Lake Burly Griffin

Morks Restaurant Review

Posted 2014-10-04 by Gary

It’s been a while since Bron and I have eaten at Morks. The last time was on a very warm night in January this year. Bron suggested we have a meal there soon. I didn’t need much convincing to take action.

Booking a reservation is easy through the Morks contact page. I received an e-mail from Benn confirming our table and then on the day Benn called just to make sure. It’s a nice touch and I know it helps the restaurant ensure they minimise “no shows” which must be so frustrating not to mention rude.

As we enter we can see the place is buzzing. Almost all the tables are taken and we have to wait a few minutes for ours to be ready. We are shown to a really nice table for two in the front corner. It’s next to the main window (and away from the front door) with a view of the water and passers by (thanks Benn).

The menu has changed but some old favourites were still there. That said, we ventured into new territory in our selections. For entrées Bron chose the Australian Wagyu ‘Crying tiger’ which consisted of thinly cut slices of medium-rare Wagyu steak with some salad greens and a refreshing dipping sauce. I chose the pork crackling with chili jam salad. OMG I loved this entrée. It really sang in my mouth. The crunch of the crackling and cashews went beautifully with the zing and sweetness of the chili. This is a new favourite entrée for me.

Dinner at Morks. Pork crackling and chilli jam salad. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 12800 — Dinner at Morks. Pork crackling and chili jam salad. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 12800

For mains Bron chose the Morks duck red curry with a crispy rice cake which I reckon looks fabulous when it’s served. I was drooling looking at the duck and the crispy rice cake. It’s that thing you know when you see something that looks like fried carbs…Mmm…

Morks duck red curry, crispy rice cake. Photograph courtesy of Bron and her iPhone

I chose the pork belly, caramel, kapi rice and apple salad. Yep, that’s right, double pork for me that night. This was delicious and if I had not had such a fabulous entrée I think I would have enjoyed it more but that entrée was the star of the night for me.

That's me enjoying my pork belly, caramel, kapi rice and apple salad. Photograph courtesy of Bron and her iPhone — That’s me enjoying my pork belly, caramel, kapi rice and apple salad. Photograph courtesy of Bron and her iPhone

Dinner at Morks. Pork belly, caramel, kapi rice and apple salad. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 12800

For dessert we both chose the Black Sirius which is chocolate mousse, salty caramel, peanut soil and whipped cream. This was really rich. The salty caramel was good and the whole thing just worked nicely together. A great way to end a lovely meal.

Dessert at Morks. Sirius Black - Chocolate mousse, salty caramel, peanut soil and whipped cream | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 12800 — Dessert at Morks. Sirius Black – Chocolate mousse, salty caramel, peanut soil and whipped cream | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 12800

Okay, so how did we enjoy the overall experience? To date, and this includes our experiences of Morks in Florey, we’ve been knocked off our feet with the dining experiences. In my mind the food is still fabulous. I love the dishes Mork creates. On this night though we noticed just how busy the restaurant is. The wait staff looked busy and in addition to Benn, who is a star maître d’, we found that night the service was a little patchy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still ultra friendly and buoyant. At least that’s how I felt this night. I will be back. I want that entrée again.

Okay, so what do you think? Have you been to Morks? I still rate it as a great place and it’s one of my favourite restaurants in Canberra if not anywhere.

This is the photograph I posted last night on Instagram

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Black swan

Posted 2014-09-13 by Gary

The black swan is meant to be rare

Yet here in Australia they are common.

A few years back I was at a meeting in New Mexico and heard an American speaker use the term ‘black swan event’ and from the context it sounded like he meant they were events that had a very low likelihood of ever happening. I didn’t quite understand so I asked the question what did he mean. He said black swans were regarded as a rarity, an unlikely event. When he heard my accent he realised my confusion.

Talking about black swan events is an error if there are Australians in the audience. It’s similar to when people from the Northern Hemisphere refer to seasons for meeting dates and when I ask for clarification there is the realisation that the seasons are reversed for the Southern Hemisphere.

So after a bacon, egg and tasty Coon cheese fried bread sandwich I went for a walk around the middle loop of Lake Burly Griffin.

Bacon on egg on tasty Coon cheese just before frying the bread

Bacon, egg and tasty Coon cheese fried bread sandwich

Check out my RunKeeper GPX record

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Brodburger Broddeluxe with blue cheese Canberra Glassworks

Posted 2014-09-07 by Gary

Have you had a Brodburger?

Today Bron and I went for a walk around the eastern loop of Lake Burly Griffin with the intention of having our first Brodburger experience for lunch. The eastern loop is about nine kilometres and a nice walk. We went in a counterclockwise direction and started at the Kingston foreshore so when we ended we’d be close to Brodburger.

I recently enjoyed a Broddog at Westfield Belconnen and have been hankering a full burger. The walk around the eastern loop was pretty pleasant this morning, the sun was out and we were warm within a few minutes of walking. There was a fun run on earlier in the day and we came across a lot of people who had competed.

This is the route we walked based on my RunKeeper GPX file

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Can you see the chicken on a stick?

