The Pig and Whistle Rotorua

20/07/201920/07/2019

Rotorua can get cold and when it is you will want a big hearty feed and a fire side. The Pig and Whistle offers both and a very friendly vibe. We arrive for the tail end of lunch and it is packed. The meals look incredible as we enter and the staff greet us and let us know upfront how long the wait for meals will be.

Over to the fireside and a leisurely beer and New Zealand wine.

It is really relaxing watching the flames and people enjoy themselves then our lunches arrive.

I order the brisket and it is delicious, cooked to perfection and a meal I will have flashbacks to for years. The way brisket should be cooked.

My partner has the pork schnitzel, also a very generous serving and equally as yummy. I definitely would recommend stopping by for a meal and drink. Apparently they have a dance floor on the weekends

Bamboo Charcoal Burgers!

21/10/2017

There are so many awesome eateries in Canggu, Bali so that eating burgers hasn’t really been high on my agenda.

However … this time round I decide to check out two burger places; Warung Cucu and Burgerz across the road. Both are located not far up the road (Jalan Batu Bolong) from Old Man’s pub.

The charcoal buns look a bit weird and at first I thought it was a marketing ploy… make the buns dark and say they are charcoal. However the buns are really infused with bamboo charcoal.

Apparently an idea from Japan.

They cook them on the spot on a BBQ and you can eat beside the pop-up looking bar area.

Unfortunately I didn’t realise the buns also had gluten (something I try to avoid) and the meat was sausage meet with plastic cheese.

I am sure burger eaters would love the buns. A little crunchy but apparently the charcoal is a great anti-oxidant and good to detox your bowel! I think I will give them 4/10 but that is mainly because I don’t eat burgers and there are plenty of healthier options available in Canggu.

Across the road is a top notch burger joint called Burgerz.

It has the best burger I have eaten in a long time…and definitely worth me breaking my gluten free stance. The meat was great, the bun fresh and grilled and the inner bits just melted in my mouth. It had been so long since I had eaten a burger so I was pretty wrapped it was worth it.

There is a plethora of sides, and of course you can grab a bintang to wash it all down with.

The hours are pretty good too and perfect for after a session dancing to live music down at Old Mans!

18 Degrees Broome

01/12/201601/12/2016

I was expecting some indigenous food fan fare when I landed in Broome and was tipped that 18 Degrees was the place.

It was one of those days when it got hotter as the day went on.

You know hot during the day (but a slight breeze) to sweltering at night, no breeze and suffocating heat.

That was this night….

Probably coupled with the fact we had been floundering in the pool (which temperatures alone) would have topped any UK summer’s day. We headed off to 18 Degrees.

Seated at our table (simple decor) by a beautifully friendly girl on the deck and off we go.

Apparently their cocktail has won an award… it is a fusion of mango nectar, chilli, soda and gin. Their cocktails turn out to be the highlight….

It was sublime hot yet cold. Nearly as good as my chilli margaritas from La Calitas in Canguu.

This is what we ordered:

Scallops and Octopus

Calamari and octopus tenticls and kale… sounds great but was over cooked and salty. Which sucks because I love all of those ingredients.

Shrimp Cakes

It sounded fantastic on the plate but they were missing all the subtle flavours one would expect in a delicate dish….

Wild Caught barramundi

This dish should have been succulent, melt in mouth and subtle flavours. Instead it was dry, and flavourless. What a waste of a wild, beautiful fish!

All in all, a little disappointing.

If I was asked to rate them, I would give them, based on last night’s meal:

Service: 7.6/10

Cocktails: 9/10

Food: 2/10

So my lesson is… regardless of how exotic, how magic and seductive the herbs and spices and unusual the ingredients, it comes down to the artisian flare … the chefs intent… and commitment to use the food to enhance and bring to life a food experience.

Unfortunately on this night these guys failed to deliver.

Overall a rating 5/10.

Three great places to eat in Ubud

09/09/201609/09/2016

Three of my favorite places to Eat in Ubud

I could actually rattle off a dozen incredible cafes in Ubud, Bali but that would take the fun out of your day to day discovers. These are three that are a little more certain and different in experience. Ubud has wonderful eateries but be sure to try these:

Eco Swasti Conscious Eating

Set aside off the road down a beautiful lane way is an organic retreat called Eco Swasti. I stumbled across this gem one sunny afternoon and head back there twice over the week.

With lots of home grown organic produce the place emanates a green vibration of a different kind. With over a dozen goats in the yard, all chatting to each other and a pond bubbling through it, the restaurant/cafe is beautiful.

They have amazing food, fish as well and chicken, smoothies to die for and even sell plaga (the local white wine).

Three Monkeys Cafe Ubud

The Three Monkey Cafe on the same street as the monkey forest is a reliable, great feed restaurant. The prices wont break the bank balance and the food is 4-5 stars. Set along side a rice paddy the atmosphere is excellent, the service really good and the food worth going back for.

Meals from Three Monkey Cafe Ubud — Chocolate pate Three Monkey Cafe Ubud

It is quite dark so ask your waiter for a torch. And if you make it to desert ask for the chocolate pate. Simply divine.

Mosaic

I think by far the best restaurant in Bali is Mosaic. They offer a degustation menu of either 6 or 8 courses. You can even pair your meals with wine.

The chef uses local produce which your waiter brings to the table and explains as you eat each course. We all loved each meal and it is really hard to pin point a favourite. I think mine was the Bumbu Rujak with king oyster mushrooms.

Check out the menu! Oh and you need to book ahead as they book out.

GringoLoco in Surfers Paradise

02/04/2016

Gringoloco a taste of Mexico in Surfer’s Paradise.

Time with my son is special as I only have my children one week in two and this week has been extra special as it has just been him and me. We have had a relaxed time and today we didn’t have much on the agenda except my son wanted to go to a buffet for lunch (special treat time) and I wanted to catch a Reelife film panel discussion at the Gold Coast Film Festival.

Off we went on our bikes on the glorious day. Into Surfers, the buffet was closed so we decided on a Mexican restaurant beach side.

GringoLoco had a good atmosphere – open but still well decked out and the food was good. I thought it was a little pricey but if the quality of food is good and the views were great – one doesn’t mind so much.

We shared nachos with beef cheek and two prawn tacos.

eating at gringoloco — Prawn tacos Gringoloco cantina

I would recommend having 2 tacos per person as they are quite small.

The Gringo Margarita was delicious and I will probably return simply for the margarita and views.

Menu here.

Point Danger Cafe D’Bar

04/05/201529/06/2017

One of my favourite local day-get-aways is a visit to Point Danger and Coolangatta south of the Gold Coast.

I always feel on holiday when I am in the neighbourhood and worries from home seem distant.

A popular cafe and casual dining spot is Cafe D-bar.

The views are spectacular and sitting up stairs makes you feel on top of the world. Open air, gentle breeze and usually yummy food.

I often order the coffee martini and today tried the Gravelox salmon. Maybe I don’t know my graveloxes but it wasn’t as good as the salmon I have sampled in Monaco and the south of France but fortunately the view makes up for the food today.

The breakies are generally good. But they can get overwhelmed and quite busy and today my meal and drink came in dribs and drabs.

Overall it is generally a safe bet, good location and a good spot to take visiting guests.

Today:

Food 2/5

Ambiance 5/5

Service 2/5

Overall 3.5/5