Golden light at Golden Fields.

We ran into N from next door while we were hanging out the washing after the kid had gone to bed one night last week, when the teeth from the devil were cuttin' through. We looked like shit, clearly (or maybe she'd heard the screaming), because she asked if we were ok in that way that people do when they know you're not. I promptly burst into exhausted tears, and when she offered to come and mind the kid one night, we pounced with the gratitude of the desperate.

It happened to be our second wedding anniversary on the weekend, so last night, with N installed on the couch with a glass of vino and S next door cooking their dinner, we splashed out, and strolled our mid-week selves beachward, for a fancy-pants evening at Golden Fields.

We started outside at sunset, with drinks and salty soy sunflower seeds, and moved indoors when a seat came up at the bar. We were right opposite the open kitchen, and were served by the man himself as we worked our way through a feast fit for damn hell ass kings.

For posterity, and because I was too busy eating to take pictures:
* Grass-fed Black Angus beef, kimchi purée, egg yolk, crudite (I forgot we ordered this and was a little startled by the appearance of a dish of raw beef, but wow, it was spectacular.)
* New England lobster roll, hot buttered bun, cold poached crayfish, watercress & Kewpie (Every bit as excellent as I had hoped. Cross it off the list!)
* Rustic pork dumplings, Shanghai chilli vinegar (Oh my lord. Finest pork bun in the known universe. I don't even like pork buns. Pretty sure I'll never like another one.)
* New season asparagus, smoked hens egg, pea purée, rice puffs (Smokey! Crunchy! Smooth! Green! Yes!)
* Slow roasted salt pork hock, pickled cabbage, tamarind (I could have doused myself in the cabbage juices and licked myself clean. Or something. It was fucking brilliant.)
* Peanut butter parfait, salted caramel, soft chocolate (I die. I die and go to dessert heaven.)

Everything we ate was a goddamn triumph, and we had the best spot in the house in which to do it. LOVED the kitchen view... Apprentices slowly slicing cucumbers and peeling shallots until they cry, sous chefs with slender wrists simmering greens and plating chicken like they're playing a symphony, the whole thing like well-oiled clockwork. Satisfied customer, yes ma'am. We are the luckiest people on the planet.

Happy Anniversary, my love.