Overlooking the calm waters of Lake Burley Griffin is the Kingston Foreshore’s Caribbean temptress, Betti Bravo’s. Set with lush greenery, avian wallpaper, colourful street-art and wicker finishes, the experience is a little bit Spanish, a little bit Caribbean and a whole heap of fun.
To start the evening, we sampled the amazing rum-inspired cocktail menu at the impressive mosaic-tiled bar. Delighted by the story behind the bar’s signature drink, The Hoser, we knew that we were in for a treat. Inspired by the bartender’s Canadian adventures, The Hoser is an old-fashioned drink comprised of Canadian Club 12 Year Whiskey, maple syrup and chocolate bitters. The show-stopper is the stirrer. Made from bacon it’s designed to be eaten after the second stir.
The delicious options extend to the food menu. We started with the Anchovies with Tomatoes on Toast. The dish is relatively simple – toasted sourdough rubbed with garlic, lathered with a smooth tomato paste and topped with anchovies – but amply demonstrates this is a small kitchen with BIG flavour.
Another tasty option is Salted cod and Potato Croquetas with Harissa. The outside of the croquetas are fried to a crunchy, golden crumb which contains the silky salted cod and potatoes. Harissa adds a contrasting flavour to the myriad of textures in this stand-out dish.
For main we sampled something a little different: Asado de Cabra. In Australia, goat is something of a delicacy, but one that deserves to be seen on more menus. At Betti’s, the medium-rare roasted goat was perfectly paired with the patatas a lo pobre (a potato side) and green peppers. However, the cured breast proved the show-stopper. The succulent meat simply fell apart and melted away in the mouth just as easily. We were salivating for more.
As the night grew colder, the flavours started to heat up with a plate piled with Mama’s Jerk Chicken. Like a bolt of lightning, the spices coating the chicken hit you and so addictive they’ll have you coming back in hope of a second strike. The pieces of mango scattered around the plate bring balance through a burst of sweetness that plays nicely with the spice of Mama’s recipe.
Speaking of Mama, keep an eye out for the fruity Minnesota Tidalwave. This glass of Carribean cool is inspired by a cocktail created by Marshall Erikson from How I Met Your Mother. Naturally, this is a rum-inspired concoction of Angostura Reserva Rum, Angostura 7 Rum, Cointreau, Aperol, raspberry, pineapple, orange juice and lime. A must-try for fans of the show (and fruity cocktails!).
Proving she can go the distance, Betti Bravo’s dessert did not disappoint. To our surprise we were served the Gnocchi Latte. If you’re as surprised as we were, relax – this is another way that Betti shows off her flamboyant style. It’s a heady mix of Pedro Ximinez, white chocolate and macadamia that comes together as the perfect way end to a meal. Not too sweet or too savoury, the soft potato gnocchi take on the flavour of the other ingredients while the silky white chocolate and crunch of the lightly toasted macadamias are stunning additions to the dish.
