Crème brulee, a winning burger and the cancan

This week I have to mention Hashigozake, Ti Kouka’s winning WOAP burger and Newtown’s Cancan.

The first find was a long-sought New York Crème Brulee stout at Hashigozake, yippee!  After a year’s withdrawal from said nectar (yes you do need a sweet tooth), it went down nicely with goat penang pie and left one happily dancing home in last Wednesday’s downpour (although it might be fair to confess that my New York experience of it with deep-fried chocolate brownie might just pip the post as the ultimate creme brulee stout experience).

Hashigozake are one of the original Wellington craft beer bars, and remain free from bigger brewery bondage.  They are also lining up another craft beer and food match with Tatsushi (Japanese restaurant on Victoria Street) on 1 and 2 October, so that might be worth a go if you’re available (be in quick given Tatsushi’s size).

Also in the be-in-quick category is the re-run of the 2013 WOAP winning ‘All About Longbush Pork Burger’ at Ti Kouka from 9 – 21 September.  I understand they’re only doing a set number per day, so book during the week and be in early on Saturdays (no bookings on weekends).

The All About Longbush has Wairarapa large black pig bacon, roasted pork belly and pulled pork shoulder, with pickled cucumber, hoisin mayonnaise and iceburg on a steamed bun.  I haven’t managed to get my jaws around one yet, but it’s certainly rated by all who partake.

And lastly for this week, I had a very pleasant sunny Saturday stroll to the French Cancan at Newtown.  A gorgeous range of pastries and cakes tucked away down the back of the Lychgate mall, what a delight!  I appreciated being greeted by the French staff with a Bonjour and thanked at the end with a Merci, and can highly recommend Cancan as a place to tuck away with the newspaper, a magazine, or a catch up with friends.

The metro-males among us will need to prepare for the amount of pink that comes with the experience, and I defy you to go there and not exit with a take home bag as well.

Bon appétit.