Auckland Offline - Tues Dec 4th

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:52 pm

Mission Bay sounds good too. Santa Lucia isnt bad, some good hearty food there and its pretty casual. Cant remember how good the glassware is. Would be red wine friendly

Its a bit like herding cats organising an offline, which is probably why no one has suceeded in NZ really. But let me stress we will have to book asap to be in at that time of year.

Who agrees with Wycrofts idea? I will put my vote behind his idea. Anyone else keen??

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:57 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:Its a bit like herding cats organising an offline, which is probably why no one has suceeded in NZ really.

Pffft. Speak for yourself. Christchurch has no dramas with its attendance and popularity thank you very much. :wink:

Wizz and MichaelW can attest to that.

As for organisation, you're running the show. You name when and where, and we do it.

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:02 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:Mission Bay sounds good too. Santa Lucia isnt bad, some good hearty food there and its pretty casual. Cant remember how good the glassware is. Would be red wine friendly

Its a bit like herding cats organising an offline, which is probably why no one has suceeded in NZ really. But let me stress we will have to book asap to be in at that time of year.

Who agrees with Wycrofts idea? I will put my vote behind his idea. Anyone else keen??

Geez Craig, Mission Bay is heading out into the sticks for me.

Wycroft · Post by **Wycroft** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:46 pm

I'm as supportive of St Tropez as Santa Lucia or anywhere; only mentioned SL because it's one of only a handful of Auckland BYOs. I'm easy, as the Bishop said to the actress.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:26 am

Geez Craig, Mission Bay is heading out into the sticks for me.

Dont you mean heading in FROM the sticks Sue??

As for organisation, you're running the show. You name when and where, and we do it.

A good decisive chch attitude - nice!! Had a scroll through some restaurant sites. Well rated wine friendly food BYO's that are reasonably central seem to come down to:

St Tropez (French) Parnell
Santa Lucia (Italian) Mission Bay
La Bocca (Italian) Parnell

Ive been to the last two before, but havent been to St Tropez. Id be happy with any of them. What say ye??

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:46 am

Craig(NZ) wrote:
Geez Craig, Mission Bay is heading out into the sticks for me.

Dont you mean heading in FROM the sticks Sue??

As for organisation, you're running the show. You name when and where, and we do it.

A good decisive chch attitude - nice!! Had a scroll through some restaurant sites. Well rated wine friendly food BYO's that are reasonably central seem to come down to:

St Tropez (French) Parnell
Santa Lucia (Italian) Mission Bay
La Bocca (Italian) Parnell

Ive been to the last two before, but havent been to St Tropez. Id be happy with any of them. What say ye??

OK, I'll concede that I live in the sticks.

I take it then, that Chinese in the Central city is definitely out - even though it's cheap (<$30 p.p. including corkage) and friendly with a round table that seats 12 in a private-ish room and of course, central - and you don't have to wait for food and can have as many courses as you want.

Parnell is closer for me than Mission Bay - which is a further 8 kilometres out. The closer to centre of the city, the better for us - the further out we go, then we have to consider bringing the car and one of us not drinking - otherwise it's just too expensive, although Max has suggested that some of us could meet up in city and share a taxi, which I guess is not a bad idea - not a bad idea at all, Max.

BTW - would anyone consider doing Chinese sometime? Empress Restaurant in Herne Bay has won best Chinese Restaurant in Metro Magazine two years in a row. I hear the Peking Duck is superb.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:04 am

One other to consider if you are sweet with chinese is Ding How in the city which is Chinese. Its on Albert St near St patricks cathedral. Ross and I went here years ago and it was very good food/ cheap. Not sure about the glassware though from memory it was pretty average.

Chinese is certainly aromatics/ pinot friendly but not so much other red wine??? ?? dunno

Herne Bay or Ponsonby would be fine as well if anyone knows a good place. Same sorta taxi distance from the city

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:30 am

Have looked at the websites for the restaurants mentioned so far.

St Tropez, Parnell - www.sttropez.co.nz - good food from experience. Corkage $5 per bottle. Limit one bottle per person.
La Bocca, Parnell - www.labocca.co.nz - set menus available. Corkage not stated.
Santa Lucia, Parnell - www.santalucia.co.nz. Mixed reviews (reviews removed from dineout.co.nz). Corkage $6 per bottle.
New Orient, CBD - www.neworient.co.nz - good food from experience. Corkage $4 p.p.
Canton Cafe, Kingsland - Oops- cannot find website. Curt says its good. Very good reviews but some state quite expensive for Chinese. Corkage not known.

BTW - Which one has Ch. Lafite Rothschild on the wine list?

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:54 am

BTW - Which one has Ch. Lafite Rothschild on the wine list?

thought thats what you were bringing?

John Fiola · Post by **John Fiola** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:01 am

Since I'll be coming in from the States, Is there any particular wine people would be interested in? (within reasonable price - of course)

I'm thinking either a Zinfandel or a Petite Syrah.

Cheers,
John

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 11:48 am

John Fiola wrote:Since I'll be coming in from the States, Is there any particular wine people would be interested in? (within reasonable price - of course)

I'm thinking either a Zinfandel or a Petite Syrah.

