Regional NZ Restaurants

[drron]

Hoping others will add to this thread.We had a couple of amazing meals in our short NZ stay.The first was in Hawke's bay.The Elephant Hill Vineyard restaurant.

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Nice views.

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The menu.

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Food next.

 

[drron]

We began with the oyster sampler.The fried oysters were sensational.the best I have had and the citrus granita on the iced oysters was really good.

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Mrsdrron then had the waygu tartar and I the duck dumplings.

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She then had a second appetiser,scallops.I had the smoked pork fillet.

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A feast for the eyes.Textures and the different ingredients went together extremely well.Tastes-sensational.
Then desserts.Mrsdrron had a tapioca pudding.Again brilliant.

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And I had the chevre mousse and rosemary ice cream.

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Thoroughly reccomended.it is expensive but still good value.Above all booking is a must.Many turned away the day we were there.

 

[drron]

The second excellent meal we had was in Hamilton-Chimchooree.

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Certainly not over the top decor.but here is the menu.

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As usual mrsdrron loves her Sav blanc and there is a great choice in NZ.

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An amuse bouche-duck liver parfat on toast.

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We did wonder as this certainly was not that appealing to the eye but tasted good.however any doubts were soon allayed.mrs drron had the
seared Atlantic scallops.She rated it superb.

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Now they had a sahimi and a cerviche on the menu.For many years I have loved these seafood dishes.As I couldn't decide I had both.

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The cerviche especially was very good.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron had a second appetiser instead of a main as she had already decided she wanted dessert.She had the tiger prawns without chilli and enjoyed them.

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I had the sous vide lamb with sweetbreads.Magnificent.

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I was feeling good so decided to have a port with dessert.I was also thinking of the 1927 sherry but as I have been lucky enough to have had a couple of bottles of it before it was definitely the port.Besides it is from the oldest port house in the Douro.
Kopke

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Mrsdrron had the rice pudding,I the lemongrass pannacotta.Both superb.

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With the bottle of wine and the port the bill was $NZ177 which I thought was great value.
Definitely recommended.

 

[NZflygirl]

I find these food threads torture!

I had dessert and I think some sort of fries at Elephant Hill and they were delicious. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal at a winery. Pricey maybe but not bad food. Craggy range looks expensive but I remember them bringing out more than what I ordered. Some extra bits thrown in there. Had a proper dinner there one time which was also super good. I haven't been back since they changed their tasting room but they were going to make an area for a more personalised experience. I love the architecture, mountains and little lake.

I'm not a big Hawkes Bay wine fan but still love the region and going to the wineries. I'm not really enjoying the 2018 Savs. Suspect 2019 will be the same. I see you have a 2017 thought which is better than the 2018.

 

[burmans]

Have to see if I have any pictures but Rata in Queenstown well worth seeking out!

 

[drron]

For our last night in Hamilton we went to Palate which we really have enjoyed.Since our last visit they have moved to much larger premises and we feel it has lost it's soul.It's on the bank of the Waikato though you can't see the river.

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The Menu.

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Naturally a bottle of sav Blanc.

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Mrsdrron started with the oysters and I had the trevally sashimi.

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The sashimi I felt was just trying to be too clever and it just didn't all go together.
For mains mrsdrron had the market fish and I the venison topside.

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Nice food but lacking any pizzazz.
The service was pretty ordinary too.A nice young woman but really no knowledge of the food.
An OK meal but not recommended.It cost just 50 cents less than at Chimchooree where we had more and better food.
We decided not to try desserts.

 

[EestiTiger]

I don't have any pictures to hand of when I visited a couple of years ago but Poppies in Martinborough was a delightful space with good food and wine

Poppies Martinborough

www.poppiesmartinborough.co.nz