Ok, so here is the list of everything to be completed over the course of 1 year.
Read it at your leisure. It is very long...so you can just skip to the bottom where there is a list of what it is I could do with your help with…so if you want to comment, email, txt, whatever and let me know if you can help/what you want to join me on then please do so.
Chur.
THINGS TO DO:
1. Progressive dinner.
2. Make chocolate éclairs from scratch.
“The frantic beating of the choux pastry, the way they puff up in the oven, the piping in of the creme patisserie and finally the careful drizzling of the icing. Perfect with a cup of tea.”
“The frantic beating of the choux pastry, the way they puff up in the oven, the piping in of the creme patisserie and finally the careful drizzling of the icing. Perfect with a cup of tea.”
3. Go to the local library and “spend a lazy Saturday morning perusing cookery books and get some inspiration for free before hitting the shops.”
4. Wrap summer figs in salty pancetta, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and grill them on the barbeque – “unbelievable”.
“Raid the neighbours’ tree for summer figs”
“Raid the neighbours’ tree for summer figs”
5. Buy (from Nosh or Farro Fresh) L’Authentique chicken liver parfait and “smear it on warm toast or French bread”.
6. Have a picnic in each season:
a. One Tree Hill in spring “to see the lambs and daffodils”
b. Auckland Domain in winter “for the gardens and tree climbing”
c. Muriwai in summer “for the swooping flight of the gannets”
d. ________ in the autumn.
7. Eat fish and chips on Pt Chev beach “as the sun slowly sinks and the lights of West Auckland come up.”
8. Order coffee beans or espresso grind online from eightthirty.co.nz.
9. Pick my own tomatoes at Mr & Mrs Young’s (Pukaki Rd, Mangere).
“Eat them fresh, freeze them, sauce them, pulp them, bottle them.”
“Eat them fresh, freeze them, sauce them, pulp them, bottle them.”
10. Go to the Franklin market (Massey Ave carpark, Pukekohe) on a Saturday morning and buy “fresh flounder and kina, still-warm baked rewena bread, mussel fritters and pork buns and amazing local fruit and vegetable produce”.
11. Buy a three-litre or five-litre can of quality olive oil from Sabato (57 Normandy Rd, Mt Eden).
12. Buy some of the new non-alcoholic beverages – sparkling elderflower, pomegranate juice, hand-made boutique ginger bear.
13. Go to the Auckland Art Gallery and try the café on level 1 and the espresso bar on level 2. Also [try to] enjoy the art.
14. Have a honey tasting party. Order the “honey collection” packs from J. Friend & Co. (nzartisanhoney.co.nz). Guests bring the cheeses.
15. Get a home-smoker and experiment with smoking:
a. salmon
b. chicken
c. mussels
d. “wickedly flavoured” vegetables.
16. Go to the Clevedon Village Farmers Market (Clevedon Showgrounds, Monument Rd, Clevedon) on a Sunday morning between 8:30am-12pm. Try the Clevedon Valley Buffalo Mozzarella if nothing else – “soft, fresh balls of deliciousness”.
17. Go to E-pacs (12 Nandina Ave, East Tamaki) to “stock up on vegetarian and Asian ingredients and make sure you pick up some frozen Lazat Roti – they are sensational; re-heated they’re soft, flaky, perfect every time.”
18. Order Amrita Grape Juice from Millton Vineyards & Winery in Gisbourne…it’s only $10 per case to ship.
“A glass of this sweet and fragrant juice, packed full of antioxidants, each morning and you’ll think you’ve discovered the elixir of life.”
“A glass of this sweet and fragrant juice, packed full of antioxidants, each morning and you’ll think you’ve discovered the elixir of life.”
19. Go the some night markets. Try:
a. Pakuranga (Carpark of Westfield in Aylesbury St) on a Saturday year-round.
b. Takapuna Beach (Hurstmere Green) on a Thursday before March 29th.
20. Make my own spice pastes using a big, stone mortar and pestle.
21. Buy some saffron and add it to:
a. Tagines
b. Rice dishes
c. Sorbet
“Those tiny threads are worth more than gold per gram”
22. Get some real vanilla from Heilala Vanilla and do some baking and cooking with their “syrups, pastes, beans and more.”
23. Grow my own vegetables “and taste the difference.”
24. Buy cheeses from Pyrenees Deli (756 New North Rd).
“Indulge in some beautiful, stinky French cheeses…Roquefort…gooey brie and tangy fresh cheeses.”
“Indulge in some beautiful, stinky French cheeses…Roquefort…gooey brie and tangy fresh cheeses.”
PLACES TO GO:
25. Federal & Wolfe (Cnr Federal & Wolfe St, City Ph. 3599113): Kedgeree
“Soft flakes of smoked fish, slender grains of basmati rice, boiled egg and lemon all spiced up with a hint of curry. Glorious.”
“Soft flakes of smoked fish, slender grains of basmati rice, boiled egg and lemon all spiced up with a hint of curry. Glorious.”
26. The French Café (210 Symonds St, Newton Ph. 3771911): Crispy roast duckling.
27. Refreshment Room (233 Scenic Dr, Titirangi): Zucchini, mint and ricotta ravioli.
28. Kohu Road (44 Portage Rd, New Lynn Ph. 8279990): Ice cream.
29. Smith & Caughey – Bite Café (Queen St, City): Macaroni cheese, melting moment and a pot of tea.
“Don’t expect snappy service or even particularly outstanding fare, just go with the flow.”
