Tuesday 4 September 2012

In search of a good cafe...

I have been on hiatus from the Hospobaby blog. Well, a full time job and a baby does that to you.
Our weekends have been cut down to just Sundays spent together with the family. We steal some time with Hospobaby on Saturday mornings and in that respect cafes have become sacred to us.

A good cafe is hard to come by. I still want to just wander back to Ponsonby, where the choice is plentiful. However how boring would it be if we ate the same food each day? How boring would it be if we went only to the one cafe we love in Ponsonby? So for the sake of trying new things we kept up our search. Our staff suggested we  try Mojo in Newmarket.

 It was a rainy day when we began our escapade.
The exact location was unknown so I fished out my iPhone and tried to google map the address. We came upon a "pop-up" location on Broadway which once we reached, we realized had since popped down. So we drove past where we thought such a cafe would be and still couldn't find it. After berating my husband's sense of directions etc. we decided to give up the search for Mojo and just go for Yum char... and the story goes on. We couldn't get parking, decided to get pizza, Crust pizza was shut (although the door hours displayed they should be open). Finally as we were about to give up we came across what we thought was an OK looking place in Parnell. It had patrons inside. We were hungry, the sandwich board outside promised home cooked delicious food.
The name of this cafe was 'Organic Africa'. Organic Africa, I rubbed my chilly hands together, could be the next big find! We saw a sign that said upstairs was kid-friendly. I got my hopes up high as we ascended the stairs. They had high chairs and toys too! Hospobaby who was tired with all our running around was happy to find something to do, other than to twiddle her thumbs in the car. Sid ordered the steak sandwich and I ordered the chicken sandwich, some coffee and juice. Perhaps the picture below will be self-explanatory about our experience at 'Organic Africa'.

Sandwicha gigantasaurus


I am not someone who loves tiny portions of pretentious food but this was taking value for money a bit far. The sandwiches were huge, the bread was dry and tough and the meat was chewy, lost amongst a jungle of salad. Let's just say there was nothing African about the food we ate, except wishing we were somewhere else, Africa perhaps...

Next week after some better directions we did make it to Mojo cafe, turns out that men aren't that bad with directions after all. We had driven past Mojo several times, the rain had blinded us. Mojo is located in an old garage site next to Kemp Wines in Newmarket, on Carlton- Gore road.
Hospobaby enjoying a Berry tea

Warm Berry tea


The much need Fluffy

Chorizo mmm Eggs mmm...Shakshuka

Banana cake with rhubarb 
Seek and you shall find! Mojo is a find. Warm Berry tea soothed my sore throat, Hospobaby was given a small size banana cake with rhubarb which she had to scream to keep our forks away from. Sid ordered a delicious Shakshuka, eggs with tomatoes and chorizo. I kept digging in although I hate eggs.

Since my husband and I haven't had as much time to eat out and Hospobaby's palate education was suffering, I asked my friend Tracey if she would accompany us for a ladies lunch at District Dining in Britomart. We have been there before and enjoyed it, we have been to their sister restaurant Mexico several times too. District dining has been one of the many restaurants that have jumped upon the deal wagon. I am not averse to deals and so I bought one. We booked for a Saturday afternoon lunch.
My friend is an offal virgin, however I convinced her to try the pigs' ears with Szechuan salt.
pigs' ears lovers!
Hospobaby who will eat anything loved them, my friend liked them and didn't find them offensive.
We ordered the chicken wings as I had had a slightly different version before at District and love the deep fried ones at Mexico. The wings were a bit of a let down, we couldn't get much flavor from them. The pork hock, chilli caramel pancakes with cucumber were better. A sort of take on Peking duck but with Pork hock.
The stand out dish that everyone including Hospobaby loved was the Pork terrine, pickled red onion and apple compote. The apple compote complemented the terrine beautifully while the pickled red onion cut through the apple's sweetness. What we realized as the table next to us received their food was that we should have opted for the sumptuous lamb shoulder shepherds pie, crispy lamb ribs and mint sauce. Next time? Maybe...

Talking of places revisited, Hospobaby's grandparents live near Ellerslie and one of the great places to lunch there is Mexican Specialities. I knew of Mexican specialities before the hype in Metro about it, it was a place I came upon being very partial to Mexican food and by living in Ellerslie. The problem with frequenting Mexican specialities is dual, the timings are really odd, they open lunches only, from Thursday to Saturday each week. Secondly it is the best place to get Mexican supplies to stock up for home. The owners make the softest tortillas and I always end up spending a lot.
quesadillas

Hospobaby's taste buds were underestimated and she was dished out a Cheese Quesadilla. She politely devoured it, however that did not stop her from attacking my spicy prawn tacos. I could sit all day eating the prawn tacos with the slightly charred, tangy red onions. The grandparents ordered Relleno, a green pepper and tomato dish which was delish. If you like hot sauces, Mexican specialities is the place to get the hottest chile sauce.
I will never tire of going back.

To finish of the cafe search saga, we have found a local cafe. Its child friendly, has good food and doesn't break the bank. "Frolic" across from Cornwall Park ticks all the boxes.
The spread at Frolic!

Pancakes from the Kid's menu
Way before Depot became famous for its Bacon Buttie, it seems other cafes were on to this scrummy delight. Sid ordered a Bacon Buttie which he throughly enjoyed. I ordered a chicken sandwich which was delicious, the right size and the aioli with it ensured it didn't taste dry. Hospobaby got pancakes off the kids menu and I stole one from her it was that good. We shall go back.
(hint: the backyard has toys and is secure)

I shall update you on more cafe-escapes, but until next time...
Live to eat like the Hospobaby.