Institut Polaire: A small, classy bar

We’re coming to Queensland for a tasting at @florgrocer in Burleigh Heads We’re there from 4pm-6pm. Everyone’s welcome - no bookings, no cost. Come and say hello and try some very spring-like Queensland-ready wines! (And it’s probably not a coincidence that it is still winter in Tasmania and we’re having trouble adjusting after spending July in France)

Just a few more … including … * The first menu in February 2017 (note the prices!) * Our first taste - salted fish croquettes (inspired by @dementedfermenter’s years at Garagistes) * watching a @fatcarrotfarm vegetable delivery from our favourite daytime seats * So much good food * A wall of amazing wines when everything was glorious … and now, almost the last photo, nearly empty (there are still a few cellar treasures left though, (and books), and they are open until Wednesday). * our last menu Thank you @whitneykate_ and @dementedfermenter and all of @tmchugos’s team, past and present, for creating such an extraordinary, safe place. You will be remembered and written about for as long as Hobart has a history.

How to capture 7 years of joy in 10 photos (it’s not possible of course) but here’s a start, including: * the very last time (we imagine - it’s unlikely we’ll forgive the fact they had no choice but to close) we walked out of these doors * so many wonderful vegetables from so many growers. On our last visit we saw two of them - @provenancegrowers and @fatcarrotfarm - which was not unusual * angasi oysters * @whitneykate_ in 2020 - just after the covid lockdown but with the fridge still full of things to take home - that stock helped us through the lockdown days * and so many recovery days, especially after any @bottletops_wine event, like this one * so much great wine at prices that made out of towners weep (unless they were from Europe) * Ashley with a captive audience! * the feasts … * Hand pies * Forbes’ corner More to come …

The @tmchugos “lamb mince, black pepper and thyme pie with mushy peas and green peppercorn sauce”. The memory of this truly great pie, which is always on the menu and which we have only just eaten, joins all the other memories @tmchugos has given us starting from the day it opened. Soon that is all they will be - memories. It is hard to believe there are only a few weeks of its existence left. So many terrible things happening in the world right now it seems wrong to grieve over the closure of a pub. But, like many others, we will. In this case it’s made worse knowing Tom and Whitney were not ready to bring the beautiful community they have created to a close. If it was happening because they wanted new adventures it would make sense. Best we don’t write what we really think about what caused this - destructive language isn’t helpful. But do eat this pie before it is too late.

This nicely-curated collection of provisions is one the first treasures we found at @little_oak_cygnet, which now belongs in the small collection of places we have stayed at in Australia where food tourists are truly catered for. The garden is prolific, even as summer wanes, and exploring it is big part of the adventure. Don’t make the mistake we did and take too many provisions - you won’t need them and the charming nearby Cygnet Larder is very good for topping up. Plus there’s @poolishandco, one of Tasmania’s best bakeries, Heartfelt, a whole foods store with organic ingredients, and also butchers. Cygnet is probably the best small town in Tasmania for food shopping and there’s much more to discover not too far away. If you plan things properly and allow plenty of time to stay at home (that might be hard to organise but not hard to do) there’s a wood-fired pizza oven and Chilean BBQ where you can really go to town but the kitchen inside is really well equipped too, even to the extent of a Kitchenaid. It was such a treat to be invited to stay. thank you @little_oak_cygnet! When our friend @analiesegregory’s much anticipated tiny restaurant opens in the Huon Valley later this year we can’t think of a more empathetic place to be based. #guest

Hello Sydney trade customers. Finally, for the first time since early March 2020, we are doing a trade tasting in Sydney … and with lots of friends … @vinomito @giorgiodemaria_fun_wines @lofiwines @godot_wines @forba_an and @blackmarketsake! We can’t wait to see you again. Special thanks to @paskivineriapopolare for hosting us!

Just a hint right inside the door that you’re not in your average Australian country wineshop - @alice.feiring for sale beside the front counter (we didn’t resist the temptation). @winespeake in Daylesford is truly one of Australia’s great wine shops with many treasures on the shelves, including some of our wines, and who knows what in the cellar waiting for the right moment to be released. People talk about whether a restaurant is worth a journey .. and it applies here as well. A wineshop worth a journey.

Behind this unassuming but named curtain, destined to become one of Melbourne’s most photographed, is @brico.melbourne, the child of Josh, Robby, Tegan and Phil. They bring a very special combination to their first business venture. The years of experience honing their skills in excellent venues is invaluable. But their expertise is enveloped in something which is going to ensure this becomes one of Melbourne’s most loved venues. They are the nicest, most generous-spirited people in the business. They must have been exhausted but on their opening night a few weeks ago it was well and truly hidden as their lucky customers soaked up all the happiness. Convincing @ballschmidt to join them in the kitchen was a masterstroke as well. We can imagine their elation when he agreed. We’re sure he’s interpreted the brief perfectly - what’s on the plates is truly a perfect match with the people, the spaces and the wine. It’s a place we are confident the owners would love to go to on their night off … but maybe at the moment they just want to sleep! Things we ate included: zucchinis, curd, and lovage panisse with parmesan and lemon mussels escabeche with toast and aioli pippies, butter beans, jamon and sherry grilled ox tongue with @feldsfarm potatoes and horseradish Olive oil cake with rhubarb and strawberry fool A glorious opening night! No doubt much if not all is different now but it will taste just as delicious.

Looks like we need to learn our trade tasting etiquette again - it’s been a while since we did a trade tasting away from home base. Very excited to be with this lovely group of people on 31 January at Embla. We will bring some refreshing new Julien Fremont cider among other things. Thanks for having us @embla_melbourne and @campbellburtonwines for organising! And please don’t let us down @qantas