Posts Tagged ‘Alaskan King Crabs’
Review: Orbit @ SKYcity, Auckland
I’m glad to say that there’s good food to be had in Auckland’s well-known revolving restaurant, Orbit. With this year’s rare shipment of Alaskan King Crabs on offer, Chef de Cuisine Jeremy Schmid has crafted a special once-in-a-lifetime entreé and main meal to savour. Massive crab legs that rival your own forearm for length and girth, two at our table took the chance with this as a main (served with a chive buerre blanc sauce and baby roasted potatoes) and were sumptuously rewarded with a rare taste of delicacy from the depths of the unforgiving Bering Sea.
Tender crab flavours aside, the spectacular Auckland City views afforded by this Skycity-based unique revolving setting encourages diners to chat and while away the time across ever-changing cityscapes. Take nothing away from high-flying architect Andrew Lister though: his refurbishment and decor on the inside matches the classy feel of this place. With intimate dining tables interspersed with lounge chairs to watch the city lights slowly revolve about, our waitress was gentle and approachable as well, answering questions we had about the menu matter-of-factly. Service was unhurried and relaxed, and you couldn’t tell that the restaurant was fully booked at the time.
My main was eye fillet steak, which came on a kumara mash that was down-soft and creamy as if it was prepared just minutes before I ordered. The red wine jus rounded the dish off nicely. Other mains at our table included a very rich mushroom and truffle oil risotto; and a salmon fillet on roast fennel, red onion and baby potato salad with bell pepper sauce.
With such stellar gastronomic experience, one could be excused for stretching out a meal across to desserts, and that’s exactly what we did. Their selection didn’t disappoint either: though a honey and mango brûlée was a touch on the bland side, a freshly pressed hazelnut and apple crumble with apple sorbet and calvados (an apple-based spirit) sauce was as rewarding as forbidden fruit. A selection of boutique chocolates offered flavourful bursts such as coffee, pepper and mint. The coup de grâce from the “sweeties” selection though was undoubtedly the semi-frozen mascarpone cream – caramel flavours surrounding a soft, almost tropical-like centrepiece that tasted so good, you’d swear that summer would be back again tomorrow.
Take yourself there – Orbit @ Skycity.
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