Forget express lunches — do as the French do and savour your meal. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth are hosting their annual Wine Days Lunch series every day this October. Add a little joie de vivre into your day and enjoy a lengthy lunch.
Wine Days celebrates the art of French dining. This is no in-and-out meal, with the waiter hovering over you to clear the table. You’re encouraged to enjoy the time you’re there. My lucky +1 (and fellow TPO writer), Khahn, and I clocked in at two hours. If you do have the time to indulge, a Wine Days lunch is where to do so.
Walking through the marble foyer and ascending the elevator to the airy Garden Court Restaurant, we were quickly seated at a table looking onto the courtyard. (I now have dreams of future events happening there this summer. Alfresco champagne, anyone?)
Did you know the French have the concept of sharing plates? Neither did we. The partager menu encapsulates a platter — either the charcutier’s (meat), poissonier’s (fish), or jardinier’s boards (vegetables) — along with mains to share. The carnivores in us took over, and we devoured the rillettes and pâté on our sharing board. For our mains, Khahn chose the South Windsor Pepe’s duck confit, with Lyonnaise potatoes; I went for the Milly Hill lamb shank bourguigon. All dishes were, as one would expect from the Sofitel, delicious. We enjoyed discovering the usage of local ingredients paired with French techniques.
And then, of course, the wine part of the Wine Days Lunch. We were served three small glasses of wines in a delightful wire holder:
- Banfi ‘Le Rime’ Pinot Grigio from Tuscany. Light, it had an apricot finish.
- Yal Yal Estate Pinot Gris from Victoria. Vibrant, it finished with the taste of pears and was both of our favourites.
- Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Blanc from Alsace. This was a slightly fizzy white wine.
Then, of course, there was the dessert platter. I won’t say anything other than: save room.
Combining delicious food and wine with top-notch service and beautiful surroundings, a Wine Days lunch is not to be missed. The French art de vivre is alive and well. See for yourself at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
– Theresa
Co-founder of The Plus Ones, Theresa has been to France four times, and can’t wait to return.
Wine Days Lunch runs the month of October at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
The Garden Court Restaurant is open Monday to Friday, from noon to 2pm. Wine Days Lunch starts from $30 per person. Make a reservation.
