Thursday, October 26, 2006
Eat Food
Martin Bosley's Yacht Club Restaurant (Wellington)
In my eating out experiences thus far, this place has provided the best food and dining experiences ever. It was a dream. Except I wasn't dreaming. Funny really, because it's been over a year since I was last there, but the memories of this place still stand out - even the fabulous French Cafe couldn't top it. And that's saying something (especially how I love French Cafe's salt and pepper squid).
Martin Bosley's Yacht Club Restaurant isn't large - in fact if memory serves me right, there are only about 10 tables. So the staff are extremely attentive (without being overbearing) and the service is seriously impeccable (without being snooty). The menu is mostly seafood based - no wonder, given that the location is right over the Wellington Harbour on Oriental Parade. Everything is so fresh that it's as though you caught it yourself that day, the presentation is exquisite and it all tastes sooooooooo good. The great chef himself served our main courses (as he did for all the tables that night) - how's that for a mark of service???
http://www.martin-bosley.com/about.htm
Friday, October 13, 2006
Make food
Avocados
Yay summer's approaching - food options are so great in the summer. Food preparation is so quick - tasty salads can be tossed together in a flash, the fruits are so tasty and, in NZ, relatively cheap. Seafood is plentiful and fresh...and avocados are in! They're the thing to have when you've got a bit of a barbie happening in your backyard and you need a quick dip to go with the endless bags of crisps... and it's so easy.
Quick guacamole
1 avocado, seed removed
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, seeded and finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 wedge of lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Using the back of a spoon, crush the avocado to a paste. Consistency can be as chunky or smooth as you like. Combine with the chopped red onion, tomato, crushed garlic and lemon juice (lemon juice helps prevent the avocado going a nasty shade of brown). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Ta da... this is best prepared immediately before serving. Serve with fresh bread or chips - whatever you need a dip for really! Personally I go for Abe's bagel crips or the Pita crisps - garlic and sesame seed. Mmmm.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
See food
I always like to check out the menus of places to eat before I choose a restaurant. I don't even want to think about how many menus I've collected over the last few years. All decent restaurants should set up websites and upload their menus - make sure they're up to date!
Check out the following links to some places I've either been to or will put on my list to try...
Mikano
A great location right on the water, delicious menu, great atmosphere and flawless staff. You can even book online - that's really the greatest thing for diners since sliced bread!
http://www.mikano.co.nz/home/
Toto
I keep meaning to try this place - love Italian food. I've heard some great things about it so it's definitely on the list.
http://www.totorestaurant.co.nz/
Soto
Soto is the loveliest Japanese restaurant in Auckland - I've been to quite a few, this place is by far the best - better than Katsura, which for so long held the title as Auckland's best Japanese restaurant. They don't seem to have their own webpage, but you can see their menu (and diners' comments) at the link here.
http://www.eatout.co.nz/customers/cust.106355.html
I always like to check out the menus of places to eat before I choose a restaurant. I don't even want to think about how many menus I've collected over the last few years. All decent restaurants should set up websites and upload their menus - make sure they're up to date!
Check out the following links to some places I've either been to or will put on my list to try...
Mikano
A great location right on the water, delicious menu, great atmosphere and flawless staff. You can even book online - that's really the greatest thing for diners since sliced bread!
http://www.mikano.co.nz/home/
Toto
I keep meaning to try this place - love Italian food. I've heard some great things about it so it's definitely on the list.
http://www.totorestaurant.co.nz/
Soto
Soto is the loveliest Japanese restaurant in Auckland - I've been to quite a few, this place is by far the best - better than Katsura, which for so long held the title as Auckland's best Japanese restaurant. They don't seem to have their own webpage, but you can see their menu (and diners' comments) at the link here.
http://www.eatout.co.nz/customers/cust.106355.html
