Hunger is Non Negotiable sign at Elliott Stables

I’m a chicken with heights let me admit that right now. It’s this forceful fear that prevents me from getting up on a ladder beyond the fourth step and so I stand white knuckled, looking 186 metres down. Allow me to explain. With a little bit of time to kill we went to the Sky Tower where we could view the splendour of Auckland from 186 metres up. There is a see through rim where your sight can plunge all the way down to the ground. Even though the signs say that the glass is very thick, I’m not taking any chances and I walk gingerly around that (as does everyone else! ). An interesting tidbit is that the equivalent of 8,765,903 gumboots full of concrete were used to build the Sky Tower.

We met these folks at Sky Tower

It was a fairly clear day so we could see quite f into the distance while Mr NQN looked out for Louis Vuitton cup boats in the harbour below. I amused myself with buying bar of Pineapple Lump chocolate, something that I had seen my NZ friends get rather excited over. And we bumped into Captain Feathersword!

My lumps, my lumps, my lovely pineapple lumps!

We walk to downtown Auckland and do some shopping adn past Elliott Stables which are mostly closed this Sunday afternoon before making our way to the viaduct  harbourside area.

We’re seated outside as we have requested and the light is quite bright shining in our eyes and on this Sunday afternoon the crowds seem relaxed. Service here reminds me of Sydney, some anxious serious floorstaff and the occasional relaxed waiter.

Marinated kingfish with ponzu, salmon caviar and shitake mushrooms $17.00

The very prettily presented kingfish dish which sounded so divine is a little overwhelmed with the black sesame and the sauce. It’s a good sized serving though for the sashimi style kingfish and I like the generous amount of roe on top.

Soul’s chowder with hapuku, mussels, shrimps and saffron $17.50

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Getting up early is a hard task when travelling. Sure you’re excited to see new things but travelling can be hard on the  body and after our long hike Mr NQN and I were tired and needed a little sleep in. So whilst we were supposed to leave the hotel at 8am and get to Matakana at 10am, we allowed ourselves a little sleep in and leave at 9am instead. We take the well signposted drive to Matakana and arrive to find the small town absolutely buzzing.

Organic garlic

Organic nashis and free range and organic eggs

Mmm figgies!

Cars are trying to park any which way they can. There are people walking past with fresh creates of eggs, bunches of vivid red roses and all sorts of edible goodies. We find a park and take a look. It’s a small farmer’s markets but a well patronised one. We start off in one section where there are eat and go containers of mussels sold with forks that are already shelled. They come in garlic, chilli and other flavours.

Eat and go mussels

Grape bread!

Buffalo milk cheese and yogurt

We stop by a Buffalo milk stall where they sell yogurt, freshia which is a soft non melting cheese and a young and a slightly more mature brie. Buffalo milk is low in fat and slightly tangy so that it tastes like a low fat yogurt. They sell $2 cups with honey which we try for Mr NQN as he has missed breakfast.

Lots of free range eggs

The friendly knife sharpening man

North and South Island Whitebait fritters

There are also North and South Island whitebait fritters-the North Island ones are slightly less expensive at $6 whereas the south Island whitebait is $8 per fritter but we take a pass on these as it’s still breakfast/brunch time.

A delicious carrot and cardamom jam

We get some more breakfast goodies in the form of fresh organic figs for 50c each. There is a stand with carrot and cardamom jam as well as a delicious beetroot relish.

Organic crepe with cheese $4

He wanted some crepe…

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I was taking a nap in the hotel room and I was moaning a bit. My flu had morphed into bronchitis while I was in Melbourne and I had only intended to lie down only to find myself minutes later dreaming. I awoke with a start. I was dreaming about food (as you do) and my internal clock reminded me that I had a meal waiting for me. “You were moaning a bit” Mr NQN told me as I roused from my two hour nap. I didn’t have the guts to tell him that I was moaning about dreamt food.

We go upstairs to the 28th floor of the Crown Metropol where there are complimentary drinks for guests between 5:30pm-7pm. I have a sparkling wine and Mr NQN has a red wine. There are also spirits and soft drinks available.

Soon after we arrive at Cutler & Co in Fitzroy where we meet Kirsten. With two hats in the 2010 Good Food Guide, recently voted as the restaurant of the year by Gourmet Traveller magazine and a Chef of the Year crown to its name, it’s packed on this cold Sunday evening. The space, particularly towards the back, reminds me of a cross between an art gallery, stables and a warehouse. All done up very nicely with lighting fixtures that remind me of stormy dark clouds and luxurious booths. Service is serious but pleasant.

Angassi Oysters $4 each

I recall hearing about the rare flat Angassi oyster at the Narooma Oyster festival where oyster grower David Maidment tells me that the Angassi is a close breed to the New Zealand Bluff oyster. They come out natural with lemon and I enjoy the enormously flat slightly smokey flavour of them.

Mandarin Duck $26

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