My Birthday - Day 4

All good things must come to an end. I always feel glum like a child on the last day of camping, when we come to our last morning in the Hunter Valley. Reluctantly, I would fold and play tetris with our clothes in the luggage. The rain was still quite steady and strong so again, we stayed in watching tennis until check-out time. Because of the hedonism over my birthday weekend we decided to skip breakfast and save our hunger for lunch. I took one last Pokolbin vineyard photo first.

We did some wine tasting (and purchasing!). Then, lunch was at Muse cafe (between the restaurant and Hungerford Hill cellar door is a smaller space of cafe tables). I don't know what it was, (the fact that I skipped breakfast? The knowledge that we were going back home? Or simply the amazing food?) but I absolutely, utterly savoured every last morsel, drop, flake and crumb... and washed down with a healthy glass of Shiraz of course.

I just had to have Muse's amazing gnocchi yet again!
This time with speck and Swiss brown 'shrooms

2010 Hungerford Hill Shiraz
I already have a bottle at home, but this
makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside!

Pan-seared Canadian Scallops with an Asian Salad

Duck Tortellini - I melted.

See what I mean?

Braised Beef Parcel

The Pièce de résistance for me - a Strawberry Eton Mess
It was such a simple dessert, but it's one of life's indulgent little pleasures
Broken meringue, strawberries, strawberry jam,
Chantilly cream and baby basil leaves to set it all off

Petit fours before we hit the road home
L-R: lemon tart, raspberry macaron, caramel slice

Almond frangipane tart on the left

 We drove through Mt View again on our way back to Sydney. It was just too breathtaking for me not to see it a second time before leaving - even if it was raining. So tempted to look at real estate in the area!!

Low hanging rain clouds. It still did not stop raining!
Rain and dirt roads gave me a muddy car to wash later on.

Until we meet again, Hunter Valley...