The TGIF wander

Last Friday’s TGIF wander reminded me of some of the characterful, fun and tasty small venues we have around the city (in this case the Courtenay quarter). Firstly a ‘You Sexy Thing’ mocktail at Vinyl bar.  A creamy chai and caramel creation which hit the spot nicely on a warm summer’s evening. There’s something about […]

Happy tasty new year…

We’ve been silent a while haven’t we.  Here’s a few tasty (and generally healthier) morsels and a tipple I’ve tripped over through New Years: Plum café’s bircher muesli – oats, almond milk, greek yoghurt, fresh mango and toasted coconut. Pleasing density and flavour. Ombra’s mushroom parmesan and rocket ciabatta breakfast (8am-12noon).  Such a better time of […]

Naughty but nice

In the run-up to Xmas here’s some delicious eats and drinks around town I might have had to sample recently: CGR Merchant’s salted caramel infused rum and the best value $15 cheeseboard ever had. Betty’s dry iced sharing teapot cocktails. Friday and Saturday evenings only. Hideaway’s pecan pie.  Twice. Anything AroBake – baby xmas mince […]

Just spotted….

Beer-[and Firetruck, Goose Shack and Tommy Millions]-a-licious… (for those without microscopes – food stalls, live music, beer and other nice stuff at the Brewery on Vivian Street 12noon-8pm on Sat 6 Dec, Sat 31 Jan, Sat 21 Feb)

Nga Manu Nature Reserve (Waikanae)

Yep, its not food.  But I was seriously impressed with this place in our back yard that I had no clue existed. Nga Manu is the largest remaining remnant of coastal lowland swamp forest on the Kapiti Coast, and was established as a reserve in 1974.  It has developed over the years to the well laid […]

Long live the Long Lunch

The Mediterranean’s have it right. I went to the Logan Brown November Fresh Friday lunch club today. Sean (Clouston) decides on the dishes each week based on what’s fresh and appealing at the markets and his travels and wallah! What a fantastic way to get into the weekend groove. Today’s courses were LB bread and gazpacho […]

Another Laneways opportunity…

On the back of the successful Hannahs Laneway event during WOAP, the Ti Kouka et al folks are at it again – this Saturday with a Day of the Dead Fiesta. These celebrations in Mexico are traditionally a three-day event from 31 October to 2 November to remember those who are no longer with us.  For more […]

New nosh

There’s a few new eating places of prominence opened or opening shortly for your (mostly) carnivorous pleasure. Poneke have opened beneath the new Clyde Quay apartments – a marriage between Mojo (usual café ambience and cabinet fare) and Martin Bosley (meals). I’m not completely sold on the price points (especially for the small plates), but […]

Do I look like a burger yet?

So a further update on the WOAP menus and burgers (some just because they’re within easy striking distance of one’s corporate workplace)… Pan de Muerto’s Mollete (pictured minus its lid for photographic purposes) was pretty good but could have done with more pork in proportion to the nasty beans. Charlie Bill’s Miss Piggy is Hot to […]

A stomach explosion…

And not as a result of the Cooking with Ice: Liquid Nitrogen demo. Yes this middle of the night post is a direct result of WOAP weekend eyes-bigger-than-stomach issues.  I somehow managed to have three events this first weekend, and to squeeze in a burger as well (plus observe others squeezing in more). So to the burgers […]