Muse – Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW
I’ve just watched Julie & Julia. Despite me and The Pom were the only two men in the cinema, we enjoyed the movie immensely. It makes me want to cook boeuf bourguignon, want to go to France and taste all the lovely food, but it also kind of makes me wondering why the hell am I blogging? I seriously don’t know why. Julie Powell started her blog with a mission, is to cook Julia Child’s 536 recipes, in 365 days. But for my blog, it is just another food blog among the thousands, writing about the same old restaurants I’ve been to, the food I cooked, and then the casual random thoughts which are totally useless. Why do I even bother? And what’s even more disturbing is I actually have over thousand strangers a day out there reading it!?
But whatever I am doing, I must be doing it right if you guys are still reading it. Although I still don’t know what I want to get out of it, I guess time will tell. But for now, I’ll just cherish every single moment while I still enjoying writing my blog and someone out there still interested in what I have to say. So let’s eat! The Pom suggested that we go to the Hunter Valley for lunch — the James Bond way.
Clockwise L to R: dashboard inside the plane; the Pom is doing the final check before take off; drying out lake near Cessnock
The Pom is a trained pilot for over 20 years. He has no intentions to become a commercial pilot, he just likes to fly around Australia in a small Cessna airplane as part of his training. Lucky for me as I get to follow him sometimes and be his only passenger to wherever he has drafted out on the map the night before. We have flown to Bathurst a day trip, Scone (is a country town in NSW) for Christmas, Bourke for a weekend trip, and this time we are heading over to Hunter Valley for lunch.
No matter how many times I’ve been flying on the small Cessna plane, it still gives me that adrenalin rush sitting inside literally a tiny box that floats in the air and let the wind carries you. The flight it short one, only 30 mins from Warnervale airport to Cessnock. The view over the vineyard region form the sky is absolutely breathtaking.
Clockwise L to R: we have sourdough with trio of dips for starter; modern architecture design of Muse restaurant; Hungerford Hill 2005 Shiraz to go with my meal; beautiful heavy binded muse menu
The airport at Hunter Valley is perfectly located right behind the information center. But we decided not to venture too far, and walk to Muse restaurant, which is only a few hundred meters away inside the magnificent Hungerford Hill vineyard. This elegant fine dining restaurant offers a casual modern Australian cuisine lunch menu and complemented by a collection of prestige Australian wines.
The open plan restaurant has a great view of the winery and a big fountain. Unfortunately it is still too early for the new season of grapes, the vines are still bare with no leaves. Since the Pom is the designated pilot, so he just orders a Diet Coke to drink, while I opt for 2005 Hungerford Regional Series – Hunter Valley Shiraz to go with my meal.
Sourdough with Himalayan pink salt, olive oil and balsamic reduction, roasted garlic
We order some sourdough bread for starter. The sourdough is still soft and warm in hand, comes with a trio of dips including roasted garlic, olive oil with caramelised balsamic reduction and Himalayan pink salt. The roasted garlic is sweet and mellow (no more garlic breath), beautifully spread on the sourdough like a pate. The balsamic is reduced to a thick sweet vinegary caramel which The Pom absolutely loves. He even asked the waitress how they did it and decides to make his own balsamic reduction at home.
Oven baked market fish (snapper) - 26.00
For main, The Pom goes for the oven baked market fish, and the fish of the day is snapper. The snapper has been pan fried to a beautiful layer of golden brown crispy skin then baked in the oven. It is served with steamed broccolini on a soya and sesame dressing. The fish has a beautiful smokey flavour but I found it overcooked and the flesh is little tacky on the teeth.
Crispy skin confit duck leg - 26.00
As for me, I simply can’t go past the crispy skin confit duck leg on the menu. The duck confit is served on a bed of black lentils cooked in red wine, with a few smoked specks hidden within. Despite its beautiful presentation, the duck leg confit doesn’t really have a crispy skin as promised, and the meat is also a little dry and stringy. It has a great flavour nonetheless. First time I’ve had black lentils, and they are firmer than the green lentils which takes some effort to chew them. I wish there are some jus on the plate as dry meat and gritty lentils makes swallowing a chore.
