With so many people having birthdays at home this year due to COVID-19 it can be difficult to find something special enough to celebrate your birthday. For my birthday in isolation I try out the brand new Table for Two offering from The Star's BLACK Bar and Grill. This is a 5 course seasonal menu that you can have take away or delivered to your home!
It was two days before my birthday and I was wondering what I was going to eat. Then the email came from The Star asking me if I'd like to test out the new Table For Two share style offering. There are three restaurants from The Star participating in Table For Two: BLACK, Sokyo and Fat Noodle. Each restaurant has a set multi course menu for two people on offer. I chose BLACK who are known for their steaks. The 6 course menu is $120 and is designed by executive chef Dany Karam to feed two people. There are also cocktails, beer and wine available.
Diners can either pick up their orders from The Star or have it delivered within a 5kms radius for $7.50 between 6-10pm. People can order on the day if there are slots available although I recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment. Pick up is from The Star Sydney at The Grand Foyer. The Star are also hoping to continue this Table For Two delivery and takeaway service after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted to give customers additional options for dining at home.
My birthday also happened to coincidence with Friday Formals and I was only too happy to don the dress I had bought to wear in Fiji's Turtle Island, the place that I was booked to enjoy my birthday but of course was cancelled with the pandemic.
Most of the dishes come in round bowls so you can see how they're meant to be plated up and everything is fully cooked and arrives hot so that you just have to put them on serving plates and eat. They come with bio cutlery and napkins and a menu detailing what you're getting and the other Table For Two options.
We start the birthday celebrations with a cocktail. There are four types of cocktails available designed by The Star’s mixologist Behzad Nvaziri and we are trying two of them. Both cocktails come in cute sfrosted glass "perfume" bottles. The Coconut Martini is made with coconut-washed Japanese gin, vermouth Maidenii Dry, lemongrass and it is so divine we almost fight over who gets this cocktail. The Reviver is also no slouch made with Vodka, Lillet blanc, Cointreau so it has a nice citrus freshness to it but really the Coconut Martini is where it is at.
I am very pleased to report that Black's famous buttery brioche does come with this menu. It's best warmed up in the oven at 100C for around 5-6 minutes. It comes with a pat of Pepe Saya butter and pink salt on the side.
We drink our cocktails and nibble on the wagyu beef jerky. Alas there wasn't much jerky left as cheeky Mr Teddy Elliott climbed up on the coffee table where the jerky was and stole most of it and then spent the rest of the time whimpering for more. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that he is now its biggest fan. I'm not a huge jerky person but this is really good jerky. It's not too dried out but has a nice intensity of flavour.
The King Prawn Salad is a chilled entree with avocado, coconut water jelly cubes and a roasted chilli dressing with cos lettuce that stays nice and crisp.
One of my favourite courses is the scallops. There are four enormous roasted scallops, plenty of smoked speck cubes, sweet chestnuts, green beans and a very creamy buttermilk dressing. It's very rich and actually makes me miss restaurant food and eating out.
The highlight is always going to be the beef as BLACK is a steak house. The short rib is also what made me select this menu because I adore beef short rib and Cape Grim's Tasmanian grass fed beef. The short rib is braised and sits atop some celeriac puree and jus gras and is topped with gremolata, pickles and watercress to balance the beef's richness. The beef slices melt in the mouth and it's rich but the four slices are a good amount of beef without you feeling too stuffed or overwhelmed. This goes perfectly with the buttery mash.
There are two sides that come with the mains. The first is a simple cos lettuce salad with French dressing which is needed because the scallops and beef are very rich. There is also a generous serve of Desiree potato puree that is thick and buttery with plenty of chopped chives on top.
The tiramisu is made with plenty of soft, whipped mascarpone and a crispy brown butter although this isn't that obvious in the flavour. Still, it's a glorious tiramisu and they've kindly put a Happy Birthday plaque on top.
And to finish? Some petit fours including a lavender truffle, coconut marshmallow and a berry pate de fruits! All in all it was a wonderful albeit slightly weird birthday made better because of this meal.
So tell me Dear Reader, did you have your birthday in isolation or will you?
NQN tested out the Table For Two as a guest of The Star but all opinions remain her own.
BLACK Bar & Grill
Table For Two: https://order.hungryhungry.com/thestar/menu
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