Dining destinations for your long Easter Weekend and beyond
With Easter and ANZAC Day falling within the same week this year, it’s the perfect time to throw in a bit of annual leave and take off to enjoy some autumn adventures around our beautiful country. Whether you’ve decided to go away or are planning a staycation at home, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with family and friends and share some food.
If you’re looking for a dining destination then read on to hear about our top picks around the country or perhaps you are planning on entertaining at home, then click here for our most delicious roast lamb recipe – perfect for feeding a crowd!
If Auckland is your destination you will be spoilt for choice! Our pick here would be to get out and take a drive South of the City of Sails into the Bombay Hills where you will find Bracu Restaurant. Nestled amongst the beautiful olive groves of the Simunovich Olive Estate, you will find elegant and contemporary fine dining. Enjoy a long leisurely lunch or an intimate dinner for two with excellent cuisine served up by head chef Logan Clark who sources much of his produce from Bracu’s own kitchen gardens.
Moving further south, the Wairarapa is a destination in itself for obvious reasons. Well known for it’s wineries and delicious eateries, we couldn’t think of anything better than checking in to the historic Martinborough Hotel which sits majestically in the heart of Martinborough’s town square. Not only is this a great base to explore the area but you can wine and dine in-house without even the faintest worry of having to drive home afterwards! Union Square is the Hotel’s restaurant, beautifully fitted out, this is a modern bistro with a delightful French influence brought to you by renowned chef Adam Newell, formerly of Zibibbo in Wellington.
In the heart of Wellington lies Cuba Street, where characterful eateries are abundant. We love the sound of a glass of wine at Noble Rot Wine Bar before savouring the delights from their new menu. Our recommendation here would have to be chef D’Souza’s 55-day aged grass-fed beef cube roll with the most delicious blackberry jus. You will be well looked after by the friendly and knowledgeable staff who will be able to guide you on the most perfect wine match for your meal!
The Tasman region is a stunning destination with plenty of outdoor activities and at the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park is the small and vibrant town of Motueka. Nestled in the heart of the Tasman Bay this is a wonderful destination to base yourself and explore the area. Our pick here would be to fuel up on some delicious beef and lamb offerings at Precinct Dining before tackling some of the wonderful walks available in the area.
With a spectacular coastal landscape and a historic and sophisticated city, Dunedin is a great place to explore over a long weekend. There’s a myriad of eateries and funky cafes but our pick here would have to be The Prohibition Smokehouse where you will find delicious New Zealand meat barbequed with South American style. Their meats are all smoked in-house and their signature style of slow cooking, wood smoking and flame grilling are suited to sharing platters – perfect if your travelling with a crowd or are a local planning a large family gathering.
This article was first published on www.thechefskitchen.co.nz and is republished here with permission.