Natural Yoghurt Panna Cotta - 12.00
We decided to have desserts to compensate the let down from the mains. The pom had his eyes on the natural yoghurt panna cotta which looks absolutely stunning like a work of art on the plate. We are like school girls ooh-and-ahh-ing at the pulled sugar twirl. The panna cotta is smooth and lusciously creamy with a rich vanilla flavour, although it is not as bouncy as I’d have hoped for. It is nicely balanced with the sweet crunchy pear and soft citrusy raspberries.
Warm chocolate fondant - 14.00
The chocolate oozes out like the hot molten lava, the decadent warm chocolate fondant is definitely the highlight of the meal, hands down. The chocolate fondant is made to order, hence be ready for a 15 minutes wait as indicated on the menu. Oh boy, it is absolutely worth the wait and I swear I’ve gone to heaven and back. It is baked to perfection with a chocolate wall just thick enough to hold the chocolate liquid inside, that’s how I like it.
The chocolate fondant is served with fresh berries on rum and raisin syrup which gives it a nice boozy kick. There is also a scoop of velvety smooth brown butter ice cream with just enough sweetness without overpowering it.
Clockwise L to R: the landmark Hungerford Hill winery; warm chocolate fondant with strawberry on rum and raisin syrup and butter cream ice cream; helicopter slowly descending right in front of us; natural yoghurt panna cotta
As we are about to leave the restaurant, a helicopter is hovering above us, slowly descending and landed on the grassy patch right in front of the restaurant. Talk about arriving in style. Sadly it is not for us, but another couple next table. We slowly waddle out of the restaurant with full stomach and walk back to the airport for a flight return home.
How many people can say that they have the privilege to fly out to Hunter Valley for a meal and back on a normal weekday? I think I can get used to this.
Muse Restaurant and Cafe 1 Broke Road Pokolbin 2320 NSW P:02 4998 6777 Opening Hours Muse Café 7 days 10am-5pm Muse Restaurant Wed - Sat 6-10pm
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
What a coincidence! I had dinner there on Wednesday just past.
But I think we enjoyed our mains more than you did, whereas our fondant (part of a chocolate platter) was no where as oozingly good as yours. We had complimentary bread which was so good I had 2 and a half (and wanting more but felt guilty). Our other dessert, gingerbread souffle, was fab though. Pity I dined at night with mood lighting, I won’t get nearly as nice pics as your wonderful ones.
Oh, and talk about convenience! I wish I can just “pop out” for lunch at Hunter Valley. Lucky YOU!
I just saw Julie & Julia a week ago – its such a good movie =D. Don’t worry about why you’re doing this – as long as you love it, it shouldn’t matter that you didn’t have a concise goal when you started. I know I didn’t.
Plus – Your photos are always breathtaking, regardless of what the picture is of.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Daring Cooks: Gluten-Free Dessert Wontons =-.
i’ll be watching julie & julia on wed so can’t wait ! (plus i scored free tickets woohooo double yay)
&
i’m going to hunter on thurs & fri – triple yay hehe
printed out a whole bunch of restaurants we might try, and most of them are in polkibin as well
very looking forward to it
.-= betty´s last blog ..Chicken cashew & celery salad =-.
You say that sadly the helicoper wasn’t for you? And yet you have your own pilot at your disposal? lol. I think you are already travelling in style!
Love the sugar coil on the pannacotta and ooh, go the money shot on the chocolate fondant!
.-= Helen (grabyourfork)´s last blog ..Gorkha Palace Restaurant, North Strathfield =-.
Who gets to fly out for a lunch in the Hunter Valley indeed! The food is certainly plated beautifully – and I suppose considering the effort it took to get there (a plane trip! My goodness!) it had better taste good too
.-= shez´s last blog ..siff: world chef showcase =-.
