GFM 2008 Let's Do Lunch: Glass Brasserie (31 Oct 2008)

Level 2, 488 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.glassbrasserie.com.au

It's the last day of Good Food Month Let's Do Lunches and the duck confit at Glass is a great way to end. Beautifully cooked with crispy skin and tender fall of the bone juicy meat going well with the Luke Mangan Shiraz. Glass provided three dish options of either duck, gnocchi or fish and either red or white wine. The reservation and welcoming service was polite, friendly and professional and the table service started very well although ended a little absent-minded when it got to ordering coffees and desserts as I nearly felt like I had to put up my hand for some attention.

Glass is apparently extending their Let's Do Lunch menu until the end of the year due to it's popularity. With their grand high ceilings, stylish comfortable surrounds, good service, professional teamed open kitchen and of course delicious food makes it very tempting to try again, perhaps for their degustation.

Confit duck leg, cauliflower puree, apple date almond salad $35

Luke Mangan Shiraz

Complimentary bread

Cappuccino

Dining area

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GFM 2008 Let's Do Lunch: Forty One Restaurant (28 Oct 2008)

Level 42, The Chifley Tower, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.forty-one.com.au

The view from Forty One Restaurant is always breathtaking and the meal today was beautifully cooked and tasty to match. I'm pretty sure it's the same dish they cooked last year and the size thankfully quite generous too. Complimentary bread, a glass of wine and coffee was included and their special dessert option was an extra $12 which finished off the meal nicely.

The service was much better this year for my table, being more attentive and friendlier thanI've experienced in previous years. And I always say their restrooms have the best view in Sydney and nowhere else really comes close.

Slow cooked Tasmanian ocean trout, crushed sweet green peas with grated peccorino, prosciutto, lemon, basil and mint $35

Coconut & Vanilla Panna Cotta, Pineapple Sorbet ($12 extra with GFM08 Let's Do Lunch)

Complimentary bread

Cappuccino

Dining area overlooking Sydney Harbour

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GFM 2008 Let's Do Lunch: Bécasse (24 Oct 2008)

204 Clarence Street, Sydney
http://www.becasse.com.au

Unfortunate service on the day

The complimentary amuse-bouche was delicious and the slow roast lamb main meal very nice and went well with the Tempranillo wine. Unfortunately no complimentary bread at Bécasse which Quay and Kable's offer.

Main gripe was our waiter didn't provide good service and he never presented us with the special Let's Do Lunch menu at the start which listed bread, entree, and dessert options which is very poor for a 2 Hatted restaurant as well as bad business for the restaurant. A friend dining after us had the same waiter and same poor service.

Other visits to Bécasse:

• 24 Oct 2008 - Good Food Month Let's Do Lunch

• 7 Nov 2008 - Reinvited back for complimentary lunch

Complimentary amuse-bouche shaved fennel with cured ocean trout, dill and citrus crème

Slow roast Provencal lamb with spring vegetables, olive and herb vinaigrette $35

Brown Brothers Tempranillo wine

Cappuccino

Dining area

GFM 2008 Let's Do Lunch: Quay, The Rocks, Sydney (23 Oct 2008)

Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney

http://www.quay.com.au

I really enjoyed the food and dining experience at Quay for Let's Do Lunch. It has a great location view and the dishes I tried were delicious and well-presented. They served complimentary bread which some places for Let's Do Month are charging for like Bécasse. Expresso coffee was included while some places are only including filtered coffee like Kable's or wrongfully trying to charge I've been told.

I'd definitely like to come back and try their $90 three course lunch menu in the future. My only gripe was the inappropriately located and 'exposing' wall mirrors in the mens restroom and tapware in need of an update, the Feng Shui definitely didn't feel right. After all it does have 3 Hats so I'm going to be picky on the finer details.

Other visits to Quay:

• 16 Apr 2012 - Masterclass with Peter Gilmore + dinner

• 23 Oct 2008 - Let’s Do Lunch

Complimentary Ocean Trout Tartare with roe, cauliflower puree and ocean trout consommé jelly. I thought this amuse-bouche was very good with well-balanced tastes.

Roasted leather jacket, white asparagus, spring herbs, lemon confit dressing $35. I really enjoyed the fish and would gladly have it again.

Brown Brothers Pinot Grigio

Complimentary sourdough bread

Potato puree side dish $10

Pear créme caramel, Sauternes jelly, pear icecream, caramel cream $25. This was delicious and large enough to share if your in need of a few mouthful sugar hits.

Cappuccino

Brown and white sugar cubes. I much prefer these than packaged sugars.

Quay dining area with view of Circular Quay and Sydney Opera House. Those lucky enough to sit at the end would see the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well I assume.

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GFM 2008 Let's Do Lunch: Kable's, Sydney (17 Oct 2008)

199 George Street, The Rocks Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.fourseasons.com/sydney

I enjoyed both the entree and the main meal with the Brown Brothers Pinot Grigio white wine and the seating and atmosphere of Kable's was very relaxing and comfortable along with down-to-earth good service.

Warm salad of asparagus and serrano ham served with Shimeji mushrooms, green peas and baby mache salad

Vanilla Butter Poached Tasmanian Salmon served on a bed of potato risotto, leek confit and quince

Olive bread. This was tastier than the Sourdough bread.

Sourdough bread

Butter and salt

Filtered coffee [unfortunately expresso coffees not included with Let's Do Lunch]

Kable's dining area

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