mykrocosm

We went to the Greedy Goose with friends tonight for a triple celebration. An engagement, a birthday, a return from overseas. What better opportunity to check out the winner of 2005 My Restaurant Rules, now that all the cameras had left the restaurant to run on its own merits.. or lack of.

The first thing we realised is that the website is hopelessly out of date, including that exotic menu we pored over and eagerly preselected our entrees and mains from. The post-TV menu is much more sedate and mainstream. The irony is, our table could have been bigger as some people were actually put off by the “richness” of the online menu.

Still, we were able to try the famed Vincisgrassi Maceratesi which lived up to its reputation, and for mains virtually the whole table opted for the Blue Lake beef wrapped in prosciutto on a bed of confit potato and mushroom fricassee, which was delicious and didn’t disappoint. It would have been nice to have seen (and tried) some other dishes but oh well, what can you do when everyone’s in a steak mood?

It came to $60 a head, normally considered on the pricey side for Adelaide, but that included plenty of celebratory champagne and wine which went nicely with the meal. The ambience and decor is tastefully understated, lending itself to a pleasant experience.

Tonight was our 3 year anniversary. I used the occasion as an excuse to take Flea to dinner out at Windy Point which really surprised her as I’m not normally given to such anniversary largesse. In fact I had another surprise or two for her, including a ring, and a proposal.

And she said yes!!!!

You know, last Thursday felt really strange. My last twenty-something day. Irrational thoughts kept shooting through my mind, urging me to get out there and do all those crazy, young, foolish things I never got around to. But then when I tried to follow these thoughts to their conclusion, I couldn’t actually identify anything concrete I really wanted to do.

During my twenties I travelled through 17 countries. I owned and enjoyed a grunty VS Commodore. I did all the raves, clubs and house parties. I drank. I smoked things. I passed out. I had my toenails painted while passed out. I befriended some amazing, weird and wonderful people. I got thrown out of pubs, chased by drunken mobs, and picked up my fair share of trouble. And in between I got a degree, worked, and operated my own company.

I didn’t do too bad for a geeky deaf kid.

Sure, I could have gone a little harder. Tried even more things. Sought out a few more adventures. Maybe that’s where my unfounded anxieties came from?

Oh well, there’s always my thirties.

I turned the big THREE OH on Friday. Instead of going out I wanted to make gourmet pizzas for dinner. It was loads of fun. I mixed and kneeded the dough while Flea grilled some of the ingredients, and we ended up with two different pizzas, covered with things like prosciutto, anchovies, prawns, eggplant, blue cheeses, mozarella and sun-dried tomatoes and some other things I forget. They were delicious, and I really enjoyed making them. It was also a good opportunity to use the pizza stone that had been kicking around in the cupboard for some time.

On Saturday we went to the local park for a mini-picnic - just the two of us. Flea was loading up the picnic basket with way too much food and drink, I had to keep putting things back! I soon found out the reason for her packing enthusiasm however - all my family and friends had turned up at the park to surprise the bejeezus out of me!!

To all of them, especially those who drove for five hours, and others who flew from Queensland, and those who brought such fantastic food and drinks, and all the rest as well just for coming… thankyou. I was incredibly touched, and I wish there had been more hours in the day to spend with everyone! And most of all, thank you to my sweet Flea, who orchestrated the whole thing.