Restaurant Recommendations
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@hooroo said in Restaurant Recommendations:
Where is Blanket Bay?
Queenstown - well Glenorchy really. It was on "Lap of luxury" show as well. Owned by Tom Tusher who also used to own Amisfield vineyard. He was CEO of Levis jeans for years and is a really nice bloke. The whole story is interesting as he bought a large farm back in the 70's and has created a really lovely "subdivision", used that term loosely - they are large properties, and donated all of the high country stuff back to NZ as a national park I think. That might have been a condition of the sale as an overseas buyer, not sure, but it was a win win really and the Lodge is awesome. Mostly made from recycled bridges, wharfs, old wool sheds, etc. Beautifully done.
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@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy Myself and Mrs JC stayed at Huka about 2 years ago, in the Pye Cottage. Really nice but the butler service made me really uncomfortable. Good food though, as you say.
Didn't do the butler service thing, and yes I get that it would be a bit weird but fantastic food, as is Blanket Bay.
We have designed our house around Pye cottage. One of the Huka chef's to go with it would be nice.
I was a bit unnerved by getting up in the morning and there's someone else in the house. We couldn't just schlep through to the kitchen in PJs like we would have done if we were on our own. I get that that's our hangup, not their expectation. Maybe billionaires are used to ignoring staff... @Hooroo , that true?
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@jc Yeah that would be a bit off putting for me too. Kind of feel like you need to put a suit on to go and get some toast and a coffee.
The staff at both Huka and Blanket Bay were just so relaxed, just people. Happy to have a laugh, chat, etc, none of the "yes sir" type obsequious crap. Nobody wearing ties and jeans are fine. Very cool. The Robertson Lodges (Kauri cliffs, Cape Kidnappers - haven't stayed at Matakauri) are also great, with excellent food but I found them a little more formal. Only a bit though.
I know people complain about foreign ownership of these places but we wouldn't have them otherwise and they all have environmental policies, eco developments, etc. Even predator fences to help Kiwi populations at Kauri from memory.
Was nice to see that the Lodge was full of New Zealanders spending their overseas airfare money on a treat at home.
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@JC I don't know why that made me laugh but it did.
I'm unemployed as of 30th of April. Decided after nearly 12 years in the same business it was time for a change. I resigned a month or so ago to give them plenty of time to get organised.
I am not going to think about another job until I have had some time off to evaluate what I want to do as I have to enjoy my job
I haven't felt this relaxed in years! Pity I am sans $1b
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@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy Myself and Mrs JC stayed at Huka about 2 years ago, in the Pye Cottage. Really nice but the butler service made me really uncomfortable. Good food though, as you say.
Didn't do the butler service thing, and yes I get that it would be a bit weird but fantastic food, as is Blanket Bay.
We have designed our house around Pye cottage. One of the Huka chef's to go with it would be nice.
I was a bit unnerved by getting up in the morning and there's someone else in the house. We couldn't just schlep through to the kitchen in PJs like we would have done if we were on our own. I get that that's our hangup, not their expectation. Maybe billionaires are used to ignoring staff... @Hooroo , that true?
Yeah, we had 4x staff during our 3mths in Bali last year. Beautiful people, and awesome to provide employment for them, but we HATED having people around the whole time. Ended up making them stay home on Sundays (fully paid) so we could at least have 1 day where we had the house to ourselves.
1st world problems!
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@voodoo said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy Myself and Mrs JC stayed at Huka about 2 years ago, in the Pye Cottage. Really nice but the butler service made me really uncomfortable. Good food though, as you say.
Didn't do the butler service thing, and yes I get that it would be a bit weird but fantastic food, as is Blanket Bay.
We have designed our house around Pye cottage. One of the Huka chef's to go with it would be nice.
I was a bit unnerved by getting up in the morning and there's someone else in the house. We couldn't just schlep through to the kitchen in PJs like we would have done if we were on our own. I get that that's our hangup, not their expectation. Maybe billionaires are used to ignoring staff... @Hooroo , that true?
Yeah, we had 4x staff during our 3mths in Bali last year. Beautiful people, and awesome to provide employment for them, but we HATED having people around the whole time. Ended up making them stay home on Sundays (fully paid) so we could at least have 1 day where we had the house to ourselves.
1st world problems!
Jesus - I was looking at a 2 or 3 week motorbike trip around Sri Lanka a few years back - contacted the company about a scheduled group ride they had - and they responded that they hadn't had any interest, but that they'd give me a guide for just me, for the same trip, for the same price.
I could not even handle the idea of that - one person being "mine" for that period.
Fuck. That. -
@kruse said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@voodoo said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@jc said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy Myself and Mrs JC stayed at Huka about 2 years ago, in the Pye Cottage. Really nice but the butler service made me really uncomfortable. Good food though, as you say.
Didn't do the butler service thing, and yes I get that it would be a bit weird but fantastic food, as is Blanket Bay.
We have designed our house around Pye cottage. One of the Huka chef's to go with it would be nice.
I was a bit unnerved by getting up in the morning and there's someone else in the house. We couldn't just schlep through to the kitchen in PJs like we would have done if we were on our own. I get that that's our hangup, not their expectation. Maybe billionaires are used to ignoring staff... @Hooroo , that true?
Yeah, we had 4x staff during our 3mths in Bali last year. Beautiful people, and awesome to provide employment for them, but we HATED having people around the whole time. Ended up making them stay home on Sundays (fully paid) so we could at least have 1 day where we had the house to ourselves.
1st world problems!
