Eastbourne by the water

SISTER ANN REVIEWS Sitting in the sun at the Chocolate Dayz Café in Eastbourne, 20 mins drive out on the motorway north of Wellington. What could be nicer? Well, of course, it would be nicer if your daughter India was there, Cheryl (pictured). I apologized for accidentally getting on the motorway north instead of turning into a car park in Thorndon where we were supposed to be going for lunch. India forgave me. The food was gorgeous and the café was full so everyone in Wellington either took the wrong turn, or all of Eastbourne eats there. Cheryl and I had a chicken salad and it was fresh and colourful and tasty. Just right. Nanna had a  date scone, I think.

ATMOSPEHERE 10 FOOD 8 SERVICE 7 NAME 4

Mr Bun... Yum Yum...

SISTER ANN REVIEWS. You are going to hate me Christine. Ha ha. But this is just the most fabulous view of central Wellington! Right beside the coloured buckets fountain in Cuba Mall. Hawkers below our front window. I bought a necklace from them. Our brother Craig replied "$35" to my question later that night; " how much do you think I paid for this?" Well not bad Craig... it was $54.00. I bought an assortment of luncheon items and Nanna wanted the asparagus roll. Good for you Nanna. No Date scones sadly.

ATMOSPHERE 10 FOOD 6 SERVICE 7

Breakfast at the Lake Ferry Hotel...

SISTER ANN REVIEWS. For more kiwianaism... is that a word Chris? No. What was wrong with "Kiwiana"? Breakfast at the Lake Ferry Hotel comprises of a tray of jams, bread, butter, a bowl of grapefruit off the tree out the back and a toaster. Serve yourself as much tea and coffee as you like as long as you don't want anything with an Italian name. Love it!!! Spent a little time planning the trip out to Featherston...taking the western road around the lake. Winged it and arrived without a mistake. Un. Believable.

ATMOSPEHERE 10 FOOD 7 SERVICE 7

Sun sets at Lake Ferry

SISTER ANN REVIEWS. (our) mother insisted Nanna and I stay at the Lake Ferry Hotel, while on a road trip to visit the place Nanna was born in 1914 (Lake Ferry). I googled it and thought it might be a bit 'backpacker', but no ...simple yet clean...and completely comfortable. Denise checked us in. Nanna had a room with a bathroom and I had a bedroom and shared bathroom. All good. Denise cooked and served the food too...and there is nothing else to have, but fish and chips. Just lovely. Sitting in the sun with the local drovers, as the sun set over the hills. The food was served in baskets with tartare and tomato sauces. Fresh fish , crisp batter and hot hand cut chips. Drank a little vodka and gin and went to bed early.

ATMOSPHERE 10 FOOD 9 SERVICE 9

A salad with 26 ingredients...

SISTER ANN REVIEWS Lunch at ‘The Trocadero’ in Masterton. A salad for me called the Trocadero. Nanna had a basic toasted sandwich but it was perfectly presented. Forget that. My salad made an understatement out of a classic chicken salad. It had these ingredients; raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, sprouts, mixed lettuce leaves, apricot, paupaw, Vogel croutons, smoked chicken, bacon, pear, nectarine, cucumber, red pepper, radish, avocado, apple, carroty, tomatoes, snow peas, pineapple, beetroot, grapes, finished with an asparagus stalk and a strand of chive. Sob- it’s too far to go every day from Rotorua. Make it yourself at home! You have the recipe! Christine

ATMOSPHERE 9 FOOD 10 SERVICE 9

A la carte night at the Travel Lodge Palmerston North

SISTER ANN REVIEWS Auntie Christine (Editor) gave nephew Luke a cycle shirt for his birthday. Luke found this amusing as his bike was stolen the night before. He was still laughing when he told me... Does he have a new one yet? Nanna had the crayfish and shrimp pasta parcel. No idea why, as she does not like pasta. She doesn't like seafood either does she? C. Maybe she was thinking ahead to the part where Luke says "I'm still hungry Mum". Luke got all 'je ne cést pas' and 'comme ce comme ca' and very bourgeois- non! He ordered the venison which looked devine (divine) and tasted as good. Gone in une second. His dessert is missing the forefront point of the flower (on the plate) as yours truly poked it saying "what a gorgeous 70's plate... I wonder where they found that?" before realizing it was the sauce.

ATMOSPEHERE 7 FOOD 8 SERVICE 7

SISTER ANN REVIEWS. Lovely get together over drinks. There are a few
highlights at the Pig and Whistle in Rotorua... the pig tail fries and the
rock bands, the spare ribs and this is where I invented my cocktail; The
Rainbow. Line up 5 shots of vodka and add 3 drips of colour to each. Crème
de menthe, blue curacao, peach schnapps you choose. The addition does not
flavour the vodka, it is merely for the colour...a rainbow. Oh by the
way...Do. Not. Try. Meths.... for the purple colour.
ATMOSPEHERE 9 FOOD 8 SERVICE 9

Magic at Abracadabra Café

SISTER ANN REVIEW I ALWAYS have the Calamari Salad. Creature of habit… should that be sea creature? And it is ALWAYS terrific. I like my vinaigrette tangy and I like my calamari lemony. How did that sound Chris? Cheffy? Nanna had a seafood chowder. Very fabulous! Friend Don had a lovely latte. The coffee is wonderful here but the most outstanding thing about Abracadabra is the service. That’s Jace in the photo.

ATMOSPEHERE 9 FOOD 7 SERVICE 10   

Sorry but although you may sound "cheffy" I do NOT like this place. Vinaigrette and Calamari do not a restaurant make. It's a bit scruffy around the edges and the food is below a 7 - and don't we go to food places for the food? Christine