Today’s Gourmet Corner will be dedicated to Auckland, New Zealand (Down Under) and the top restaurant in the country: "The French Café", rated N°1 by the magazine "METRO" in "Where to Eat in 2005" in April 2005. (See "News from Auckland!" – Gourmet Corner from May 3, 2005)

First let me introduce Auckland, the most interesting city in New Zealand.

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The Skytower in Auckland

Photo © Carine Bernard

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- Whiheke (Famous Vineyards)
- Rangitoto (The volcanic Island)
- Tiritiri Matanngi (Rare birds sanctuary)
- Motuihe Island (Recreation Island: swimming, fishing, walks)
- Kawau Island (Site of one of N Z’s earliest mining ventures)
- Motutapu (Maori Archaeological sites)
- Great Barrier Island (The furthermost island in the Auckland gulf)

All the Islands can be reached by ferry from downtown and also by plane for the Great Barrier Island.

Other sites not to be missed:

- Devonport (Auckland’s only true "marine village")
– 10 Min. ferry
- Half Moon Bay (With Howick – 150 year old village)
– 35 Min. ferry

# Parnell Village (A trendy place)
– Cafes, Restaurants, Fashion Shops ...
– "Cibo’s" (to see & be seen – expensive)
– "Iguazu" (atmosphere)
– "Antoine’s" (traditional)

# Ponsonby (The alternative)
– Wine Bars
– Bio Restaurants

# Victoria Park Market
– Unusual shopping mall with its soaring brick chimney
– Trendy spot for discriminating shoppers
– New Zealand’s arts & crafts

# Auckland Viaduct
– Base for the 2003 America’s Cup
– For an excellent vantage view, book a veranda table at the
– "Soul Bar & Bistro" (delicious - N Z’s green-lipped mussels!)

# Chancery Street, High Street, O’Connell Street, Vulcan Lane
– Just off shopping drag Queen’s street
– This area is the latest locale for funky fashion & al fresco "cuppas"

# Auckland Art Gallery and New Gallery
– New Zealand’s largest collection of art, including luminous Maori paintings by Goldie and Lindauer.

# Auckland Museum
– This cultural touchstone is the best place to get insight into New Zealand’s past
– The museum features an excellent range of Maori "taonga" – (treasures) and Pacific Island artifacts.

# Mission Bay
– The beach from Auckland, just 15 minutes by bus from downtown
– Nice promenade along the beach for jogging or biking
– Full of cafes & restaurants
- Among the best ...

"Belgian Beer Café De Fontein" on the Promenade (Tamaki Drive), 3^rd Belgian Café in Auckland and 35^th of its kind in the world; The site started as a grocery store in early 1900 the actual was built in 1952.

The specialties are:
* Belgium Beer, of course
* The "Mussels" steamed or grill
* The Belgian Sausages
* The Lamb Shanks in "Leffe" Blonde Beer
* The Flemish Stew (Braised) in "Leffe" Dark
* The Waterzooi (Classic Belgian Casserole)

"The French Café" -
Best Fine Dining Restaurant

"When is an up-market restaurant a fine dining restaurant & when is it a superior bistro? The Auckland dining scene really blurs that boundary. So the definition of a fine dining restaurant is one in which the chef is seeking to have dinner focus on his/her food, to come expecting a culinary experience rather than just a fun night out with good food.

"The French Café offers the very epitome of look-at-me food.

"For Chef Simon Wright, every dish is so labor intensive that you can’t imagine there is even time to get it out of the kitchen yet the wait staff – who are great a team – get it to you with perfect timing"

"There’s a sense of Auckland culinary history at The French Café, one of the longest-running restaurants. You would never want to misbehave, yet it’s not buttoned-down, and the charming Maitre D’ Ms. Creghan Molloy Wright has a girl-next-door freshness about her that feels just right The miracle of all this is that it doesn’t cost an absolute fortune to eat at this little gem "The French Café".

– Reserve well in advance (3 weeks to a month).

– The best tables of the restaurant are on the first long shape room, specially the last two ones, for a "tête-à-tête" dinner, the last one, or for a party of four or six you can ask the two tables jointed.