Cheers,
John

Hi John,

What is the quota that you can carry with you? And, more importantly, will you be filling it? :roll:

Cos if you'd like to be an international courier, I'd certainly put some orders in for Oregon Pinot... impossible to find over here. I've contemplated importing some en masse.

Cheers,

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:09 pm

Is there any particular wine people would be interested in?

97 Screaming Eagle?
94 Harlan Estate?? :lol:

John Fiola · Post by **John Fiola** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:59 am

Craig(NZ) wrote:
Is there any particular wine people would be interested in?

97 Screaming Eagle?
94 Harlan Estate??

quote="John Fiola"] (within reasonable price - of course)

Maybe if I could find them - but then if I did, I couldn't afford the trip

Cheers,
John

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:16 am

(within reasonable price - of course)

reasonable price is such a relative term :lol:

Paradox · Post by **Paradox** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:42 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote: Ive been to the last two before, but havent been to St Tropez. Id be happy with any of them. What say ye??

I've eaten at San Tropez quite a bit because the food is lovely and you can BYO nice wines, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy an offline there.

The room is long and narrow and poorly set up for groups of more than 6-8. It's also quite noisy, and the cooking smells are often quite apparent down the back where they tend to seat the bigger tables which can impact on your appreciation of a nice wine.

Rob

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:13 pm

Sage advice Rob. Looks like St Tropez is off the cards.

How about a big call-out to any Kiwi lurkers out there? Now's your chance to sign-up and join the fray. I know JS is lurking in the shadows... email me if you can make it, once we've decided on a bloody date... :oops:

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:48 pm

Ok so we are down to:

La Bocca, Parnell - www.labocca.co.nz - set menus available. Corkage not stated.
Santa Lucia, Parnell - www.santalucia.co.nz. Mixed reviews (reviews removed from dineout.co.nz). Corkage $6 per bottle.
New Orient, CBD - www.neworient.co.nz - good food from experience. Corkage $4 p.p.

Lets have some votes and talk about a date.

I looked at St Lucia today. Glassware looks acceptable if not fantastic. Menu is definitely wine friendly. It is set up for big groups and is quite spacious.

La Bocca ive been to before. It is quite small, but we have had a work function there successfully. Food is wine friendly

mgbridges · Post by **mgbridges** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:33 pm

I ate at Santa Lucia in Mission Bay last week. The food was fine, nothing exceptional. I didn't really notice the glassware. I'd rather be somewhere more central though as I too have to schlep across the harbour bridge.

My vote would therefore be for La Bocca (as I'm most likely to be bringing red wine).

Martin

Wycroft · Post by **Wycroft** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:47 pm

La Bocca looks yummy to me.

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:59 pm

I'd be happy with La Bocca.

Wycroft · Post by **Wycroft** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:18 pm

This is looking promising. For a horrible moment I thought one of those mean Orstralians was going to suggest our efforts to convene a simple BYO supper reminded them of why NZ lost the hosting rights of the 2003 rugby world cup. We're not over the line yet though... Come in Craig; you're our Jock Hobbs.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:26 pm

ok La Bocca it is. No more talk about where. Lets talk when, then lets talk who

Lets talk date...

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:48 pm

I think if John and Sue are coming along, Tuesday the 4th is our only option.

Lock it in Eddy. 6.30pm start?

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:02 pm

Max. This is auckland boy!.... people have auckland traffic to contend with after home from work, get changed, get in.......i think 7pm will be more realistic????

what say we?

Tues 4th Dec 7pm????

John Fiola · Post by **John Fiola** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:28 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:Max. This is auckland boy!.... people have auckland traffic to contend with after home from work, get changed, get in.......i think 7pm will be more realistic????

what say we?

Tues 4th Dec 7pm????

Ok by me.

Cheers,
John

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:36 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:Max. This is auckland boy!.... people have auckland traffic to contend with after home from work, get changed, get in.......i think 7pm will be more realistic????

what say we?

Tues 4th Dec 7pm????

Yeh, I put 7pm down first, but then thought about the day - it's a Tuesday night, afterall. A later start will just mean a later finish - as long as we have enough time to enjoy the wines/food without being ushered out too early...

mgbridges · Post by **mgbridges** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:45 am

La Bocca, Tues 4th Dec, 7pm - locked in.

Congratulations on the cat herding Craig!

Martin

Wycroft · Post by **Wycroft** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:20 am

Hear hear, well done Craig, see you all then.

Nick

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:35 am

Lock in two for Neil and Sue.

John Fiola wrote:Since I'll be coming in from the States, Is there any particular wine people would be interested in? (within reasonable price - of course)

I'm thinking either a Zinfandel or a Petite Syrah.

Cheers,
John

Hi John, I'd be interested in trying a Petite Syrah. That's something we don't have here.
Cheers,
Sue

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:51 am

Ok so lets have a list of people + numbers of hangers on.

Will aim to book table at end of weeks so need indicative numbers

then we can talk vino