Room service dinner, Hyatt Hotel Canberra
I crashed out for a few hours following afternoon tea. Despite my appetite, I still had a sore throat, blocked head and runny nose and was much lower on energy than I normally would be. When I woke up, it was dark outside and well past dinner time. Our tummies were rumbling again but I didn’t fancy going out, so we ordered room service dinner. Jac told me to choose whatever I wanted from the menu – whatever I felt like eating, we’d share it.
I chose pretty good “sick Chinese people food”: noodle soup and fish with ginger:
- Wonton noodle soup with chicken and vegetable (AU$17.00)
- Baked whole baby snapper with ginger, green onion and soy, served with rice (AU$37.00)
Jac insisted on ordering a seasonal mixed salad (AU$10.50) – regular readers will think “of course!” Jac always has to have vegetables! :D We each ordered a fruit juice – tomato for Jac, orange for me.
But we also had to…yes, really – HAD TO, were compelled to, simply could not resist – we ordered the duck fat fried potato wedges with sour cream (AU$10.50)! Oh yes! We were on holiday, after all! >:D
I perked up considerably in anticipation of this meal. Noodle soup, baked fish with rice and duck fat potato wedges. I couldn’t wait!
When the food arrived, it was even better than I had imagined!
The clear noodle broth was flavoursome and comforting, with silky-skinned housemade wontons, bok choy and tender chicken breast pieces.
The snapper was lovely. I served Jac silver service style like they do in a Chinese restaurant, lifting the moist, tender white flesh from the bones and spooning sauce, ginger and spring onions over the top.
The fish was served with a dish of spicy chilli paste and light soy sauce.
I acknowledge that room service food is often overpriced. On this occasion I thought that for the deliciousness and quality of the food, and for our comfort and the convenience, the cost was totally worth it. Except for the seasonal mixed salad – it was the only dish I felt wasn’t really worth its price – $10.50 for a bowl of boring old salad: cucumber, grape tomatoes, mixed greens and onion with a little vinaigrette. Still, it went very well with everything else we ordered.
Those duck fat fried potato wedges… Oh. My. God. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that these were the best potato wedges I have ever eaten. They were served piping hot and were awesomely perfect – crispy, savoury and golden on the outside, fluffy on the inside, delicious and utterly indulgently moreish. Even just breathing in their salty aroma was heavenly. They came with a dish of sour cream and a dish of sweet chilli sauce for dipping. I preferred the richness, tang and coldness of the sour cream with the hot potato wedges. Sour cream is great for cooling fingertips burnt by hot potato!
Imagine a meal of the best potato wedges ever followed by the best ice cream ever! Even better – the best potato wedges ever DIPPED into the best ice cream ever – the McDonald’s fries dipped into sundae effect. Mmm. :D
Sometimes, room service is the perfect option. We really enjoyed this meal. It was one of the nicest meals we ate on this trip! A cup of tea and a bit of telly afterwards ended a most pleasant evening.
Canberra trip, November 2010
See the full list of posts from our Canberra trip, November 2010 in correct reading order.