Christmas at Treasury Hotel

My brother, mother and I have made a tradition of lunching out for Christmas.

It's lovely to get dressed up, feel festive and especially not have to purchase, prepare or clean up anything.

Also, it's very hard to feel festive in Brisbane summer.

Last year while researching, we stumbled across the sumptuous menu of the Treasury Hotel, but missed out on tickets. This year we got in early.

What initially drew us to this luncheon was the absolute variety of food available. Of course a plethora of seafood, but for not-so-seafoody brother there was a wealth of options for him too. Traditional Christmas roasts, Middle Eastern, Asian, Aussie BBQ, as well as bubbles, wine and beer.

C and I got ready and wandered down to the Treasury. In typical Brisbane Christmas style, it rained, then it was hot then it was muggy. We thoroughly enjoyed stepping into the air-conditioning and we lead to our beautiful table for the with a window view looking out over the park.

On our table was breads, butter, olives, dips, Christmas crackers and decorations.

On entry we weren't quite sure where the food actually was. We sat and nibbled on the antipasto, ordered a beer and a bubbles for myself. Just after our drinks arrived we went for an explore and made our way to the huge courtyard buffet selections.

King Crab and Lobster

Middle eastern and Mediterranean options

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Pizza Oven

Traditional Roasts

Mussels, Scallops, Prawns, Bugs, King Crab, Lobster

Aussie BBQ

For my first course, I started with ceviche scallops, fresh king prawns, pacific oysters, salmon and prawn nigiri and crocodile ceviche. The oysters and scallops were excellent, and the nigiri was outstanding quality. The prawns were okay, but I've eaten enough prawns in my time to be very particular with prawns and the crocodile I didn't really care for at all.

Round two was Char sui pork belly, Peking duck, eye fillet, bourbon glazed pork ribs and wood fired pizza.
Both the duck and the pork belly were to die for, the pork was really delicious, but the eye fillet was just incredible. So tender and soft as butter.

I really couldn't believe how well it had been cooked. And the pizza- what an awesome addition to any plate.

My next course involved beautiful baked ham, Yorkshire pudding, Buirre noisette sage gnocchi, Waldorf salad, Hollandaise gratenated oysters with cavier, king crab claw and lobster claw.

How good is baked ham? I'll tell you- it's the best! And Yorkshire puds should be an everyday food. The oysters graten were simply divine. If anything the only disappointments were the lobster and crab.They were lacking any real flavout and had a watery texture.

By this stage the fullness was starting to set in. So lets looks at what C got in to...

A giant plate of meat and potatos

Damper, pizza, char sui pork, baked ham, pasta salad and beetroot salad.

C was really happy with the selections, and as previously stated, this was really important to mum and I. His favourite, as mine, was the perfectly cooked fillet.

Dessert was to follow

Fruit selection

I decided on the passionfruit slice, a creme caramel, a blueberry mousse cake, and a massive piece of pecan pie.

We left feeling very full and very happy with ourselves.

To date, I believe I can speak on behalf of the group, and say that this was our favourite Chritmas luncheon. It's not cheap at $285 a head. But it is such a wondeful Christmassy experience that really does feel festive. Mum especially really loves it and had already decided well be back at the Tereasury next year for Christmas lunch.

Treasury Hotel and Casino
William Street Brisbane City

Christmas Day at the Stamford Plaza Brisbane

Happy New Year readers!

Thank you for following my blog for now my third year.

This blog actually started as a New Years resolution back in 2012 in Edinburgh. At the time I did not think it would be a food blog at all, I just prattled on about things I enjoyed and before too long clothes shopping and food eating became overly prominent. Now, 24 months, and 13000 views later, here we are.

I feel blessed and honoured that you take the time to read about what I love.


But now, to the post.

So, 2013 was my first full year back in Oz. It hasn't been easy for me at all, and there are very few days that go past that I don't yearn for Scotland. Christmas is a particularly difficult time.

I don't really care for Australian Christmas... sweating, seafood, bbq and swearing... it could be any given Sunday. So come October I proposed to my father and brother that we do something different, something memorable.

