Wellington Food Trail 2022

Wellington Food Trail 2022

These were the places we visited and ate at, as regular paying customers, on the Wellington Food Trail 2022 in Wellington, New Zealand.

• Day 1
• Jardin Grill
• Cable Top Eatery
• Kapiti
• Crab Shack


• Day 2
• Butlers Chocolate Café
• Olive
• Duck Island Ice Cream
• Yor Yak Thai Eatery


• Day 3
• Karaka Cafe
• Fortune Favours Beer

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Day 1
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Jardin Grill
@ 11 Bolton Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Mon 6:30am – 10am, 12pm – 2pm; Tue - Fri 6:30am – 10am, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm; Sat - Sun 6:30am – 10:30am, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
https://www.sofitel-wellington.com/restaurant-and-bar/jardin-grill-wellington/


The in-house restaurant of the Sofitel Wellington hotel, Jardin Grill is an exquisite French restaurant serving well-executed dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients. I dined here as part of the breakfast package I had for my stay.

Ambience at Jardin Grill is elegant and refined. The flanking wall is covered in a floral pattern and metal mesh finishes, lending a complex industrial natural feel. The furnishings are large and comfortable, though the low spot lights create a lot of shadow. Service at Jardin Grill is patient, non-judgemental, and professional. Staff politely apologise for the lengthy waiting queue, and demonstrate good product knowledge on the menu. Orders are quickly fulfilled and served. Staff proactively offer to clear finished plates throughout your meal, and clean up quickly when diners leave. Food at Jardin Grill is French cuisine, elevated but certainly not fine dining. Each plate is well-executed and delicious, with portions sized for individuals. The menu is focused but seasonal, changing depending on market produce.

Jardin Grill Entrance

Jardin Grill Seating

Jardin Grill Seating

Group Booth

Love the creative combination of ingredients in the Omelette With Spinach, Tomato, Mushroom, Cheese (NZD $24). The egg omelette sprinkled with crushed black pepper is properly fluffy moist soft in texture, with eggy sweet savoury salty peppery spice flavour, and the layers of vegetables stuffed within (baby spinach, tomato slices, button mushrooms) carry vegetal earthy sweet flavour. A side of fresh lettuce with vegetal sweet notes complete. The use of gooey mozzarella cheese here makes this more filling and satisfying. Good!

Omelette With Spinach, Tomato, Mushroom, Cheese (NZD $24)

Omelette With Spinach, Tomato, Mushroom, Cheese

Omelette With Spinach, Tomato, Mushroom, Cheese

The Le Magnifique Breakfast (NZD $39) is essentially a big breakfast, with Eggs Your Way. I chose the scrambled eggs breakfast, where the creamy soft scrambled eggs carry eggy sweet savoury flavour. The Hot Station Platter is a self-service buffet line of items, from tender soft baked fava beans in rich tomato sauce with vegetal earthy sweet smoky flavour; to crisp potato hash browns with starchy savoury salty sweet flavour; to tender pork back bacon with smoky meaty salty savoury flavour; and snappy juicy pork sausages with meaty savoury salty flavour. Accompanied with soft spongy sourdough bread topped with butter, carrying lovely bready sour sweet buttery flavour. Good!

Le Magnifique Breakfast (NZD $39)

Eggs Your Way

Eggs Your Way

Hot Station Platter

Hot Station Platter

Le Magnifique Breakfast

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Cable Top Eatery
@ 1 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Sun - Thu 8am – 4pm, Fri - Sat 8am – 8pm
https://cabletop.co.nz/


Situated just beside the Wellington Cable Car summit, the Cable Top Eatery is a casual modern cafe and bar serving great local grub. Packed during meal times thanks to its fantastic view of the city from the veranda, Cable Top Eatery is an oasis for those taking in the sights in the area, so I dropped in to visit.

Ambience at Cable Top Eatery is modern and striking. The spacious area, with both indoor and outdoor seating, features ample natural light, cool breezes, and casual modern wooden furnishing that's sturdy and comfortable. The al-fresco veranda is the most popular, offering beautiful sweeping views of the down town city. Service at Cable Top Eatery is polite and chirpy, the staff buzzing as they go about their tasks with rapid efficiency, quickly seating guests or cleaning up, introducing orders as they serve, and checking for feedback on the dining experience. Food at Cable Top Eatery is modern Kiwi European cuisine, featuring fresh local produce styled with French, Italian, and British techniques and presentation. Portions are medium to large for individuals, and there's a different menu depending on the time of meal throughout the day.

