Before I came out to
Australia, I notified a mate of mine in the hope that we would meet
up for a drink and catch up on the time since we've been apart. After
all, I hadn't seen him since I left Australia a few years ago. Born
to English parents, educated and most of his life spent in Australia.
Coincidently he moved to the same town that me parents live many
years ago. I met him whilst he was working at a popular Portuguese
restaurant chain. He was an acquaintance of another of my friends and
we subsequently became mates. We have been mates since and it just so
happened that when I was out in Australia, he had moved back home. We
actually ended up living in the same Sydney suburb of Leichardt.
Unfortunately, he was
in away the whole time I was due to be over. He left roughly the day
I arrived and flew back on the day I was supposed to be leaving. I
say supposed as I extended my stay for another week and so had time
to meet up for a drink. I informed him of the exciting news and
arranged to meet up on one of the next couple of days. He had to
change his plans as he'd forgotten he had prior arrangements. Prior
arrangements that he'd mixed up with the following week. He had
tickets to go and see the live 'Noel Fielding' show at some theatre
in the city. Mr Fielding is one of the creators of a funny and
strangely surreal British comedy show called 'The Mighty Boosh' which
seems to be massive in Australia. Dan, my mate got the weeks mixed
up. I can only assume and can quite clearly picture him and his
girlfriend going all the way to the theatre, going up to the counter
to hand over the tickets and enter, only to be told that they have
the wrong ticket. The look of embarrassment on their faces would be
worth a picture. Maybe it didn't go that way at all and the realised
the error before they journeyed into the city. Knowing Dan though, it
was most likely the former.
I don't know what I did
in the end that night, I imagine it involved some drinking but it
doesn't matter, what matters is that we rearranged to meet the
following night.
It was a Thursday
night, at the Dove and Olive that means it is $9.90 burger night.
What would a bargain burger be like, a minuscule patty that shouldn't
even be classed as a patty, a tiny meatball flattened to a small and
flat disc of bland meat on a stale bun with browning lettuce and
solidified mayo. The thought of that was offensive, nearly ten bucks
for a mini piece of turd, I hoped and prayed my imagination had
deceived me. Told a big lie, leading me to believe in disappointment,
possibly forgoing any true and real life disappointment. Perhaps a
benefit of being pessimistic in this case. I don't know.
P-Slatez was supposed
to meet us, as was Dan who had recently relayed to me that his mother
and a friend of hers would also be join us after their pilates class.
Dom and I arrived earlier than the rest to secure ourselves adequate
seating for a large group. There was not, only the bar along the
front window with a few small seats was free. We ordered some beers
and like a deer munching on some lush green grass in a meadow, kept
one eye open for predators although in our case the reality of being
preyed upon was little to none and we were simply spying on groups of
drunk 'post work' drinkers hoping for a group to leave and some
better seats becoming available. We weren't so lucky. I went on a
scouting mission to see what I could find. Upstairs was out of bounds
due to some private function or whatever it was. Indoors was really
packed but slowly clearing. I spotted a table and some free stools in
the back smoking area. As I moved over towards them I saw that a
tucked away corner just in front of the doors that lead you outside
had become available. It was cramped and dark and quite warm, all the
noise bouncing around inside the pub from overly loud drunk media
workers made its way into the corner where the sound bounced around
so much that its overall volume increased by over more than two
decibels.
After placing the order
of three burgers, one for Dom, P-Slatez and myself, we made our way
outside. It was the best option, cooler, less noise and there was
space. All that to the confusion of the server who looked lost and
puzzled. We'd somehow ventured into the Bermuda Triangle and had
disappeared. I saw his struggle and felt sympathetic to his cause. I
went over and offered some assistance explaining what had happened
and where we were now seated.
How my mind had played
a terribly wonderful trick on me. Leading me to believe I would
receive a horrid little plate of food with stale chips, gloopy sauces
and a shit little burger. A cunning manoeuvre. The burger was small,
as small as I'd expected but hoped for something slightly larger.
Size did not matter, this burger was bigger than it looked and in all
physical sense was. It was meaty, very meaty and flavoursome and
juicy. Crisp lettuce, all the usual garnishes and a side of crunchy
little chips/fries. Oh how it was a shame that the whole thing went
down so quickly. I do always feel disappointed in myself for not
allowing such a delight to grace the earth for more than a few
mouthfuls or deliciousness. The sweet onion bbq sauce was an ideal
condiment and only eased the destruction and disappearance of said
fries.
Not that I was too
happy or impressed with Hop Dog Beerworks, their 'Redhopulous
Maximum' was a truly incredible Red IPA. That was what I had at first
and wanted more of, and asked for but when one doesn't buy the round,
one can never guarantee the outcome of the drink purchases. The next
couple I had was I think the house beer, a lager of sorts. Pleasant
and perfectly drinkable but not what I'd asked for or wanted but as I
was being given free top ups from Dan's jug I would not complain.
It was great catching
up and being told in quite impressive detail most of the events that
had transpired over the last three years. He had come a long way form
working in a call centre and living with an utter bunch of c***s. I
was happy for him. He was with a girl and very happy about it and
their relationship. She sounded lovely and he quite rightly deserves
a good girl. That sounds really crap but he is one of the most
genuine and polite gents I know, it always a shame to hear him being
fucked around by idiots. At one stage I'd hoped that we would move in
together but it never materialised, now I live in England and he is
across the world here in Australia. Maybe if he ever moves to London
that might happen, at least the probability of it would more than
quadruple.
It was really nice
chatting to Dan's mum and her friend. Conversations going around the
table about all kinds of topics. Learning much about the Sydney
suburb of Balmain, how it was once a total dump full of abandoned
warehouses and was so run down it sounded like it would have had many
similarities to Detroit. Now it is a very posh and fancy place, or at
least most of it or the places I have been and seen are. It was
interesting to talk to Megan, Dan's mums friend. She had much to say
and it seems Dom and I have much to learn. Time was getting on and
people started to make their way home. Dom's round so we finished on
the rightful drink, Redhopulous Maximus. Then we left and shortly
retired to bed.
However expensive the
beers at Dove and Olive may be, it is still a fantastic pub and like
its big brother The KB Hotel, they have an extensive and forever
changing selection of beers that will keep even the biggest beer geek
on his/her toes, for a short time at least. The food is excellent and
with the daily deals, good value too.
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