My impression of NZ has always been neutral. My journey always takes a long time and the time difference is so great especially summer, that without fail, I’ll end up having jet-lag. My sleeping pattern will go haywire and not to mention, feeling lethargic and un-spirited.
However, this utterly uninspired trip took a 360 degrees turn when I arrived to a fancy little restaurant in Auckland. Each of my steps there was as memorable as the taste of the authentic Italian dinner served in the most cosy, cottage-like restaurant. It is run by a family of five. The mom plays the hostess, the dad cooks, helped by the two good-looking sons as sou chefs. And on the floor, we have the daughter who acts as the waitress. Quite an easy job to have, judging from the size of this place, which only fits a good under ten number of tables. The selection of seafood is so wide and we ended up, having a full course meal for NZ$40 per head upon the suggestion of our mom hostess who simply appear to be the most customer-sensitive human being I’ve ever met! She commands the sort of easy, let-me-serve-you-as-I- know-what-is-the-best-for-you aura. She took charge. We can always rest our laurels when we are privileged enough to meet such a woman.
Our first course as appetizers comprised of fresh green salad with tomatoes and onions and raw oysters made to perfection with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. The taste and texture of the oysters were so heavenly and not at all, smelt fishy. We sipped our wine and slowly moved to the garlic bread, toasted to perfection and alternating it with the salad.
The next highlight was the seafood risotto in tomato cream sauce. The seafood of calamari, mussels, scallops and prawns were the freshest of taste and each bite of the risotto almost send me to a carb-reducing diet as I couldn’t stop myself having more. As main, she also served us grilled beef and chicken steaks with linguine. Also, we had more mussels, cooked simply with garlic, vinegar, herbs and traditional spices, which were truly Italian.
After a few hours of over-dinner chatting, wining and food-praising, we adjourned to dessert. We had the predictable tiramisu, which the family had to order from a friend to send it us. The tiramisu was served with vanilla ice-cream and topped with Bailey’s Irish cream. Oh my goodness, I almost fainted with the richness of taste and the orgasmic combination of mascarpone cheese, coffee and Baileys!
The finale was a shot of grappa on the house. As the mom hostess insisted, a true traditional Italian meal has to end with grappa taken neat. She served the males a full shot glass and the ladies, half. The reason is, we generally have a smaller mouth to take it in one shot. The shot of grappa really send us to the high and the sensation is undescribably magnificent. I had a bad experience once, having grappa that burnt my throat, but this is surprisingly smooth.
As the last patrons to leave, the mom hostess was kind enough to book us a cab. Our night of an excellent meal, great 4 bottles of red and white and good company, we bid our goodbyes while still in daze, thinking of the oysters.