Cable Top Eatery Exterior

Cable Top Eatery Interior

Seating

Cable Top Eatery Menu Signage

The Beer Parrotdog Lager (NZD $10) is a classic lager brewed with New Zealand green bullet hops, by the Parrotdog Brewery in Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. It has a clear pale golden yellow colour, with tastes and aromas of pineapple, guava, white bread, and mango. The body is light, crisp, and dry, with pleasant fruity bitter sweet grainy flavour, and a dry finish.

Beer Parrotdog Lager (NZD $10)

Had the Lemon Lime & Bitters Soda (NZD $4.50) after hiking around a bit, and it was incredibly refreshing and thirst-quenching. This has a cloudy appearance with bright tangy zesty sour sweet bitter spice flavour. Worth ordering!

Lemon Lime & Bitters Soda (NZD $4.50)

Lemon Lime & Bitters Soda

The Beer Battered Tarakihi Fillet, Lemon, Tartare, Steak Cut Chips (NZD $23) is possibly the lightest lunch meal on their menu. This has fresh fillets of lean tender flaky tarakihi fish, coated in a crisp golden beer batter, crunching lightly to release pleasant mild sweet savoury salty flavour. The medium steak cut potato chips are light and fluffy and crisp, with good starchy salty savoury sweet flavour. A drizzle of lemon juice for a tangy zesty sour note, paired with thick tomato ketchup with vegetal sweet sour flavour, and creamy tartar sauce with milky sour sweet flavour, to complete. Good!

Beer Battered Tarakihi Fillet, Lemon, Tartare, Steak Cut Chips (NZD $23)

Beer Battered Tarakihi Fillet, Lemon, Tartare, Steak Cut Chips

Beer Battered Tarakihi Fillet, Lemon, Tartare, Steak Cut Chips

Served piled high in a mesh basket, the Kumara Chips With Aioli And Tomato Ketchup (NZD $12) are made from medium cut strips of kumara, the New Zealand variety of sweet potato, of which there are 4 kinds, red, orange, purple, and gold. With a crisp exterior and fluffy interior, the kumara chips have enticing vegetal earthy sweet starchy flavour. Paired with thick tomato ketchup with vegetal sweet sour flavour, and a creamy aioli with milky savoury sweet notes. Good!

Kumara Chips With Aioli And Tomato Ketchup (NZD $12)

Kumara Chips With Aioli And Tomato Ketchup

Kumara Chips With Aioli And Tomato Ketchup

Kumara Chips With Aioli And Tomato Ketchup

The Chocolate Afghan Biscuit (NZD $5) is a decadent snack. The biscuit itself has a soft sticky dense texture, while the topping of chocolate icing is creamy thick, contrasted by the crunch of walnut pieces on top. Has a chocolately sweet nutty flavour. A bit too much for my palate though, it's a really rich dessert. Worth ordering!

Chocolate Afghan Biscuit (NZD $5)

Chocolate Afghan Biscuit

Chocolate Afghan Biscuit

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Kapiti
@ 1 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Sun - Thu 8am – 7pm, Fri - Sat 8:30am – 9pm
https://www.kapitiicecream.co.nz/


The Kapiti ice cream kiosk is co-located within the Wellington Cable Car Kelburn station, and is part of the unmissable experience here. Visitors typically purchase a cup or cone and consume it while exploring the sights, so I did likewise.

Ambience at Kapiti benefits from the ample natural light. Occupying the entire front entrance, there's usually a short queue while people wait for the cable car. Service at Kapiti is friendly and quick, staff are efficient at fulfilling orders. Food at Kapiti is focused on desserts, specifically, ice cream. There's a good range of ice cream flavours, about 10 or so, most of which feature local ingredients and are fruit-based. Portions are sized for individuals.

