Azabu (Japanese/ Peruvian Nikkei) - Auckland

 Having eaten here probably more than a dozen times I thought it only fitting that I should add it to my list of ‘reviews’.

Situated at the K’Rd end of Ponsonby Road Azabu is easily missed. But once you open the surprisingly heavy glass door the throbbing life of Azabu quickly becomes apparent.

We have been situated in all areas of the restaurant and none are shied away from when we book.  Sometimes when it is just the two of us we choose to sit at the counter and watch the sushi chef perform magic. If we are with a larger group the front of the restaurant is a good out of the way spot, but usually we sit in the long ally style area that leads through to the bar. This is the hub of the restaurant and there is always plenty to see.

With a menu designed for sharing Azabu has a great range of lighter tasty dishes through to more robust meaty plates. Unfortunately we have found several favourites and very rarely can be persuaded to veer off our usual selection. So I am sorry reader, that is what you are going to get, Lance and Erynn’s favourite Azabu dishes.

We always start with the tuna sashimi tostada. The tuna has been finely chopped with corn, cucumber,jalapeño and red onion and a wasabi dressing. It is truely a ‘to die for’ dish. Something we have learned is to not order everything at once otherwise you are finished in less than an hour and we like to savour the evening together. On this occasion though we had ordered the tostada before menus and drinks and come. We have only been once this year due to Covid-19 and at that stage we were in level two and they were providing a limited menu, so we were a little excited.

The wait staff are always attentive without being annoying and casual without being rough around the edges. I can only recall one New Zealander waiting on us, every other time it has been a visitor to New Zealand. Last night we had Henry from Norwich and he was lovely, even sitting down beside us for a quick chat at one stage.

Fish comes in a variety of ways at Azabu and all raw and fresh. After the tostada we had the ceviche tasting platter. The word platter is a little misleading because they come in three bowls. Snapper with Ali amarillo, tuna with Yunupingu chipotle and my favourite, salmon with le leche de tigre. This tastes like coconut crepe and passion fruit and is delicious. The first time we had it the waiter brought me a spoon so I could scoop every last bit of the sauce but that has never happened again unfortunately.  maybe next time I will stash one in my handbag.

And now for more fish. At $36 for 10 piece of fish it seems a little steep, but as I have said, the fish is always very fresh and is served in a delicate style. Our sushimi consisted of snapper, tuna, salmon and something else that I can’t remember. I am not particularly fond of white fish as sushi as it can be a bit chewy, however the snapper had been sliced paper thin and crafted into a rosebud with what I think was tiny caviar on top.

By this stage I was ready for a second glass of ‘wooing tree blondie’ which is a favourite of mine. Azabu always has a great wine selection and the staff are knowledgeable and helpful when selecting something new.

Our next order was the spicy pork gyoza with a jalapeño dressing.  We are big gyoza fans, but we do recall some dumplings that we had at Azabu on our very first visit that in a gingery sort of broth and were outstanding. Unfortunately we have never encountered them again. Sorry about the picture, we gobbled them so fast that we forgot!

I did really want the Hokusai cabbage with a sesame mustard dressing and Parmesan cheese but Lance said that I would have to eat it all myself and I really wanted to save room for desert. So no cabbage for me.

The tempura prawns were good, nice and hot light and crispy. These were followed by the lamb cutlets with a Smokey aubergine and coriander purée. This are pick the up in your fingers cutlets and are melt in your mouth. I remember taking some one else to Azabu once and they said that they were full before we had had a chance to sample the lamb cutlets. Well I ordered them anyway and they managed to eat them with lots of oohs and ahhhs. 

As I mentioned before the ally way seating is always interesting and the wait staff are constantly buzzing backwards and forwards. There is only space for one person to pass and it must drive them crazy having to stand constantly aside to let customers pass by on their way to the toilet.

The toilets

The toilets are very swanky and just a bit dark for me. I had no problem on this occasion but in the past when I have imbibed a little bit more I have found them a bit too dark for my liking. They are also unisex and call me old fashioned but I don’t like sharing public toilets with men, particularly when they have had a few. All of my fears were unfounded as the toilets were lovely and clean and I found my way easily.

There are only two deserts on offer and I have had the tapioca with orange coconut merengue, spiced apple, honey comb, passion fruit purée and miso vanilla ice cream a couple of times before. It is served stacked in a glass and is really great. But it is always hard to go past the tempura custard with ginger jam and matcha. I know, how do you tempura custard! We shared, although could have quite easily eaten a serving each and they were up to their normal excellent standard.

