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Wine and Dine
EAT OUT THIS WEEKEND
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OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
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ou certainly won’t leave Outback Steakhouse with an empty stomach that is for certain! The meals are of a generous portion, and taste brilliant! Why not try some cheesy fries or a famous Bloomin’ Onion for a starter, and then move on to one of the delicious steaks – we love the Victoria’s Fillet the best! It’s not only steak they do well here, either. The Alice Springs Chicken is one of the best items on the menu and a must try dish for any occasion. Make sure you book as it’s one of Penrith’s most popular restaurants. Panthers complex, Mulgoa Road, Penrith. Phone 4732 2577.
f you’re after a quick meal, or a bite to eat with friends over a few drinks, you can’t go past the Peachtree Hotel. You’ll find one of the best club bistros in Penrith! Why not try the delicious chicken breast, marinated in garlic and herbs. Or if you love your steak, challenge yourself and take on the 1KG grain fed rump. There’s of course plenty of schnitzel on the menu and seafood options as well. But perhaps the best of the best is the awesome burgers… all for a fantastic, low price. If the bistro doesn’t suit you, check out the awesome pizzas – best in town, some say!
PEACHTREE HOTEL
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TAJ OF THE VALLEY
here’s nothing like a delicious butter chicken, with a side of Naan bread to really get the taste buds buzzing! One of Penrith’s most popular Indian restaurants is Taj of the Valley on High Street in Penrith. With a range of lamb, beef and chicken dishes and delicious entrees like seekh kebabs and lamb rolls, the menu at Taj of the Valley offers a full Indian cuisine. If you’re a fan of Indian food and haven’t tried Taj of the Valley, you are missing out. Enjoy a meal out with friends at the restaurant or order a take away and enjoy brilliant Indian food with the family at home. 419 High Street, Penrith. 4721 1833.
CHARDONNAY’S WELL DESERVED COMEBACK by David Ellis
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t was way back in 1832 that Chardonnay grapes were first planted in Australia by James Busby at both the fledgling Sydney Botanical Gardens and at his own Kirkton estate in the Hunter Valley, with canes he brought in from France. While the initial wine was instantly acceptable, it was 120 years later in the 1950s that sales of Chardonnay began to peak, and in the 1980s and ‘90s went absolutely gangbusters – until winemakers’ propensity then to chuck oak into their barrels by the shovel-full, saw Chardonnay become so big, fat and oaky that sales suddenly crashed, and softer and less-aggressive Sauvignon Blanc took-over as our white of first choice. Today Chardonnay is enjoying a welldeserved comeback, due to local offerings reverting to being once again more refined, elegant and well-balanced, and without all that wood. One enticing example worth trying is from Western Australia’s Margaret River, a Voyager Estate 2010 that displays vibrant
Chardonnay citrus fruit flavours (in the lime, lemon and grapefruit spectrum), with a nice savoury element, and a clean flinty finish. If you want to impress at that next special dinner party, at $45 this would be a perfect taste-match on the table with seared Red Emperor and braised fennel. One to note: Galloping into the hearts of buy-now-drink-now red wine drinkers is Rymill’s The Yearling Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, the original wine in The Yearling stable and the latest release, the 2012, an absolute cracker. The product of a perfect vintage and the skilled hand of Rymill’s Senior Winemaker, Sandrine Gimon this is one that’s all about nice upfront blackcurrant and cherry fruit flavours, a fresh sweetness, and hints of chocolate and mint. Soft and juicy, yet lively enough to have you and friends really taking notice, do as Sandrine suggests and enjoy with roast rib-eye and root vegetables. Pay $15.95.
54 Peachtree Road, Penrith. Phone 4731 3444.
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unique dining experience right in the Penrith CBD, Stonegrill has some of the best cuts of meat you will ever taste, plus don’t leave without trying the delicious sticky date pudding. Bookings are definitely required, especially on weekends as Stonegrill is very popular. This is an interactive dining experience that is great for group parties or work events. Make sure you ask about the three course set menu, which is not only excellent value, but will give you the opportunity to try the best that Stonegrill has to offer.
STONEGRILL
80 Henry Street, Penrith. Phone 4722 5141.