Kapiti Facade

The Hokey Pokey Ice Cream Cone (NZD $7) is beautifully refreshing. This local hokey pokey ice cream features crunchy honeycomb toffee chunks (colloquially known as hokey pokey) studded within creamy smooth vanilla ice cream, carrying bold honeyed sweet floral flavour. Enticing and addictive. Highly recommended!

Hokey Pokey Ice Cream Cone (NZD $7)

Hokey Pokey Ice Cream Cone

Hokey Pokey Ice Cream Cone

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Crab Shack
@ 5 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Thu - Sun 11:30am – 9:30pm, Closed Mon - Wed
https://www.crabshack.co.nz/


The Crab Shack is a seafood coastal-themed casual eatery, popular for its range of fresh seafood. With limited opening hours, the Crab Shack is usually fully booked, and advance recommendations are highly recommended! I'd planned to dine at Crab Shack for some time, but nearly missed out because I didn't have a reservation (and a local New Zealand phone number), and the place was fully booked. I nearly cried out of frustration, especially after travelling for 12 hours just to reach here. Thankfully, staff were willing to accommodate my last minute request; I nearly cried for joy. A big thank you and my deepest appreciation to the staff of Crab Shack Wellington for accommodating me!

Ambience at Crab Shack is rustic, with the restored wooden shed creating an intimate space. The worn wooden tables are closely packed, and the warm lights clad in decorative crab fishing cages cast a low glow, but the cushioned seats make it comfortable for lingering meals. Service at Crab Shack is beyond excellent, accommodating my request. Staff are friendly, non-judgemental, and efficient. They demonstrate good product knowledge on the menu, proactively offer to clear finished plates, and check for feedback on the dining experience. Food at Crab Shack is traditional New Zealand / Kiwi seafood cuisine, featuring the freshest catch, perfectly executed and presented. Dishes are tasty and deliciously addictive, well presented and visually appealing. Portions are medium to large for individuals, and may be shared.

Crab Shack Signage

Crab Shack Exterior

Crab Shack Interior

Crab Shack Colourful Shed

Seating

Seating

Crab Shack Menu 2022

The Beer Emersons Bird Dog IPA (NZD $14) is an India pale ale brewed by the Emerson's Brewing Company in Central Dunedin, Dunedin, New Zealand. It has a hazy copper amber colour, with aromas and tastes of orange, pine leaves, pebbles, and honey. The body is intense, hoppy, and crisp, with enticing metallic fruity bitter sweet floral flavours, and a resiny finish.

Beer Emersons Bird Dog IPA (NZD $14)

The Shack-Spiced Calamari (NZD $17) appetizer features large fresh calamari squid rings, coated in a light all-purpose flour batter, seasoned with salt and pepper. Has a bouncy chewy texture and mild savoury salty peppery spice flavour, yum. Served with a drizzle of lemon juice for added tangy zesty sour flavour, and a creamy aioli with milky savoury sweet notes. Highly recommended!

Shack-Spiced Calamari (NZD $17)

Shack-Spiced Calamari

Shack-Spiced Calamari

Shack-Spiced Calamari

The Shellfish By The Scoop, Mixed (NZD $19 for 500g) feature a bucket generously packed with a medley of different shellfish, in your choice of stew. There's the Green-Lipped Mussel, juicy and bouncy with mild natural sweet savoury flavour. There's the Moon Shell Clam, firm and chewy with intense meaty savoury salty flavour. There's the Diamond Shell Clam, juicy and bouncy with bold salty nutty sweet flavour. The shellfish, including mussels and clams, were served in my choice of stew; a white wine, garlic, red chili, and cream blend. The stew was thick and robust, with bright milky floral boozy herbal sweet savoury salty spice flavour, infusing the mussels and clams with good flavour, yet you still taste the natural flavours of the shellfish. Very yummy and enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Shellfish By The Scoop, Mixed (NZD $19 for 500g)

Shellfish (Mussels, Clams)

Green-Lipped Mussel

Moon Shell Clam

Diamond Shell Clam

Shellfish By The Scoop, Mixed

The Vege Fritters (NZD $24) was more filling than I expected, with 3 large fluffy crisp juicy crunchy pieces of vegetable fritters. It's made from all-purpose flour studded with corn kernels, carrots, leeks, and button mushrooms, carrying vegetal sweet salty savoury earthy flavour. The sides of sauteed portobello mushrooms and caramelised white onions, tender and juicy in texture, lend robust vegetal salty savoury earthy sweet flavour. Sprinkled with pecorino romano cheese, for added cheesy salty flavour. A decadent and filling dish. Worth ordering!

