Friday, May 29, 2009
Making it (electronic publication) count
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As a follow up to my previous post, and an indication that I am not really the angry old man presented in that post ;) I'll draw the attention of biblical scholars who blog to the excellent set of guidelines for evaluating digital work being produced by the Modern Languages Association in the USA.
"Being produced" because the material is a wiki, being refined continually by members of the MLA's Committee on Information Technology, though the guidelines are already very useful.
Note to Jim: Wiki technology, far from being the necessary haunt of flagrant dilletants, can be a really easy way for a group like this to publish ongoing work - Judge the product not the technology (a useful motto for this conversation ;) :End note to Jim
The site: The Evaluation of Digital Work contains a very useful annotated listing of Types of Digital Work, and a Short Guide to Evaluation of Digital Work that would be really useful to members of committees called upon to evaluate digital scholarship, as well as illustrative material and an (unfinished) section assisting applicants with Documenting a New Media Case.
NB. This post follows on from the following earlier discussion:
Stephen's Academic Blogging: Publication or Service?
Mark's Academic Blogging: Publication, Service or Teaching
My rant Should blogging count for academics?
(see also Jim's Blogging: To What End? and Mark's Why blog? and - though you may need to scroll to see the connection - Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Apr 25 09
"Being produced" because the material is a wiki, being refined continually by members of the MLA's Committee on Information Technology, though the guidelines are already very useful.
Note to Jim: Wiki technology, far from being the necessary haunt of flagrant dilletants, can be a really easy way for a group like this to publish ongoing work - Judge the product not the technology (a useful motto for this conversation ;) :End note to Jim
The site: The Evaluation of Digital Work contains a very useful annotated listing of Types of Digital Work, and a Short Guide to Evaluation of Digital Work that would be really useful to members of committees called upon to evaluate digital scholarship, as well as illustrative material and an (unfinished) section assisting applicants with Documenting a New Media Case.
NB. This post follows on from the following earlier discussion:
Stephen's Academic Blogging: Publication or Service?
Mark's Academic Blogging: Publication, Service or Teaching
My rant Should blogging count for academics?
(see also Jim's Blogging: To What End? and Mark's Why blog? and - though you may need to scroll to see the connection - Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Apr 25 09
Labels: biblical.studies.online, blogging, digital, review, scholarship, teaching
¶ 7:50 AM
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Saturday, March 07, 2009
Vivas Cafe Review
Today was a special breakfast, Thomas (our son) and Melissa (his wife) were joining us (on holiday from London - where they are greatly enjoying their OE). So we thought we'd try Vivas on Dominion Rd, it's new, and it got a superb review and a rare five out of five score from the Herald last week. We thought we couldn't miss.
However, we wondered if we'd visited the same cafe as the Herald's reviewers. According to the Herald reviewer "the tables are not too close together" - when we wanted the salt we could reach over the empty table next to us and collect it from the the people another table over. When neighbours arrived the people on the end of the row had to get up, to allow one in, as there was not space between the two tables even for a slim woman to pass. Canvas the weekend Herald's colour supplement said: "the service was warm friendly and prompt" we thought it was a chaotic muddle. They found that "the coffee was hot and strong" we thought it was bitter. Though the Soya milk (in the Soy Cappuccino) was nice, the next cutomer was told (at 10:30am that there was no more soya milk - strange as it does not need refrigerating till opened and there is a supermarket just avccross the road (in Eden Quarter). The Herald bragged "you can choose how well-done you like you eggs" I chose SOFT, one poached egg was still (just) able to ouse the other was hard poached - quite a feat for a soft egg. The mushrooms were dry, though the sausages were tasty. Redeeming feature? If you do try Vivas, take the crepes they were good, or the Melemen (Turkish Omlette) which both Barbara and the Herald agree was good!
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Today was a special breakfast, Thomas (our son) and Melissa (his wife) were joining us (on holiday from London - where they are greatly enjoying their OE). So we thought we'd try Vivas on Dominion Rd, it's new, and it got a superb review and a rare five out of five score from the Herald last week. We thought we couldn't miss.However, we wondered if we'd visited the same cafe as the Herald's reviewers. According to the Herald reviewer "the tables are not too close together" - when we wanted the salt we could reach over the empty table next to us and collect it from the the people another table over. When neighbours arrived the people on the end of the row had to get up, to allow one in, as there was not space between the two tables even for a slim woman to pass. Canvas the weekend Herald's colour supplement said: "the service was warm friendly and prompt" we thought it was a chaotic muddle. They found that "the coffee was hot and strong" we thought it was bitter. Though the Soya milk (in the Soy Cappuccino) was nice, the next cutomer was told (at 10:30am that there was no more soya milk - strange as it does not need refrigerating till opened and there is a supermarket just avccross the road (in Eden Quarter). The Herald bragged "you can choose how well-done you like you eggs" I chose SOFT, one poached egg was still (just) able to ouse the other was hard poached - quite a feat for a soft egg. The mushrooms were dry, though the sausages were tasty. Redeeming feature? If you do try Vivas, take the crepes they were good, or the Melemen (Turkish Omlette) which both Barbara and the Herald agree was good!
Labels: auckland_cafes, NZ Herald, review
¶ 8:15 PM
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Saturday, October 04, 2008
Cafe Trends
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Not where you'd expect, in the Ellerslie main drag but over the motorway almost in the office parks of Penrose, Cafe Trends is easy to miss, who knows how many times I've driven past without spotting it? But to miss it would be a pity, the food offers a standard cafe menu with few surprises - except the price, which is not high - but the quality is good. Barbara chose perhaps the "most surprising" item a breakfast burritto with bacon, egg, potato and other goodies burritto wrapped and by all reports delicious. I had the mushrooms, lashings of creamy sauce (I am picky, I'd have preferred a higher mushroom to cream ratio ;) and delicious smoked bacon.
The coffee was good to very good
The food was very good
Overall excellent
Cafe Trends
49 Main Highway
Ellerslie
Auckland
The coffee was good to very good
The food was very good
Overall excellent
Cafe Trends
49 Main Highway
Ellerslie
Auckland
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 6:03 PM
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Amos reviewed in BTB
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I have just received another review of the Amos: Hypertext Bible Commentary "volume", this time in Biblical Theology Bulletin, by Anselm C. Hagedorn of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. I will quote the concluding paragraph:
The issue that Hagedorn raises with his comment that "Sometimes it would have been helpful to know what Bulkeley actually thinks about the text" is a significant one, and one about which I still have mixed feelings.
On the one hand it is frustrating that most reviewers of the commentary assume that I believe that the book of Amos was somehow written very close to the period in which the prophetic speeches it contains are set. I don't. I am still convinced that something like Wolff's reconstruction of the redaction history of the book is likely, Coote's simplification of Wolff sometimes seems better because simpler, but at other times recognition of the complexity of everyday life convinces me that even Wolff's scheme is probably an over-simplification. But we do not and cannot know. We can make intelligent guesses, like Wolff's, about the history of the redaction of the book (though by the time I finish reading Van Seters I may be convinced we can dispense with the notion of redactors ;) But all we can know is the book, and the setting in which it presents "Amos", that is what I choose to read... My readers attributing to me a naive historicism is frustrating.
