Ka mate ka mate...

SISTER ANN REVIEW I took my Danish Rotary Exchange Student, Kathrine (‘hangi- is- my –favourite- food’) Bruun Thude , to Tamaki Maori Village, here in Rotorua, the other night. I have been before many times, but never at night with the visitors from overseas. What a great job they do for tourism. From start to finish. Mark our driver was so entertaining he should be on the stage. And I know he does this every night …and for nearly 10 years. The replica village under the trees at night is marvelous and the food is just perfect.  We could smell it coming out of the hangi pit while walking in the forest and it is so welcome when we get to the dining room after a concert in the meeting house. Kia ora

ATMOSPEHERE 10 FOOD 10 SERVICE 10

Mummy's Day in vegas

SISTER ANN REVIEW. The Regent of Rotorua has a gorgeous restaurant. They went all-out with a 50's style menu (complete with photo from an old kiwi knitting pattern) for Mother’s Day Brunch. The food was a bit of a letdown. I have Calamari Salad A LOT! It was lacking flavor here, but looked nice. The fish and chips looked very grey and tasted average. The dessert, Eton Mess, came out on the tray, one short, but this was rectified very quickly. It was fabulous darling!!! Oh what I would do for one now! The waiter was adorable, unfortunately he spoke Spanish and didn't understand half of what we said. I have eaten breakfast here before and it was a bit slow... 45 mins for 2 coffees and toast and jams. Still a lovely time was had by all.

ATMOSPEHERE 8 FOOD 7 SERVICE 7

 My thoughts on this- having just been to Cornwall Park cafe yesterday for a High Tea... why, oh why, can some cafe in Rotorua (Regent would the perfect setting) not do a nice High Tea every now and then? Mother says the Tearooms in Government Gardens is up for Lease. If I were there, I would do it.

 Here is Blair with the daintiest sticky fudge cake

and Emily and Gran in front of one of two cake stands. Mini lemon meringue pies, tiny hazelnut chocolate square, almond and orange cake, salmon puffs, scones with cream and jam, spinach and feta pastry. Delicious! Beautiful choice of teas - Stew had Moroccan mint and I had Nepal Masala. Cinnamon and orange. Gorgeous!  Christine

Mother's coffee group

SISTER ANN REVIEW Laurna and Judy and Mum invited me to join their coffee group. A couple of members were off sick. We wnt to The 3rd Place looking over Ohinemutu. There is no better view of Lake Rotorua and Ohinemutu Maori Village than out the front window of the 3rd Place. And it always astounds me how their food is never anything but top notch. I had the usual - a small roasted vegetable salad and cannot fault it. Someone had this darling little pizza. Tasty

ATMOSPEHERE 7 FOOD 9 SERVICE 8  

Make mine an eggs bennie

SISTER ANN REVIEW 2nd time at Cuba Café - Cuba Street/Mall/Terrace/Road/Grove in Palmerston North? Luke and I both had an Egg's Benedict. He likes Salmon (what a gourmet) and I love my bacon. If the Police and the Fire Service eat here then it must be good. It was great. Coffee excellent. And now the Pilots eat here too eh Luke?

ATMOSPEHERE 9 FOOD 8 SERVICE 8

Go Joe

SISTER ANN REVIEWS I LOVE THIS PLACE. It is right up my alley. Joe's Garage Café, Palmerston North; Modern and imaginative with American-mechanic style. I accidentally found it when I thought I had found a new garage for Luke to fix his car. I had rhubarb and apple crumble for lunch - to die for!!! and a Coke in a bottle. Loved the logo over all the crokery. Nice touch. Luke had Joe's version of an American hotdog. Went down fast...usually means it's good.

ATMOSPEHERE 9 FOOD 9 SERVICE 9  

Buffet night at the Travel Lodge in Palmerston North
SISTER ANN REVIEWS. Had a chance to eat at 'Nosh' again on the way home from
Wellington. Luke was very happy ...desserts on view, in a line, are all a
19yr old would want. I asked him how his cooking was going now he was in a
flat? " I'm cooking a lot of nothing ..." he said " and a little bit of
thyme...get it Mum?...thyme -the herb." Hmmm yep. I mentioned missing entire
meals is not a healthy way to lose weight.
ATMOSPEHERE 7 FOOD 8 SERVICE 8

Craig's favourite Chinese Restaurant

SISTER ANN REVIEWS. There is very little food shown in this review. It was so messy and gone so fast. RAMS Restaurant is a tiny café and even though we had 6 people at our table, there was something in front of us almost immediately. Everything was excellent. Craig loves Asian and Indian food so I go with his choices. What astounded me was the bill - $153.00 total. We brought a couple of bottles with us, and I think we added a couple of Cokes. Fantastic value and utterly gorgeous food.

ATMOSPHERE 8 FOOD 9 SERVICE 9 

Where is it please? (Good grief, you pay people to do a job and you get this...?)  Also, ATMOSPEHERE does not need so many E's.

Hello again old friend!!!

SISTER ANN REVIEWS. Sigh- I. LOVE. THE. GREEN. PARROT. Situated in Wellington Central, right around the corner from Parliament, all the politicians eat here. Brother Craig (a chef) (why aren't you writing this Craig?) tell him to start his own thank you! Christine. told me once it was Winny's favourite Restaurant. Winston Peters (oops almost called you Concrete Peters). That was enough for me. Never voted for you Winny, but I like you. By the time we left, the entire Maori Party was there with Turiana Turia. The food is preceded by a plate of bread and butter. I wanted to photograph it but by the time I got the camera out of my handbag, Craig and son Mick had eaten the entire stack. So Craig ordered another stack and I only managed to get this photo of a few slices as they thought it was a great joke to try and eat the complete stack again, before I got organized. I asked Craig what was good here and he said "the wiener Schnitzel" "I'm not ordering Weiner Schnitzel in a restaurant!" I said. My thinking is, if I can cook it, it is pretty darned easy and the chef cannot be that good. I asked the waiter. " Weiner Schnitzel ". "Well - the Weiner Schnitzel then" I said. It was goooood..reeeel Goooood! Mick had the steak. His hand is in beside it on the plate to indicate how big it is. Mick is 6'2" tall. The flounder which Cheryl had was actually twin giant flounders. The chef obviously didn't want to part brother and sister.

ATMOSPEHERE 10 FOOD 10 SERVICE 10