Huka Lodge - Lake Taupo - New Zealand

Name: Huka Lodge

Address:  271 Huka Falls Road,
Taupo 3377,
New Zealand

T + 64 7 378 5791

Food: ModOz, English

Complimentary: It is part of the room tariff.
Bread roll with butter and salt.

Served warm.

Mushroom arancini.

These were our favourites - I had to restrain myself from spoiling my dinner.

Carrot ginger soup
This was too heavy on the ginger for me, it was also served at room temperature.

Seafood spoon

Clearly I have no clue what this was - hubby didn't like it though.

Cheese and petit fours buffet

Huge table adorned with fruit, cheeses, mini chocolates and cookies.

Entree: Crab cocktail
Tomato preparations, crunchy wild rice

Hubby liked this. I can't remember what my vegetarian version was.

John Dory
Pea, shallot and chive dressing

Veg version - leeks with peas and tofu 

A little boring and bland.

Mains: Caprese
Several preparations of tomato, mozzarella and basil.

Unfortunately this lacked a lot of flavour. I didn't even finish.

Blue Nose
Green herbs, half dried tomato, black olive

Somehow no photo, so no idea.

Hawke's Bay Lamb
Eggplant variation, goat's cheese, slow roasted capsicum

Hubby liked the lamb, but found the eggplant odd-tasting.

Salad leaves
 

Dessert: Chocolate all the way

HUGE let down - The white chocolate, pistachio coated roll was horrible and tasted like the fridge. The chocolate sorbet was bitter and grainy. Can't remember what the other thing was - I think grapefruit was part of it - but the whole thing was unsatisfying. 

Cost: Included in the room tariffs. 

Service: Great.

Atmosphere: Overall hunting-lodge-esque. There are too many rooms to summarise. Dinner can either be communal in the dark but vibrant dining room, or you can choose to eat privately in up to 10 locations such as a wine cellar, outdoor on the veranda, or in the study (our location) etc.

Parking: Ample.

Website: http://www.hukalodge.co.nz/ 

Hours: Daily 8pm (for guests only except for Autumn and Winter).

Would I return: To the hotel - Yes - but not for the food.

Pure Tastes - Paihia - New Zealand

Name: Pure Tastes

Address: Paihia Beach Resort & Spa Hotel 
116 Marsden Road 
Paihia, Bay of Islands
New Zealand 0200


09 402 0003 

Food: ModOz,
Average price: Entree: $21-23, Mains: $31-34, Dessert: $15-16
4  courses $75 per guest, 5 course $85 per guest

Complimentary: Asparagus soup
A little watery for me but R liked it.

Cauliflower & potato soup
Thick, creamy and subtle but perfectly seasoned.

Kaffir lime palate cleanser

A little too jelly-like for me but hubby scoffed them down, nice strong kaffir lime taste.

Entree: Seared tuna, crab spring roll, shitake mushroom salad - $22 - four course

R didn't love this.

tomato and haloumi terrine - $21
walnut and rocket salad, balsamic reduction

This was nice enough.

Beetroot, goats cheese, mushroom -$22

This was nice, although a little heavy on the goat's cheese - I wish it had more of the sweet and tart reduction to cut through it - I don't think the mushrooms added much either.

Main: pan seared fish -$32
Herb linguine, tomato tian, shellfish and ginger foam - 4 course

caramelised pork belly - $32

cider infused potatoes, apple purée, caramelised onions & sage vinaigrette

R loved this so much as part of his 4 courses the next day he ordered it as his main - his favourite component was the caramelised apple.

ricotta and medtrainen vegetable stack - $31
herb consommé, micro salad

Once the consomme was added this was all a bit bland and watery, I didn't enjoy it.

Side dishes:  $7.50

northland kumara chips with parmesan olive oil

LOVED these - perfect texture and well seasoned - couldn't really taste the parmesan oil though.


gordon’s haricot beans gremolata

Great flavour and well cooked beans - yum, especially loved the garlic.

potato gnocchi, lemon butter & chives

Very subtle - a bit boring once the lovely ricotta runs out though.

Dessert: chocolate brûlée - $16 - four course
beetroot sorbet, beetroot hokey pokey, white chocolate oil

My favourite dessert - the brulee was lovely, couldn't taste the white chocolate oil but the beetroot elements added a nice earthy contrast and texture to the silky chocolate brulee.

coffee parfait -$15
whisky jelly, vanilla foam & cinnamon doughnuts

R didn't really enjoy this but I quite liked it (apart from the stale doughnuts and jelly).

taste of coconut - $15
mango ravioli, coconut tart, coconut & chocolate parfait

The ravioli was two circles of fresh mango with a coconut jelly disc in the middle. Surprisingly this wasn't super coconut-y. It was nice and subtle. Inside the chocolate cube was a parfait - perhaps coconut? The tart had lovely meringue kisses on top and a nice filling.

strawberries & cream - $15
balsamic roast strawberries, crème fraîche, basil jelly

This was a little small for me. The flavours went well (although I didn't eat the jelly) and R liked it.

Cost: $248.50NZD for one four tastes menu, 2 entrees, 2 mains, 3 sides, 3 desserts (over two days).


Service: OK. The second time we went when the restaurant was around 75% capacity the staff were flustered and it took a while for our plates to be cleared. They do try hard though to make sure you are happy and are very eager to please.


Atmosphere: Beachside relaxation. The palette is light blues and neutrals with surrounding windows allowing view to the beach and poolside. Very relaxed, although quite small.

Parking: Ample.

Website: http://www.puretastes.co.nz/

Hours: Daily 7am-10pm.


Would I return: Yes - if I was staying in Paihia.

The Bunker - Queenstown

Name: The Bunker

Address:  Cow Lane,  
Queenstown 9300,  
New Zealand 
+64 (0)3 441 8030

Food: ModOz,
Average price: Entree: $17-$26, Mains: $36-$42, Dessert: $14-16

Complimentary: Nothing

Entree: Whitebait - $26
Crispy West Coast whitebait with a cucumber, ginger and lychee salsa and lemon yoghurt dressing.

R thought this was a touch boring.

Tuna - $23
Sesame crusted yellow fin tuna tataki with shitake and spring onions and a tahini dressing.

This was a little dull also.


Mains: Pork belly - $37
 Twelve hour braised crisp pork belly, with roasted Stewart Island scampi on a carrot and ginger puree with sesame coleslaw and coriander jus.

R found the skin too chewy and fatty to eat and didn't enjoy it.


Vegetarian - $36
Roasted almond and chick pea filo on a warm salad of artichoke, olives, capers and goats cheese with a vincotta dressing.

This was pleasant - the filo was flaky and the filling tasty, the vincotta dressing's acidity helped to balance the other salty, heavy flavours.

Dessert: Brownie - $15
Chocolate brownie with strawberries, raspberry puree, white chocolate and vanilla ice cream

Classic flavours that pared beautifully although the brownie was a touch burned but hubby didn't mind it all and happily ate it up.

Cost: $137NZD - for 2 entrees, 2 mains, 1 dessert.

Service: OK.

Atmosphere: Dark and mismatched. The green library lights hung over old paintings doesn't seem to fit with the bar at one end. The restaurant attracts an older clientele despite its 4am closing time. I coulnd't tell you much about the decor as it was just too dark.

Parking: Limited.

Website: http://www.thebunker.co.nz/index.html

Hours: Daily 5pm - 4am.

Would I return: No.