But on the other hand, I have been delighted when in one week an Orthodox Rabbi and a Messianic pastor write to me thanking me for the work, I chuckle when in the same month small groups of Brazillian Catholics were using my commentary in their study of Amos, while somewhere to the north of them whole Sunday Schools of Southern Baptists were doing the same! On the whole I would not choose to exchange this delightful (if ironic) understanding of Scripture by such diverse groups to undo the misunderstanding (of my position on the possible/likely history of composition and transmission of the book) by scholars.
It will be interesting when other writers for the series have written and we can compare how different judgement calls on this issue work.
However, these concerns are probably not the ones of the users whom Bulkeley had in mind for his commentary. There is certainly a wealth of information to be found on this CD, but the present reviewer remains sceptical whether a disc can really be an adequate substitute for some standard books such as a Hebrew Bible, a lexicon, and a concordance. Also in his goal not to offer a chosen path of interpretation for the user, Bulkeley runs the risk of losing his user/reader altogether. Sometimes it would have been helpful to know what Bulkeley actually thinks about the text, since I seriously doubt that the intended user without formal training is able to judge the scholarship adequately. All these quibbles aside, amongst the commentaries available for a general theological readership this is clearly one of the better ones.First the detail: Hagedorn says he "remains sceptical whether a disc can really be an adequate substitute for some standard books such as a Hebrew Bible, a lexicon, and a concordance." The Logos and Bibleworks programs of course demonstrate that it can ;) But I do not see HBC_ as a competitor with these. A commentary complements such tools.
The issue that Hagedorn raises with his comment that "Sometimes it would have been helpful to know what Bulkeley actually thinks about the text" is a significant one, and one about which I still have mixed feelings.
On the one hand it is frustrating that most reviewers of the commentary assume that I believe that the book of Amos was somehow written very close to the period in which the prophetic speeches it contains are set. I don't. I am still convinced that something like Wolff's reconstruction of the redaction history of the book is likely, Coote's simplification of Wolff sometimes seems better because simpler, but at other times recognition of the complexity of everyday life convinces me that even Wolff's scheme is probably an over-simplification. But we do not and cannot know. We can make intelligent guesses, like Wolff's, about the history of the redaction of the book (though by the time I finish reading Van Seters I may be convinced we can dispense with the notion of redactors ;) But all we can know is the book, and the setting in which it presents "Amos", that is what I choose to read... My readers attributing to me a naive historicism is frustrating.
But on the other hand, I have been delighted when in one week an Orthodox Rabbi and a Messianic pastor write to me thanking me for the work, I chuckle when in the same month small groups of Brazillian Catholics were using my commentary in their study of Amos, while somewhere to the north of them whole Sunday Schools of Southern Baptists were doing the same! On the whole I would not choose to exchange this delightful (if ironic) understanding of Scripture by such diverse groups to undo the misunderstanding (of my position on the possible/likely history of composition and transmission of the book) by scholars.
It will be interesting when other writers for the series have written and we can compare how different judgement calls on this issue work.
Labels: amos, bible.software, biblical.studies.online, review
¶ 10:24 AM
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Saturday, July 05, 2008
Columbus: Onehunga (revisited)
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When we visited Columbus: Onehunga last year I commented that though part of a chain they do the job well. That opinion remains unchanged by a return visit. Actually it is deepened, this is how a good franchise chain works. Each Columbus we've visited has been reliable, coffee good (if not great every time) with a range and choice that could be familiar to a visitor used to another branch, food differs from place to place, but of solid cafe standard. The decor has standardised elements, but as in this old post office (what it was before becoming Blue Strawberry). Reliable and pleasant - just what you need from a chain, but often do not get. As for Steve's comment last time (that as an old Onehunga hand he missed the "soul" of the old blue fruit), perhaps he's right, but we have visited plenty of cafes now where the "soul" fail to deliver decent coffee, or sometimes food :( Columbus does.
This visit I'd rate the coffee slightly less than last time's at just Pretty Good, my long black was a touch bitter and made long by running the water through the grounds rather than adding hot water to standard espresso. Though B's Soy Cappuchino was pronounced "very good" and was superbly decorated with a hand drawn fern ;)
The food this time was good, very good "Jose Breakfast" with a delicious blend of flavours including guacomole. The eggs benedict came on sage flavoured potato cakes, a nice touch! Though not "very good" as the bacon was a workmanlike supermarket style rather than the more risky but usually more tasty butcher's special.
The service was again superb almost too attentive!
Columbus: Onehunga
120 Onehunga Mall
Onehunga,
Auckland
Phone: 09 622 2819
Fax: 09 634 3337
PS: We'd meant to try the cafe at Bunnings Warehouse, but they did not open till 9am, and we did not fancy 20 mins waiting after buying our kitchen jars. Maybe next time...
This visit I'd rate the coffee slightly less than last time's at just Pretty Good, my long black was a touch bitter and made long by running the water through the grounds rather than adding hot water to standard espresso. Though B's Soy Cappuchino was pronounced "very good" and was superbly decorated with a hand drawn fern ;)
The food this time was good, very good "Jose Breakfast" with a delicious blend of flavours including guacomole. The eggs benedict came on sage flavoured potato cakes, a nice touch! Though not "very good" as the bacon was a workmanlike supermarket style rather than the more risky but usually more tasty butcher's special.
The service was again superb almost too attentive!
Columbus: Onehunga
120 Onehunga Mall
Onehunga,
Auckland
Phone: 09 622 2819
Fax: 09 634 3337
PS: We'd meant to try the cafe at Bunnings Warehouse, but they did not open till 9am, and we did not fancy 20 mins waiting after buying our kitchen jars. Maybe next time...
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 6:05 PM
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Friday, June 20, 2008
Riva Cafe
We went for a drive along the waterfront to celebrate Barbara's thesis oral, or to encourage her that merely having some small alterations to make was not a disaster - it all depends on how you look at such events how you see them, like looking at an ascending rise in the road through the car windscreen (a small rise) or over the handlebars of a bike (a small mountain).
The day was clear and sunny, not wintry at all. In fact I sat on the pavement in shirtsleeves and was almost too hot! They put up the sunshades just as we were leaving. The setting is stunning, at least on a good day, with views across the harbour to Rangitoto, and plenty of interesting people wandering by (even on a Friday) so that people-watching is fun. (I wonder why that wee girl seemed determined to throw herself under oncoming traffic, thank God her mother got her safely inside the large ATV before she succeeded ;-)
However, though we arrived well after the lunchtime rush, just as the cafe was turning from packed to empty, we waited over 25 minutes to get to the stage of cutlery and glasses of water arriving :( though to be fair the food was not far behind.
I had scallop and bacon salad with banana, the scallops and large chunks of bacon were satisfying after the wait, and the banana was an interesting addition. (I am still not quite convinced, but almost!) The salad was less impressive, supermarket mix with some rather chunky tomato, cucumber and capsicum added - I wonder if the chef was having a break after the lunch rush? I could have done with some carbohydrate, perhaps a nice slice of bread with the salad.
Barbara's seafood chowder was fine, though a bit thin and accompanied only by a small slice of white toast.
The coffees were fine. My long black came only slightly long but with a china jug of hot water to add to taste - well done!
Coffee: good.
Service: slooow.
Food: OK, what could have been really good was spoiled by the details.
Overall: disappointing, slow service and disappointing food.
