06.32 am Sunday 05 December 2010 AEDST
cherries achieved, much better than Bathurst/Orange/Oberon damp wet little squibbs; farmers market like all held at schools – not great (maybe this is rememberance of drinking hot little bottles of milk at 10.45 am in the damp heat of Edge Hill State School in Cairns in the early 1960's), Young busy but not exactly en fete. very hot (28 C) and humid by our standards.
travelled via Cowra (Santa's arrival day) and Greenthorpe, having to use high level second turn off from Cowra because of flooded creek. evidence of floods – willows washed away and vegetation around creeks flattened for several metres on each side, water still high. Saw Iandra from road (also known as Mt Oriel Homestead, original 1900's home of the Mr Greene of Greenethorpe, built in German suburban style ie like a Peter Behrens house circa 1905 of reinforced concrete; great location on small rise with extensive views around countryside).
Greenthorpe village more run down than website suggests. mainly pretty country en route to Young.
Shopped nicer boutiques of Young with mild success, back to Cowra via Grenfell (petrol and ice block stop), then after a little indecision about Japanese Gardens (no; too hot at 29 C) back in 20 minutes to motel in Canowindra for afternoon nap from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Drive back through cold front, temperature in rain belt drops from 29 C to 19 C but vanishes in sight of communications tower just south of Canowindra and temperature back to 28 C, with sunshine.
Return to Cowra for dinner, chat in amiable wine store (opposite Woolworths in a lane; better access than dreadful Coles car park used earlier for spring water and cookies pick up) then to Neila.
Meal elegantly cooked and very efficiently served but not a success; flavour palate, as suspected, not ours, maybe a little sophisticated or a little off key.
room rather crowded, can hear too much of neighbours conversations (local floods, local real estate, christmas parties, travel in Scandanavic, cruises) most tables seemed to have very large supplies of beer and wine; local males obviously demand pre meal beer even in good restaurant, just as observed in Tasmania a few years ago.
don't mind beer but don't think is sympathetic to carefully cooked food of this kind and don't think is good idea before the heavy shiraz style wines many are drinking and that are traditionally produced locally.
we drink local 2006 Muylan Viognier, could have been a bit colder, but oaky complexity good match for cured trout and green mango salad, kingfish with cumin, green apple and culiflower (me) and duck breast confit with kim chi and carrots and pumpkin puree.
then warm vanilla risotto with violet jelly and white chocolate ice cream (me) and gingerbread with butterscotch ice cream (my mother) – quick sip assures that oaky complexity not a great match for puddings.
Neila is a good restaurant, maybe a bit noisy and crowded, possibly great if you can tune your tastebuds to flavour profiles used. Recommended if you are in area.
a few photos to upload when back at Hampton.
now to Millthorpe.
Back at Hampton usual photo problem with blogger:
should be but have loaded in roughly reverse order (eeeek!)
Photo 1 = Santa at Rose Gardens, Cowra;
Photo 2 = Santa mounts Imperial Hotel, Brisbane Street, Cowra
Photo 3 = LJ Hooker Young
Photo 4 = Library, NSW Government Offices, Young
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