R and I take MWDs every so often– Mental Wellbeing Days. It’s not something we treat lightly or with frivolity, but every so often, life chucks one of its curveballs at you, and laden with the demands of the mean and the heartless it’s tiresome to keep dodging while trying to maintain some semblance of sanity and competence!
SO, here’s me on school holidays and R in between jobs. Throw in newly singled friend P and voila, a recipe for a successful MWD in the valley! Swan valley, that it.
The weather forecast is bleak, but spirits are high as we set off to Mash brewery for pre-lunch drinks. R orders, which means we inevitably end up with pre-lunch nibbles too. Although I am still suffering the grumps from having been denied the Mash tasting platter. Grr.
We get the beer-tasting plate (more like basket really)– 1 each, of course. Oh and the all-important wedges to keep stomach acids happy. The seasonal Mex was a clear favourite from the start, with the Pale Ale receiving boos all round (tasted like grapefruit pith, so if that’s your thing you go your hardest with the Pale). The Black (dark lager) was lovely and rich, and just perfect to finish off our tasting as we headed off to Elmar’s for lunch.
A: Of course it’s not too much. There’s 3 of us- we’ll be fine.
R: Really?
P: …
45 minutes later, we sit defeated as half a pork shank, half a beer bratwurst, lots of beautiful roast potatoes, luscious mash and sauerkraut stare back at us as we slump over the the edges of our seats feeling satisfied but distinctly gluttonous and possibly a little sick.
YOU CANNOT GO TO ELMARS AND NOT HAVE THE PORK SHANK. So there. Having said that, the mash that came with the beer bratwurst was really morish, with bits of meat and green stuff and all sorts of goodies speckled through it. The applesauce was chunky and and eat-with-a-spoon-out-of-the-pot material and it just wouldn’t be a German experience without the ubiquitous sauerkraut. The beer-tasting plate was a little dissapointing (only because we’d just been to Mash), with 3 beers served in wine-tasting glasses without fancy labels or glass holders. However, the beers was still quite lovely and we especially enjoyed the one that smelt like mangoes (can’t remember the name and the website is currently down so I’m unable to double check).
A: We should head to Riverbank for the dessert platter!!!
R: …
P: …
And off we went.
Ok, so we all had to admit defeat when it came to dessert. But not entirely ready to throw in the towel, we settled for a creme brulee to share between the 3 of us.
R had a ciok, which is basically an Italian hot chocolate so thick you could stand your spoon in it (not quite, but you get the idea).
Not quite as thick as they do it in Italy, but a pretty decent attempt nonetheless.
I had to have (yes, a man with a gun might as well have been standing next to me, it’s THAT compelling) the affogato. I always have the affogato at Riverbank. If not for presentation alone, it really is a really well orchestrated coffee experience worth savouring. P caved and had a measly flat white (weak!).
By the time I thought to take a photo, I had already thrown the espresso in with the ice-cream and drunk half of it! I opted to have it with the Muscat (a sticky wine-yum!)
5 hours later, we all roll home (quite literally) deeply satisfied and planning our next big eat-out in the valley!
(The day worked out to A$50 per person. Talk about bang for buck!)
glutton dressed as lamb 