Azabu is not cheap but not overly expensive. If you stretch out you evening by ordering deliberately slow you can have nice evening for approximately $250. Well it could be less if you drink less than us of course!

Grading

Food 

1 - 2 Won’t be back

3 - 4  Might be back

  5     Can’t wait to get back

Comfort

1 - 2  Just stay for a quick bite

3 - 4  Okay for a medium price

  5     Could stay longer

Service

1 - 2  Lucky I don’t complain

3 - 4  Ho hum

   5    Expect a great tip

Price

1  change from $100 for two people

2 $100 - $200 for two people

3 $200 - $300 for two people

4 $300 - $400 for two people

5 $$$ dust off the visa you’re going to need it.

Food 5

Comfort 5

Service 5

Price 3

Clyde, New Zealand - 1 - 4 October 2020

 Leaving Wanaka we had hopes of returning to stay again at Mantells. It is a lovely spot, the facilities are luxurious and the hospitality generous.

On the way to Clyde we stopped off at the Warbirds & Wheels Museum. Warbirds Over Wanaka is a biennial air show in Wanaka, held on Easter weekends of even numbered years. I thought that there would be more planes in the museum, however there were lots of really great cars and I enjoyed every minute of it.  My pick was the little old tin lizzy. But there were some really great cars and it is worth a stop and the coffee shop is good as well. 

At Clyde we were joined by friends and we all stayed at Hartley Homestead. This is the home of Lance’s old schoolmate Euan. If you are down that way and looking for accomodation this is a good place to stop. 

Clyde is an old gold mining town and is extremely quaint and is also the start of the famous Otago Rail Trail  a scenic bike tour route that takes people through the historic Central Otago. Lance and I have this on our ‘to do’ list.

Our first evening was spent outside by the fire feasting on meat that Euan cooked ‘Brazilian style’ over hot coals. Many stories and beverages passed by our lips and it was hard to believe we were sitting outside when only an hour drive away we had celebrated snow that morning.

In the morning after a wee stroll around the quaint historical village of Clyde we set off for lunch at Mt Difficulty. A vineyard restaurant perched on the side of a hill that offers wonderful views, food and wine. 

We had all been looking forward to this lunch and were not disappointed. The food was great and the setting spectacular. 

On the drive home Euan suggested a detour  and Wayne our driver took the turn up the Nevis Road; it wasn’t until I googled it on our return that I found that it was advised ‘Not suitable for 2 wheel drive vehicles’. Our little hire van with seven rather full bodies made it up the steep gravel road that hugged the hillside with no problem at all. The only one with a problem was Lance who was busting for a wee by the time we had got half way up the mountain.  His discomfort was exacerbated by the rough corrugated track that rattled and shook us all the way up. I do have to admit that the shear drop did take my breath away on several occasions.  At the peak we all got out and admired the view whilst being whipped by the icy wind,  Lance recalibrated and we were wound our way back down the mountainside.

Fortunately, Unfortunately 

The next day we planned to take a short trip to Naseby to go ‘curling’. Fortunately when we got there we were pleased to find that they could fit us in and we quickly paid and went upstairs for a briefing. Unfortunately they thought we were part of a large group who had booked and we had to depart without a game. 

Naseby is a tiny village that was originally a gold mining village in the 1860s. Fortunately we found an old pub for lunch and a beer, unfortunately I ordered fish and chips without thinking through the coordinates. Central Otago obviously means that it is located in the centre of the South Island, miles away from the sea. Consequently my fish was pretty ordinary and had been frozen. However Lance had amazing whitebait fritters. 

On our way to Naseby we detoured so that we could cross the Ophir Bridge. This suspension bridge was built in 1880 and in New Zealand that is pretty bloody old. 

After lunch we made our way home and the boys were determined to finish a series of pool games that had an undetermined result. Our first choice was the St Bathans pub which is located on the side of Dunstan Creek which grew into a small man made lake from gold sluicing in the 1800s. Off the beaten track and down a gravel road we travelled and on approaching the village noted that the single lane road was lined with parked cars. Down off the road we saw what we thought must have been a wedding and quite large one at that because the pub was closed for a private function. Taking a couple of quick pics of the lake we did a u-turn and started back towards the main road. Unfortunately it was not a wedding but a funeral and the hearse was parked in the middle of the road and the mourners were gathered as you do at these occasions. Of course in a situation like this the only thing to do is to sit and wait. Finally the hearse had been shut and had moved away and we thought that the people would move off the road and into the pub for a drink. Have you ever encountered a flock of sheep when driving and do you know how they seem to submerge you in their flock? Well that is exactly how it was, people surrounded us and appeared to be completely unaware of our presence. Like it is usual to have a large white rental van in the epi centre of the funeral gathering. We waited another 15ish minutes before we slowly (and respectfully) drove through the crowd of mourners. 