Vege Fritters (NZD $24)

Vege Fritters

Vege Fritters

Vege Fritters

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Day 2
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Butlers Chocolate Café
@ 172 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8am – 5pm, Sat - Sun 10am – 5pm
https://www.butlerschocolates.com/


Chanced upon Butlers Chocolate Café, a specialist gourmet chocolatier and coffee chain serving handmade chocolate-based confectionery sweets, and savoury pastries and sandwiches. Was intrigued by the wide range of chocolates at Butlers Chocolate Café, and stepped in to visit.

Ambience at Butlers Chocolate Café is modern functional casual. There's limited seating but high turnover, so if the place is full, waiting a short while usually gets you a seat on the comfortable cushioned chairs. Ample natural light and warm electrical lights illuminate the place, while a heater keeps the temperature comfortable indoors. Service at Butlers Chocolate Café is polite but transactional, as they're still short staffed. That said, staff demonstrate decent product knowledge, and clean up quickly when diners leave. Food at Butlers Chocolate Café is dessert focused, primarily around chocolate-based offerings. Portions are sized for individuals.

Butlers Chocolate Café Exterior

Butlers Chocolate Café Interior

Packed Gourmet Chocolate Gift Boxes

Handcrafted Gourmet Chocolate Display

Chocolate Beverages Menu

All of their Hot Chocolate has a medium thin yet velvety smooth texture, carrying rich flavour. The Hot Chocolate Dark (NZD $7.60) has chocolatey bitter sweet earthy flavour, deep and strong in taste. The Hot Chocolate White (NZD $6.60) has chocolatey milky sweet buttery flavour, bold and decadent in taste. The Hot Chocolate Peppermint (NZD $7.60) has chocolatey minty sweet milky flavour, sharp and refreshing in taste. All these hot chocolate beverages are nicely warming on days with cool weather, a nice start to the morning. Highly recommended!

Hot Chocolate Dark (NZD $7.60)

Hot Chocolate Dark

Hot Chocolate White (NZD $6.60)

Hot Chocolate White

Hot Chocolate Peppermint (NZD $7.60)

Hot Chocolate Peppermint

Fortunate that a piece of Gourmet Chocolate was served with each order of a hot chocolate beverage, so I had the opportunity to sample these. The Chocolate Dark Sea Salt Caramel (NZD $Complimentary) features a fragile dark chocolate shell filled with thick sea salt infused caramel, robust with chocolatey bitter sweet salty flavour. The Chocolate White Almond Truffle (NZD $Complimentary) features a fragile white chocolate shell filled with a crunchy whole almond nut, robust with chocolatey milky sweet nutty flavour. The Chocolate Milk Mango Lemongrass (NZD $Complimentary) features a fragile milk chocolate shell filled with a thin lemongrass cream and topped with chewy mango zest, robust with chocolatey fruity earthy herbal sweet flavour. Good!

Chocolate Dark Sea Salt Caramel (NZD $Complimentary)

Chocolate Dark Sea Salt Caramel

Chocolate White Almond Truffle (NZD $Complimentary)

Chocolate White Almond Truffle

Chocolate Milk Mango Lemongrass (NZD $Complimentary)

Chocolate Milk Mango Lemongrass

The Sausage Roll (NZD $6.40) here is a hefty fella, packed with tender juicy minced beef and diced carrots in a crisp flaky puff pastry shell. With bold meaty savoury salty spice vegetal sweet bready flavour, this sausage roll was rather filling for a snack, doubling as a light meal. Good!

Sausage Roll (NZD $6.40)

Sausage Roll

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Olive
@ 170-172 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Tue - Thu 10:30am – 10pm, Fri 9am – 10pm, Sat 8:30am – 10pm, Sun 8:30am – 2:30pm, Closed Mon
https://www.oliverestaurant.co.nz/


A culinary bastion of contemporary New Zealand cuisine, Olive restaurant has been serving French, Italian, and Kiwi inspired dishes for well over 20 years. Named for the olive tree growing in their courtyard, Olive restaurant is an institution, regularly making the lists of 'must-eat' places in Wellington. I had to see why it's so highly regarded, and having dined here, I can safely say I would return for more.

