Restaurant Reviews

Munchbrother — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:55:53 +0000

A great new restaurant.

Duration : 0:1:30

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