“Don’t expect snappy service or even particularly outstanding fare, just go with the flow.”
30. Pukeko Bakery (1 Ayr St, Parnell Ph. 4755068): Homemade artisan bread.
31. Vinnies (166 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay Ph. 3765597): Spiced wild hare confit.
32. Ken Yakitori (89 K Rd, City): Fried squid tentacles.
“Perfect for taking care of the hunger while your skewers are being cooked over coals”.
“Perfect for taking care of the hunger while your skewers are being cooked over coals”.
33. Sidart (Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby): Roquefort cheesecake.
“…has to be one of the most sublime ways to finish a meal – a small sphere of Roquefort-infused ice cream, served with a chilled dessert wine. May it remain on the menu forever.”
“…has to be one of the most sublime ways to finish a meal – a small sphere of Roquefort-infused ice cream, served with a chilled dessert wine. May it remain on the menu forever.”
34. Depot Eatery (Depot 86 Federal St, City): Crisp pork hock and lamb ribs.
“They don’t take bookings, so go early.”
“They don’t take bookings, so go early.”
35. Up market Thai and Vietnamese flavours:
a. Moochowchow (23 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby Ph. 3606262) – Thai
b. Café Hanoi (Cnr Galway & Commerce Sts, Britomart Ph. 3023478) - Vietnamese
36. Richmond Rd Café (318 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn): Crumpets with whipped blackberry butter, beech wood honey and a piccolo.
37. Auckland Fish Market (22 Jellicoe St, Downtown): Thursday Night Live - $15 for a seafood main course, a glass of wine and live entertainment (5-9pm every Thursday).
38. SPQR (150 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby Ph. 3601710): Caprese salad.
“They use the freshest buffalo mozzarella from Clevedon and generously drape it in lashings of wonderfully pink, sweet and salty prosciutto.”
“They use the freshest buffalo mozzarella from Clevedon and generously drape it in lashings of wonderfully pink, sweet and salty prosciutto.”
39. “Start the day by going all international…”
a. Ima (Fort St, City): Middle Eastern eggs
b. Queenies Lunchroom (Spring St, Freemans Bay): Egyptian kosheri
c. Little Algiers (K Rd): Merguez baked bean cassoulet
40. Nadu Espresso & Juice bar (99 Nuffield St, Newmarket Ph. 5244065): One of the fresh juices.
41. Pah Café (72 Hillsborough Rd, Hillsborough Ph. 6241215): Green pea and feta fritters…
“…excellent coffee and a fun day out.”
“…excellent coffee and a fun day out.”
42. Wise Cicada (23 Crowhurt St, Newmarket Ph. 6241215): Anything off menu.
“wickedly god vegetarian and vegan food.”
“wickedly god vegetarian and vegan food.”
43. Albert’s Kitchen (West St, Pukekohe): Fig and walnut bread and baklava.
44. Eat doughnuts at:
a. Little & Fridays (12 Melrose St, New Market)
b. Little & Fridays (43 Eversleigh Rd, Takapuna)
c. Salvation Café (1843 Great North Rd, Avondale)
45. Hulu Cat Tea-house (28 Anzac Ave, City Ph. 3771868): Lemon-lime jelly tea.
46. Ripe Deli (172 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn Ph. 3606159): Lamb, spinach and bechamel cottage pie.
“…can make any bad day good. We like it cold.”
“…can make any bad day good. We like it cold.”
47. Everybody’s (Fort Lane, City): Cocktails.
48. Rabbithole Café (203 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay): Chicken club sandwich.
“Packed full of creamy mayo, poached chicken and celery.”
“Packed full of creamy mayo, poached chicken and celery.”
49. Coco’s Cantina (376-378 K Rd Ph. 3007582): Anything from the menu.
“…fab casual dining…the food reflects the honest flavours of all that is good about rustic Italian fare.”
“…fab casual dining…the food reflects the honest flavours of all that is good about rustic Italian fare.”
50. Meredith’s (365 Dominion Rd Ph. 6233140): Tasting menu – beetroot meringue.
“…the finest of the finest, give yourself the ultimate dining treat…Michael Meredith’s food personifies what it means to create glorious dishes using ingredients and inspiration solely from your surroundings.”
“…the finest of the finest, give yourself the ultimate dining treat…Michael Meredith’s food personifies what it means to create glorious dishes using ingredients and inspiration solely from your surroundings.”
So what I need from you is:
1. A few people to take on a course for the progressive dinner (pre-dinner snacks and dessert have already been sorted - thanks Shann).
2. The best profiterole recipe you have.
3. Someone who has a neighbour with a fig tree in which I can steal from.
4. An idea for the best autumn picnic (spot due to it being forgetten that there are four seasons).
5. Where to buy the best fish and chips near Pt Chev.
6. Support when drinking a coffee from the beans I purchase online, as coffee is not even close to my drink of choice.
7. Recipes for the tomatoes I’m going to be picking.
8. Someone to lend me a home-smoker.
9. Someone to also lend me their mortar & pestle? I’ll make you curry.
10. People to have breakfasts/lunches/dinners with me at all those restaurants/cafes.
11. Extra paid work in order to buy all these things.
i've got a mortar and pestle you can borrow. I think you may need to wait a year now to be able to pick those tomatoes, you've just missed tomatoe season. I've got a couple left but not enough to cook anything with! I think Greer's friend Kara has a fig tree, no idea what season figs are, and she lives out in Clevdon, not quite a neighbour, but she used to have a tree a while ago at least!
ReplyDelete