The Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic have had many unforgettable highlights throughout their history. These two NBA teams have produced memorable moments that basketball fans still talk about to this day. One of the most unforgettable moments between the Pistons and the Magic came in the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals. The series was tied 2-2, and Game 5 was a crucial match. With seconds left on the clock and the score tied, Tayshaun Prince of the Pistons made one of the most iconic defensive plays in NBA history. He chased down Magic's guard, Tracy McGrady, and blocked his potential game-winning layup.
The last time we visited Mount Ashby we had the cheese soufflé and the charcuterie board so this time we are trying something else. We go for one of their salads although the richer meat dishes are very tempting too. The trout and dill salad has garden greens, plenty of smoked trout and a delicious dill cream salad.
We do a little bit of shopping in Moss Vale town the shops are great for gifts and homewares and well worth stopping in before heading back to Throsby Street to our accommodation Moss Manor. Mr NQN has had a big week at work and just wanted to relax and given our beautiful surroundings and relentless rain we decided to stay in and have wine and a cheese platter.
He chased down Magic's guard, Tracy McGrady, and blocked his potential game-winning layup. This stunning block not only saved the game for the Pistons but also swung the momentum in their favor, leading to their series victory and ultimately an NBA Championship. Another unforgettable moment between these two teams occurred during the 1996-1997 NBA season.
Magic In Moss Vale & Southern Highlands Charm
It's time to head to the Southern Highlands town of Moss Vale for a luxurious weekend with great food, an incredible manor house and a gorgeous winery! Take a look at the very latest that this charming Southern Highlands town has to offer.
The rain beats down heavily on the windshield, the wipers swiping away the tears only for fresh drops to be delivered within milliseconds. It's a rainy start to our weekend in the Southern Highlands that promises nothing but precipitation combined with relaxation and cosy fires.
One and a half hours later we arrive in Moss Vale, the Southern Highland town that in the last few years is coming out of the shadows of its larger neighbours. We head to The What If Society for lunch. It is part food cooperative but mostly it's a café with a slightly different menu concept. In the absence of a traditional menu, customers order a plate according to size and then trust the chef to craft together a delicious meal. There is no bathroom on the premises so if you've made the drive from Sydney you may want to a petrol station or pub first.
Everything is made on the premises and there is also display of pickles and preserves to purchase. There is also a pastry cabinet with a range of house-made baked goods from slices, biscuits to cakes that you are unique to the cafe. They only use local produce and when it comes to buying meat, chef and owner Highlands born Eilish Maloney (ex Nomad) has much to consider. They break down all of the animals on site so they need to design a menu to make use of all of the animal.
Small But Mighty Plate $17
We order a small and a medium plate with the house made ginger kombucha and an excellent coffee. The small plate is two slices of house made sourdough bread topped with foraged saffron milk cap mushrooms, tarator and pickled onions. It's delicious and the perfect size for a small brunch or lunch.
Meet Me In The Middle Plate $24
The medium plate features a potato galette with curry sauce, gremolata, pickled onions and a soft poached egg. This is absolutely delicious and I have trouble handing over half of this to Mr NQN.
We finish our lunch on a sweet note with a caramel buttercream filled biscuit and a ball of chocolate cheesecake rolled in puffed quinoa which is light and moreish.
We do a little bit of shopping in Moss Vale town (the shops are great for gifts and homewares and well worth stopping in) before heading back to Throsby Street to our accommodation Moss Manor. We park in the car park behind the manor and the huge glass doors swing open and owner Louella Grattan-Smith greets us with a welcoming smile.
Moss Manor is housed in a Georgian mansion that opened as a hotel in August 2022. It was originally built in the 1890s as the local mayor Nicholas Throsby's house (after whom the street is named) and council chambers. The double storey manor has 8 rooms available and each is individually decorated in striking decor by Louella who has quite a thing for linens and textures. In each room she has placed statement pieces that she has collected over the years.
Louella left her life as a GP and transitioned into psychotherapy focusing on mind body medicine before she embraced her passion for the world of interiors and hospitality. The hotel features countless art pieces, all available for purchase should one take your fancy, all curated from the Defiance gallery in Paddington. Louella's former life as a GP has helped her to understand what people need and allowed her to create a sanctuary and retreat. She and her husband Tony set about doing some major renovations in the manor house during COVID.
Each room at Moss Manor has its own distinct personality from the expansive Sophia and Ruby rooms that sit in the front of the house to the Ivy suite decked out like a garden to the cosy Bea room (named after the bee hives that were on the premises). All of the rooms have bathrooms, most ensuites including an accessible room. It's a popular hotel for small weddings, milestone occasions, girls’ weekends and corporate retreats and they work with caterers for any in-house events although their staff are also very good cooks.
We are staying in Sophia, a room that is pure glamoour and yet homey at the same time. The bedroom has gorgeous Ralph Lauren curtains and the king bed is outfitted with soft linens. Heated floors, ducted air conditioning and a fireplace keep the room cosy. There's a mini fridge with mini bar and tea and coffee making facilites. Internet is fast and free for unlimited devices.
The main feature is the exquisite Roman marble bathtub that sits in the main room. There is also a separate shower and toiletries by Two Good Co. The bathroom doesn't have any doors which makes it more spacious but privacy can be a bit of an issue.
After we check in we head to the glass room, a very contemporary new addition to the back of the building that puts guests right among the foliage with views of the landscaped gardens and the bird life. Afternoon tea is served in this room and we sip cups of Happiness tea, an aromatic tisane and slices of a rich, moist house-made chocolate cake. Occasionally a train will rumble by.