Oh!? This meal was actually couple weeks back on that day when the Syd Good Food Guide came out. Ginger souffle??? I like the sound of that!!!! But yeah our chocolate fondant was really good.
Yeah, I loved the movie. I think who likes food and who blogs can totally relate to that movie. Thanks for the kind words Lauren
Yes yes, go and see it. You will love it!
Exciting trip to Hunter sounds like it. Make sure go to ENZO! Find my archives, I think absolutely my favorite place to dine at Hunter. Have fun!
LOL…. well I am not complaining
So long there is food at the end of the rainbow 
Yeah I read up how to make pulled sugar since we had that dessert! I wanna give it a try but i am very scared of sugar blisters!! ! ouch!
Hehehe… I don’t get to do that very often, the cost of flying is more expensive than the meal itself. silly way to dine in style really.
Don’t worry about “why” – as long as you enjoy the process. We are still reading and marvelling over your beautiful photographs. Maybe you could show us some of your everyday eating too? just for fun?
M.
Gee you have a hard life LOL.
Gee, guess there was no ‘designated driver’. How indulgent!
Why does anyone blog, really? As long as you’re enjoying it, then go for it. I, for one, am looking forward to the day I can sit in front of a meal without taking a photo of it. Definitely loving your pics, especially the chocolate fondant!
.-= Belle@OohLook´s last blog ..Eating and shopping Melbourne – Part 1 =-.
Haha you write cos its fun and its a great hobby and we all love reading it mang!!! I really want to watch the movie now! That oozey fondant shot is so much win
.-= FFichiban´s last blog ..Suminoya – Sydney CBD, Sydney (3) =-.
oh wow. what a great experience and your food pics are to die for. great post!
AWESOME dude, you are like Richard Branson flying around to restaurants lol. Last time I was in Hunter I was surprised with all the high quality eateries, definitely a place to go back to for food.
.-= Howard´s last blog ..SIFF Sugar Hit 2009: Shangri La Hotel =-.
daaang man I need to get me a pilot friend! Fondant always tastes better the further you are from the city haha
.-= Lex´s last blog ..Mi Paella =-.
that is WAAAAAY too cool!!
And the photos… man… excuse me whilst I mop up the excess drool
<3 your work as always!
I loved Julie & Julia too! and I reeeealy wanna make boeuf bourguignon too!
.-= Iron Chef Shellie´s last blog ..Eating Out: Brown Sugar Cafe =-.
Hahahah where can I get a friend like yours? I’d love to be flown to the Hunter Valley for lunch and then back again
.-= Brenda´s last blog ..Char Sui Chan Bao – Chinese Pork Bun (glazed version) =-.
I’ll tell you what is breathtaking – your photography.
Yours is not just another food blog among thousands. You are among the cream of the crop. Seriously.
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Microwaved Cabbage and Carrot, a Bachelor’s Tale =-.
Thanks Em for the kind words. I definitely will take your words and think of a nice way to put my everyday eating together. Hmmm any idea?
Well I still need to chew. dont i?
Well, designated pilot couldn’t drink either! LOL
I think is easy to just sit back and enjoy the meal without taking photos, and then the guilt kicks in that u didn’t record the whole experience! LOL
Is true, I am glad it is still fun for me. Eventually I will stop I guess… but who knows when.
Thanks simon
LOL, except mine is not a private jet but a single engine oldie Cessna which gets me there and back
Yeah, I want to do more eating in Hunter since is so close to me.
I actually want to know how to make a good choc fondant. Must read up as many recipes as possible.
Yeah isn’t J&J a great movie?! we actually just had boeuf bourguignon tonight! oh so gooodddd….
Hmm.. you just have to ask
Thanks Nate, You are too kind
But your words made my day! 
must have a new chef since you went there, but one of the best meals i’ve ever had…. destined for a hat or 2. give it another go, if you get a chance…