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Hayman Island part 2
After a disappointing arrival on day one, dinner was pre-booked at the exclusive weekly Chef's Table dinner for around 20 relaxed guests. A gourmet feast was on offer and did not disappoint.
The Domain Chandon sparkling in the club lounge was a bland start and could have been easily side stepped given the exquisite top shelf wines the sommelier had on show for the rest of the night.
Chef Glenn Bacon, a power of a man, greets his guests and we enter the second largest kitchen in Australia (only second to Crown Casino) in all it's finery. Chandeliers and full table setting bursting with white flower arrangements is a surprise to most guests and is set off beautifully with a Moët et Chandon marketing display.
YES! Some real champagne is a god send after poor imitation in the lounge. A second glass of Moët is ours over other guests. Obviously given our day one problems, all staff are under orders to make sure we don't have reason for more disappointment. Thanks. I'd normally be embarrassed getting this special treatment but you can't beat a good champers so we take what's on offer.
Some unusual culinary delights a la Heston were on offer including elderflower pearls, KFQ leg (Kentucky Fried Quail) and eight score wagyu with cheek pie were some highlights. A tasty refresher was the Hayman Martini Igloo serviced in an amazing ice sculpture and was the best artistic course.
On the wine side of things a 2011 Clare Valley Riesling from Grosset Polish Hill with Spanner Crab was a hit as was the 2010 Felton Rd Block 3 Pinot Noir with Quail which was our favorite drop for the night.
So things are back on track at Hayman.
Day 2 started with a stilted walk around the resort (Hayman is lacking a few walking tracks) followed by the usual buffet breakfast resort feast with every imaginable variety of morning delights accompanied, for us, by a Bloody Mary (with generous slurp of Vodka) on offer at the breakfast "wine" bar!
Relaxing by the gloriously aqua pool is the order for the day and only broken by "Sliders" at the beach bar. (Sliders are servings of 3 small burgers or like. Not sure why serves in threes other than nifty appearance or for sharing with less hungry partner)
Dinner at ("no bookings allowed") Trattoria is Antipasto and pizza. The crowds have voted with their feet and we have plenty of tables to choose from. We end our meal after a few nice reds but our view on this venue is similar to that of the missing guests.
A second banquet breakfast follows on Easter Sunday but arrival off Easter Bunny by helicopter provides entertaining start to our third day.
A short sail on Cat until high winds force guards to temporarily close sailing and an even shorter kayak paddles concludes morning activities albeit a little less energetic than we intended.
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