The Beach House, Beachlands.

THE BEACH HOUSE, BEACHLANDS.

Well.... I am beyond satisified with this restaurant.
It really says a lot considering my fussy mouth. I have only enjoyed one other restaurant and that is in Wellington called 'Cobarr'.

Kia Ora New Zealand!

The picture here is of our steak dish we both slowly savoured.
There were elements of cream, crunch and crazily enough ...crinkle!
The steak was cooked to perfection....I have never experienced that in a restaurant... I always find they define "medium rear" as a chewy slab of meat.
But today, I finally experienced "medium rear" the way it is meant to be cooked.

Both Ryan and myself were satisfied with our three course meal.

We began with a Pumpkin soup entree. It came with a triangle sliced piece of wholemeal and walnut bread and a perfectly portioned amount of soft butter.The pumpkin soup's texture was incredible. I ate it slowly just because I was fascinated with the texture as it pressed between my tongue and the roof of my mouth. True story.

Second course is what you've been visually drooling over top left.

The crinkle I mentioned earlier involved potato chips in a cross hatched "chex" cutting. They smelt and even tasted like ready salted thick cut chips, but warm. That was awesome with blanc jus and perfectly cooked steak...amongst many other complimented flavours.

I have to say by the time I reached desert, which was brought instantly to our tables, I was smiling. Although, I kind of panicked that my stomach hadn't had time to get used to it's recent forced expansion.I did my best, nonetheless. I finished a lovely night with a brownie and very rich chocolate ice cream. The little strawberry was one thing I've missed, since it had been some time since I had eaten one...I also felt the wafer straw was a great touch too. Simple, covered in thick icing.

The presentation was good too. The lemon tart (right) was delicious also, although I was only able to steal one bite. I didn't fancy the pistachio flavoured ice cream, but I was slightly smitten over the lemon tart.
There was a theme of "piling" food on top of each other in each meal... I noticed this as I watched many concoctions float past with the waiters to other tables.

But what really took the cake was finally finding Ryan's favourite bottle of wine (Vavasour: Pinot Gris) in the wine list $56 a bottle, that we happily bought for his benefit. He had been searching for a place that either sells this or offers it as a wine option at a restaurant and have been unsuccessful... then low and behold, the restaurant down the road from out house sells it. We were so happy. Ryan shared his happiness in the form of full glasses, four times over.

We will be back indeed for Ryan's birthday for another bottle of special wine and more three course meals.I highly recommend this place. It is on the beach so in the light of day, the view would be spectacular....just like Cobarr, Wellington.

I felt warm, relaxed and in love.... even when the rain plummeted outside.

9/10

Xx

Tovah

29/07/2012

The Barrel Inn: An awful Irish pub in Howick

26th July
The Barrel Inn, Howick.

Not much is to be expected at an Irish pub. The meals will be huge and average...but they are designed to fill the stomach with meat and carbs, just in case you feel obliged to divert yourself away from numerous pints.

Kia Ora New Zealand!

The idea for this particular night was to wind down from a long week with my partner, since we aren't known to drink together too often.
Ryan, aiming to have a Summer body again, purchased the Teriyaki salad and I had a Steak sandwich, potato and onion rings meal.
When it was served I bet Ryan that they'll give me the salad and you the steak sandwich....I laughed rather loudly when my prediction was true.....talk about failed stereotypes.
The meal was....crap. Course it was, I kind of expected so.
Food preparation and taste: 3/10

The atmosphere wasn't seedy. It's Howick, so it's filled with rich Irish imposters that bring their kids in for a quick bite and that sneak a handle of beer that they just can't crack open at their own homes without feeling guilty.
The service was stupid. We asked for a Sav and as I was about to order my vodka and pineapple juice...we received 2 wines and a wonderful blank stare....Hopeless. I ordered the juice after I ordered our food.

I think there was only two things I enjoyed about that place. The fact that there is a wall of fame, filled with people that have accomplished 100 jugs of a certain type of alcohol. There were about ten or so different plaques on the wall for each type of beer on tap. Then to make it more hilarious, there were stars next to some of the names, which I believe meant they had done at least 300-500 jugs of beer. Unbelieveable.
The other thing I found interesting was the fact they had a clock on a stand in the middle of the bar. It reminded me of a town clock or an old retro bird cage stand with a clock face, instead of a small bird cage.
We spent a fair bit of dosh for such a hopeless night. But hey, at least Ryan and I were able to spend some time out together and that my friends is worth more than all the pints recorded on the wall of fame !

2/10 for the experience and awful stomach aches Ryan and I stared at home afterwards.

Xx
Tovah

Car buying....

Is probably the biggest adventure I've had in a while!!

I went along to Turners Car Auctions in Penrose today for the auction at twelve. My best friend Rose's dad Terry accompanied me to the auctions and helped me look through the assortment of cars in the car yards. There were so many different kinds and I thought I was prepared after my hours of sifting through them on the turners website. But oh no... No way was I prepared. Luckily I had Terry there with me who is mechanically inclined...being a car enthusiast and a train driver to boot! (Yeah...I know a train driver. Cool right?) What was most helpful was knowing exactly what I wanted, and also what I knew I didnt want...ever. It kind of felt like searching for a new man... And then picking out of two you'd fallen for.

Unfortunately for me, the car I'd fallen for had gone back to its owners and I had to go hunting again. But...I was determined to leave turners with a car. Partly because I needed one, but also because I didnt want to leave and go home in an expensive taxi!! So. There I was... Searching through the lanes of possible candidates. Many tried to impress me with their beauty like the Holden Vectra's while others basked in their ugliness, showing that strength had nothing to do with beauty. I was pretty well undecided.