Riva Cafe
89 Tamaki Drive
Mission Bay
Auckland City
09-528 8566
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The day was clear and sunny, not wintry at all. In fact I sat on the pavement in shirtsleeves and was almost too hot! They put up the sunshades just as we were leaving. The setting is stunning, at least on a good day, with views across the harbour to Rangitoto, and plenty of interesting people wandering by (even on a Friday) so that people-watching is fun. (I wonder why that wee girl seemed determined to throw herself under oncoming traffic, thank God her mother got her safely inside the large ATV before she succeeded ;-)
However, though we arrived well after the lunchtime rush, just as the cafe was turning from packed to empty, we waited over 25 minutes to get to the stage of cutlery and glasses of water arriving :( though to be fair the food was not far behind.
I had scallop and bacon salad with banana, the scallops and large chunks of bacon were satisfying after the wait, and the banana was an interesting addition. (I am still not quite convinced, but almost!) The salad was less impressive, supermarket mix with some rather chunky tomato, cucumber and capsicum added - I wonder if the chef was having a break after the lunch rush? I could have done with some carbohydrate, perhaps a nice slice of bread with the salad.
Barbara's seafood chowder was fine, though a bit thin and accompanied only by a small slice of white toast.
The coffees were fine. My long black came only slightly long but with a china jug of hot water to add to taste - well done!
Coffee: good.Service: slooow.
Food: OK, what could have been really good was spoiled by the details.
Overall: disappointing, slow service and disappointing food.
Riva Cafe
89 Tamaki Drive
Mission Bay
Auckland City
09-528 8566
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 5:53 PM
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Well done to Barbara. Getting through the oral defence with only small alterations to make is indeed worth a celebratory event. Though, it can take a while to recover from the experience.
By 
Stephen G, at
June 23, 2008 9:41 AM
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Occam Espresso Bar
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Occam Espresso Bar Kitchen
135 Williamson Avenue
Grey Lynn
Auckland, 1002
Tel: +64 (0)9 378 0604
On a side street corner opposite Foodtown (with street parking nearby), the location is not impressive, though the venue is well designed and pleasant. The staff is friendly and efficient and the atmosphere is welcoming. Plenty of pavement seating is available, though we preferred to sit near the gas-log fire. Which all sounds ideal for a local cafe, and we "seemed to remember" it had got a good write-up in the NZHerald, too!
Sadly on Saturday, neither the food nor the coffee lived up to this promise. The coffee was bitter. The only good thing I can say about it was that it was good and strong. (I have read other reviews that praise the coffee, so we may have hit a trainee barrista, but I can only tell it as we found it, and both Barbara and I were slower than usual finishing our long black and soy cappuccino.) The food sounded good, basically the usual breakfast menu, but with some unusual touches. I chose herby hash cakes with poached eggs, wilted spinach and hollandaise. I imagined a crisp coat over aromatic potato mash, with the eggs and spinach to complete it. The eggs were fine, the spinach was good. The hollandaise was ladled on with a heavy hand, so that I had to act quickly to prevent the hash cake from drowning. A shame because the stack looked pretty. Yes, the hash cake was singular, and it made a stack. It was a tall pile of potato mash that had indeed seen the frying pan, though it was not crisp - even on its outside.
Barbara's corn fritters were cool inside, and got a cool reception. :(
So overall poor food that was not redeemed by either the nice presentation or the waiters with three foot pepper pots, and coffee that was disappointingly bitter. We do remember the Herald reviewers as liking Occam so if your experience was different to ours, please let me know and we will give it another try in a few week's time.
Till then:
135 Williamson Avenue
Grey Lynn
Auckland, 1002
Tel: +64 (0)9 378 0604
On a side street corner opposite Foodtown (with street parking nearby), the location is not impressive, though the venue is well designed and pleasant. The staff is friendly and efficient and the atmosphere is welcoming. Plenty of pavement seating is available, though we preferred to sit near the gas-log fire. Which all sounds ideal for a local cafe, and we "seemed to remember" it had got a good write-up in the NZHerald, too!
Sadly on Saturday, neither the food nor the coffee lived up to this promise. The coffee was bitter. The only good thing I can say about it was that it was good and strong. (I have read other reviews that praise the coffee, so we may have hit a trainee barrista, but I can only tell it as we found it, and both Barbara and I were slower than usual finishing our long black and soy cappuccino.) The food sounded good, basically the usual breakfast menu, but with some unusual touches. I chose herby hash cakes with poached eggs, wilted spinach and hollandaise. I imagined a crisp coat over aromatic potato mash, with the eggs and spinach to complete it. The eggs were fine, the spinach was good. The hollandaise was ladled on with a heavy hand, so that I had to act quickly to prevent the hash cake from drowning. A shame because the stack looked pretty. Yes, the hash cake was singular, and it made a stack. It was a tall pile of potato mash that had indeed seen the frying pan, though it was not crisp - even on its outside.
Barbara's corn fritters were cool inside, and got a cool reception. :(
So overall poor food that was not redeemed by either the nice presentation or the waiters with three foot pepper pots, and coffee that was disappointingly bitter. We do remember the Herald reviewers as liking Occam so if your experience was different to ours, please let me know and we will give it another try in a few week's time.
Till then:
- Coffee - Poor
- Food - Poor
- Ambience - Good
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 4:43 PM
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Tim
I am a great fan of your breakfast reviews and will check them out again when we are next on hol in Auckland.
It is disappointing that you don't seem to have had a good coffee for weeks, maybe not since that Canadian guy served you in Mae Sot.
My favourite place is the Sierra in Mt Eden Rd where I have downed numerous coffees and we make our pilgrimage there when we return. But please list the top coffee places in Auckland, so I won't be disappointed.
Cheers
Geoff
By Geoff Pound, at
June 16, 2008 4:13 PM
Oh, I've had good coffees, just not always with food, or when I can think about writing a review :(
Though here are some good ones from recent reviews:
Kings Garden Cafe behold, it was very good
Perk up good
Okra very good, excellent on first visit
I wouldn't dream though of trying to list the best coffees in Auckland, as I don't get the chance to try enough places often enough. I'd love to get feedback from others who try/have tried these places to compare notes, and like moderating marking give me a handle on whether I am being to strict or too lenient ;-)
By Tim, at
June 16, 2008 4:28 PM
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Blues Cafe: examining the dental equipment of an equine present
Blues Cafe
Building C, Ground Floor
602 Great South Road
(09) 579 2585
Get directions
Open Weekdays 7am-4pm (nb. this cafe is NOT open for weekend brunches)
The Carey staff were treated to breakfast at Blues this morning, a fine and fun sort of staff building exercise. Some of us got physical exedrcise as well, with a brisk (because of the cold frosty weather) walk there and back, Brian also got some extra exercise - parking is so difficult at Blues that he drove there and then almost back to Carey before he found a space ;-) on the return we walkers beat him home!
Setting: in the middle of an office park Blues does not feel industrial, it is open light and airey, with plenty of space around the tables. I'm told by a conniseur that they have a particularly good selection of magazines.
Overall: Good (but arrive on foot)
Food: here is good value, with the eggs Benedict coming out at $11, though the menu is fairly restricted and conventional. My eggs were a little cool and firm, but with a party our size this is not unexpected, cafe kitchens are not set up for 15-20 orders all at once.
Overall: Probably good (but do NOT arrive in a large party)
Coffee: full marks for offering large, medium and small, though lose a point for also offering double shot, which suggests that a "medium" long black just has one shot and extra hot water - I wish I'd seen the double shot upgrade before ordering. Though for the sake of all my colleagues who ordered "large" I'm glad or several would have developed the jitters during the following staff meeting ;-)
The Latte drinkers seemed happy, but my black was thin and a little bitter, with almost no crema.
