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| Photo by RMO |
How's things? It's been a long time since my last blog post. A lot has changed and transpired in my life. One major thing, I now live and work in the City of Sails, Auckland.
I still am adjusting to the hectic pace and the horrendous traffic this city is getting (in)famous for. I also notice a certain rudeness of motorists and pedestrians alike. Must be the frenzy of earning a living, amidst a mass of people, all competing for the almighty dollar.
One thing though that I'm quite thankful and happy for, is the fact that since it's a very cosmopolitan city, one can experience a diverse range of gastronomic and culinary cuisines and delights. The city has so much to offer in terms of eating out with restaurant names like the Blind Basket, Murder Burger, Shaolin Kung Fu Noodle, to name a few.
You are no longer confined to just the Auckland CBD. The places wherein you could go and eat has spread out all over the city. And I noticed a proliferation of cafes and coffee shops, especially in the suburbs. This is going to be an interesting time for me and I'll keep you posted as often as I can.
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| Dessert |
It's nighttime Christmas Day and by now, most specifically here in New Zealand, you've had your fill of the sumptuous food prepared by your family. But whatever you may have prepared, large or small, simple or elaborate, always remember this---It's best to eat together with family and loved ones.
This is what Christmas is all about, good food, good company, good conversation, good times. Each culture, each ethnicity will be celebrating and preparing food their own unique way. Times may be hard and difficult, but the family that eats together will stay together. Let the good times roll, Merry Christmas to one and all.
A family favourite when we want some quick, reasonably priced and yummy food is Wong's Kitchen. It is a go-to place for us and many others, judging from the crowd that's always at 63 Massey Street, Hamilton, NZ. It is a family-owned and operated takeaway that specialises in Authentic Canton Chinese Cuisine, Fresh Fish and Chips, Chinese Smorgasbord Burgers, and of course their famous and my family's top favourite Golden Fried Chicken.
There are a few tables for those who would like to have a sit-down dinner. But mostly, I've seen people come in, chose their order, and dash out. Another family bestseller is the chicken nibbles in different packages (as pictured here). Once you take your order to the car, it sure is going to be one heavenly, smelly ride home. You might even be tempted to speed it up a little just to be home and start eating.
The idea for coming up with a National Strawberry Month is an American tradition. Because around this time in the United States and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, between spring and summer, fresh strawberries are ready for picking and eating.
I love strawberries, especially fresh ones! I pour milk and add a bit of sugar, a dash of ice cream and oh wow it's so heavenly. Here in NZ, we normally start our strawberry picking season around late November all the way up to March. I see whole families out in the field picking strawberries. You're given a pail or an empty ice cream container to put the fruits in. Most farms allow pickers to eat whatever they pick and pay only for those that are gathered. And like anything in NZ, honesty is really a way of life. I do hope this idea sticks longer!
Cez Tan is the owner of Island Joe's a special restaurant in Onehunga, Auckland. She kindly accepted my Q&A. This is another instance of a migrant getting into business and adding diversity to the Kiwi palate. I've never been to Island Joe's but the people who've been there have glowing praises and recommendations. You'll notice that barbeque is spelt with a "q" just like how it's written in the American language. Whether it's a c or q it is still a tasty meal. I'll definitely make this a must-stop next time I'm in Auckland.
Q: What's the inspiration behind your business?
A: My favourite hobby is cooking and I've always wanted to try my hand at setting up a restaurant. When the opportunity rose, I had to grab it. Filipino food has always been the underdog in the international food scene when compared to Chinese, Thai, Japanese and other Asian cuisines but I know that our barbeque is far superior if only people can taste it. The popularity of Hawaiian Barbeque in America gave me the idea to set-up a similar concept given that the original Hawaiian BBQ chain was co-founded by a Filipino thereby accounting for the Filipino influence. Hawaiian cuisine is a mix of Asian, Polynesian and American food and our menu reflects this.
Q: What has been a challenge while building your business and how did you manage it?
A: The challenge has been to introduce our food, which is quite new to the Kiwi palate, to the general populace and not only to Filipinos. We are slowly building up our non-Filipino customer base by word-of-mouth and participating in events like Pasifika. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to do a marketing blitz. So we rely largely on people trying our food and loving it and inviting others to try.
Q: Name three people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, and why?
A: Simon Gault - I'd like to get his input as to how to get people to try our food. Kim Dotcom - he would be an interesting person to talk to and also I might be able to convince him to invest in the restaurant business, ha ha ha. Richie McCaw - I would love for him to try our food and endorse it.
Q: Are you a cat or dog person, and why?
A: Probably a cat, I'm not as sociable as a dog. Although I like meeting people, I prefer one-on-one interactions rather than crowds.
Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call as your sanctuary, and why?
A: My house, where else would you feel relaxed and free? When you get home from work, you can just sit in your deck and listen to bird songs.
Q: Something not many people know about you?
A: I'm very loyal to true friends.
Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, and why?
A: Nowhere. If I change a thing in the past, I might not end up in NZ, and I don't want to be anywhere else at this point in time.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Have a chain of Island Joe's here and abroad.
There you have it ladies and gentlemen. It's definitely a place to check out in Onehunga, Auckland. With technology, the present world is now smaller, with almost all parts discovered. It's time to explore and discover the next world, Food From Many Nations.
It seems that New Zealand and the entire planet for that matter are obsessed with food shows on TV and online. There are also all kinds of food reality shows wherein the competitors are couples, chefs, twins, children, teachers, soldiers, politicians, ordinary citizens, etc. Here's one more I've discovered recently, Food Hero.
The people who prepare the food---the chefs, have become superstars in their own right, writing bestselling books and starring in their own cooking shows. I've met people, young and old alike, who are either studying to become a chef or planning to become one soon. I suppose culinary related courses are enjoying a booming business.
