Break-ups are a bitch. No matter how you slice it, whether it’s you that calls it off or them it is no less painful. It’s an interesting phenomenon how our hearts naturally go out to the person that got dumped. For me, saying good bye to someone special is heart-wrenching. Even if you know that they are not for you, the fact is you did get together because of some pretty dazzling qualities they showed you that are hard to forget, you connected deeply and it can hurt like hell. A person very dear to me once told me that their definition of true love is your soul's recognition of its counterpoint in another - some of you may also recognise it as the line used by Vince Vaughan in Wedding Crashers to hit on unsuspecting female targets, dateless and looking for love. But really, this quote begs the eternal question. Is there really one person out there for you, or, are there many suitable mates for one person? My theory is that when we feel as if we have found our one and only love in our partner or spouse, we stop looking and being open. We cease to be aware of other potential soul mates around us. I like controversial theorist Barrie Dolnick’s definition of a soul mate as "someone who reflects or matches your energy and your path in life. ... whose power and potential are complementary to your own”.
But is the imminent notion of soul mates restricted to those we have had as lovers? Have you ever noticed that there are certain people who enter your life at a particular time for a reason that becomes apparent later? I have had a number of soul friends in my life, flitting in and out when I have needed them the most and leaving a lasting memory and the gift of being loved.
To commemorate the departure of one of my soul friends, a group of us went out to dinner at Cantina 663 (www.cantina663.com) in Mount Lawley. Cantina 663 is one of those rare places you go back to over and over again for the incredible food prepared using fresh, organic produce and cooked with a conscience. The food is inspired by what is best and in season and the wine list reflects the diversity of Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The locale itself is housed in Astor Lane. You can take a seat at the distressed, tobacco leather banquettes inside the restaurant or settle in at one of the tables that stretch into the arcade. The decor is rustic Spanish and creates the feeling of being in a well-worn cantina – ‘cantina’ is the Spanish word for wine cellar or saloon. It is warm, quirky and mixes just the right vibe of grungy cool and über chic for Mount Lawley’s ‘too cool to care’ glitterati.
Cocktails at Cantina 663 are sensational. My crew tried the Hendrick’s gin, tonic and cucumber and Espresso martini while I savoured a deliciously refreshing gin sour with maraschino cherries and went back for round two. Other tantalising offerings include a cantina house made sangria with brandy, Spanish gin, limoncello, lemon, lime, orange, clove, cinnamon, vino and soda or, what about the Midnite in Sicily – Appleton rum, ginger liqueur, averna, bitters, lemon and lime.
To start, we ordered the char grilled olive bread, the salumi platter with house pickles and duck liver parfait with onion jam. The bread was designer charred and had a wonderful smoky flavour. The salumi platter was a welcome surprise of hot and cold meats– Serrano ham, warm Italian blood pudding, grilled chorizo and house-cured bresaolo (cured beef). The meat tasted gutsy and packed a punch – a hearty dish for the strapping men at my table. The duck liver parfait at Cantina 663 is iconic and did not disappoint – creamy and decadent, the duck liver marries perfectly with the sweetness of the onion jam smeared on the seared bread. 
For mains Mr F – shredded dude # 1 had the house-made pappardelle with rabbit, sweet corn, bacon and mascarpone; Big W – shredded dude # 2 chowed down on the baked salmon with cider, potato, almond and french beans while shredded dude # 3 Dizzy-O and I knocked back the slow cooked lamb rump with bean stew, thyme, pecorino and lemon. All our meals were noteworthy but the house-made pasta with rabbit was definitely the star of the night!
Service at Cantina was friendly, fast and furious. We got booted off our table at 8pm. Here’s hoping that this was just a once off experience at Cantina 663 and that the charm it is known for doesn’t get blown away by its increasing success.
Despite the abrupt ending to our evening, we had a great night at Cantina 663. The meals are real soul food - simple, nourishing and keep you going back for more. Cantina 663 is also a good place to go for a quiet date and some real conversation. Who knows you may even find your soul mate. Rumi, the famous Sufi poet has a great poem about finding your one true love – he says “lovers don’t just find one each other, they are in each other all along.” Makes sense to me.
Passion Rating★★★★★
Food:★★★★☆
Service:★★☆☆☆
Ambiance:★★★☆☆
Overall:★★★1/2☆
No comments:
Post a Comment