Overall: Poor (unless you like milky coffee)
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Blues CafeBuilding C, Ground Floor
602 Great South Road
(09) 579 2585
Get directions
Open Weekdays 7am-4pm (nb. this cafe is NOT open for weekend brunches)
The Carey staff were treated to breakfast at Blues this morning, a fine and fun sort of staff building exercise. Some of us got physical exedrcise as well, with a brisk (because of the cold frosty weather) walk there and back, Brian also got some extra exercise - parking is so difficult at Blues that he drove there and then almost back to Carey before he found a space ;-) on the return we walkers beat him home!
Setting: in the middle of an office park Blues does not feel industrial, it is open light and airey, with plenty of space around the tables. I'm told by a conniseur that they have a particularly good selection of magazines.
Overall: Good (but arrive on foot)
Food: here is good value, with the eggs Benedict coming out at $11, though the menu is fairly restricted and conventional. My eggs were a little cool and firm, but with a party our size this is not unexpected, cafe kitchens are not set up for 15-20 orders all at once.
Overall: Probably good (but do NOT arrive in a large party)
Coffee: full marks for offering large, medium and small, though lose a point for also offering double shot, which suggests that a "medium" long black just has one shot and extra hot water - I wish I'd seen the double shot upgrade before ordering. Though for the sake of all my colleagues who ordered "large" I'm glad or several would have developed the jitters during the following staff meeting ;-)
The Latte drinkers seemed happy, but my black was thin and a little bitter, with almost no crema.
Overall: Poor (unless you like milky coffee)
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 5:34 PM
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Saturday, May 24, 2008
Kings Garden Cafe
We began our Saturday the morning with nearly 90 minutes of hard gardening, instead of the walk up one of Auckland's volcanic cones, which has become our habit. We needed to remove the bark mulch on the little bed at the back. It has begun to rot down nicely and recently has produced a fine weedbed. Later we'll put down new weedmat and top it with some scoria to match the rocks around - which should be easier to care for than the bark (when the birds scratch in it it goes everywhere).
So for our cafe we tried Kings Garden Cafe St Lukes at the local garden centre. You enter through the rows of plants. I spotted small figs on special, so we now have two to plant on pots on the deck, since small though they are they arready have a couple of tiny figs each I am hopeful that next year we might get to eat fresh figs! (Does anybody know how long figs take from small to fruiting?)
The cafe is surrounded by plants so does have a pleasant "garden" feel, and there were some beautiful orchids being used as a divider. The space is open and airey, the sparrows love it, and a couple of beautiful fluffy young ones came an sat on the chair backs near us. Cocking their heads as they examined the new-commers. Garden centre cafes presumably attract a lot of customers with children, as there were a good supply of high-chairs. And indeed while we were there several families did stop by.
Barbara's pancakes with bacon and banana were pronounced good, though to me the "pancakes" looked more like giant pikelets. The bacon looked very good, especially as we have been eating nearly vegetarian for the last few weeks ;-) My mushrooms on toast (with tomato and "creamy spinach") were tasty, the spinach with a dash of cream delicious. But, Mrs King, six small mushrooms is not enough! I am still ravenous. If the flat mushrooms had been good big ones six would have been plenty, but I have never seen such small field mushrooms... why is it that we call mature flat mushrooms "field mushrooms" when the tight round young ones are "buttons"?
The coffee was very good, not bitter, but strong. I was asked if I wanted extra hot water with the black.
So all in all:
:846 2073
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So for our cafe we tried Kings Garden Cafe St Lukes at the local garden centre. You enter through the rows of plants. I spotted small figs on special, so we now have two to plant on pots on the deck, since small though they are they arready have a couple of tiny figs each I am hopeful that next year we might get to eat fresh figs! (Does anybody know how long figs take from small to fruiting?)The cafe is surrounded by plants so does have a pleasant "garden" feel, and there were some beautiful orchids being used as a divider. The space is open and airey, the sparrows love it, and a couple of beautiful fluffy young ones came an sat on the chair backs near us. Cocking their heads as they examined the new-commers. Garden centre cafes presumably attract a lot of customers with children, as there were a good supply of high-chairs. And indeed while we were there several families did stop by.
Barbara's pancakes with bacon and banana were pronounced good, though to me the "pancakes" looked more like giant pikelets. The bacon looked very good, especially as we have been eating nearly vegetarian for the last few weeks ;-) My mushrooms on toast (with tomato and "creamy spinach") were tasty, the spinach with a dash of cream delicious. But, Mrs King, six small mushrooms is not enough! I am still ravenous. If the flat mushrooms had been good big ones six would have been plenty, but I have never seen such small field mushrooms... why is it that we call mature flat mushrooms "field mushrooms" when the tight round young ones are "buttons"?
The coffee was very good, not bitter, but strong. I was asked if I wanted extra hot water with the black.
So all in all:
- Food - pretty good, but skimpy portions on the mushrooms make it expensive.
- Coffee - very good
- Millieu - gardeny and open
:846 2073
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 11:11 AM
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Love your reviews Tim. I can smells the bacon from over here where it is as scarce as...
Can't help you with growing figs. Had a big fig tree when I was young. My father gave us figs as punishment and I still don't like them.
By Geoff Pound, at
May 24, 2008 10:14 PM
Fresh figs are delicious. But bananas with bacon is an abomination.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Amos review in Maarav
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Jim W kindly emailed me a copy of the review of the Amos: Hypertext Bible Commentary from Maarav 14.1 which appeared recently. Since I am currently in a refugee camp I had no other way to see it. Walter Kim (Harvard) has done an excellent job of first understanding the nature and aims of the project, and then reviewing it on its own terms. He understands the medium and his criticisms are well worth consideration. Some will probably be incorporated into a second edition of Amos one day - and may well get incorporated into the changeable version earlier than that (n.b. there are two editions the stable, citable, peer reviewed edition on CD, and currently also at http://hypertextbible.org and the "wild" edition that I may change any time and therefore is neither stable, nor formally peer reviewed). I plan to post discussion of some of the ideas from these print reviews in the near future, but not till we are home from the camp and I have again the luxury of peace and quiet for thinking ;-)
For now I will just quote the closing paragraph, and bask!
For now I will just quote the closing paragraph, and bask!
The digital revolution has altered the way people shop and interact. In this unique commentary, Bulkeley suggests that the revolution extends to the way people learn and that the organization of information ought to reflect that transformation. The field of biblical studies is in many ways a conservative endeavor. Scholars work with ancient and venerable things. This commentary, however, suggests that one need not work with them in ancient and venerable ways. With the rise of the internet, the landscape of learning is changing, and Bulkeley helps the reader explore the possibilities of this new terrain. With a vast array of sound files, photos, encyclopedic articles, and traditional commentary on verses, readers of various levels of training and expertise can browse the commentary and construct a rather different experience, based upon the links pursude or ignored. Because the internet permits learning to occur as controlled chaos, the person who searches on the webexercises a vaste amount of autonomy in the selection and utilisation of resources. Bulkeley's commentary puts the reader in a similar position.
Labels: amos, open.access.scholarship, open.biblical.studies, review
¶ 9:22 PM
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Congratulations for all that you are doing with the Hypertext Bible Tim, and the good review on Amos.
The fact that you are in an isolated refugee camp and was able to read the review adds another dimension to how the digital revolution must impact biblical studies and the theological world--by making these studies accessible to the sort of people you are teaching.
