Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Tasmania - Suggested Cafes and Restaurants



HOBART Central


Breakfast or Brunch

1.  Daci & Daci Bakers*** $$




2.  Bruny Island Cheese Company*** near salamanca Arts Centre - providore
$$



 3.  Remi de Provence*** - possibly best French in Tassie  $$$  also dinner and lunch - fine  dining

252 Macquarie Street, Hobart CBD - degustation



4.  Piegon Hole Cafe $$



5.  Raspberry Fool  $$ deserts

85 Bathurst Street, Hobart


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HOBART CENTRAL

Lunch

1. Da Angelo Ristorante  at Battery Point - Pizza and Pasta $$



2.  Wine Bar MONA ( Museum of Old & New Art) $$$



3.  Salamanca Wharf Cafe*** at Battery Point  $$


17a Castray Esplanade, Hobart


4.  Providore     $$

100 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

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HOBART CENTRAL 


Dinner

1.  Smolt***  $$$   Italian and Spanish 




2.  Monty's on Montpelier $$$





3.  Don Camilio  $$$  - Italian, possibly oldest in Hobart, sandy Bay south of CBD




4.  Le Provencal   $$$ - retro French


417 Macquarie Street, South Hobart



5.   Ethos Eat Drink  - modern Aus  $$$$  fine dining




6. Lebrina *** - modern Aus $$$$, in private home, fine dining



7.   Me Wah - Cantonese, Seafood $$ at Sandy Bay south of CBD


Also in Launceston


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LAUNCESTON

Breakfast and Lunch:

Stillwater Restaurant Cafe & Wine Bar*** - fine dining  $$$ 



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LAUNCESTON

Lunch:

1.  Garden of Vegan*** -  low cost and value  $


39 Cameron Street, Launceston



2.  Sweet Brew - Desserts $$

93a George Street, Launceston


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LAUNCESTON


Dinner:

1.  Me Wah - Cantonese , Seafood $$


Also in Sandy Bay, Hobart.


2.  Black Cow Bistro - steaks, fine dining  $$$$





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FREYCINET, east coast of Tasmania

Tombolo*** - Fish and Chips  $$

6 Garnbet Avenue, Coles Bay


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SWANSEA  overlooking Freycinet Bay on Tasmania's east coast

Kate's Berry Farm  $$



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***must visits

Tuesday, 25 August 2015

New Zealand Remembers - National War Memorial, Wellington

































The Northern Explorer - Palmerston North to Wellington





























Pandoro Panetteria - Willis Street, Wellington New Zealand



A rather nippy morning in June.  Rush hour going to work, when coffee is most welcome.  An old building that hosts a bakery - and there are scores of people inside.  The outside does indicate sandwiches and pastries inside but really, there is more.   It is the aroma, the buzz, the eagerness of the customers waiting or seated inside.   The sky may be grey at this time of early day but there is light inside.   What are they making, what are they presenting, what are they serving?

It looks like the attraction is the artisan baked items, with a specific display on their own.  I see the cakes, pastries and breads - and then I know I am walking on to something unique.   From biscotti to crostini and brownies, each is calling out to tease your palate. To me at that moment it seemed I was facing the best of Kiwi baked delights smothered with Italian love.   The baked bread ranges through Tremezzino, gourmet burger buns, Ciabatta, Panini and more.





So is there any difference between a Kiwi and Aussie breakfast?  Mushrooms, sliced tomatoes, bacon strips, sourdough and a crusty corn fritter.  Still there is a difference in flavour.  Perhaps the local ingredients Kiwi side.  May be the breads taste better when it is colder outside, maybe it is the artisan effect when Pandoro make their non-yeasted sourdoughs -  which is their speciality.

Coffee served here is from a in-house blend of Allures and Coffee Supreme.  It is strong, enough to shake me off my reaction to the early Wellington morning for someone not used to such temps.   I really zoomed in on to the croissants and Brioche but decided finally on a big breakfast plate.  The lunch menu is limited, only offering muffins, sandwiches and savouries - so it is always to come here for a sort of late break and early brunch.








Pandoro also operates as a wholesale supplier based from both Auckland and Wellington, apart from its retail cafes.
This Pandoro Panetteria outlet is located at Willis Street, Wellington CBD, at corner with Bomd Street.
Telephone of Willis Street cafe: 644 4734230
Opening hours are from 7am to 4pm every day.

Two other cafes in the Wellington CBD are found at Woodward and Allen Streets.

In greater Auckland, you an find Pandora cafes at Mount Wellington, Parnell (its original home), East Ridge, Mount Eden and in the CBD along Queen Street.  Christmas is a great time to consider Pandora as well - the festive tarts are lovely!  And the whole business is still family owned.




Click to add a blog post for Pandoro Panetteria on Zomato 

Thursday, 20 August 2015

The Northern Explorer - National Park New Zealand







The ferns, grass and native vegetation - relatively untainted, with still the trekking spirit nurtured.




The daily train from Auckland's Brittomart Station to Wellington City terminus rolls on past coniferous as it makes progress  in the early afternoon through the centre of North Island New Zealand





Life fights on, even in cold temperatures, little flora persist amongst difficult conditions.




Farming country, plains and valleys - the classic country New Zealand.


The viewing coach lets passengers embrace the fresh air, natural smells and captivating sights more readily than within an enclosed cabin.


A wet climate adds to the allure of the Long White Cloud - and engenders the right mix of factors supporting sheep and cattle farming.

Through mist and toil, the ground is so fertile to make my life grow.





Climbing uphill, one builds character and dignity - and takes pride in the effort to persist and overcome.



"Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side"




Valley deep, mountain high.




Self explanatory, 3pm on a June Monday.




Happy 60th, Singapore

 Happy 60th, Singapore. 9 August 1965 to today. A nation whose leader seriously reckoned would not last on its formation. An island republic...