Sunday, August 19, 2007

August 18, 2007: The Cascade Brewery

Saturday was Michael's last day in Hobart, and we kicked it off with a wander through that tourist staple, the Salamanca Markets. It's dominated by crafts and gourmet foods rather than fresh produce, and I picked up some fudge and ground spices along the way. I'm looking forward to experimenting with my lemon myrtle and ground wattle seeds when I return home!

For Michael's last few hours in the city, we took the advice of our friendly waitress at Kafe Kara, grabbing a bus to South Hobart and visiting the Cascade Brewery for lunch. Giving the tour a miss, the gardens surrounding the visitor centre proved a pleasant diversion instead. In warmer weather it would be lovely to sit out amongst the greenery, but this wussy northerner preferred to enjoy the view from a window seat inside. As you might expect from a brewery, the menu is full of deep-fried munchies and meaty meals, though Michael and I were both pleasantly surprised when we encountered a "Cascade Stout and Mushroom Pie with crusty mash on top & served with vegetables". Then when our waiter arrived to take our order I had this conversation with him...

Me: Can I confirm that the stout and mushroom pie is actually vegetarian?

Silence - just a bewildered grin fixed on our waiter's face.

Me again: Is there any meat in it?

Pause.

Waiter, vaguely and cheerfully: I think... I think there's a bit of meat in that.

More dead air.

Me: ...so could you check that with the chef?

Turns out there's a heapin' helpin' of beef in that pie. Makes sense, I suppose, but when the rest of the menu touts its meat explicitly in the description I was mildly surprised that they weren't openly boasting about the juicy steak chunks here.

To be fair, the list of snacks, starters and sides offers plenty that's meat-free but I was quite put out by the complete incomprehension and passivity from our waiter. For visiting vegetarians, I'd recommend the idyllic Cascade visitor centre for a stroll, some beer and a snack, but make your meal booking elsewhere. We don't really belong here.

9 comments:

  1. I know the scenario when you assume something is vegetarian only to find it isn't - I think it makes me realise how much I live in my own little vegetarian world sometimes!!! Thanks for all your travel updates - sounds like you are enjoying some great food on your holidays!

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  2. Glad you've enjoyed reading them, Johanna! My worst incident of a misplaced vege assumption was ordering garlic bread at a Holiday Inn in America and receiving it smothered in gravy with bacon chunks! (Not mentioned on the menu, of course.) What a safe, uncomplicated place inner-city Melbourne is. :-D

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  3. It must be hard trying to make sure if dishes have meat in them. I guess its not as bad as having a peanut allergy or something where it may mean life and death by eating the wrong thing.

    I think I have the anti-meat problem. I would have to ask "Is there a lot of vegetables in this dish", as I don't like vegetables too much. :-)

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  4. To the 'where's the beef team.
    Visit The Gobbler for more info on the Tasmanian scene.

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  5. Thanh, it's not too difficult most of the time now, though this was an odd incident! Not nearly as bad as having a medical reason for banning a food from your diet.

    Hi Gobbler, I'm familiar with your former life as the garrulous gourmet, but didn't find your new blog in time for our trip!

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  6. Ah, Tasmania. Would love to see more of this - my entire experience was a day with a colleague driving me around and showing me the sights of Richmond and the Hobart surrounds. *sigh* you're lucky to have seen so much. I've enjoyed reading about it!

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  7. You're right, Anna, I've been very lucky! I hope you'll have another chance sometime, perhaps to hire a car and explore more for yourself over a week or so.

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  8. You guys. I Googled the restaurant where we're having our staff Christmas lunch tomorrow and your review was on the first page! I can't escape you, can I?

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  9. Bahaha! We are on yr internets, controlling your menus. :-D

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