In the US, New Jersey is the Garden State, but in Australia, Victoria was previously known as "The Garden State". (Now I think Victoria is "On the Move".)
In Flinders Lane, there is a hotel named the Garden State Hotel. One Sunday for lunch, before seeing Viceroy's House at Kino, Tim and I wandered into the Garden State Hotel's Public Bar for lunch:
Above our table, I loved this print quoting Rumer Godden, author of The Greengage Summer (which I have read and became aware of through the lovely Jane Asher, who starred in a movie adaptation of the book as a child, and who once dated Paul McCartney - hence there is a Beatles connection!):
They have quite an extensive "Beer Garden" menu. On the day, Tim ordered the market fish with Kipfler potatoes, caper and peppercorn dressing ($21):
Tim said that this meal was delicious. I especially liked that the fish was served with potatoes instead of fries, making it slightly unusual and more healthy.
I ordered the Borrowdale pork schnitzel with brussels sprouts and mustard ($22):
I was initially rather surprised to see the brussels sprouts shredded and covering the top of the schnitzel, but I think that the idea was to make them into a sauce with the mustard. I enjoyed it, although in the end it was probably a little large for me to handle (not a bad issue).
The atmosphere at Garden State was relaxed and casual, the staff were friendly, and at this Sunday lunchtime, it wasn't overcrowded or noisy.
We enjoyed our spontaneous lunch at Garden State and would go back again.
Garden State Hotel
101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph: 03 8396 5777
Looks like a nice place for lunch - always looking out for places in the city! I loved Vic being the garden state and was so annoyed when the slogan was changed to "the place to be" which just said nothing about the state.
ReplyDeleteWe read The Diddakoi at school and I think at college too. That is an unusual use for Brussel sprouts, I like them with butter and salt and pepper. The fish does look delicious.
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