Sometime back before Christmas, the food bloggers met up for another outing. We splitted into two groups, with one visiting Gordons' Grill at Goodwood Park and the other (including me) going to La Strada, the Italian wing of Les Amis Group!
Kaelyn had made a reservation for six beforehand so we were able to have a rather cosy corner to ourselves. The place had a casual modern decor, elegent but not as stiff as fine-dining would be. Staffs were warm and friendly, dictating the lunch menu to us patiently and were meticulate in details.
Compliementary Bread and Oven-baked Pizza
The bread was pretty average but the pizza, which was offered halfway through our appetisers, was a pleasent surprise. Smeared simply with tomato paste and herb, it had a slight chewy texture with crispy edges. I would prefer the dough to be a bit more thin but really it was a nice bonus to our meal.
Duo Of Crostini, Apple and Carrot Soup
I opted for the first one as my starter, and it turned out to be a good choice! The olive spread topped with tomotos complimented each other perfectly, with the deep, saltiness of the spread pairing well with the light juicy tomatoes. The other bread was topped with pork ragu which the flavour faintly reminded me of canned tuna, but richer with a much better texture. Nice!
Gavin was the only one who had the soup, so you should read his review about it!
Salmon Salad, Tuna Salad with Poached Egg
Kaelyn asked for her salad to be served with tuna but it came with salmon instead, realising it only after a few confirmation bites. We joked that we should have eaten more of the salmon before asking for an exchange! The proper one came awhile later with a nice runny poached egg in the middle.
Char-grilled Sirloin, Pan-fried Salmon
All of us chose these two for mains, conveniently leaving out the chicken option. I had my steak to medium-rare doneness and it was wonderfully tender and juicy, good ol beefy taste with a charred flavour. Served with salad and mashed potato, there was no need for sauces at all!
Replacing mashed with roasted potatoes, the salmon was also commented to be very well-done. Seems like all of us enjoyed our mains rather well!
Pecan Tart with Basil Ice Cream
With a two course meal, you can choose to have a main with either a appetiser or desserts. The pecan tart was average for me, but the basil ice cream was really interesting. Usually used as seasonings, it had a savoury sweet flavour that was really unique!
Mini Madeleines
And what's a better way than to finish an excellent lunch with a cup of hot tea and freshly baked madeleines?
With the two-course set lunch at 28++ (three-course for 34++), La Strada is a nice place to pamper yourself for a slow, enjoyable lunch experience. And its even better to do so in the company of like-minded friends!
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