We are in desperate need for another holiday! Need a relaxing, non-stressful, beach chilling holiday. Just us.

Until then, we’ll have to make do with the start of Spring this week! It’s been a glorious sunny 21 degrees over the weekend, and summer won’t be too long away!

Crown Casino have also got us covered in terms of getting us in the vibe of a holiday with their Colours of Cuba at Crown event that launched on the 18th of August and ends on the 14th of September.

If you’ve passed by Crown Casino, you will no doubt have seen the Colours of Cuba posters and signage all around. They’ve even got their restaurants taking part in the fun.

The Boy and I attended the launch of this event and enjoyed a good many dishes and cocktails as inspired by Cuba.

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Starting at Nobu Melbourne, we were spoilt with the selection of dishes that kept coming from the kitchen!

All the food served were in the bar, cocktail lounge above the restaurant and tapas styled. We sampled:

• Beef Tataki with Ponzu and Garlic Chips
• Crispy Rice and Spicy Tuna
• Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño
• Salmon Tataki with Tosazu
• Fish and Chips Nobu Style
• Whitefish wrapped in Kataifi with Apple Sauce and Creamy Wasabi
• Blackmore Wagyu Intercostal (exclusive to Nobu Melbourne)
• Omakase Sushi Platter

We were torn with naming our favourite items that were served as everything was so tasty. I definitely had to say my favourites were the Kataifi wrapped fish and for The Boy, the Wagyu Intercoastal dish.

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Obviously, it wouldn’t be the same dining at Nobu if we didn’t get to sample a couple of Cuban inspired cocktails! Here is a glimpse of the drinks that are on offer throughout the Colours of Cuba festival. Prices of each cocktail on offer are set at $19 or $19.50 🙂

• Fidel Castro – Havana dark rum, house made ginger syrup, fresh lime, vanilla, topped with dash of dry ginger
• White Mariposa (national flower of cuba) – White Cuban rum, coconut and luxardo maraschino
• Beach Comber (Nobu version of a mai tai) – Dark rum, white rum, cointreau, fresh lemon and lime juice, dash of orgeat
• Cuba Colada – Pineapple puree, coconut, cointreau, fresh mint
• Sanchez – Aged Cuban rum, coconut, yuzu liquor, pineapple
• Hemingway Daiquiri – 3yr old Cuban rum, fresh grapefruit, maraschino, lemon and lime juice

*Offer is available from selected menu between 18 August and 14 September 2014. Offer excludes public holidays and is subject to availability.

Address:
Nobu Melbourne
Riverside at Crown Melbourne Australia
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank VIC 3006

Phone: (03) 9292 7879

Website: http://www.noburestaurants.com/melbourne/experience

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After a pretty good feast at Nobu, we then progressed on to The Waiting Room where more food and cocktails awaited us! We’d never been to The Waiting Room before and were pleasantly surprised by how plush and glamorous it all looked. It certainly brought back memories of our time in Vegas.

From their Hemingway Bar, we sampled their Cuban inspired dishes that were paired with Cuban inspired Cocktails. Snacks on offer are:

• Fried Plantains – Salsa Fresca
• Black Bean and Sweetcorn Tacos
• Cuban Pulled Pork Slider
• Croquetas de carne (three pieces)

Our favourite was definitely the Cuban Slider. Soooooo droolworthy.

With the cocktail menu, it was broken down into a few sections

• The Classic
  Daiquiri – White rum, cane sugar, lime
• The Signatures
  Mary Pickford – Rosemary infused white rum, house-made strawberry spiced grenadine, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur
  Cine Cuba Libre – Popcorn infused white rum, fresh lime, phoenix organic cola
• The Deconstructed
  Nuevo Mojito – House-made lime sorbet, mint infused rum, champagne air

My new found favourite drink right now is definitely the Cine Cuba Libre! Popcorn infused rum! This needs to stay permanently on the menu!

Address:
The Waiting Room
Ground Floor
Crown Towers
Southbank VIC 3006

Phone: (03) 9292 5777

Website: http://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/The-Waiting-Room

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From The Waiting Room, we walked along the river for the Colours of Cuba light installation and timed it just right for Crown’s nightly hour fire show. We continued walking along the Promenade before making our way back into the building and up the escalators through the bridge walkway to gaze upon the magnificent photos on display from Cuba. It surely was a colourful gallery!

We ended the night with a nightcap at Mr Hive Kitchen and Bar and bid adiós to the beautiful sights, sounds and taste of Cuba.

Other Key Events at Crown celebrating the Colours of Cuba:

Switch on Cuba
Monday 18th August Crown will come alive with a brilliant series of projections on the exterior of Crown Melbourne and throughout the Atrium. Images taken from Havana will illuminate Southbank and create a scene of Cuba in the Atrium that guests can turn into an interactive photo opportunity.

Casual Dining
Guests seeking a more casual dining experience can also indulge in the Cuban experience with Cotta, Margo’s and Jimbo & Rex serving Classic Cuban Sandwich, Paella Gubana, Mojito Chicken, Hemingway’s Salmon, Frita Cubana ranging from $16 – $22. Jackpot, Double Up Bar, Tonic and Lumia will also be shaking up a selection of Cuban cocktail.

Buffet Dining
A Cuban Buffet offering may be more suitable for some and these will be available in the Conservatory, Kitchen Workshop and Mesh from August 18th.

Sunset Salsa – Cool Nights, Hot Dancing
Wednesday 20 August, Wednesday 27 August & Wednesday 3 September
Forget winter and soak up all the colour, heat and music of Cuba at Groove Live Bar & Terrace. Arrive early to learn some moves and sip on a Havana Rum cocktail, or stay late for when the party really starts.
7 – 8pm: Learn to dance Cuban style
8 – 10pm: Live entertainment by local Cuban band, Vatos Locos

Roving Entertainers
Throughout Level 1 Casino, guests will see roving entertainers in authentic Cuban costume.
Wednesdays: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Thursdays: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Fridays and Saturdays: 6.00pm – 12.00am
Sundays: 1pm – 6pm

For more information, visit Crown Melbourne

[Ms I-Hua and The Boy were invited as guests to Crown’s Colours of Cuba by Hatch Communications and Crown Melbourne]