Eat Like Ushi

During the winter, Santa is a Brazilian churrasco with meat skewers (and assumably smells) filling the room. In the relatively warmer and quieter summer season, there is an a la carte menu that has Brazilian elements but certainly much less so. In any case there were enough Brazil bits to bring me here (and honestly the other options in Thredbo for dinner are quite limited...)

Immediately upon sitting the hostess asked if I'd like some Brazilian bread whilst reading the menu. My reflexes said no to bread, until I read it on the menu and reconsidered my decision. Next time just don't say no to Brazilian bread.

- Brazilian Cheese Bread (tapioca cheese bread wit brazil nut dukkah & olive oil) $6.5 - warm firm outsides and a doughy interior that is actually cheese rather than unrisen dough. The dukkah was salty and delicious although it was impossible to get any balsamic through the olive oil;
- Prawn & Snapper Moqueca (northern Brazil fish dish with coconut milk, tomato, capsicum, dende & coriander served with quinoa puff) $34 - a good number of prawns and reasonably well cooked fish in a creamy coconut milk-based curry;
- BBQ Pork Fillet & Spicy Chorizo Rotisserie Sword (with house sides of rice, polenta chips, black beans, salad) $34 - the meats were removed from the sword at the table. Chorizo was very mild but the pork was extremely tender and well flavoured;
- Baby Beetroot, Palm Heart & Fetta Salad (with crispy polenta, kiss peppers & salad leaves) $16 - a nice salad mix of juicy beetroot, heart of palm (which I have a can of at home and been waiting to work out how to use) and these small kiss peppers that look like tomatoes but have an unusual tangy sourness.

The food is quite expensive overall (as are most dining options in Thredbo) but nonetheless satisfying and filling. I'd happily eat these dishes again or hopefully try the churrasco adornment of meats.

As the number one TA place in Thredbo, I was curious how this breakfast and lunch cafe was going to be. Considering the (very) small village I wouldn't be surprised if everyone ate (or at least ordered their coffee) at this central cafe. Once I walked past and actually saw the menu printed outside, I could see why. The lunch options looked excellent and showcased the Asian influence that did seem almost slightly unexpectedly out of place in a small part of Australia (although I accept there's quite a lot of traffic especially during snow season).

Unfortunately I couldn't stay for lunch (Bali lamb, beef ribs, pork belly, lemongrass duck etc.) but one breakfast item really piqued my interest and convinced me to checkout late just to come here. The real tragedy is that after sitting down the next morning I was told the Fried Eggs on Kumara and Zucchini Rosti with Katta Sambal and Hot Smoked Agave Salmon was not available. What the hell... I didn't bother to ask why. Sadly the side extra of salmon was "standard" and not hot smoked agave. Oh well...

- Soy chai latte - an extraordinarily sweet and syrupy concoction topped with way too much cinnamon powder until it clumped. Definitely one to avoid next time;
- Balsamic Marinated Mushrooms (with crisp haloumi, dusted with pinenut dukkah & organic poached eggs) $20 - portobello mushrooms that exuded juice, topped with unexpected thin haloumi strips;
- Breakfast Burrito (with bacon, cheese, spinach, hash brown, jalapeno salsa, sour cream & poached egg) $20 - a delicious heavy combination of all good breakfast things wrapped in crisp toasted wrap. I was sold on the hash brown and all the elements came together very well.

Next time I would order the Fried Eggs dish I wanted (if available) or otherwise the Breakfast Burrito. Otherwise try and time your visit to have the lunch menu instead. The coffee must be better than the chai.