CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Last Sunday, I decided to treat myself to a little pre-Christmas lunch at one of the new pop-up bars that appeared at the Pitt St. Mall. Justin North's Christmas Cracker bar was a charming little space situated in front of the Mulberry Store. Each tile on the bar was a piece of hand-crafted gingerbread. The minimalist vibe in the space added to its appeal. 

Each guest has the opportunity to try Christmas champagne ($15 per glass), a special Christmas cocktail ($15 per glass), as well as a tasting plate of Justin North's 4 Tastes of Christmas. Being a bit of a foodie, I decided to partake in the latter.

Each tasting plate has four courses- two "mains" and two desserts. Each are arranged artistically on the plate. Don't let the small portion sizes deter you. These make you ache for more, and are just like a teaser for better things to come. The various aspects can be purchased at either Becasse bakery or Quarter Twenty Four, both of which are located just a couple of floors above. 

The first course was a miniature crab and prawn mayonnaise sandwich. The bread was undeniably a creation from the Becasse bakery, which tasted absolutely amazing because it was so fresh and soft. The filling was quite tasty as well.

The second course was a teaser of bigger things to come. It was a piece of suckling ham from the Macleay Valley, garnished quite beautifully. It was delicious. The ham wasn't too salty or sweet and added another dimension to the taste of the sandwich that lingered in the tastebuds minutes after. 

This was my favourite piece in the selection. It is a miniature fruit mince pie. The pie is arranged quite beautifully- a delightfully thin crust, a small portion of fruit mince, red berries, a small portion of cream and a piece of gold-leaf to complete the picture. It was like a party in my mouth! I loved looking at it, but I also enjoyed every bite. It definitely reminded me of Christmas. 

The final touch was a piece of tropical fruit French meringue pavlova. The pavlova added an Australian touch to the plate, reminding guests of the typical Australian experience. I'm not usually a fan of passionfruit, but I believe that this dessert changed my perspective. It didn't have too much passionfruit that it overpowered the dessert. Likewise, the meringue was delightfully soft. We all know that when meringue is over-done, it can be a bit too hard and chewy. This definitely was not the case. 

If you find yourself in the Westfield Pitt St. Mall before Christmas, I encourage you to make your way to this bar. It is a good way to wind down after a busy day of Christmas shopping.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!