Ambience at Olive restaurant is casual rustic, with a homely cottage vibe. The tightly packed functional wooden furnishings and warm lights contribute to a buzzing atmosphere, the sounds of chatter filling the air. Seats at the courtyard area, surrounding the olive tree, are highly coveted. Service at Olive restaurant is fantastic. Staff are polite, engaging, and ensure guests feel welcome, with brother-owners Ferdi and Carlo Petagna setting the standard. They demonstrate good product knowledge on the rotating menu, and clean up efficiently when diners leave. Food at Olive restaurant is contemporary New Zealand cuisine, with French, Italian, and Kiwi inspired techniques and fresh seasonal ingredients. Head Chef Jamie Morgan ensures the kitchen turns out exquisite, well-executed, and visually appealing plates, every single time. Portions are sized for individuals.

Olive Exterior

Olive Interior

Seating

Kitchen Window With Pickled Olive Jars

The Beer Parrotdog Yellowhammer Hazy Pale Ale (NZD $10) is a pale ale, brewed by the Parrotdog Brewery in Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. It has a hazy golden yellow colour, with tastes and aromas of mango, banana, wheat, and brioche bread. The body is light, juicy, and moreish, with grainy bready fruity sweet flavour, rounding off with a crisp finish. Refreshingly bright and lively like a parrot, but small and ubiquitous like a sparrow, lending a flash of colour and a musical chirp, it's always MC Yellowhammer time with this brew.

Beer Parrotdog Yellowhammer Hazy Pale Ale (NZD $10)

The Bootleggers Ginger Beer Soda (NZD $7) is a handcrafted soft drink beverage, a blend of lightly carbonated water, New Zealand honey, fresh ginger, fresh lemon juice, and cinnamon. This has a hazy appearance with bold earthy sweet spice flavour, tingling the palate. Wished the serving size was larger though, I finished it all too quickly. Worth ordering!

Bootleggers Ginger Beer Soda (NZD $7)

Bootleggers Ginger Beer Soda

The Seared Venison Carpaccio Salad With Truffle Mayo (NZD $20) is an Italian Kiwi style appetizer salad, featuring crisp rocket leaves / arugula, firm capers, and thin tender venison carpaccio, with flaky puff pastry on the side, and garnished with grated parmesan cheese and creamy truffle oil mayonnaise. Combined, each mouthful of the salad has bright vegetal bitter sweet meaty savoury earthy salty cheesy milky flavour. Wholesome and healthy, with an interesting contrast that awakens the palate. Good!

Seared Venison Carpaccio Salad With Truffle Mayo (NZD $20)

Seared Venison Carpaccio Salad With Truffle Mayo

Seared Venison Carpaccio Salad With Truffle Mayo

The salmon fish in New Zealand usually features the local variety of Ōra King salmon fish, also sometimes called the Chinook salmon fish. With the Poached Fillet Of Salmon (NZD $29) here, a thick and luxurious cut of ora king salmon fish is poached to release its natural meaty sweet savoury fatty flavour, resulting in a tender and moist texture with beautiful pink flakes. It's coated with a spring onion crust for vegetal sweet herbal flavour. Served with crunchy broccolini florets with vegetal sweet herbal flavour, juicy brined kalamata olives with vegetal earthy sour flavour, tender fingerling potatoes with starchy sweet salty flavour, and crunchy walnuts with nutty earthy flavour. Completed with a unique anchovy fish mayonnaise, creamy with salty savoury milky notes. I like that staff asked for my choice of doneness; and it turned out a perfect medium-well. Highly recommended!