We got down to two options, the Kookaburra Queen: a ferry on the Brisbane River, or a sumptious (and expensive) hotel luncheon.

The Stamford plaza had fantastic reviews, a beautiful location on the River and a 3 and a half hour food and drink package. Coming in at $240 a head, it is in no way a cheap option. But in the lead up to Christmas, I could really see the value: no lining up for seafood, no bustling in the supermarket, as we had decided to forego presents, there was really no Christmas prep at all. It was... relaxing.

On Christmas morning, Dad and I make our way to brother C's house to drop off some drinks for later that afternoon when we would return, and enjoy a couple of breakfast ciders before catching a taxi into the city.

On arrival at the Stamford we make our way into the foyer where there are carolers, Mr and Mrs Santa and cooling aircon.

We have about a 15 minute lineup before we are showed to our table to be seated at around 12:15.

We are given a perfect seat right next to the Seafood buffet with a stunning view of the Brisbane River.

Although we are sat outside on what would be a 32 degree day, it feel like 23 degrees on the Terrace.

As we are seated we are offered our choice of drinks, Beer (Peroni), Bubbles or Wine (Jacobs Creek), juice or soft drink. The boys opt for a Peroni each and I have one (of many) glass of bubbles.

The food setup is wonderful, and really surpasses my expectations, with something for everyone. C doesn't eat seafood, but there are more than enough options for him. Dad and I are seafood gluttons, and we are more than happy with what we can see adjacent to our table.

I think due to the fact that we all knew we had over 3 hours of eating time, there was no scramble for the food, and the buffet line moved fluidly the entire time. Guests could help themselves to any of the various buffets set up inside or out, and the staff we incredibly efficient with topping up and replacing items, especially the seafood.

Now... to the food.

First stop: seafood buffet.

Smoked salmon, sand and spanner crabs, Pacific oysters, prawns, mussels and Moreton Bay Bugs, all by the bucket-load.

The oysters were divine, fresh, large, sweet and creamy and served with the option of vinaigrette or lemon and pepper or Tabasco. The prawns- wonderfully flavoursome. The bugs were very meaty and cooked to perfection. And wonderful cold mussels.

Dad and I chose to share each of our plates.

For second course, scallop salad, baby octopus, crumbed anchovies and asparagus.

Through the long lunch, we took it easy, and didn't rush through it. It was calm and relaxed and we got through an awful lot of food.

Seafood selection

Cheese, dips and fruit

Anti-pasto selection

DIY Ceasar Salad

 As for the mains, there were endless meat and veg options. My favourites were the double cooked pork, the turkey and the Yorkshire Puds and gravy.

Roast veg

Chicken

Seafood rice

Roast tatties

Double cooked Pork

Beef fillet

Roast station.

My mains plate

Garlic foccacia, baked Salmon with Asian veg, double cooked Pork, baked ham and turkey with homemade cranberry sauce. Actually the salmon and the ham were incredible as well.

We were excited to see the desserts buffet, which has an exceptional reputation, and we weren't let down. I was very happy with the red velvet cupcakes and macarons.

 The waiters were wonderful, keeping our drinks topped up, and making sure all the guests were content.

Santa made an appearance and gave gifts to the kiddies.

The carolers got a bit much after a while.

But overall, the day can only be considered faultless. It was one of my most memorable Christmas days, and C, Dad and I all agreed it was one of our best Christmases together.

After lunch, we caught a taxi home to carry on the festivities back at C's with the drinks we had brought earlier, and this carried on until well after midnight.

Dad and I had prepared a platter to nibble on and this came in handy around 8pm.

Cashews, cheddar, brie, Red Rock corn chips, ham, salami, pastrami, blueberries, raspberries, quince jelly olives, gerkins.

 

 A massive thank you to Dad and C and to all the Staff at Stamford plaza who gave up their Christmas to makes ours perfect.


Stamford Plaza Website
Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel
Corner Edward & Margaret Streets, Brisbane QLD 4000
GPS -25.335448,135.745076
Ph: +61 7 3221 1999