Keep staying in the forefront of this revolution of digital literature and distance education.
One day people will listen to you and it will set in motion an avalanche of interest and affirmation for all you are doing.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Perk up revisited: Auckland cafe review
Back in May we visited the punnily named Perk Up" in Kingsland, the menu (the physical object, not the items on the list) has changed totally with no a "striking" almost garish vaguely 50s style laminated item. The actual items on the menu have not changed so much except that now several are grouped into an invent your own section. This is superb value, I had:
The service was also superb, friendly, welcoming and without being intrusive solicitous. The only missing step was failing to ask Sarah how she wanted her eggs. Still they came what I would call "between" firm enough so she ate most of them, but still slightly soft.
The coffee was good, the mochachino and cappuccino were quite happy, my long black was good and strong, hot water on the side, the only quibble was a slight bitterness (perhaps the beans were nearly but not quite as highly roasted as my last batch) but overall better than last time.
So, in conclusion -
Service: Superb
Food: Excellent
Coffee: Good
Perk Up
438 New North Road,
Kingsland,
Auckland
09 815 0434
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Back in May we visited the punnily named Perk Up" in Kingsland, the menu (the physical object, not the items on the list) has changed totally with no a "striking" almost garish vaguely 50s style laminated item. The actual items on the menu have not changed so much except that now several are grouped into an invent your own section. This is superb value, I had: - "chicken liver and bacon" (one item) beautifully cooked, almost as good as last times' dish,
- "mushrooms" small ones, conveniently sliced in a very mushroomy gravy (I imagine made using the juices of the mushrooms with some of the mushroom concentrate we tried at the Food Show - note to self, must find the brand and supplier) which were also superb,
- "five grain toast" what can I say, crisp, tasty, with a soft core
- "hash browns" the nearest to a disappointment, beautifully cooked, but "merely" from a Watties packet!
The service was also superb, friendly, welcoming and without being intrusive solicitous. The only missing step was failing to ask Sarah how she wanted her eggs. Still they came what I would call "between" firm enough so she ate most of them, but still slightly soft.
The coffee was good, the mochachino and cappuccino were quite happy, my long black was good and strong, hot water on the side, the only quibble was a slight bitterness (perhaps the beans were nearly but not quite as highly roasted as my last batch) but overall better than last time.
So, in conclusion -
Service: Superb
Food: Excellent
Coffee: Good
Perk Up
438 New North Road,
Kingsland,
Auckland
09 815 0434
Labels: auckland_cafes, review
¶ 9:00 AM
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Saturday, August 18, 2007
Return to Okra
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Okra Espresso Lounge was the first of my cafe reviews, back in March (was it only five months ago!?) then we felt it deserved its proudly displayed Metro 2006 award. Much has not changed. It is still:
So this time: Food: average - poor (Last time "Good")
Coffee: very good but not quite up to the excellent of the last visit (a slight hint of bitterness to the black).
Service: excellent we were asked what we wanted, and assisted as needed (like spotting we needed a third water glass and bringing it).
I suspect this means that in small local cafes the quality of the food and coffee depends a lot on who is on duty when you go. Though the quality of Okra was hinted at today in the service and smoothly running busy little cafe, the food did not deliver.
Okra Espresso Lounge
161 Sandringham Rd
Morningside
Auckland
Region: Auckland
Phone: 09 846 6662
a narrow fronted corner shop on Sandringham Road. The menu is as narrow as the shop-front...Then:
Today the Eggs Royale (chosen without peeking at the first review - I am SO consistent, about some things!) still come with a potato croquette (alias hash brown) but sadly it was soggy not crisp and the spicy fragrance was heavy handed, worse the eggs and smoked salmon were accompanied by a hefty dose of strong basil and pine nut pesto. I managed to leave most of mine, but the first taste had done its worst to tie my tastebuds into a hammer lock, unready to appreciate the delicacy of eggs and salmon. Though that may have been as well, since the salmon though once cold smoked was cooked through waiting for the eggs to solidify.Someone should tell the kitchen firmly that basil pesto does not enhance delicate flavours like smoked salmon!My Eggs Royale (poached on toasted bread, with spinach and smoked salmon) came with a "hash brown" actually a mashed potato croquette - but the mash was fresh and lightly spiced (corriander and cumin I think) the frying crisped the outside nicely. Yum.
So this time: Food: average - poor (Last time "Good")
Coffee: very good but not quite up to the excellent of the last visit (a slight hint of bitterness to the black).
Service: excellent we were asked what we wanted, and assisted as needed (like spotting we needed a third water glass and bringing it).
I suspect this means that in small local cafes the quality of the food and coffee depends a lot on who is on duty when you go. Though the quality of Okra was hinted at today in the service and smoothly running busy little cafe, the food did not deliver.
Okra Espresso Lounge
161 Sandringham Rd
Morningside
Auckland
Region: Auckland
Phone: 09 846 6662
Labels: auckland_cafes, coffee, food, review
¶ 10:57 AM
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Saturday, August 11, 2007
Deve: Auckland Cafe review
Deve looks good. The kitchen and bar jut into the cafe at an angle which has the air of being efficient, breaks the seating onto two somewhat separate and so more intimate spaces. The light shades are printed with photos that are also displayed on the wall, an interesting feature and nice touch. The design of the bar shows many "nice touches".
It is not really a breakfast place, so from 9-9:30am we had it almost to ourselves. We both had Spinach Potato Cakes – served with poached eggs and topped with a mustard lime hollandaise and your choice of the following:
Honey cured Bacon: $14.50
Cold Smoked salmon: $15.50
I had salmon and Barbara bacon.
The presentation was superb, a fine looking stack, with a delicate ring of concentrated fruit syrup round the plate and Italian Parsley to decorate the stack. I so much prefer edible garnishes! However, the Spinach Potato Cakes were too ambitious, the moisture from the spinach caused the potato to become a soft mash, little of the nice crisp outside. It would have been better to do hash browns with a layer of spinach. And (at least for the smoked salmon) the fruit syrup did not quite "go" with the delicacy of the salmon, which anyway was half cooked from the hot potato and spinach under it.
So: Food, taste only OK but presentation excellent.
The coffee was fine, Barbara enjoyed the Moccachino, except the chocolate powder had settled Memo to barristas, do NOT assume all customers will add sugar and so stir the mix themselves! to the bottom. My long black was good and strong, made with a dark roast so full of flavour. But looses "points" for making it "long" by simply leaving the cup under the head till it was nearly full. This results in a slightly bitter brew, even if you can't bear to serve the extra water in a little jug - and I imagine a tray of them takes up space behind the bar and in the dishwasher - at least add it after you have brewed the coffee!
Coffee: could do better.
Overall: The food and coffee did not live up to the ambiance and thoughtful touches. Though maybe their most experienced staff are not on to serve the early customers, so maybe someone who has tried them during the rush hour and let me know...
Deve Bar & Brasserie
460 New North Rd
Kingsland
Auckland
Region: Auckland
Phone: 09-846 9997
Website: www.deve.co.nz
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Deve looks good. The kitchen and bar jut into the cafe at an angle which has the air of being efficient, breaks the seating onto two somewhat separate and so more intimate spaces. The light shades are printed with photos that are also displayed on the wall, an interesting feature and nice touch. The design of the bar shows many "nice touches".It is not really a breakfast place, so from 9-9:30am we had it almost to ourselves. We both had Spinach Potato Cakes – served with poached eggs and topped with a mustard lime hollandaise and your choice of the following:
Honey cured Bacon: $14.50
Cold Smoked salmon: $15.50
I had salmon and Barbara bacon.
