An intimate soiree with Dita Von Teese and Cointreau at The Victoria Room, Darlinghurst (25 Feb 2013)

Level 1, 235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

http://www.thevictoriaroom.com

Check out more photos on Facebook

A bit of Cointreauversial action

Thanks to Sharonne Lipman from Stellar* Concepts for inviting me to this intimate cocktail event with Cointreau Ambassador Dita Von Teese. I've always been a fan of Cointreau being a versatile spirit for cocktails and tonight three cocktails were served. The Dita Fizz gets my tick as a favourite of the night — ruby red grapefruit has always had great appeal for me and was very easy to drink. The bar was full of paparazzi guests whilst Dita Von Teese demonstrated her cocktail making skills. There was no room to get close as well to the action so I amused myself by taking photos of people taking photos of her which I love doing anyway. I was very impressed with the canapes served. The Grilled prawns were flavoursome and decently sized and the Lemon tarts had great flavour and excellent shortcrust pastry. The Victoria Room sure know how to cook and with such lovely decor makes for a pretty cool function space. Bar manager Luke Hanzlicek was kind enough to make me one of his special cocktails of Poached Fig and Marsala Julep ($14). Great depth of flavours makes it a winner worth recommending others to try if they're a fan of Mount Gay Extra Old Rum.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: It's not every day you get to meet Dita Von Teese and she is very beautiful, Cointreau works very well in cocktails, Very nice canapes, Friendly function staff

CONS: Dita Von Teese is one very popular lady so trying to get a photo of and with her is a challenge even in such a intimate setting

MUST TRY: Dita Fizz, Poached Fig and Marsala Julep

VERDICT: Lovely decor, nice cocktails and tasty canapes makes for a successful event

—

Cointreau cocktails are served — one of each please!

Cocktail menu

Dita Fizz
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Cointreau Fizz Classic

Cosmopolitan

Bar manager Luke Hanzlicek (left) preparing some cosmopolitans

Touched by the hand of Dita Von Teese makes it extra special

Paparazzi in full swing

Cointreau lovers

Miss Pia Andersen in her vintage best

DJs in the house

Official photographers shoot out

All smiles with facebook competition winners

Grilled prawns — great flavour and decent size

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Lemon tarts — good flavour and excellent pastry

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Scones — nice texture and flavour
WORTH TRYING :-)

Nightcap courtesy of bar manager Luke Hanzlicek: Poached Fig and Marsala Julep ($14) made with Mount Gay Extra Old Rum, Vedrenne fig liqueur, Marsala, Angostura Bitters, Soda water, Mint leaves and garnish with mint and baby figs marinated with cinnamon and star anise
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Heart shaped nail polish — pretty cool

Goodie bag to make your own Cointreau cocktail at home

View Larger Map

The Victoria Room: Performance Carnival on Sundays, Darlinghurst (13 June 2010)

Level 1, 235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
http://www.thevictoriaroom.com

Tasting plate of Burlesque

Everytime I visit The Victoria Room I'm in awe of the lovely decor and lighting in this high ceiling bar and restaurant. If you visit on Sundays you'll be treated to Performance Carnival from 6 pm which includes complimentary entertainment by an eclectic mix of local artists and musicians as they showcase their unique talents. You can book a table in the restaurant area or sit and stand around near the bar area and get closer to the action. Tonight patrons were treated to very talented burlesque performers including a male pole dancer with Christmas fairy lights wrapped around him.

The Cheese plate ($29) comes with three cheeses of the day and a range of breads and crackers. Perhaps a bit pricey but the cheese is good quality. For a more substantial offering the Tasting Plate Hot ($26) comes with grilled chorizo, spicy chicken skewers, prawn and chickpea fritter, Argentinean calamari and pan fried haloumi. The haloumi is one of my favourites on the plate along with the tasty calamari.

Other visits to The Victoria Room:

• 13 June 2010 - Performance Carnival, Cheese plate, Hot tasting plate

• 30 Mar 2010 - 'High Tea at The Victoria Room' book launch

• 11 Sept 2009 - Prawn & Chickpea Fritters, VR Sparkling

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free entertainment on Sundays, Beautiful decor and setting

CONS: Gets very crowded and sometimes hard to see depending where you stand or sit, Some seating in the restaurant is quite low and uncomfortable

MUST TRY: Checking out other Sunday nights

—

Cheese Plate $29

Tasting Plate Hot: Grilled chorizo, spicy chicken skewers, prawn and chickpea fritter, Argentinean calamari, pan fried haloumi $26

Missy

http://www.missy.net.au

Foxtrot India

http://www.myspace.com/foxtrotindia

Lola LaBelle

http://www.lolalabelle.com

British Heart

http://www.myspace.com/britishheartburlesque

Sarina Del Fuego

http://www.sarinadelfuego.com

Restaurant seating and decor


View Larger Map

'High Tea at The Victoria Room' Book Launch, Darlinghurst (30 Mar 2010)

Level 1, 235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
http://www.thevictoriaroom.com

Sugar High Time

Thanks to Margarita from The Victoria Room for inviting me along to the launch of the new book 'High Tea at The Victoria Room' which is advertised as Australia's first high tea recipe book. After a bit of goggle research it seems it's just beat the release of the Women's Weekly 'High Tea' book which has a published date of 1 April 2010 at Random House, Angus & Robertson and Borders. Tonight's launch was held in the lovely Victoria Room which is fantastic for ambient decor photos and a nightmare for my compact camera food photos but I think you'll get an idea of what was served. For some reason I was really hoping they'd be some classic cucumber sandwiches but instead some tasty mini sandwiches of Chicken with wild herbs, and Smoked Salmon with crème fraiche, lemon, capers and rocket provided some satisfying morsels.

I loved the idea of serving the Cocktail Punch in tea cups — very cool. The Lavender Shortbread had sprinklings of lavender leaves which complemented the taste without being too overpowering. Having sweet and savoury items come out together sure made the stomach confused but through it all the Pork and apple rolls with spicy tomato chutney were my favourite. Tasty filling, flakey pastry and a spicy chutney that delivered just the right amount of kick. The tiny Vanilla bean cupcake (picture above) was also nice. I was looking forward to trying the Salmon cakes with crème fraiche and dill although tonight there seemed to be quite an overpowering taste of salt and pepper in the mix which made it difficult to appreciate the subtle taste of the salmon — I was tempted to double check the recipe for this one.

Other visits to The Victoria Room:

• 30 Mar 2010 - 'High Tea at The Victoria Room' book launch

• 11 Sept 2009 - Prawn & Chickpea Fritters, VR Sparkling

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Beautiful decor and setting to have a High Tea with the girls (or boys)

CONS: High Tea at the Victoria Room is apparently booked out 2 weeks in advance and attracts about 300 guests per day on the weekends so book ahead

MUST TRY: Pork and apple rolls with spicy tomato chutney

—

Arrival cocktail punch in tea cups — very cute idea

Cupcake display

Drinks bar

Mini Sandwiches: Chicken with wild herbs, Smoked Salmon with crème fraiche, lemon, capers and rocket

Lavender Shortbread

Vanilla bean cupcake

Pork and apple rolls with spicy tomato chutney

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Salmon cakes with crème fraiche and dill

Speeches: Jill Jones-Evans (I think)

The book

The decor

The launch crowd

90% women or thereabouts


View Larger Map