Hard News: The Social Retail
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There aren't any good little wine shops anywhere near me, so I'll give big props to New World Birkenhead for having a bloody fantastic, ever-changing beer selection (La Trappe in the pottery bottles, anyone?) and Ashore in Birkenhead also keep a great selection of NZ beers in stock.
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At least you lot can get drinkable wine without taking out a bank loan.....I'd murder for a decent glass of pinot gris at a civilized price.......
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So maybe Princeton, NJ is a little far to go but The Corkscrew is one great wine shop. Laurent the owner is French and loves his rugby so much that after going back the shop after having left Princeton 2 years earlier the first thing he did was gloat about France beating the All Blacks in the World Cup Semi's.
Oh, and his wine knowledge is second to none (our whites are good, reds are s#$t).
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I think Glengarry still have the best range in the most places and they are competing on price with the supermarkets a bit now too. I went in and spotted a La Strada Pinot for $10.25 down from over $20 last week for example. And they've just re-launched their website last week as well. I go there for great quality wines and whisky. I quite like the fact that they don't sell cigarettes or Woodstock and their staff are knowledgable. For our company Xmas party we did a tasting in their cellar at the Jervois Rd store - great value. No charge for the space, just the product we were drinking and great nibbles delivered from Didas next door.
I buy inexpensive but great quaffing wine by the case from Liquor Box Wines - 0800 call4wine (2255494) or greg@liquorboxwine.co.nz. Their website will be up soon. I just got a case of Waiheke red for $100. We got a case of Cable Bay last year for $140 for example (about half price) - it's re-labelled but the corks said "Cable Bay". It's $67 a bottle at a restaurant! -
- Willis St Lunch Cafe, home of the Cheese Puff.
Always interested in a new baked good, me, and always interested in a new vehicle for cheese. What are the points of similarity/difference between a cheese puff and a cheese drop scone?
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I live a guilt-less existence on Waiheke Island (feel free to express your envy) where I can buy Waiheke wine either at the Waiheke supermarket, Waiheke wineshops or even straight from the winery at the local vineyards, where you can taste them before you buy. It supports all local business and workers.
It's called terroir living: low food miles + high quality produce and advice = the good life. -
I quite like the fact that they don't sell cigarettes or Woodstock and their staff are knowledgable.
Amen. And welcome into the light, brother. No more lurking.
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Moore Wilson is the best. I used to live in Waikanae and would drive into Wgtn every weekend to spoil myself rotten at Moore Wilson. You could get the best of the local producers all under one roof. A coffee on arrival from Havana or L'Affare. Fresh fruit and veges, Clearview Meats. Aro St Bakery. Cook Strait Seafoods. A florist. Kapiti Cheese. And then you could go next door to Gilmours-style bulk everything, including alcohol and then pop upstairs for housewares and toys and books. And they have a cooking school and creche. It's definitely the best in NZ. If I was feeling really good I'd go for broke and have brunch at Caffe L'Affare over the road first. Divine!
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Hi Sacha! Rofflenui to you too..
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I can buy Waiheke wine either at the Waiheke supermarket,
And you're positive the wine doesn't go to a South Auckland warehouse and back before hitting the shelves?
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My local is the amusingly named Don Johnson's or DJs as I like to call it. Ben and the crew there are very friendly, down to earth guys and they have a pretty good range with plenty of not so usual bottles. Ben also has a penchant for opening really interesting bottles for tasting with his regular clientele - even for (un)fortunate souls like myself who have a budget well out of step with their palate.
I generally get my deals via emailers from Caro's in Parnell or FWDC on Cook St in the CBD. I also grab the odd bottle from the local Pak'n'Save when I'm feeling the pinch and feel a little sad about it.
Just popping into Caro's this afternoon for some 2007 vintage Te Mata Estate deals on the way to a physio appointment: $26.99 Elston chardy, $26.99 Awatea Cab/Mer, $34.99 Bullnose Syrah - will be good for the birthday party I'm heading to on the weekend!
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What are the points of similarity/difference between a cheese puff and a cheese drop scone?
I am sadly not yet familiar with the cheese drop scone. But I am willing to become so.
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And you're positive the wine doesn't go to a South Auckland warehouse and back before hitting the shelves?
Given the shelving shambles for which Woolies is justifiably famous, I'd say that's a fair question...
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BTW we've been done very well by over the past few years by Corporate Direct who are now winesale.co.nz order it in the morning and it shows up on our doorstep - we tedn to buy an assortment every month or so and when we find something we like a case or half case (like Russell I have no interest in them other than as a happy customer)
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Don Johnson's is brilliant - even though the actual Don passed away a couple of years ago RIP. He used to have the best (and sometimes most random) selection of champagnes and sherries. "Cornering a niche market" he used to say...
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I don't count Morre Wilson's as a "local" - while it has excellent stuff shopping there is not a leisurely, pleasant experience.
If you're in Welli take a trip south and go to the Island Bay butcher. Especially if you want a terrific sausage. The supermarket across the road has a an excellent range of beer, as you'd expect given that the owner is the guy who makes Bennett's!
And I just splashed out and bought a suit at Mandatory. Totally worth it just to have the help of their staff. -
I once had Murray Crane measure me for a suit. It was a horrible experience.
I also like Kingsland Liquor (by the Gull). Pretty basic stuff but cheap and a good selection. They do sell subourbon RTDs too on the (very) odd occasion I feel like a sugar hit.
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Regarding the status of another recreational drug that can be purchased in generally not-so-cheerful suburban locations, it looks like the ALCP candidate for Mt Albert is having a tough time of it.
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What are the points of similarity/difference between a cheese puff and a cheese drop scone?
Stephen, Amy: you haven't lived until you've had a Southland cheese roll (recipe posted on request).
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Carol: if there is one thing PA System is crying out for, it's reader recipes. Go to it, I say.
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if there is one thing PA System is crying out for, it's reader recipes.
Good suggestion. Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome--but not chutney, as we still have chutney from 3 years back!
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OK Stephen, coming at ya. These are BIG in Southland.
Cheese Rolls
1 tin reduced cream
1 packet onion dip
300g cheese, grated
1tsp mustard powder
1 small minced onion
White pepper
Butter
Thin sliced white breadMake dip, add cheese, mustard and pepper.
Butter bread, spread 2/3 of the unbuttered side with cheese mixture. Roll up, from the cheese side to the uncheese side. Keep covered with a damp tea towel if not baking immediately.
Bake 180ºC 12-15min. -
Moore Wilson is the best. I used to live in Waikanae and would drive into Wgtn every weekend to spoil myself rotten at Moore Wilson. You could get the best of the local producers all under one roof.
Conveniently, they have a branch in the semi-industrial no-man's-land between Porirua and Tawa. Not quite as extensive as the main shop in town, but quite a bit closer to Waikanae. I was in there this morning. But the Fresh in town is heaps better, especially since they remodelled.
Generally, I find the supermarkets are cheaper for wine and stuff, but still go to MW for the cashew nuts, dried apricots and whatnot, and the imported special ingredients that our burgeoning stack of cookbooks calls for.
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Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome--but not chutney, as we still have chutney from 3 years back!
Send them to me. They're freakin' expensive and don't grow well down here.
(apparently they can be frozen as pulp if you're going to be greedy and keep to self)
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Good suggestion. Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome--but not chutney, as we still have chutney from 3 years back!
Put them in the blender with a couple of handfulls of icecubes, the juice of a fresh lime or two, a splash of sugar syrup depending on how sweet your palatte is, and a couple of glugs of either white rum or tequilla. Blend, drink, make some more.
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