Some people are just spoilt!

If you look up the word "spoilt" in the dictionary, this is what you'd get as it's definition...

With Valentines just over, SHE gets another treat! (I think I'm spoiling her :P).

The occasion this time? To commemorate two years of togethernessness and to celebrate it I took her out to a restaurant called - Level 41 or Forty-41.

The restaurant is located at the top of Chifley Tower in the city, although contrary to the name it's actually on the 42nd level of the building.

We arrived at Chifley tower just before 6:30. We spent about 10 minutes of walking around the ground floor - not because it was nice (and it was nice), but we couldn't find the freakin elevator up! When we found it, we zoomed up in the lift at an ear popping trillion km/h and arrived into foyer of the restaurant and we were pleasantly surprised. :)

After being shown to our table, we were sitting there just talking about how nice the place was, and how underdressed we apparently were - not that it matters. (Note - technically I underdressed on purpose :) - I think the term being "overwhelmed" was used, so another mission accomplished. :)

Being so high up, the view was absolutely spectacular -I brought a camera along and we took a few photos from our table.






Our table overlooked the Domain, the Art Gallery and out in the distance were the Eastern suburbs since we were facing, like, you know, East? :)

Anyways you go to a restaurant to EAT, not to look out the window, so we tore our eyes away from the scene before us, and fixated them onto the menu, which seemed to have magically appeared. :)

After consulting the menu, we both decided to have a degustation, or menu tasting course from the menu. This involved six courses of specially selected items from the menu, but in smaller quantitites - because it's a degustation, not a devouration menu! :)

She choose the Gourmand course, whilst I choose the degustation course. Of course we took pictures of the food, but before I do, let me remind you what _NOT_ to do when you have dinner at a fancy restaurant - "Do as I say, not as what I do"

1. Do not take pictures, if you do take pictures remember to turn off the flash.

This is because:

a) The flash reflects off the glass, meaning you can't take pictures of the view outside.
b) The flash may draw unnecessary attention to you and the fact that your both dressed in jeans and are taking shoddy pictures (like below).

2. When going to the toilet, just do what you need to do, don't hang around and "do things.

You also shouldn't take the camera into the toilets just for the purposes of taking a picture of the urinal. :)

The background of this is, tht the view from the urinals is quite amazing... during the day, that is - You can see all over the Sydney, saw Macq Bank (and SorMuiJai working late at night :P), CentrePoint - everything!

At night... well, you can't see shit (pun intended :P)

Right! With those life's lesson's out of the way, it's onto what we had for dinner. I was going to add some commentary to the stuff below, but it was all so tastey and I think the pics speak for themselves.

There were some nibblies in between the courses, which were also quite yummy, but we didn't bother taking pics of those :)

He had: Menu Degustation	She Had: Menu Gourmand
Slow Poached Veal Loin Classic Tomato Mayonnaise, Wild Rocket & Aged Reggiano Parmesan	Tasmanian Salmon Sugar Cured Dill Warm Salad Of Jerusalem Artichoke Fondantes, Sour Cream Dressing
Grilled Queensland Sea Scallops Cauliflower Puree, Kalamata Olive Tapenade, Green Apple Reduction	Goujons of Yamba Prawns Thai Spiced Aioli Sauce, Hot & Sour Tomato Consomme
John Dory Sauteed With Mulataga Yabbie Tails Potato Gnocchi In A Sage & Parmesan Beurre Noisette	Potato Gnocchi Sauteed With Mulataga Yabbie Tails Sage & Parmesan Beurre Noisette
Boneless Rack Of Lamb Roasted Shallots & Black Kalamata Olives, Pommes Darphin Stuffed With Spinach & Aubergine	Grilled Cervena Venison Loin Foie Gras Stuffed Genoa Fig, Savoy Cabbage, Sauterne Sauce
Ossau Iraty Sheep's Milk Cheese Apple, Date & Walnut Salad	Fleur De Marquis Sheep's Milk Cheese Currant Grapes
Baked Dark Chocolate Frangipane, Blood Plum Compote And Gelato	Fresh Lychees & Strawberries, Lychee Sorbet Topped Off With French Champagne
At the end of our meal, we also got this. Note how it says Happy Birthday, instead of Happy anniversary? That's because SOMEONE (that someone not being me - and remember there were only two people at the table :) was too shy to say that we were there to celebrate our two years together. :P

Overall, I must say we were both impressed with the service and the quality of the food. I went in expecting to leave half starved, but I was actually full mid way through the fourth course. It was also nice to just sit there and enjoy each other's company. We arrived at 6:30 and left at nearly 10.

So thank you Level 41 for a enjoyable and memorable evening.

The bar's been set - wonder what'll be on the cards for next year? :P

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The dinner was also meant to be a surprise but through the use of EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL!!! - she found out. :) *grumble grumble* - it was a fun night out regardless. So next time don't complain that you never get surprised!!!! :)

(Note to self: _ALL_ girls are evil :)

PS. Blogger sucks when you try and use tables :(