Poached Fillet Of Salmon (NZD $29)

Poached Fillet Of Salmon

Poached Fillet Of Salmon

Poached Fillet Of Salmon

The Braised Lamb Shoulder Ragu, Pappardelle Pasta (NZD $34) features a base of thick ribbon-like strips of al-dente pappardelle pasta noodles, chewy firm in texture and grainy savoury sweet in flavour. Garnished with a thick luscious ragu gravy with generous strips of chewy shredded braised lamb shoulder and crisp baby spinach leaves, combining robust meaty savoury salty vegetal sweet flavour. Finished with a creamy dollop of sour cream for added milky sour notes. The pasta is filling, but feels so comforting and homely. Good!

Braised Lamb Shoulder Ragu, Pappardelle Pasta (NZD $34)

Braised Lamb Shoulder Ragu, Pappardelle Pasta

Braised Lamb Shoulder Ragu, Pappardelle Pasta

The Rhubarb And Pear Mousse, Candied Walnut Crumble (NZD $16) is a rich dessert, with a thick smooth creamy mousse of rhubarb and raspberry, holding vegetal fruity sour sweet flavour. Chunks of juicy caramelised pear sit on the surface, lending bright fruity sweet flavour. The dessert is completed with a generous shortbread biscuit and walnut crumble, grainy with buttery sweet nutty flavour, contrasting nicely with the richness of the mousse. Generous portion too. Highly recommended!

Rhubarb And Pear Mousse, Candied Walnut Crumble (NZD $16)

Rhubarb And Pear Mousse, Candied Walnut Crumble

Rhubarb And Pear Mousse, Candied Walnut Crumble

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Duck Island Ice Cream
@ 168 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Sun - Wed 11am – 10:30pm, Thu - Sat 11am – 11:30pm
https://www.duckislandicecream.co.nz/


The brainchild of 3 chefs, Cameron Farmilo, Kim Higgison, and Morgan Glass, Duck Island Ice Cream is known for its wide range of locally-inspired flavours. Their artisanal ice cream is made in small batches using local produce and organic milk, and the various Duck Island Ice Cream stores rotate through their extensive range of over 50 flavours, with up to 24 flavours offered at any one time. I just had to visit and try their ice cream for myself.

Ambience at Duck Island Ice Cream is cozy and welcoming. The pastel colours lend a happy vibrant feel to the place, while the large and attractive display of ice cream draws the eye. Service at Duck Island Ice Cream is polite and chirpy, they patiently walk you through the various options as you'll be spoilt for choice. There's options for vegan and coconut-based as well. Food at Duck Island Ice Cream is all about ice cream, with unique and creative flavours that incorporate locally-sourced ingredients. Portions are sized for individuals.

Duck Island Ice Cream Exterior

Duck Island Ice Cream Interior

The Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Ice Cream (NZD $3.30) is chunky and rich, you distinctly taste the flavours of sticky peanut butter, smooth milk, and chewy cookie dough within. Good!

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Ice Cream (NZD $3.30)

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Ice Cream

The Strawberry Coconut Lime Leaf Ice Cream (NZD $3.30) is unique with its creamy smooth sorbet-like texture. You get a bold hit of fruity sour sweet strawberry, earthy floral coconut milk, and sharp tangy zesty sour kaffir lime leaf within. Good!

Strawberry Coconut Lime Leaf Ice Cream (NZD $3.30)

Strawberry Coconut Lime Leaf Ice Cream

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Yor Yak Thai Eatery
@ 111 Vivian Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Wed - Fri 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm, Sat - Mon 5pm – 9:30pm, Closed Tue
https://yoryak.nz/


Offering authentic Thai flavours using fresh New Zealand produce, Yor Yak Thai Eatery is highly raved about online, for its consistently delicious Thai dishes. It was serendipitous that I visit Yor Yak Thai Eatery, many other eating places were closed for a national holiday, and of the few places that remained open, Yor Yak Thai Eatery was the most highly regarded.

Ambience at Yor Yak Thai Eatery is rustic, with touches of exotic Thai decor that set the mood for a homely Thai meal. The small floor space is tightly packed with sturdy wooden furniture, illuminated by warm lights that cast a soft glow, attracting those passing by outside the store. Service at Yor Yak Thai Eatery is friendly, though engagement is limited. Staff introduce dishes as they serve, but the menu provides helpful descriptions which limit the opportunity for staff to demonstrate menu knowledge. I note they clean up quickly when diners leave. Food at Yor Yak Thai Eatery is naturally, authentic Thai cuisine, and they're not afraid to go big on spices either. Dishes are hearty and packed with flavour. Portions are medium to large for individuals, and are best shared.

