Just wanted to drop in a plug for the excellent team at Aroma Bar Restaurant who are providing the food and drink (other than the beer, courtesy of Mountain Goat Beers and Ravenwolfe United Beverages).
The new menu is out, and they have a very hearty Guiness ‘n’ Beef Pie which is just awwwesome!
They also provide some of Australia’s finest wines by the glass (something I’m told is quite rare).
Below is a list of what food will be available on the day. We are catering for Vegetarians, Coeliacs, and Carnivores so everyone should be happy. This menu may change in the coming days, so stay tuned…:
Nibbles
- miniature hand-made sausage rolls
- arrancini balls (gluten-free)
- meatballs (gluten-free)
- mini pizzas
Dinner
- Roast Lamb and Pork on the spit
- Nona’s Pasticchio
- Nona’s infamous yemista (stuffed tomatoes, eggplants, capsicums) - gluten-free
- A variety of salads
- Mum’s famous Greek-style Chinese Fried Rice
- Mediterranean Baked Vegetables
See you on the day….!
A few people have commented on the fact that they are looking forward to trying the Mead I made up. I have to apologise for the fact in advance that it most likely will not be ready in time for the day….. alas, it took a lot longer to brew than I anticipated, and come Yule (the week before the Handfasting), it will only have been in the bottle for 4 weeks. Hopefully we can find a local supply of Mead that will do the job.
There is of course a close link between marriages and Mead. In olden days, the wedded couple would be given a enough Mead to drink for a month (28 days, the period of a moon cycle), and they would go off somewhere private to drink (at least) a glass every night. Within a year, the couple (hopefully) would have a child: if it was a boy, then the Mead-maker was rewarded well (remember, this was in the days when male heirs were important for the continuation of family lineages). This is the origin of the Honeymoon!
Well, we have 2 daughters already. Perhaps when the Mead is ready…. 
But seriously, the first batch of The Nymph’s Knickers will be ready definitely by July 1, 2008 (a year and a day from the Handfasting) and perhaps we plan to celebrate our 1st Anniversary with a night of Mead drinking!!
For those of you keeping tabs on the homebrew, there will be a limited amount available to drink:
- The Black Devil (dark ale)
- Arrogant Aardvark (amber ale)
- Uncle George’s Apple Scruffs (gluten-free apple cider)
- Ravenwolfe’s Old Fashioned Ginger Beer (gluten-free)
- Golden Happy Pils (Czech-style Pilsener)
- Grumpy Hobbit (English Bitter Ale) – this was bottled only last week, so it will be quite green….
There will also be a keg of local microbrew Mountain Goat Hightail Ale. And Also a selection of other Australian Beers such as Cascade Premium Amber Ale, Matilda Bay’s Beez Kneez and Rooftop Red Lager.Possibility exists of a Stout also (can’t have a cold Winter’s night without a fine pint of Stout!)
For those of you wanting something a little less grass-roots, there will be a fine selection of local wines and bubbly – I will endeavour to get the names from Mum….
Hopefully, this will be enough to loosen everyone’s inhibitions enough to partake in a little Greek dancing…. 
Yes, mead will be on the menu (so to speak).
I have just purchased 5kg of a wonderful honey made not too far away in Heathmont (along Canterbury Rd, on the other side of the new freeway).
Heathmont Honey are a local couple who make honey from their own bees in their own backyard, which go around the local area and get pollen from the rich variety of native and other flowers of the Eastern Suburbs. And best of all, their honey is not heat-treated, meaning it still has all its nutrients intact.
The honey we chose (on their recommendation) was “Bees Own Honey” – naturally blended by Bees from bush surrounding Heathcote. Medium in flavour, darker in colour.
I have found a recipe for a “Metheglyn Sack Mead” over at gotmead.com – a Metheglyn is a Mead made with spices; a Sack Mead is a sweet Mead that does not require a long time to be ready to drink.
So, come the weekend my Methe (ancient Greek Mead) will be bubbling away….
I look forward to it!
Heathmont Honey can be found at the Knox Farmers’ Market (3rd Sat every month). Or contact them on 97380456
Filed under: Homebrew
As some of you already know, I have been a busy little bee brewing drinks for the celebration after the ceremony.
After a couple of warm-up brews – my Dark Horse Ale, and my Golden Amber Delight – I have begun on a yummy batch of sweet Apple Cider (with just a hint of cinnamon)… tentatively called Uncle George’s Sweet Apple Scruffs!
Within the week, I hope to get a batch of Mead on the go – as this will play a vital role in the day! Mead is a traditional Honey Wine that all good pagan folk enjoy (as well as the odd Viking!)
The only problem is, most of what I have read suggests Meads are best drunk after 6-12 months of ageing. Clearly I’m not going to be able to have that happen, so we may need to find an affordable supply (bulk) to do the job!
So I’ll keep you well informed of all things brewed….
In the meantime, check out this website on all things mead-related!
