Last Friday I took a day off from work to attend the Perth's Longest Lunch that was held at Crown Towers. This year was the first year I attended the charity lunch. Perth's Longest Lunch really stuck true to their famous six hours long lunch tradition that they did in the past.

If there's one thing that was really memorable from the Brightwater event, it was the opening video that showed the power of music in the life of a lady with Alzheimer's, Gaysie Wilson. It tugged a string in my heart and I hoped other peoples' lives as well because one day we will all get older.

There are many choices to be made in life but the hard truth of having Alzheimers is that it's not something we can decide on for ourselves.

Through Perth's Longest Lunch event, Brightwater was able to voice the kind of services that they offer for the ageing generation in the community as well as people with a neurological disability. I am thankful for Kate from Mills Wilson who kindly invited me to the event. Almost 1,000 people gathered last Friday and their generosity towards the Life's Possibilities fund will definitely help the Brightwater Care Group to have better music programs.

As for the lunch, we were so spoilt with a six-course degustation menu that was matched with some of WA's wines, all planned by Crown Towers' Executive Chef, Sean Marco. 5,500 and more individual dishes were pumped out from the kitchen by 150 banquet and kitchen staff. 

All ingredients for our food came from the Great Southern region. We started our amuse while we were waiting for the door to be opened ;-). It was delicious olive oil poached marron which was delicately topped with persimmon, finger line and cucumber. 

After all of us were seated, we welcomed our vegetable course, which was the beetroot fondant with roasted carrot skordalia, grilled baby leek, green olive, rosemary crisp and purple spouts. But if I can choose, my two favourite dishes from the day were the South West lamb followed by the roasted venison! Both were served just like a work of art.

I love the South West Lamb's presentation. The quandong curd became a perfect bed for the tender lamb and topped with mountain pepper, rosella and delicious bush plant: samphire. I couldn't imagine a busy kitchen trying to create a dish worth presenting to almost 1,000 people...!

The Roasted Venison was served together with chestnuts, glazed kohlrabi, pumpkin, brussel sprouts which provided beautiful green colour to the whole dish as well as sweet and sour plum.

I was waiting to see the dessert, a beautiful chocolate sphere with roasted hazelnut and fig ice cream. This was served together with the fortified Talijancich Swan Valley Liquer Verdelho. Liquer Verdelho was matured in a brandy cask for 5 years so it had the sweet honey like characteristic.

We were then treated to a plate of cheese and a box of handmade chocolate truffles that we couldn't finish (even the box was made of chocolate!). Where's that plastic container when I need one ;-).

Brightwater has a very talented house band called Proof that performed on the day, they were really good. We really enjoyed all the music performed by Internationally acclaimed violinist Patrick Roberts, electro-cellist duo Hanna Oblikov and DJ Mr Chad, and XFactor Jess & Matt. MC Shane Jacobson was really friendly, delightful and entertaining too.

Perth's Longest Lunch will return to Crown Towers on Friday the 18th of May 2018! Don't forget to save the date from now ;-).