I had been promised a "light lunch" so that I would have room for a large dinner, however that quickly went out the window when I ordered my meal!
I'm a sucker for seafood - particularly when it's so fresh and flavoursome! The grilled salmon, jus and green salad that arrived at my table was nothing short of mouthwatering.
The combination of slightly salty salmon and mild jus an absolute pleasure to eat. Without a pesky bone in sight, the most dangerous part of the whole meal was trying not to stuff myself silly with all the salmony-goodness on my plate!
In a not-so-rare event, one of my Grandma's cousins (Read: Matriarch) mustered the collective side of their family for a special night out.
This time, we went to quite a remarkable restaurant. If it weren't for the fact that it's located on a pontoon about 250m out on the reef, the large open floor in the middle of the restaurant ensures a clear view of the seafood below. Once you get past the initial intimidation of sharks swimming by while breaking your bread, you feel quite spoilt by the whole experience. Alternatively, the drop down to the reef could make a convenient way for the staff to dispose of non-compliant customers...
(Photo: ile-de-nouvelle-caledonie.com)
Le Roof restaurant - minus its Anglicised name - offers up some unbelievable French dishes, with an equally unbelievable price tag! As in 'extremely high'. BUT, it was a special night out and everything was delicious and well-presented!
For example, this Tuna Risotto-type dish was a fusion of local produce, freshly-caught tuna and expertly-cooked risotto. The only downside was that it was all fairly similar in colour, but it more than made up on that in taste.
The dessert was just what you'd expect - a classic dish... but a few times better! I thought I'd opt for a sorbet, so I selected two very New Caledonian flavours: Mango and Niaouli.
Niaouli isn't endemic to New Caledonia, but it grows in abundance there and is found in anything from drinks to food, soaps to medication. To put it into perspective, it's a bit like Eucalyptus mixed with Lemon and Coconut. Confusing? Then go try it! :D
Ma famille calédonienne me manque beaucoup! (I miss my New Caledonian family a lot!)
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