To those unfortunate souls who live outside the nation’s capital, nouns Sage and Mint carry little more significance than the tasty green leaves so often utilised in cooking and cocktails. Thankfully, I do reside here therefore neither Sage nor Mint could ever be just a simple cooking ingredient again. They epitomise dining experiences of a lifetime.
Entering the Mint Garden Bar courtyard to sounds of cool Jazz and Norah Jones blues was instant Valium for the soul. Sweet smelling tangles of white and purple Jasmine pepper the air with a familiar homely scent as they wrap gently around classic wrought iron garden sculptures. A turn of the century English street lamp stands to attention by the bar, stools fashioned from up-cycled kegs of Little Creatures, Boston Larger and Strictlands mingle with wooden bench style seating and, hanging baskets bursting with sunset-hued impatiens dangle gracefully from exposed beams. The bar itself boasts a vintage inspired black and white striped awning and, glass bowls of sunshine yellow lemons, vibrant green limes, bold badges of craft brews as well as vases of aromatic home-grown mint decorate the scrubbed wooden surface. Bare light bulbs strung poetically in casual hap-hazardry across the courtyard had me smiling gently for no particular reason for the first time that day and, moments later when a powdery white butterfly circled the stem of my wine glass and fluttered off into pale blue sky, that smile broke into a wide grin of disbelieving joy. I’d finally found my happy place.
Atmosphere aside, the cocktails and canapés here are to die for if you appreciate quality ingredients. A beautifully presented plate wound its way to our table and the selections were simply mouth-watering. Batemans bay oysters, pork belly, strawberry gaspacio, beetroot tacos, pulled lamb bruschetta and lobster, all contained elegantly within the slender hollow of porcelain white tasting spoons, crystal clear shot glasses or, in the case of the oysters, within their freshly shucked shells.
On the subject of oysters – these ones carried the taste and texture only obtained from fresh plucking and shucking. I keep it no secret I’m a home-sick coastal kid, so these Batemans bay beauties which were still submerged in seawater off the far south coast 48 hours prior to consumption, were undoubtedly my favourite off the plate. The briney scent lingering in the empty pearlescent shell reminded me so strongly of home I may have slipped it carefully into my handbag. It may even be sitting on the coffee table in front of me as I type. The other canapés were of course, just as spectacular. the lamb bruschetta was tender, seasoned and contrasted wonderfully with the crunchy bread base, Strawberry gazpacho displayed intense strawberry characteristics but carried underlying hints of savoury herb and spice, The small manageable cubes of fatty (remember, fat = flavour) pork belly just melted sweetly in the mouth and the lobster was mellow, creamy and laced delicately with citrus.
I was lucky enough to sample many of Mint’s magnificent cocktails (perhaps too many) – all of which carry a fresh fruity or minty base – perfect for the high temperatures and long days of scorching Canberra Summers. The raspberry mule is not dissimilar in taste to combining ginger beer with creaming soda; the strawberry mojito is nothing but an improvement on the muddled minty classic and, possibly my favourite, Mint’s version of a Southside. Presented in a stem less martini glass balancing on a cool orb of ice, this custom creation contains gin, lime, mint, sugar, ginger and a surprising sour twist of grapefruit juice. Very, dangerously moorish.
As twilight set in, the twinkling fairy lights twined round the garden came out, as did some native wildlife in the form of a baby ring-tailed possum, playing in the rain guttering of old Gorman house. The atmosphere was bordering on surreal perfection and raised one notch further as we were invited inside to our Sage dinner table…
Stay tuned next week for Sage’s dining profile….