– If you don’t like an interrupted meal, please ask your waiter or the Maitre D’ for it. If not, it's customary to wait around 20 to 25 minutes between each course.

– And last but not least, if you order a "Pink Roasted Lamb" , you'll have one of the best I ever have had. [Remember NZ lamb is one of the best in the world]

- Ask for the right knife; Their table knives have a nice design, but are no good for eating a nice piece of roasted lamb (my only negative point).

For only 90 NZ$ – The "Tasting Menu"

(Top ratio quality/price)
[Conversion rate: 1 NZ$ varies from 60 to 75% of 1 US$]

# Crispy Roast Duckling with Orange Comfit, Kumara Mash, Steamed Bok Choy and Jus of Oranges
-- Or--
# Roasted Crayfish Tail with Sweet Carrot Puree, Almond Foam, Baby Crest and Mandarin Oil

For Desserts

– Appetizers

# Butternut Cappuccino with Ricotta & Pancetta Tuille
> 10 NZ$

– First Course

# Roasted Crayfish Tail with Sweet Carrot Puree, Almond Foam, Baby Crest & Mandarin Oil
> 25 NZ$

# Crispy Salt & Pepper Squid with Cucumber Noodles and Chili Jam
> 18 NZ$ (Outstanding!)

– Main Course

# Caramelized Pork Belly with Apple Feijoa Compote, Crackling Roasted Onions, Potato Puree and Sauce Soubise
> 34 NZ$

# Pink Roasted Lamb with Spiced Eggplant, Artichoke Fritter, Hummus, Chili Oil & Greek Yogurt
> 34 NZ$

– Side Orders

# Sautéed Shitake Mushrooms, Courgettes, & Spinach
> 6.50 NZ$

– Desserts

The Price for the deserts is at > 15 NZ$
(Each - Choice of Four)
– The "Best Choice"

# French Café Dessert Tasting Plate for Two > 30 NZ$

– Also by the glass > (9 to 17 NZ$)

Prices range from: 42 to 950 NZ$

– On my visit my choice was: (Best ratio Quality/Price)

# Sauvignon Blanc (Dry)
– "Te Awa" (2003) - from Hawke’s Bay (NZ)
> 42 NZ$

# Côtes du Rhone (Red) (France)
– "Les Grands Bois" (2003)
> 48 NZ$

* If you want to taste their top wine
– (1983) Bordeaux
– "Château Lafitte Rothschild" – 1er Cru Pauillac
> 950 NZ$

And of course, there is a great selection of Champagnes, Cocktails, Beers, plus "after dinner liqueurs & spirits at very moderate prices.

– My selection was an Italian Grappa (vintage) at only 15 NZ$

210b Symonds Street Auckland (NZ)
Hosts: Simon Wright & Creghan Molloy Wright
Tel: (+64) 9 377 1911

In the heart of Auckland, with superb views - a 5-star hotel with 60 top quality "One & Two bedrooms" Suites.

– With Full Kitchen facilities, microwave, bath, shower, hair dryer
– Sky & Satellite TV, in house movies, CD stereo, data port
– Desk/workstation, heating, air-conditioning, wake-up facility
– Iron/ironing board, laundry with washing machine and dryer
– Large balconies, video available, licensed restaurant
– 24-hour reception, concierge & room service, bar
– Heated indoor swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym
– Lock-up/undercover valet parking, safe, security system
– Tour desk, daily housekeeping service
– Valet dry-cleaning & laundry services

Rates from:

> 270 NZ$ for One bedroom Suite
> 450 NZ$ for Two bedrooms Suite (Corner Room)
– Ask for the 24^th floor

– Large Bathrooms, bath & shower
– Luxury king size beds with feather down duvets \
– Private balconies (some over the water edge)
– In-house pay movies & complimentary selected Cable TV
– High speed internet available, large work desk
– Hotel turndown service
– Award-winning "White Restaurant" & "Bellini Bar"
– Heated outdoor glass front lap pool (facing the harbor)
– Pool deck, gym and health club for house guests
– Valet Parking (24hs)

Rates from: > 350 to 540 NZ$
– Ask for the 5^th & 6^th floor front harbor view