The Buffalo Club degustation

You won't find any bovines at the Buffalo Club but you will discover some pretty impressive food, smart enough to wow an experienced group of food writers.

I was invited along with other food writers to sample the latest degustation menu and sample we did, eating our way through six courses, plus extras,without any trouble.

The Buffalo Club is located on the corner of Brunswick and Wickham Streets,  directly opposite the McWhirters building in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. The 40-seat restaurant has a warm and intimate setting with hand crafted leather chairs, dark wood and candlelight offset by retro touches and shiny silver pressed metal on the lower walls.

If you look up at the building from the mall you'll see The Buffalo Club's large plate glass windows that overlook all the Valley action.  There’s certainly enough happening to keep dinner conversation going.

But we were seated away from the street action on the chef’s table with a full view of the kitchen.  It was fascinating to watch the precision of plate placement as our dishes were assembled with ballet-like grace.

The Buffalo Club owners, Daniel Bechly and Chef Ashly Hicks, have created a different dining experience with an innovative degustation inspired by fresh seasonal produce matched with new and old world wines from an extensive international cellar.

Chef Ashley Hicks has built a solid name for himself and the talk around town is that he’s doing 'fabulous things’. So I was expecting to be delighted and I wasn't disappointed.

Here's the dishes -

Amuse-bouche

Duck - turnip,swede, honey matched with Stone Dwellers Riesling 10, Vic

Octopus - salsify,artichoke, aubergine matched with Pra Soave 09, Italy.

Foie - chestnut, parsnip, vanilla matched with Domaine zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris 07, France

Onglet - celeriac, onion, parsley matched with d’Arenberg Tempranillo Grenache 06, SA

Curd - Pumpkin, beurre noisette, pita matched with The Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Chardonnay 10, Vic

Strawberry - Chocolate, meringue, short bread matched with Tim Adams Botrytis Reisling 10,SA

Candy

It goes without saying that the flavours in all the dishes were exceptional.  My favorites were, no surprise, the dessert courses. The strawberry course was a childhood dream, a deconstructed wagon wheel, and had the table considering licking the wooden boards on which it was presented.

The candy course was a real surprise with elements that I can only liken to a strawberries and cream lolly, mini jam donuts and a lollipop.  There are few things more amusing than watching elegant diners licking a lollipop.

Only the curd course left me wondering and wishing for more contrast against the smooth creamy paste.

Bottom line: recommended for occasions or a personal treat but too nice to save for special. Dining at the Buffalo Club deserves to be a regular event.

Buffalo Club
Level 1/234 Wickham Street
Fortitude Valley 4006
Phone: +617 3216 1323

Dinner -Tuesday – Saturday 6 - 9pm, Lunch - Friday 12 - 2pm.