It was an exciting proposition: a group of media being taken from the waters of Circular Quay on a Veuve Clicquot cruise to Manly, to enjoy the long awaited launch of the new Hugo’s Manly Deck, accompanied by a decedent sunset dinner to boot. Of course, such a proposition is “weather dependent”, but thankfully mother nature ensured we had one of the most magnificent days on the harbour possible.
The Veuve Clicquot started flowing as soon as we boarded the boat, travelling from the Opera House to Manly Wharf for this special dinner. And so did the oysters (naturally) as the sun beamed down on us. This was far from a bad way to spend a Monday afternoon.
It was a short walk from the cruise to Hugo’s, and the new outdoor deck (pictured at the top of this article) was an immediately striking proposition. You could look out into the waters that lead to the CBD in one direction, and into the great unknown in the other, or turn your head to the beaches of Manly. The decor was warm and inviting, the seats comfortable and the Veuve Clicquot – still flowing! It’s a picture perfect spot for the Summer, and would be comfortable year round – so long as the rain stays at bay – be you in the mood for a meal or just a few drinks.
We were treated to a five course tasting menu that showed off Hugo’s varied dishes. First up was the Hiramasa kingfish carpaccio with avocado, radish, black caviar and spicy citrus dressing. Would have gone well with some bread on the side, but all the same it was a light and delicious start to the night – the carpaccio literally melted in your mouth.
Next up were the Yamba King prawns, which were butterflied and then grilled with fresh lemon and chilli. It’s as simple a dish as you can get, but never goes wrong, so long as the prawns are perfectly cooked – and that was certainly the case here. It’s dishes like this that show off just how beautiful a dish the prawn can provide when served simply and elegantly.
The “main” of sorts was the pan-fried ocean trout, cooked to perfection and served with pea puree, shaved asparagus, radish, eschallots and salmon roe. Again, it’s a safe bet to present the fish like this, and a good trout always hits the spot. This dish was no different.
We continued enjoying wine as pizzas and salads were brought out for the table to share. Hugo’s have always been well known for their pizzas, and the selection here was to show us why. The roasted pork belly was the highlight, accompanied with onions, radicchio and buffalo mozzarella. On the other half we had a fig and crispy pancetta pizza, with Gorgonzola, tomato and basil. An inspired combination, and very welcomed.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to enjoy the fifth course – a tiramisu – as the boat to take us back to the city was ready to leave, but it would have capped the night off perfectly. Alas, we had to make do with some more Champagne. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
The new Hugo’s Manly Deck is open now on Manly Wharf. For more details head to: http://www.hugos.com.au/
The writer attended this event as the guest of Hugo’s Manly on 17th February 2015.
