As I have said in previous posts - the combination of good food and wine does not always happen. Black Swan Winery is a case in point.
The decidedly dodgy entry to the venue from the car park had portents of "OMG - lets leave" but once in the quite lovely, bright dining space we chilled a bit.
Also we were the first in house and despite the protestations of the server we picked the best table in the room. And best it was.
Sweeping views over the possibly fake, i.e non-producing, grapevines and the lovely, beige shed made this a great spot. Being first in we were also smothered with service, initially.
It's actually a good menu, if a bit dated, but to me finding garlic prawns on ANY menu stretches the credibility of the chef (or the expectations of the punters) but hey, bums on seats matter in a big venue like this.
BUT there is something for everyone, including us.
By the time we ordered the room was packed and distressingly noisy.
We chose the Pork Belly Arancini ($17), Rabbit Cigar (yes, not a misprint!) ($17) and a garden salad.
Rabbit has always been one of our fave dishes, I actually made rabbit pies for Xmas last year, so yeah we're fans.
So to the wine. Not much to say really, the selections were compiled by someone who knows absolutely nothing about presenting a wine list that may compliment the dishes on the menu. This is very common in Perth.
And they were a bland bunch - an appalling Margs white masquerading, poorly, as a Verdehlo and an under chilled King Valley Prosecco. Underwhelming really, given the per glass cost.
But lunch saved the day - just. The rabbit cigar was presented perfectly in a wide bowl rested on a minted pea puree with a stunning champignon and veal stock jus. Plate lickable.
The filo-encased rabbit flesh, and there was a lot of it, was seasoned with thyme and crushed pine nuts and was absolutely to die for.
The dish took us back to Restaurant Bokeria in Split, Croatia where we we had a similarly presented dish but the filling was cod instead of rabbit.
The Pork Belly Arancini were serviceable, if a bit flavourless and the garden salad was, er, well lets not go there.
Overall the place has a great heart, staff and intentions but it's let down by a sad beverage list and patchy service.
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