The presentation was superb, a fine looking stack, with a delicate ring of concentrated fruit syrup round the plate and Italian Parsley to decorate the stack. I so much prefer edible garnishes! However, the Spinach Potato Cakes were too ambitious, the moisture from the spinach caused the potato to become a soft mash, little of the nice crisp outside. It would have been better to do hash browns with a layer of spinach. And (at least for the smoked salmon) the fruit syrup did not quite "go" with the delicacy of the salmon, which anyway was half cooked from the hot potato and spinach under it.
So: Food, taste only OK but presentation excellent.
The coffee was fine, Barbara enjoyed the Moccachino, except the chocolate powder had settled Memo to barristas, do NOT assume all customers will add sugar and so stir the mix themselves! to the bottom. My long black was good and strong, made with a dark roast so full of flavour. But looses "points" for making it "long" by simply leaving the cup under the head till it was nearly full. This results in a slightly bitter brew, even if you can't bear to serve the extra water in a little jug - and I imagine a tray of them takes up space behind the bar and in the dishwasher - at least add it after you have brewed the coffee!Coffee: could do better.
Overall: The food and coffee did not live up to the ambiance and thoughtful touches. Though maybe their most experienced staff are not on to serve the early customers, so maybe someone who has tried them during the rush hour and let me know...
Deve Bar & Brasserie
460 New North Rd
Kingsland
Auckland
Region: Auckland
Phone: 09-846 9997
Website: www.deve.co.nz
Labels: auckland_cafes, coffee, food, review
¶ 12:29 PM
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Saturday, June 16, 2007
Columbus: Onehunga
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Once the Blue Strawberry (go figure!) now part of the Columbus Coffee franchise chain, this is a big busy shopping mall cafe. It does the job well with plenty of efficient waitstaff. The menu is small and conventional, but backed up by a good selection in the cold cabinet.
Coffee: Pretty Good - Good Barbara pronounced the Mochaccino good and not too sweet <aside> </aside> The long black was tasty, not bitter but with a smooth bite, but too "long". <aside>
Coffee: Pretty Good - Good Barbara pronounced the Mochaccino good and not too sweet <aside> </aside> The long black was tasty, not bitter but with a smooth bite, but too "long". <aside>
Labels: auckland_cafes, coffee, food, review
¶ 12:57 PM
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i used to love blue strawberry and felt the place sort of lost it's soul when it became columbus.
steve
ex-onehunga-kiwi
By 
, at
June 20, 2007 10:56 AM
Hi, Steve,
Change happens, as they say, or perhaps fairer, not all change is good (-;
By Tim, at
June 20, 2007 1:09 PM
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Kenzie Cafe: Manukau Rd
The Kenzie Cafe is just a step from Greenwoods Corner in the heart of Epsom, a few steps from Cornwall Park. Parking is easy in Empire Road. Somehow I'd expect an Epsom cafe to be trendy and contemporary. Yet stepping into the Kenzie is a blast from the past. It is, and has the air of being a "corner cafe", then there are those "modern" bentwood chairs. There are not many other cafes within a kilometre or three in most directions, and perhaps this lack of competition shows.
Service: was slow, made slower by having to sit and work from printed menus, rather than a cafe-style blackboard. However, it probably makes sense to work this way in view of space restrictions. There is a kiddie corner up some stairs, well out of the "way" of others, but perhaps worryingly out of sight for parents? Bringing us glasses and a 70s lemonade bottle of chilled water, without being asked is a nice touch.
Coffee: The younger generation's moccachino was somewhat short of foam, and ultimate failure lacking the obligatory marshmallow. The cappuccino was also somewhat "flat" and the long black (despite separate hot water in a nice china jug) was reminiscent of 70's Cona machines - I assume it was made "long" by running the boiling water over the grounds through the head till the large cup was full, thus stewing the grounds and imparting a bitter and almost stale taste! Verdict: Poor.
Food: Sarah's French Toast was the star, with nicely toasted banana and good butcher's smoked bacon, the maple syrup came in a neat little side dish rather than pre-drizzeled (a nice touch). However Barbara's Corn Fritters did not sparkle, the guacamole looked tired (perhaps from having been kept till needed in an unsealed container?) and the tomato relish was fridge-cold. The fritters themselves were OK, but not great. My Eggs Benedict had suffered by being kept hot (not merely warm as the plate was too hot to handle!) while the other dishes were prepared, the smoked salmon was cooked medium rare, and the Hollandaise Sauce had an unpleasant skin over the surface. A pity as the eggs (even after their heat treatment) were fine, and I suspect the salmon would have been tasty. Verdict: Poor
Overall: if you are at Greenwoods Corner and looking for breakfast, be willing to travel a few Ks to somewhere where the competition keeps cafes on their toes! Though it seemed popular, with the locals, so perhaps when we visited they were having a bad hair day!
Kenzie Cafe
557 Manukau Road,
Epsom South,
Auckland
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The Kenzie Cafe is just a step from Greenwoods Corner in the heart of Epsom, a few steps from Cornwall Park. Parking is easy in Empire Road. Somehow I'd expect an Epsom cafe to be trendy and contemporary. Yet stepping into the Kenzie is a blast from the past. It is, and has the air of being a "corner cafe", then there are those "modern" bentwood chairs. There are not many other cafes within a kilometre or three in most directions, and perhaps this lack of competition shows.Service: was slow, made slower by having to sit and work from printed menus, rather than a cafe-style blackboard. However, it probably makes sense to work this way in view of space restrictions. There is a kiddie corner up some stairs, well out of the "way" of others, but perhaps worryingly out of sight for parents? Bringing us glasses and a 70s lemonade bottle of chilled water, without being asked is a nice touch.
Coffee: The younger generation's moccachino was somewhat short of foam, and ultimate failure lacking the obligatory marshmallow. The cappuccino was also somewhat "flat" and the long black (despite separate hot water in a nice china jug) was reminiscent of 70's Cona machines - I assume it was made "long" by running the boiling water over the grounds through the head till the large cup was full, thus stewing the grounds and imparting a bitter and almost stale taste! Verdict: Poor.
Food: Sarah's French Toast was the star, with nicely toasted banana and good butcher's smoked bacon, the maple syrup came in a neat little side dish rather than pre-drizzeled (a nice touch). However Barbara's Corn Fritters did not sparkle, the guacamole looked tired (perhaps from having been kept till needed in an unsealed container?) and the tomato relish was fridge-cold. The fritters themselves were OK, but not great. My Eggs Benedict had suffered by being kept hot (not merely warm as the plate was too hot to handle!) while the other dishes were prepared, the smoked salmon was cooked medium rare, and the Hollandaise Sauce had an unpleasant skin over the surface. A pity as the eggs (even after their heat treatment) were fine, and I suspect the salmon would have been tasty. Verdict: Poor
Overall: if you are at Greenwoods Corner and looking for breakfast, be willing to travel a few Ks to somewhere where the competition keeps cafes on their toes! Though it seemed popular, with the locals, so perhaps when we visited they were having a bad hair day!