Yor Yak Thai Eatery Signage

Yor Yak Thai Eatery Exterior

Yor Yak Thai Eatery Interior

Counter

Yor Yak Thai Eatery Menu

The Beer Parrotdog Birdseye Hazy IPA (NZD $10) is an India pale ale, brewed by the Parrotdog Brewery in Lyall Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. It has a hazy bronze golden colour, with aromas and tastes of peach, tangerine, steel, and straw. The body is mellow, soft, and silky, with pleasant fruity grainy mineral bitter earthy sweet flavour, a heady almost psychedelic feel.

Beer Parrotdog Birdseye Hazy IPA (NZD $10)

The Yellow Soft Shell Crab Curry (NZD $14.50) features a whole soft shell crab, stir-fried with eggs, white onions, and carrots in yellow curry spices, resulting in a satisfying crisp crunchy texture to the crab, and a tender soft texture to the vegetables. Has addictive eggy sweet savoury salty spice flavours, yum. Rather oily though this is easily avoided, the yellow soft shell crab curry is best paired with a rice dish. Worth ordering!

Yellow Soft Shell Crab Curry (NZD $14.50)

Yellow Soft Shell Crab Curry

The version of Khao Kluk Kapi (NZD $22) here is a Thai Kiwi rendition, featuring a base of fried rice infused with chili shrimp paste, savoury salty spicy shrimpy in flavour with grainy fluffy firm texture, and a lingering heat that kicks sharply and builds as you eat. The khao kulk kapi is accompanied by several sides, including crisp juicy cucumber slices with vegetal sweet flavour, crunchy steamed cauliflower and broccoli florets with vegetal sweet flavour, soft salted egg with salty eggy flavour, tender soy caramelised pork loin and white onion strips with meaty salty savoury sweet flavour, and crisp deep-fried snapper fish fillets with sweet savoury salty flavour. Garnished with fresh spring onions which are crisp and lend vegetal sweet herbal flavour. Highly recommended!

Khao Kluk Kapi (NZD $22)

Khao Kluk Kapi

Khao Kluk Kapi

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Day 3
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Karaka Cafe
@ 2 Taranaki Street, Taranaki Wharf, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Wed - Thu 7:30am – 7pm, Fri 7:30am – 9pm, Sat 9am – 9pm, Sun 9am – 5pm, Closed Mon - Tue
https://www.karakacafe.co.nz/


Karaka Cafe is an established casual dining eatery along the Wellington waterfront, renowned for their signature Maori dishes and beverages, which are rarely sold anywhere else. It was this aspect, along with an anticipated novel dining experience, that led me to visit Karaka Cafe.

Ambience at Karaka Cafe is spacious and modern. The place is arrayed with different types of furnishing to cater to various small and large groups, and even business gatherings. With ample natural light during the day and warm lights at night, the place has an energetic buzz. Service at Karaka Cafe is friendly and welcoming, with staff quickly greeting and seating guests. Orders are taken electronically, though if you so-decide to place orders with the staff, you'll find them engaging and knowledgeable on the menu. I note staff clear tables quickly when diners leave, but overall cleanliness could be more thorough. Food at Karaka Cafe is traditional New Zealand Kiwi cuisine, with a segment of Maori dishes. Each plate is generally well executed, delicious, and visually appealing. Portions are sized for either individuals or for communal group sharing.

Karaka Cafe Exterior

Karaka Cafe Interior

Maori Prayer

The Mocktail Wai Mānuka (NZD $13) is a traditional Maori tonic beverage, featuring a blend of water, lime juice, elderflower juice, manuka sparkling honey, and a generous sprig of mint leaves. Topped with a slice of candied kiwi fruit for decoration. This carries pleasant yet bold honeyed floral sour sweet flavour, very enticing and refreshing. Highly recommended!