And that is how we found ourselves at Becks White Horse Hotel (and Glory Box Antiques) in Omakau Central Otago. 

A sure sign that we had arrived somewhere memorable was the little old lady sitting at a bar leaner with a cup of tea in a cup and saucer. I felt like something a little stronger and fortunately they had a pinot noir (from a bottle not a box). Unfortunately I actually could not get it past my lips as it was like vinegar. Making a quick visit to the toilet I was overwhelmed by a nasty smell, it may have been the person before me, but had a suspiciously permanent tang to it. And the door had no lock! Well it had a lock, but no key. 

Each side of the public lounge were rooms full of antiques and curios. They were all labelled, dusted, organised and well priced and were obviously somebody’s pride and joy. Becks Hotel is worth a stop, drink beer (or tea) and not wine. They have accomodation as well, but not on our bucket list I’m afraid. 

On our final day of our short South Island adventure I went for a quick walk down by the Clutha river which is actually Euan’s back yard. It is very beautiful and the banks are coated in flowering thyme. 

Before we dropped our van back in Queenstown we stopped for a bite in Frankton at a place called The Meat Preachers and it was exceptional. 

I also managed a little shopping and purchased a large pepper grinder which was inspected as we scanned through at the airport. “How does it open?” “It could have blades in it”. Really, I’m not kidding! Anyway they let us on and fortunately we got home without slicing anyone’s fingers off and our holiday was complete. 

Omarama Clay Cliffs 30 September 2020

 We woke up to a beautiful day and after breakfast and a cuppa we set off for Omarama Clay Cliffs. Lance had found this place when looking for things to do in and around Wanaka and we had never heard of them before. So off we set on the 1 hour 40 minute drive to Omarama. 

The drive was new territory for me and took us through the Lindis Pas. The pass takes you through grassy tussocks and through the mountains. At times were saw snow drifts on the side of the road and fortunately no ‘flurries’. I kept looking in the direction of Aoraki   (Mt Cook) which is New Zealand’s highest mountain, but I couldn’t see it, probably because it was another 90 kilometres away.

Surprisingly Omarama was quite a little touristy village and I am not sure who would stay at the hotels and why? As apart form the Clay Cliffs we could see no other attractions. Perhaps they stop on route to somewhere else?

The Clay Cliffs are down a private road and we had to pay $5 into an honesty box to get in. The well maintained gravel road took us through the valley which originally was carved out by a glacier. The view of the mountains was spectacular behind the river and the clusters of green trees. We were surprised by the amount of tourists visiting; all Kiwi residents or people stuck here of course. Suddenly the cliffs were in view and were a like something out of a movie. Columns of clay were clustered together like they had dribbled from the sky and solidified. We parked and walked a short distance to the foot of the cliffs where the path snaked up into and through a crevice created by the towers. We could have been anywhere in the world other than New Zealand as these were so different to the landscape around us. They are definitely worth a visit.

As we got to the village of Omarama I suggested that a toilet stop might be a good idea and suggested the Wrinkly Ram Cafe. Whilst I browsed through the touristy merino wool shop Lance had checked out the cafe and whispered to me”We need to eat here”. The toilet by the way was nothing to write home about, hence I won’t say much more apart from that they are clean and you don’t have to buy anything to use them.

The cafe was great and had all home made food. I selected a chicken pie and Lance had a steak pie. Both the pies were spectacular!  And we managed to slip a cheese roll onto the plate as well. Everything was delicious and I felt that it would be rude not to have a cake as well so managed to stuff a custard square down my throat as well (Vanilla slice for you Australians). While the cafe was in a modern building it was furnished in a variety of old original wooden tables and chairs. The whole place was festooned with fresh spring flowers, daffodils, tulips and snowbells.  And by the counter was a large pile of real pumpkins, it really was a lovely place and worth a stop if you are travelling on the Lindis pass.

Back at our apartment we lazed around and had a cheese board for dinner as we were still pretty full from lunch. Off to Clyde tomorrow!