Then it finally dawned on me that I needed to find the right car before 12pm when the auction would start. So I put more effort into it then I ever had and drove car after car until I found it.

The one I'd been waiting for.

Now it wasn't exactly perfect. It had an indicator light that was barely stuck on with cellotape. (Which I've since lost on my trip from Morrinsville to Opotiki-I thought it was a rock from a passing truck...turns out it was just my light.) But it was a gorgeous colour. Like the tips of the greenest pine tree. Dark and rich and beautiful. I kept making sure no-one else was looking at it. They weren't which made me happy! But until the auctions started, I really had to have a good look. The pulsar and primera caught my eye, as did the honda civic...until it started smelling like an oily rag.... One girl told her mum "No ..Mum. I'm NOT buying an oil leak." Good advice really which soon turned me off of the civic.

My thoughts turned back to the Green Machine. Although it was an 1998 version, it was in good condition despite the indicator light. It had nice seats and a flash cd player. Central locking and lots of cool little buttons.

So by the time the auctions started, I had my mind made up. I told my new friend Jaques (my consultant at Turners) my highest price and the car I wanted. He sat with me and helped me bid. Rather he did it. But in the end... Despite the nervousness and anxiety, I knew I'd get it.

So. I won a 1998 Mazda Familia Hatchback. For $4,000 + on road costs and insurances/warranties. I was pretty stoked. She drives beautifully and most of all has the ability to go fast. And has the sweetest cd player ever!

Yay me!

What a brilliant idea!!

The Nerdy Teacher: Call Me Maybe #EngChat

Holiday Catch-Up

Allie and I are playing a game with the picture cards. If you get a king you have to post something/a line, queen is truth, jack is dare. 

Allie is wearing ugbootssssss

Tovah just made me a syrupy drink....mmmmm syrup.

Allie is going to buy my wart.

If you like it then ya better put a bitta snail on it...

And that was our game. We ate dinner and had a looong chat and catchup. Love the holidays!!

Crystel's Exciting Week

Hi my name is Crystel. I'm Allie's little sister. This is what I think about how my adventure in Auckland is going so far...

It was awesome that we went to the mall that I've never been to-Dressmart. They had a shop called Factorie where we could get all of these bargains.

Netball vs 3 week long illness

It really is good to see Allie making the effort on here. It's not the fact that she's blogging now, it is more that she is pushing herself to see her friends. It is the middle of Winter now, so it is harder and harder to hang with others in the cold. Keep it up my friend!

Kia Ora New Zealand!

Last night was an interesting turn of events. I managed to get my ass off to the Trust Stadium in Henderson where I watched the Mystics play the NSW Swifts. I haven't watched a live netball game in years. I believe the last one was when I was doing catering jobs at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.

Because LG sponcered the Mystics they were giving away a TV, blu ray player, camera and an microwave oven. Impressive 1/4 time prizes.
But the thing that really made my day was seeing Trubliss back in action singing for the Children's Cancer Appeal. What a treat. Apparently it's been 13 years since they were together. Unfortunately Carly Binding wasn't there, but the other 4 sounded superb.

The purpose for going on this outing was to be the teacher-minder for one of our netball teams (year 9s/form 3s). This meant, I had 6 enthusiastic thirteen year olds in front of me. All but one behaved, which was good to see really. That little one brat though frequently flicked tomato sauce at her friends and really upset them. There's always one.

It was a good night though. The score scuttled its way up to 50-49 to us. Talk about a tight game though. If they had received a tie at the end of the match, it would've been well-deserved.

I'm glad that I went, although I was very reluctant as I've been sick for the last 3 weeks (I have stayed in bed for a good amount of it).

But this just shows, that if you get up off ya butt - even if you are sick - you will always have a good time, in a good frame of mind.

Overall price spent $31
Ticket: $20
Parking: $5
Pump water: $5
Lollie pop: $1

Tovah

School Holiday Adventures: Itinerary

Kia ora koutou! Term 2 is officially over and the start of our fabulous two week break commences. Because of this opportunity, I have taken this time out for relaxation as well as for some much needed bonding time with one of my little sisters- Crystel. Now me and C go way back. I changed her nappies, taught her funny things to say and most of all have taught her how to deal with the neccessary things only a sister can talk about with her sister. In saying this, here's a quick backstory. When lil C was born I was at the young but very opinionated and indignant age of twelve. Now Miss C is now at this precocious age and each time we spend quality time together I'm reminded just how quick I grew up becoming that older sister I always had it in me of being and I see that opinion and indignation in her too. Needless to say I'm ridiculously proud of her. So, with this is mind and the fact that I believe she's awesome and deserves a good holiday, I'm bringing her up with me to stay in Auckland (the big little city) for the coming week. She does not yet know exactly what we are doing but she did have a certain input-that is of going to the mall and we also discussed going to the sky tower.

Below is the outline of our very exciting and action packed itinerary. More posts to come after each day.

Tuesday:
*Pick C up from Meremere where Nana has very kindly offered to bring her up halfway.
*Mall hopping. Dressmart (where we will catch up with Tovah), St Lukes and Albany.
*Dinner at home. Possibly pizza or pasta -basically whatever C feels like ;)

Wednesday:
*Check out the Sky Tower and walk on the sky deck.
*Do a screen-printing class at the Auckland Art Gallery for two hours.
*Dinner at Santa Lucia Italian Restaurant (thanks to Groupon).

Thursday:
*Spending the day with friends at school re-vamping our classrooms.
*Going to the Stardome Observatory at Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) for 'Winter's Night Sky'.

Friday:
*Cooking and baking class with moi at my whare.
*Checkout the Botannical Gardens.
*Drive C back home.

And that my dears is our exciting week!

Stay tuned for the action,
A