Not so rosy

On my way to Mudgee I stopped in Goulburn, for what Trip Advisor had suggested as a 4.8 star Eggs Benedict. My timing was perfect for lunch. When I arrived much of Montague Street was closed for a market. I found a parking space on the High Street and embraced the walk passed the shops and through Belmore Park, with its lush, green, grass and beautiful, colourful beds.

The Roses Café overlooks the garden, but as I took up the only table available outside I realised, I would have a glorious view of the Grinders sign and the feet of other patrons at a table that wobbled like a watery jelly.

I asked the waiter; ‘Hi, I wonder, Is this a table service or counter service café? What I though was a polite, reasonable question was met with a growl and point at the counter.

Counter service then.

I used the facilities and then order Eggs Benedict with Bacon and a large latte.

01.EGGS BENEDICT SERVED ON SOUR DOUGH
Served Poached Eggs, Baby Spinach, Hollandaise Sauce & choice of Ham, Salmon or Bacon

When I returned to Fe, she gave me side eye because I’d been gone for so long. I think she forgets I can’t just squat in the grass like she does. Plus, she knows there’s food coming. She can smell it, long before I do. Hence. Bacon. And not the veggie option, not that there is one at this café.

As my very own pigeon waited for her crumbs, I looked up the rest of the drive. We were taking it slow, as while going for work, I was using it as a tech free weekend. It was fun looking at a map, old school. It’s not like I haven’t done the drive before, but it always pays to be prepared.

My coffee arrived with a thud. Spilling the top centimetre into the saucer and overflowing onto the table. I feared asking for extra napkins to wipe it up, because my food hadn’t arrived yet. I simply angled the table away from me and let the fluid drain to the pavement, then mopped up the residue with my single napkin.

Food arrived. The furry pigeon perked up.

It looked good but something was amiss.

A moment of consideration revealed the problem. The layers where in the wrong order.

Instead of toast, spinach (optional), protein, eggs and sauce on top, this one went toast, sauce, spinach, eggs, bacon on top.

With a tired rocket side salad.

Fe didn’t care, it meant I didn’t have to suck the sauce of the bacon morsels first as I set a few aside to cool as she watched with focused attention.

Now, I’m not adverse to change, unless it’s completely unnecessary and actually makes things worse. In this case, this change succeeded in both downsides of change. As a former change manager I am in a unique position to comment when change for change sake, f*cks things up royally.

The bacon was nice. The sauce, sadly was packet, but it didn’t really matter because 90% of it had soaked in the toasted Vienna White by the time I acted to scrap the topping off the bread. It may have worked on the promised sour dough, but by the time the meal had got to me, the bed was nothing but a soggy mess.

I ate what was left of my food, drank my coffee, and made my way back to the car as Fe sniffed every. single. blade. of. grass. and post.

We got back on the road to our ultimate destination. A campsite in Mudgee for a night of star watching from the swag with a glass of local red.

About an hour and a half later, the heavens opened and drenched everything it touched. The rain continued until about 10 minutes outside Mudgee.

The bread was a foreshadowing of my planned night under canvas.

Soggy and ultimately aborted.

Fe did enjoyed her bacon nibbles though.

I might go back to The Roses and give them the benefit of the doubt that it was market day and they may have been busier than expected. I won’t be rushing though.

Location: The Roses Cafe and Catering Co.
Address: 10 Montague St, Goulburn NSW 2580
Website: www.therosescafe.com.au

EB Price: $20