Kenzie Cafe
557 Manukau Road,
Epsom South,
Auckland
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 11:37 AM
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Saturday, May 12, 2007
Circus Circus
This week's café has its own website, and a strong "theme". Though where we were seated , in the window to catch the sun (it is busy, so we were lucky people left the table as we came in). It's a busy and well organised place in Mt Eden "village". Service was quick and efficient. However, our ratings are lower than for most of the others we have tried, and the prices were on the higher side.
Coffee: OK My long black had a good flavour and came straight with no choice of water to add or refrain from adding. Some was dribbled down the side of the cup, probably from the speed with which the barrista was operating, he was churning out the coffees like a factory or a circus act ;-) Barbara's moccachino was reported "OK, but not as good as several of the others". Its presentation was careless, with the milk simply slopped in and the less than aesthetic effect covered with powdered chocolate used as a disguise. More care less speed... is my recommended motto!
Food: Dull By chance we both chose the Kumara and Riccotta Fritters with Avocado Salsa. These were solid and worthy, like 70s "vegetarian" options. The dish lacked any spark or excitement. The riccotta was so blended with the kumara it was indistinguishable as a flavour and the blandness of the avocado did not provide a contrast with the solidity of the kumara. The side salad baby spinach leaves and a few snow pea sprouts as decoration was unimaginative and needed a stronger dressing (there was none on the table to add).
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This week's café has its own website, and a strong "theme". Though where we were seated , in the window to catch the sun (it is busy, so we were lucky people left the table as we came in). It's a busy and well organised place in Mt Eden "village". Service was quick and efficient. However, our ratings are lower than for most of the others we have tried, and the prices were on the higher side.Coffee: OK My long black had a good flavour and came straight with no choice of water to add or refrain from adding. Some was dribbled down the side of the cup, probably from the speed with which the barrista was operating, he was churning out the coffees like a factory or a circus act ;-) Barbara's moccachino was reported "OK, but not as good as several of the others". Its presentation was careless, with the milk simply slopped in and the less than aesthetic effect covered with powdered chocolate used as a disguise. More care less speed... is my recommended motto!
Food: Dull By chance we both chose the Kumara and Riccotta Fritters with Avocado Salsa. These were solid and worthy, like 70s "vegetarian" options. The dish lacked any spark or excitement. The riccotta was so blended with the kumara it was indistinguishable as a flavour and the blandness of the avocado did not provide a contrast with the solidity of the kumara. The side salad baby spinach leaves and a few snow pea sprouts as decoration was unimaginative and needed a stronger dressing (there was none on the table to add).
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 9:48 AM
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Saturday, May 05, 2007
Perk Up
Today's cafe, in Kingsland because we have "finished" Sandringham Rd ;-) has the punny name "Perk Up" it's small and busy. The style and menu are fairly typical, with two nice touches:
Coffee: Pretty Good By Karajoz, B's moccachino was only OK or Quite Good, my long black (with jug, though metal) was strong with deep flavour but just a touch bitter.
Perk Up
438 New North Road,
Kingsland,
Auckland
09 815 0434
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Today's cafe, in Kingsland because we have "finished" Sandringham Rd ;-) has the punny name "Perk Up" it's small and busy. The style and menu are fairly typical, with two nice touches:
- free coffee with your breakfast (not supposed to operate on Saturday, do you think someone is spotting us as influential reviewers ;-)
- interesting items on a "specials" list - I've been getting bored by the same-old, same-old menus, eggs benny is great, big breakfasts are fine, but whatever "creative" names you call them they are much the same everywhere!
Coffee: Pretty Good By Karajoz, B's moccachino was only OK or Quite Good, my long black (with jug, though metal) was strong with deep flavour but just a touch bitter.
Perk Up
438 New North Road,
Kingsland,
Auckland
09 815 0434
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 2:27 PM
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Saturday, April 28, 2007
WKA cafe
The other week we tried Voila on the other side of Sandringham Road, so we thought we'd try the cafe on the opposite corner. It goes by the name WKA whether we are meant to pronounce this: Orca? Weka? Walker? or just say the letters, I don't know. Maybe cafes with obscure names should provide a guide ;-)
The small and interestingly shaped space has a cottagey feel, there are tables outside, and apparently a partly covered courtyard (it was cold when we went, so we did not venture out). The decor is comfortable and there is a good supply of magazines. Though given the small space no couches.
Coffee: OK my long black came with water in a china jug (extra points) but the Allpress beans had been extracted giving a slightly bitter taste (so not an "excellent", or even quite a "good"). Barbara's Moccachino was "good, but a bit sweet" perhaps too much chocolate syrup or not the best syrup?
Food: Good I had "Lamb's Fry and Bacon" (Liver and Bacon to non-Kiwis) and B. the pancakes. The pancakes were Kiwi/Scottish style thick ones with blueberries in the mix and generous fruit as a side to the stack. The liver was (in both senses) well cooked (those who fear parasites in under-cooked liver need not tremble, but equally it had not been toughened by over-cooking either) and the gravy pleasantly spiced (perhaps a touch of juniper as well as orange) and spicy with a little chili. The bacon (with both pancakes and liver) was a tasty streaky.
WKA Cafe
572 Sandringham Road
PHONE: 0-9-846 1967
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The other week we tried Voila on the other side of Sandringham Road, so we thought we'd try the cafe on the opposite corner. It goes by the name WKA whether we are meant to pronounce this: Orca? Weka? Walker? or just say the letters, I don't know. Maybe cafes with obscure names should provide a guide ;-)The small and interestingly shaped space has a cottagey feel, there are tables outside, and apparently a partly covered courtyard (it was cold when we went, so we did not venture out). The decor is comfortable and there is a good supply of magazines. Though given the small space no couches.
Coffee: OK my long black came with water in a china jug (extra points) but the Allpress beans had been extracted giving a slightly bitter taste (so not an "excellent", or even quite a "good"). Barbara's Moccachino was "good, but a bit sweet" perhaps too much chocolate syrup or not the best syrup?
Food: Good I had "Lamb's Fry and Bacon" (Liver and Bacon to non-Kiwis) and B. the pancakes. The pancakes were Kiwi/Scottish style thick ones with blueberries in the mix and generous fruit as a side to the stack. The liver was (in both senses) well cooked (those who fear parasites in under-cooked liver need not tremble, but equally it had not been toughened by over-cooking either) and the gravy pleasantly spiced (perhaps a touch of juniper as well as orange) and spicy with a little chili. The bacon (with both pancakes and liver) was a tasty streaky.
WKA Cafe
572 Sandringham Road
PHONE: 0-9-846 1967
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 11:37 AM
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Sunday, April 22, 2007
Voila!
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The lower half of Sandringham Road used not to be cafe territory, and the "village" is still dominated by good cheap Indian restaurants, 2 dollar shops and Lotto outlets, but Voila! offers a standard cafe, with the extra twist of French crepes and a selection of patisserie. The service, menu and prices are typical of other cafes of this type, with the prices on the upper end of suburban Auckland - but it was humming when we arrived, and only quietened about 10am the people of Sandringham must rise earlier than the rest of central Auckland. As with Eifel en Eden Voila! gets a lot of people calling in for bakery, as well as breakfast customers.
Coffee: good. We could not see the brand identified, but it was organic and fair trade. The barrista was in training, but even so the result was good, with only a slight touch of bitterness betraying a beginner - she was closely supervised ;-) the long black came with a water jug, though not full points for presentation as the jug was metal :( however the decoration of chocolate syrup on the moccachino made up for this small lapse!