Expensive real estate on the Kingston foreshore

A willow

Power lines

Blossoms

Spring is springing

Barbed wire

So we get to Brodburger just after midday and notice there’s a good queue already.

Once we’re in the queue the line isn’t that long and it doesn’t take too long to get to the main counter. The staff are really friendly and helpful. Bron chose a Brodburger with blue cheese and I chose a Broddeluxe with blue cheese. We’re told there’s a 40 minute wait which isn’t a problem given we can wander around the Old bus depot markets and check out the stalls. I’m asked for my name and mobile telephone number and I’m told I’ll receive a text message when the burgers are ready. This is a fantastic service. If you don’t have a mobile telephone they have wireless buzzers for you to carry.

True to their word on the 40 minute mark I receive a text message and our burgers are ready. We go and collect them and hunt for a good place to eat our lunch.

This is the Broddeluxe. Two x ½ pound beef patties flame grilled, two eggs, lots of crispy bacon. Topped with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and Spanish onions. Includes homemade aioli and tomato relish. — This is the Broddeluxe. Two × ½ pound beef patties flame grilled, two eggs, lots of crispy bacon. Topped with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and Spanish onions. Includes homemade aioli and tomato relish. That’s a full pounder people 🙂

Here's a size comparison with a 600 mL bottle of diet coke. — Here’s a size comparison with a 600 mL bottle of diet coke.

Tightly packaged, I could get both hands around it but my mouth isn't big enough to get my mouth around it. People who know me know I have a BIG mouth. — Tightly packaged, I could get both hands around it but my mouth isn’t big enough to get my mouth around it. People who know me know I have a BIG mouth.

I’m grateful to Bron for capturing these images of me

2014-09-07 13.17.05 — Yes, of course I had to use my new Sony α7S to shoot my food 🙂

2014-09-07 13.28.36 — Yes those are aioli stains on my jeans

2014-09-07 13.28.58 — Yes, I’m filling my cheek pouches. That aioli stain is more evident in this shot.

Guess who owns which waste pile? Hint my burger was bigger :-) — Guess who owns which waste pile? Hint my burger was bigger 🙂

It was a fantastic morning. I have ruddy cheeks from the sun. I have a full belly from the food. We got some fresh air and exercise too. We highly recommend a good walk and then a good meal.

Okay so what did we think about our burgers?Bron thought the brodburger was a good burger. Bron said she’s happy she’s now enjoyed the Brodburger experience. I also liked my Broddeluxe. It was a full pound (nearly 500 g) of meat and it was good and juicy. That said, I mentioned to Bron that I was happy we had a good long walk and some waiting to build anticipation. For me, a burger experience depends on context. The best burgers I’ve enjoyed were from milk bars at the beach after a good morning surfing. Those burgers would also contain a pineapple ring and beetroot. My Broddeluxe was good, not the best I’ve ever had but good. Bron said after a big night out, a Brodburger would certainly fulfil all the needs of a good late night snack.

I’d probably come back and have another burger, not sure when though. If you’re a Canberra resident, have you had a Brodburger? Please feel free to share your experience as a comment.

If you have any comments or questions please send me a comment in the space below.

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Yum Cha at Dumpling Inn

Posted 2014-07-14 by Gary

We earnt Yum Cha after a good walk

Wow Canberra was cold this morning. At one stage it got as low as –4.3 °C. You can see how weird the fluctuations got at Canberra Airport.

Screenshot from weather app — Weird temperature fluctuations in Canberra this morning

Bron and I had decided to go for a walk before visiting the Essential Ingredient to look around and then lunch at the Dumpling Inn in Macquarie.

It was pretty cold outside and it took about half the walk before I could feel my nose and fingers.

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It was a pretty good looking day.

A photograph of Telstra Tower — Telstra Tower from Lake Burly Griffin

I’m looking forward when these trees will have leaves on them. Then it will start to warm up.

Photograph of a tree — Deciduous trees. Argh, they look better with leaves. Come on Summer. We need the heat.

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At Essential Ingredient I bought more Pialligo Estate award winning bacon 🙂

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So we’ve been to the Dumpling Inn many times for Yum Cha. It’s been a while because I’ve been trying to keep to a low carbohydrate way of life to keep my weight at a reasonable level. It’s difficult to say no to Yum Cha though.

It was a pretty delicious lunch and at a reasonable price.

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Lake Burly Griffin

Morks Restaurant Review

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Black swan

The black swan is meant to be rare

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Brodburger Broddeluxe with blue cheese Canberra Glassworks

Have you had a Brodburger?

I’d probably come back and have another burger, not sure when though. If you’re a Canberra resident, have you had a Brodburger? Please feel free to share your experience as a comment.

Like this:

Yum Cha at Dumpling Inn

We earnt Yum Cha after a good walk

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Like this:

The black swan is meant to be rare

I'd love it if you shared

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Have you had a Brodburger?

I’d probably come back and have another burger, not sure when though. If you’re a Canberra resident, have you had a Brodburger? Please feel free to share your experience as a comment.

I'd love it if you shared

Like this:

We earnt Yum Cha after a good walk

I'd love it if you shared

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Recent posts

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