Mocktail Wai Mānuka (NZD $13)

Mocktail Wai Mānuka

The Kombucha Waikirikau Fermented Tii Kawakawa Kaha (NZD $8.50) is a Maori inspired tonic beverage. The base of the kombucha waikirikau fermented tii kawakawa kaha is a blend of tea leaves (black, green, oolong, pu-erh), water, white sugar, lemon juice, bergamot oil, scoby fermentation yeast starter, ginger, turmeric, ginseng root, hibiscus flower petals, and kawakawa heart-shaped leaves. The beverage is then shown some aroha / love, blessed with a traditional Maori karakia / prayer. With a fizzy light refreshing texture to the body, the drink has a strong floral herbal sweet spice flavour, with the predominant tastes of hibiscus flower, ginger, turmeric, and tea. Pretty with a pleasant red colour, this contains less than 1.15% alcohol, and according to folklore, has magic rongoa / healing properties. Good!

Kombucha Waikirikau Fermented Tii Kawakawa Kaha (NZD $8.50)

Kombucha Waikirikau Fermented Tii Kawakawa Kaha

Kombucha Waikirikau Fermented Tii Kawakawa Kaha

They actually serve Hāngī here! The Hāngī is a traditional New Zealand Maori method of cooking large quantities of food, using heated rocks buried underground in a pit oven, called an umu. A hangi typically contains a variety of meats and vegetables, and is a communal meal shared with family and friends. Without a traditional umu to use, they've gone modern and cooked their Hāngī rendition in a modern oven instead.

Here, the meal consists of several items. There's Rēwana Bread, a crisp deep-fried sourdough bread leavened with a fermented potato starter. The rewana bread is a traditional Maori bread, and has an savoury sour bready flavour.

There's Kumara, which is a New Zealand variety of sweet potato, of which there are 4 kinds, red, orange, purple, and gold. The kumara is soft and tender, with pleasant vegetal earthy sweet starchy flavour. There's local Pumpkin, tender and soft, with the pumpkin having vegetal sweet earthy flavour. There's local Potato which is large and waxy, the potato being firm and tender with earthy starchy sweet savoury flavour.

There's shredded Cabbage, crisp and crunchy, infused with the flavours of the hangi, resulting in the cabbage having vegetal sweet savoury earthy salty flavour. There's Heke Hāngī which is a traditional hangi stuffing of breadcrumbs and herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and oregano. The heke hangi has a crumbly grainy texture, with bready sweet herbal spice flavour.

There's a bone-in Chicken thigh, likewise infused with the flavours of the hangi. This results in the chicken being tender and succulent and moist, with nice savoury sweet herbal flavour. There's a thick Pork loin cut, meaty and chunky albeit dry towards the center. The pork has lovely meaty savoury salty flavour. It's all served together in a hand-woven basket, with the portion size suitable for 2 - 3 people. Highly recommended!

Hāngī

Rēwana Bread

Kumara

Pumpkin

Potato

Cabbage & Heke Hāngī

Chicken

Pork

Hāngī

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Fortune Favours Beer
@ Stewart Duff Drive, Wellington Airport, Rongotai, Wellington 6022, New Zealand
Opening Hours: Daily 6:30am – 8:30pm
https://fortunefavours.beer/


Fortune Favours Beer is the 1st and only independent craft beer brewery store in Wellington Airport, though they also have several outposts across the city. With no less than 7 house brews on tap, along with a wide range of other tipples, Fortune Favours Beer is a chill place for relaxing prior to a flight, so I dropped in for a drink.

Ambience at Fortune Favours Beer is open, spacious, and relaxing. The shared common space is neatly lined with wide benches, and ample natural light illuminates the place. Service at Fortune Favours Beer is attentive, they take the effort to explain their brews on tap, demonstrating good product knowledge. Food at Fortune Favours Beer is shared and provided by several other stalls, because they focus on craft beer here. Portions are sized for individuals.

Fortune Favours Beer Counter

The Beer The Wellingtonian (NZD $13.70) is a hoppy India pale ale (IPA), brewed by the Fortune Favours brewery in Wellington, New Zealand. It has a copper amber colour, with aromas and tastes of passionfruit, malt, pine leaves, and peach. The body is hoppy, smooth, and refreshing, with bold fruity mineral bitter sweet earthy flavour. An easy-drinking tipple, popular.

Beer The Wellingtonian (NZD $13.70)

Beer The Wellingtonian

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