Waitangi Weekend 2023: after all the recent weather events, we were DETERMINED that our plans for the weekend would go ahead. Dan, Gord, Andy and I loaded up the car and set off down to Te Awamutu, driving in mostly rainy conditions to hike the 45km Tongariro Northern Circuit track. We stopped in Hamilton at…
Author: Smudge
Simply saying
I know it would be weird if I just picked up like I hadn’t stopped posting, so I am going to simply acknowledge that the last eight or so months have been particularly busy. Not only have Andy and I bought a house in Auckland together, we now have a puppy (some might say a…
Review: Bestie Cafe
Housed in the St. Kevins arcade, Bestie Cafe is tucked off K Road and as it name suggests, it’s one of the best. The cafe seating is located in the arcade itself, which lends itself to a vibrant, naturally lit setting with lots of greenery and magnificent windows overlooking Meyers Park. The coffee beans are…
Review: The General Cafe
The General epitomises ‘trendy brunch cafe’, with its expansive menu, breakfast cocktails and light and airy setting. It’s the place to be on Saturday morning, and its proximity to the Mount township adds to its popularity. While there is usually a queue, the General is roomy and tables turn over quite quickly. The menu lends…
Review: Azabu Ponsonby
It’s discrete, it’s intimate and it’s sophisticated. Azabu is nestled into the K Road end of Ponsonby Road (right next to my work actually) and it is definitely one of those places that you would walk straight past if you didn’t realise it was there. Its inconspicuousness leads to one feeling as though they have…
Review: Eddies and Elspeth
This trendy little spot in Mount Maunganui embraces a concept I haven’t really come across, but am all on board for. Eddies and Elspeth are actually two separate entities, sharing premises but still very much distinctly their own. They may share a countertop, but the tills are separate, so order for Eddies at one end…
Review: Maxine’s
This might be the last Vancouver review I can do for a while, as I’ve exhausted my backlog of photos and sadly won’t be visiting any new cafes any time soon! I’ve saved a great one until last though and I write about it fondly, as it is one of my lasting memories of Vancouver….
Review: Sunflower Bakery
Sunflower Bakery may have an unassuming exterior, but what does it matter when the goodies are all on the inside anyway? This cute little bakery is popular with locals and I think the word is starting to spread down to Vancouver, because every time we passed through Squamish (pre- or post- hike, camping, ski trip…)…
Review: Mackenzie Room
The Mackenzie Room in Vancouver is an ideal spot for dates, or small groups wanting an intimate catch up in a classy setting. Ironically, its location is across the road from Oppenheimer Park, which was previously home to one of Vancouver’s biggest tent cities. I never ate there when this was the case, but I…
Recipe: Rocky Road
Rocky road is my favourite all time sweet treat. Kind of like eating Toblerone (which would be one of my favourite chocolates), there is nothing more satisfying than having a huge chunk of dense sweetness to sink my teeth into! It fills a hole in my world that is not quite met by a humble…