25 Apr 2011

這是第幾次上山啦... / Blue Mt. Lilianfels Resort

上藍山的次數應該是數不清了..., 但經歷上回的酷暑大考驗, 這次初秋上山, 每個景點看起來份外優美宜人, 即使是觀光客聚集的重鎮 - Katoomba.

這次入住的是藍山唯一的 5 星飯店 http://www.lilianfels.com.au/, 這是一間以英式風格為主調的古典飯店, 此地原是19 世紀南威爾斯省首席法官 Frederick Darley 的私人產業, 命名Lilianfels以紀念他早逝的女兒, 最早蓋成的房舍主要以渡假別墅為主, 現是保留故主名稱的高級餐廳 - Darley's;  隨著時代背景變化, 大宅院數度易主, 做為渡假屋, 住宅等不同功能, 在21世紀, 它展現出最典雅的一面, 轉變為頂級渡假旅店 Lilianfels Resort.
目前遊客住的房間是近年由日本飯店經營業者增建, 但仍保持18 世紀移民時期風格, 英式花園和彎延小徑環繞飯店四週, 各種品種, 型態不同的灌木叢在花園裡錯落生長, 即使沒有紅花陪襯, 都顯得生氣蓬勃, 秋天彩度低的小花抬頭向陽, 爭取夏末最後的光束, 靈巧的鳥兒在枝頭穿梭, 確有讓人置身桃花源的感受, 然而 Lilianfels 卻是坐落在藍山最壯闊的山崖之一, 靜謐的花園外便是壯觀的沙岩斷層, 光禿的壁面清晨與傍晚雲海繚繞, 陽光探出頭後, 石壁則隨日光照射角度不同而呈現多變色彩, 因此這裡的天然景觀也是5 星級的!

This Blue Mountain re-visit, we stayed overnight in Katoomba, it's a major tourist town as the well known sightseeing spots of Echo Point, The Three Sisters, and Scenic Railway are located here. The hotel we stayed at was called Lilianfels http://www.lilianfels.com.au/, the only 5* hotel in Blue Mountain's region. It's a classic country style resort, having a lounge, restaurants, function rooms, reading room and a games room for the guests disposal.

The ambiance of the hotel is tranquil and serene and it's hard to realize that there's stunning sand stone cliff scenery waiting for you when you walk out of the hotel - Echo Point is just a stones throw away. Thanks to the hotel's location guests can appreciate the versatile scenery of the mountain. It's accompanied with mist in the morning; when the sun comes out and the clouds gradually retreat, a clear view of rocky mountains is revealed.When the sun is setting the rocks start to change colour from orange to red.

With comfortable service in the hotel and the beautiful scenery around Katoomba we had a pleasant trip.


飯店入口 / main entrance of Lilianfels

花園外即是沙岩石壁
From the garden over looking Eco Point sand stones

花園旁的 Daley's 餐廳
Gourmet Restaurant - Darley's
(original summer house of Sir Frederick Darley, the sixth Chief Justice of NSW)

飯店主棟外觀
the exterior of the hotel

花園一景 / a corner in garden
飯店大廳 / hotel lobby

早餐餐廳 / breakfast room

房間 / Bedroom

房屋一角 / Bedroom couch corner

古典的浴室 / Bathroom
從飯店步行不久即達著名的三姐妹岩
The Three Sisters is just in short distance from hotel

飯店附近展現早期移民時期的雕塑
Sculptures in a park near the hotel

掉落一地的可愛毬果

可愛的毬果

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10 Apr 2011

用陽光, 浪潮佐餐 - Balmoral / Bather's Pavillion

在 Balmoral 閒逛的週末, 常常經過 Bather's Caf'e, 這棟典雅的白色建築跟碧海藍天實在相襯, 從外觀望咖啡廳內部, 感覺每位用餐客人都恬適地沉浸在悠閒氣氛裡, 柔軟晨光和穩定浪潮聲鬆懈他們臉上線條, 烤麵包與咖啡的綜合香氣餵飽饑餓的靈魂, 我也想進入這個畫面裡. 可惜幾次因緣際會, 未能體驗這美妙的早餐經驗

Bather's Pavillion 分成兩部份, 右側是咖啡廳, 左側則是精緻法式餐廳 http://www.batherspavilion.com.au/, 之前未有機會入內享用早餐, 這次有機會走進去, 便是在西翼享用法式午餐, 可見之前的願(怨)念很深啊...

用餐當天雖然是陰晴不定的天氣, 但整排落地窗讓餐廳內部光線充足, 也把屋外的沙灘休閒氣氛延伸進來, 服務人員具專業訓練, 服務態度輕快而不鬆散, 所以整個用餐的過程是美景, 佳餚搭配順暢服務的協奏曲.

以下是我們當天點的菜色, 提供大家參考.

Bather's Pavillion (http://www.batherspavilion.com.au/) is located in Balmoral Beach, north shore of Sydney and has been catering since 1929. The classic white building of the Bather's Pavillion is an icon of Balmoral, and the picturesque beach scenery gives a lift to the guest's gourmet experience.

Nowadays, it is a nice cafe and French restaurant (it received one chef's hat in the Australian's Good Food & Travel Guide). The food's taste and presentation is a combination of harmony, and bits of spices arranged in the meal give a pleasant flavour to the taste buds. The restaurant's ambiance is one of leisure but it's professional service guarantees a nice dining experience.

I can't wait to pay another visit to this restaurant, I guess I have to remind Andy this restaurant constantly :-)

Here are the meals we ordered that day:


前菜: 甜菜根醃鴨胸佐冰沙
Beetroot cured duck breast with chèvre liver parfait, brioche and dill vinaigrette

前菜: 蟹味冷湯配小黃瓜捲, 番茄片
White gazpacho soup with spanner crab cucumber and tomato

主菜: 烤旗魚, 中卷, 佐油漬鯷魚 醃茴香, 和辣味雪蓮果
Seared swordfish with South Australian calamari white anchovies, confit fennel and chickpeas

煎 Mulloway 魚, 小無花果, 淡菜, 佐朝鮮薊泥, 柳橙百里香醬
Pan roasted mulloway with dried baby fig and mussels

Jerusalem artichoke purée, orange-thyme réduction

甜點: 巧克力三重奏
Ménage à trois des chocolats sauce Anglaise

甜點: 奶露, 開心果, 莓果千層, 配白巧克力開心果冰淇淋
White chocolate and pistachio chantilly

feuilletine crunch, bavarois crème, fresh raspberries

起士拼盤


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