This evening we are staying in. Mr NQN has had a big week at work and just wanted to relax and given our beautiful surroundings and relentless rain we decided to stay in and have wine and a cheese platter. The main town is literally a few minutes walk away but the rain chases away any such thoughts.
Caz brings us a cheese platter and wine. There are four cheeses on it (Maffra Cheddar, Long Paddock Silver wattle, Black Sheep Ashed sheep's cheese and Germain Courtin Goat Chevre) along with candied chestnuts in chestnut puree, house pickled guindillas and several types of crackers. Before she leaves for the day she checks if we need anything else and leaves a pot of happiness tea on the warmer and water before leaving. We feast on the cheese and sip glasses of local sparkling wine and port, try some almond cookies and macarons and sit back enjoying the silence having the whole house to ourselves.
The next morning after a good night of sleep I run the marble bath and sink in and relax before we get ready for breakfast.
This is no hastily cobbled together breakfast (although we knew that it wouldn't be). Louella brings us a plunger of Kenyan and Papua New Guinean coffee. The hotel manager Martine and her husband used to own Single Origin in Sydney and they blend the beans specially for Moss Manor. The first course is organic vanilla yogurt and blackberry compote with freshly squeezed orange juice. Louella also offers turmeric shots for guests.
Breakfast alternates day to day. One day might be the breakfast plate with prosciutto, Meredith goat's cheese and pesto topped tomatoes, toast, fruit and toast. There are also two soft boiled eggs from Louella's farm; she brings the scraps from Moss Manor to her nearby farm for the chickens.
Another day it could be house cured gravlax, half an avocado with caramelised balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, toast, eggs and fruit. The breakfasts are so delicious that even though we have lunch in a couple of hours we polish off most of it.
A few hours later we head off to Mount Ashby winery for lunch. It's raining but that gives us an excuse to sit inside by the fireplace and keep cosy. The food here is distinctly French from the menu to the staff and the French wine list that sits alongside Mount Ashby's own wine list.
We are still quite full from breakfast so while we'd love to have three courses we stick to one plus dessert to share. A nice touch is that Mount Ashby is dog friendly inside too and we watch two Jack Russell pups make themselves at home by the fire.
Trout and Dill Salad $32
The last time we visited Mount Ashby we had the cheese soufflé and the charcuterie board so this time we are trying something else. We go for one of their salads although the richer meat dishes are very tempting too. The trout and dill salad has garden greens, plenty of smoked trout and a delicious dill cream salad.
Slow Cooked Pork Belly $42
The slow cooked pork belly is a triumph. Cooked for 18 hours which renders the fat down so that it just the softest, most melting meat without being too fatty. It is served with a Mount Ashby rosé jus, silky cauliflower puree and green beans and a square of super crunchy crackling on top. And it pairs perfectly with a glass of the Mount Ashby diamond rosé wine that they used in the dish.
Mr NQN needs a coffee and we have the drive home so we figure why not have it as an affogato with a scoop of ice cream and Frangelico. We also know that we have afternoon tea waiting for us at Moss Manor.
Louella has some Eton Mess and a pot of peppermint tea waiting for us. The Eton mess has chunks of meringue, soft whipped cream and strawberries and is the perfect sweet ending to our stay in this beautiful manor house.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you sometimes just stay in an enjoy your accommodation when you go away? Do you like hotels with different rooms so that you can choose your room?
The meal at The What If Society was independently paid for. NQN and Mr NQN were guests of Moss Manor and Mount Ashby Winery but all opinions remain her own.
This was the first season after Magic Johnson's retirement, and the Magic were searching for a new leader. Rookie sensation and future Hall of Famer, Grant Hill, emerged as that leader for the Orlando Magic. In a game against the Pistons, Hill showcased his incredible skills and potential. He recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to achieve this feat in a playoff game. Throughout the years, both the Pistons and the Magic have had numerous exciting matchups, with players from both teams displaying their incredible talents. These unforgettable highlights serve as reminders of the intense rivalry and the impact these two teams have had in the NBA. Whether it is Tayshaun Prince's epic block or Grant Hill's triple-double, the Pistons-Magic matchups have provided basketball fans with unforgettable moments. These highlights solidify the legacy of both teams and contribute to the rich history of the NBA..
Reviews for "From Grant Hill's Heroics to Steve Francis' Explosive Dunks: Highlights from Pistons Magic Games"
1. John - 1 star - This video was a complete letdown. The so-called "unforgettable highlights" were boring and lacked the excitement I was expecting. The editing was subpar, and the music choices were uninspiring. I've seen far better compilations on YouTube, and this one simply doesn't live up to the hype.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with this video. The highlights seemed randomly put together without any coherent storytelling. The lack of context made it difficult to understand the significance of the plays shown. Additionally, the video quality was poor, and some of the clips were blurry. Overall, I didn't find anything memorable or enjoyable about it.
3. Michael - 2 stars - As a fan of the Pistons, I was excited to watch this video. However, it quickly became evident that the video lacked depth. It only showcased a few basic dunks and shots, failing to capture the true essence of the team's magic. I was hoping for more diversity in the plays featured, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver. The compilation felt rushed and poorly researched.
4. Emily - 2 stars - The "Pistons magic unforgettable highlights" video was a letdown. The selection of clips was underwhelming, showcasing only a handful of average plays. There was no wow-factor or a true representation of the team's remarkable moments. Disappointingly, the video lacked any memorable or outstanding highlights that truly captured the magic of the Pistons.
5. David - 1 star - I regret watching this video. The compilation lacked creativity and failed to capture the excitement and skill of the Pistons. The editing was choppy, and the music was mismatched with the plays shown. I expected unforgettable moments, but all I got was a boring and forgettable video. I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.