Jesus - I was looking at a 2 or 3 week motorbike trip around Sri Lanka a few years back - contacted the company about a scheduled group ride they had - and they responded that they hadn't had any interest, but that they'd give me a guide for just me, for the same trip, for the same price.
I could not even handle the idea of that - one person being "mine" for that period.
Fuck. That.Faaarrrrkkk that!
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@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
Restaurants? Aria in Sydney is alright. The mashed potato is fucking awesome - like eating a cloud. There's other stuff as well...
The view is alright. Wedding anniversary 2015.
Fancy-fucking-pants!!!
I have a 1-hat palate for food. Do not give me foam or minuscule portions or artistic presentation in lieu of a decent meal.
Fresh food, great flavours, good portions. Pair with good wine, and I'm very happy.
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@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@voodoo gotta do piston wristed gibbon restaurants every now and then. Sydney is not short of good eats as anyone would expect.
It's been about 3 years now since eaten in Sydney, but I always found in Australia, that as the prices went up, the value really went down. I've probably eaten in about 10 places in Sydney, and north of 50 in Australia, and that theory has been rock solid correct all the way through. Posh places with great views, the food was distinctly average. Local high street restaurants were simply superb.
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@majorrage said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@voodoo gotta do piston wristed gibbon restaurants every now and then. Sydney is not short of good eats as anyone would expect.
It's been about 3 years now since eaten in Sydney, but I always found in Australia, that as the prices went up, the value really went down. I've probably eaten in about 10 places in Sydney, and north of 50 in Australia, and that theory has been rock solid correct all the way through. Posh places with great views, the food was distinctly average. Local high street restaurants were simply superb.
Crown Street.
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@majorrage said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@voodoo gotta do piston wristed gibbon restaurants every now and then. Sydney is not short of good eats as anyone would expect.
It's been about 3 years now since eaten in Sydney, but I always found in Australia, that as the prices went up, the value really went down. I've probably eaten in about 10 places in Sydney, and north of 50 in Australia, and that theory has been rock solid correct all the way through. Posh places with great views, the food was distinctly average. Local high street restaurants were simply superb.
Think it is more of a plateau - there is a point at which the high price simply can't be justified, because food can't get that good. You're paying for real estate, which is hideously expensive in Sydney, not the grub.
One of the best meals in terms of value for money I ever had was here: https://goo.gl/maps/iQQgNUbanXmvqTBC8
Heading north with the family to see my Mum in nowheresville, QLD. I'd driven past this little town on the highway just to the east, but was in an exploratory mood. Mrs TA and kids not thrilled with the detour as we'd already been in the car a few hours after a full day before.
After the meal, everyone was happy we'd stopped rather than just grabbing Maccas. The steak sandwich was fucking amazing.
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@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
You're paying for real estate, which is hideously expensive in Sydney, not the grub.
I had the same thought in Hong Kong but applied it more to bars and pubs. The beer was basically free, you were paying for where you were sitting. Renting by the hour, so to speak. Given that I could look out the window from home and admire the harbour, etc, I tended to drink in windowless basement type places which seems appropriate for my rep around here.
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@snowy I can see it now... pilot cap sat back on your head - because it can't sit on the bar due to the filth of spilled beer. You throw back another shot of whatever passes for single-malt in such a seedy joint, slam the glass onto the worn timber, and in a jaded voice, grunt "Another!"
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@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
You're paying for real estate, which is hideously expensive in Sydney, not the grub.
I had the same thought in Hong Kong but applied it more to bars and pubs. The beer was basically free, you were paying for where you were sitting. Renting by the hour, so to speak. Given that I could look out the window from home and admire the harbour, etc, I tended to drink in windowless basement type places which seems appropriate for my rep around here.
Yeah, those underground places in HK .... usually you’re paying for something else.
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@majorrage said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
You're paying for real estate, which is hideously expensive in Sydney, not the grub.
I had the same thought in Hong Kong but applied it more to bars and pubs. The beer was basically free, you were paying for where you were sitting. Renting by the hour, so to speak. Given that I could look out the window from home and admire the harbour, etc, I tended to drink in windowless basement type places which seems appropriate for my rep around here.
Yeah, those underground places in HK .... usually you’re paying for something else.
Now that I think about it there were an awful lot of them.
It was the above ground places that seemed to have the added "attractions". The Captain's bar at the Mandarin Oriental always seemed to have a disproportionate number of friendly Russian ladies for example. I was informed of this fact by my wife, not from personal experience of course.
And we / I have managed to bring a restaurant thread down to hooker level. The lodge is nice though, they just spelt it wrong.
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@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@majorrage said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@snowy said in Restaurant Recommendations:
@nta said in Restaurant Recommendations:
You're paying for real estate, which is hideously expensive in Sydney, not the grub.
I had the same thought in Hong Kong but applied it more to bars and pubs. The beer was basically free, you were paying for where you were sitting. Renting by the hour, so to speak. Given that I could look out the window from home and admire the harbour, etc, I tended to drink in windowless basement type places which seems appropriate for my rep around here.
Yeah, those underground places in HK .... usually you’re paying for something else.
Now that I think about it there were an awful lot of them.
It was the above ground places that seemed to have the added "attractions". The Captain's bar at the Mandarin Oriental always seemed to have a disproportionate number of friendly Russian ladies for example. I was informed of this fact by my wife, not from personal experience of course.
And we / I have managed to bring a restaurant thread down to hooker level. The lodge is nice though, they just spelt it wrong.
I remember with nostalgia a big Christmas lunch at Mandarin Grill, just before they did away with it in its original form. Must have been around 2006.
