Page 25 - pākuViews Autumn/Winter 2013
Basic HTML Version
23
p:
07 866 2414 - Rings Beach - Whitianga
e:
This private, secluded self-contained one bedroom getaway
is located in native bush with amazing ocean views.
• Spa • SKY TV • Private Deck • Woodburner
One of the Coromandel’s best kept secrets”
Tairua Food Scene
Changes with the Season
No description does justice to the powerful presence
of nature at Te Moata. Set in 344 hectares of
native bush just north of Tairua, this sanctuary
hosts a variety of residential retreats, community
events and workshops. A network of walking
tracks leads to streams, waterfalls, and beautiful
stands of native trees including ancient Kauri.
Experience Te Moata for yourself. Enrol in a
retreat, book a stay in one of our cottages or remote
bush huts, or schedule a casual visit.
Enjoy breathtaking views, a walk in the labyrinth
and checking out some of our tracks.
For details of upcoming events see the PakuViews
Calendar on pg16 or visi
t
Visitors are welcome by arrangement.
Phone Jessie or Dave at
07 868 8798
or email
The Pepe Café in Tairua
– Great
dining with Harbour Views.
Steve and Sandra Morris took over the
management of the old Tairua Landing location to
create The Pepe Café more than a year ago and
says, “We’re so pleased with how far we’ve come
the past year. After a few hiccups at the beginning,
we have had a really busy summer and our great
team of staff have created a café that both locals
and visitors have been enjoying.”
The crowds in the café this past Summer said it
all. Steve adds, “The whole team at The Pepe have
worked hard together to change the venue into a
family friendly place that now has a reputation for
quality food and good friendly service”.
Manager Aaron Dunn tells us customers are
loving the current offerings – local Coffee LaLa,
the seasonal menus, variety of cabinet food, and
the ‘cheaper’ alternatives for tap and bottled
craft beers. This winter they will be offering winter
warming comfort foods off their dinner menu, daily
black board specials for lunch and a friendly warm
environment to enjoy a cup of coffee made with
love. (As an accomplished barista, Aaron is shown
‘having his way’ with the espresso machine.)
‘Old’ Chef ‘New’ Owner
of
Shells Restaurant
How does
Nathaniel Blomfield
feel about owning
the restaurant where he previously worked as
chef for over 9 years? His grin says it all. “It took a
bit of an adjustment to be both front and back of
house – as well as doing the books – but I’m loving
it”. Where did his ‘rise’ begin? He started washing
dishes at Shells back in 1996!
Chef “Nads” tells us he has already implemented
the return of the popular Friday night specials and
is considering the return of the ‘Winter Club’ which
offers discounts on meals (well-received when he
first worked at Shells 16 years ago!)
Chef is currently in the process of designing
the six course tasting menu for the next Wine
Club which is held monthly at Shells. I attended
the April Wine Club and was blown away by the
5-courses he prepared to compliment a selection
of Mt. Difficulty wines. First course was a Sauv
Blanc paired with a Ceviche of Trevally – a
standout and at the top of my favourites. Next,
Chicken and Smoked Chili Sausage with carrot
puree and mandarin sauce – perfect with the
Pinot Gris, food & wine enhancing each other
beautifully. Then on to a lovely Chard with Warm
Crab and a Mussel Bouillabaisse. Pinot Noir was
then matched with succulent poached Angus Beef
Fillet on a wild risotto with a peppered beetroot
jus – yum! And to finish, a late harvest Pinot
Gris served with Hazelnut Tart and Carmelised
Poached Pear (pictured).
It’s truly amazing how just the right match can
make the most of both wine and food. And after
tasting those talents of Chef Nathaniel at work, it’s
no wonder the car park out the front has been full
since the ‘new’ Shells has opened!
Manaia Café & Bar
–
a great place to relax and dine
An interesting twist of fate and a savvy business
move is behind the recently reopened Manaia
Café and Bar. Ten years ago when partners Phillip
Mason and Andrea Johnson (pictured) created
Manaia – they built, outfitted and were the first to
operate the café – never dreaming they would be
running it themselves a decade later.
The couple is now landlord and tenant with
sociable and natural hostess Andrea back at the
helm, and lovin’ it! She’s had plenty of experience
at the front of house, having owned three different
gift stores and most recently the nearby Little
Gallery of Fine Arts.
Charismatic and gregarious, this 5 ft bundle of
energy now has a ‘new baby’, and baby ‘Manaia’
is getting a lot of love. The café’s energy is high,
with lots of laughter and nods of approval coming
from the customers, as mouth watering food is set
down on the table – by happy staff.
With an amazing, supportive team behind her –
and the innovative, creative Chef Graham Dick
in the kitchen – Manaia has relaunched as a
welcoming, exciting place to relax and dine, day or
night. This is fresh and inspired café food, and it’s
making locals smile.
Try the Eggs Benedict with Kahawai or the
Waikanae Crab Omelette. And don’t miss the
Prawn Naan Pizza from the bar menu – spicy
and delicious! The tempting dinner menu reflects
Tairua’s coastal lifestyle with a good range of
seafood on offer including the popular Coromandel
Mussels. Meat eaters will enjoy the Organic Free-
range Scotch Fillet with a ‘jus’ that’s to die for.
Manaia Café, Manaia Gift Store, The Little Gallery
of Fine Arts and The Local Advertiser share the
corner building, and Andrea says her goal, “Is to
work cooperatively to create a social hub for this
wonderful community we live in”.
Andrea and Phillip welcome you back to Manaia
and look forward to hosting you.