Food: Good: Barbara's big breakfast was almost too much, and my mushrooms were big, fat and juicy, and there was plenty of tasty added bacon. (Not as smokey as I like, but that's a rare find nowadays.)
Voila!
573 Sandringham Rd
Sandringham
Auckland City
09-846 8393
Coffee: good. We could not see the brand identified, but it was organic and fair trade. The barrista was in training, but even so the result was good, with only a slight touch of bitterness betraying a beginner - she was closely supervised ;-) the long black came with a water jug, though not full points for presentation as the jug was metal :( however the decoration of chocolate syrup on the moccachino made up for this small lapse!
Food: Good: Barbara's big breakfast was almost too much, and my mushrooms were big, fat and juicy, and there was plenty of tasty added bacon. (Not as smokey as I like, but that's a rare find nowadays.)
Voila!
573 Sandringham Rd
Sandringham
Auckland City
09-846 8393
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 5:20 PM
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Thursday, March 29, 2007
Cafe Review: Eiffel en Eden
Yesterday we tried Eiffel en Eden which came highly recommended. (An award this year from Metro [the magazine is so "hip" it has no web presence, so read the Wikipedia article!], as well as friends...).
The setting has no street appeal, Eiffel en Eden occupies a large shed alongside a bed factory. It backs onto a large hole in the ground where gravel has been quarried for so long that the entire neighbourhood has fallen measurably because the soil is drying out from the water that is pumped out of the hole! However, the decor is good, light and airy with the food cabinets as the focus. It was a nice morning, so we sat outside and people-watched, lots of folk come for a takeaway from the patisserie.
Coffee: Not bad. My long black came (bonus points) with a separate jug of hot water (though a steel jug which cooled quickly - so less bonus). The beans are (I believe) from Atomic roasters, which I think are among the best. However, the brew though rich was slightly bitter. So overall, not really good, but not bad either.
Food: could do better - but maybe we could have chosen better. Perhaps, judging by the takeaway clients, we should have chosen patisserie.
But I didn't. I chose bacon and eggs. The bacon fat (it was streaky bacon so lots of fat) was not crisp, but soggy white. The eggs were OK, though the yolks were only semi-soft and I do like a really gooey yolk over my spinach and toast. The toast was some soft bread, perhaps corn bread, which did not offer the crispness that poached eggs need. (It would have been better to toast rounds of baguette...)
I am not convinced by the patisserie claim though, because Barbara says her croissant was cold (as in straight from the chill-cabinet) and "not quite as good as the ones from the Vietnamese baker up the road" - he's almost on the corner where Mt Eden meets Duke St, or Landscape Rd, and his baguettes and croissants are superb). However, the patisserie cabinet did look mouthwatering, and all those takeaway people must know something...
Maybe it's a case of good pastry chef, let down by poor service? Or maybe we'll try it again and take away a different impression...
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The setting has no street appeal, Eiffel en Eden occupies a large shed alongside a bed factory. It backs onto a large hole in the ground where gravel has been quarried for so long that the entire neighbourhood has fallen measurably because the soil is drying out from the water that is pumped out of the hole! However, the decor is good, light and airy with the food cabinets as the focus. It was a nice morning, so we sat outside and people-watched, lots of folk come for a takeaway from the patisserie.Coffee: Not bad. My long black came (bonus points) with a separate jug of hot water (though a steel jug which cooled quickly - so less bonus). The beans are (I believe) from Atomic roasters, which I think are among the best. However, the brew though rich was slightly bitter. So overall, not really good, but not bad either.
Food: could do better - but maybe we could have chosen better. Perhaps, judging by the takeaway clients, we should have chosen patisserie.
But I didn't. I chose bacon and eggs. The bacon fat (it was streaky bacon so lots of fat) was not crisp, but soggy white. The eggs were OK, though the yolks were only semi-soft and I do like a really gooey yolk over my spinach and toast. The toast was some soft bread, perhaps corn bread, which did not offer the crispness that poached eggs need. (It would have been better to toast rounds of baguette...)
I am not convinced by the patisserie claim though, because Barbara says her croissant was cold (as in straight from the chill-cabinet) and "not quite as good as the ones from the Vietnamese baker up the road" - he's almost on the corner where Mt Eden meets Duke St, or Landscape Rd, and his baguettes and croissants are superb). However, the patisserie cabinet did look mouthwatering, and all those takeaway people must know something...
Maybe it's a case of good pastry chef, let down by poor service? Or maybe we'll try it again and take away a different impression...
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 5:46 PM
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Sunday, March 18, 2007
Boost! Cafe review
Today we tried Boost! on Dominion Road. It is another small local cafe, again people who live or work nearby seem to pop in for a takeaway. It was quiet while we were there and the couches are comfortable.
Again the menu is short and straight forward. I had "Bacon and eggs" and Barbara had pancakes.
Coffee: OK
The coffee was OK, Barbara seemed to really enjoy her Moccachino (choice of glass or mug) but my Long Black was neither as strong, nor as smooth, as last week's at Okra I was offered hot water, but the coffee was already pretty wet, so I declined ;-)
Food: Good value
The eggs (poached) were done well, though the eggs were not as fresh as they might have been so the shape was poor. [A really fresh egg will pull itself into a nice round shape when it hits the boiling water, so you can always tell!] The bacon was nice thin enough to be crisp, but not too thin, smoked and tasty. Accompanied by a tangy tomato relish/sauce. BUT take off points for white toast, and no choice offered.
Barbara's pancakes were reportedly good, with a good variety of fruits.
The total bill, at about $26 was good value.
Boost!
245 Dominion Road
Mt Eden
Auckland
Phone:
0-9-630 0103
Verdict: OK no prizes, but a competent and good value small cafe - and a big plus it was the only one open on Dominion Road at 8:30am!
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Again the menu is short and straight forward. I had "Bacon and eggs" and Barbara had pancakes.
Coffee: OK
The coffee was OK, Barbara seemed to really enjoy her Moccachino (choice of glass or mug) but my Long Black was neither as strong, nor as smooth, as last week's at Okra I was offered hot water, but the coffee was already pretty wet, so I declined ;-)
Food: Good value
The eggs (poached) were done well, though the eggs were not as fresh as they might have been so the shape was poor. [A really fresh egg will pull itself into a nice round shape when it hits the boiling water, so you can always tell!] The bacon was nice thin enough to be crisp, but not too thin, smoked and tasty. Accompanied by a tangy tomato relish/sauce. BUT take off points for white toast, and no choice offered.
Barbara's pancakes were reportedly good, with a good variety of fruits.
The total bill, at about $26 was good value.
Boost!
245 Dominion Road
Mt Eden
Auckland
Phone:
0-9-630 0103Verdict: OK no prizes, but a competent and good value small cafe - and a big plus it was the only one open on Dominion Road at 8:30am!
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 8:22 AM
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Sunday, March 11, 2007
Okra Espresso Lounge
This is the first of a new series! Barbara and I have decided that now that the children are pretty much grown up, we can sometimes enjoy the treat of a breakfast out. So, over the coming months we plan to visit and try quite a few of Central Auckland's cafes. We've already visited some before I decided to blog them, some of those we'll be glad to return to, and then review, a few ("Oh the shame!" - though to spare your blushes, we'll not name you ;-) we don't plan to return to, unless someone suggests they have improved!
Yesterday we visited Okra Espresso Lounge a narrow fronted corner shop on Sandringham Road. The menu is as narrow as the shop-front (but as you will see below, this is no bad thing), but has a reasonable range of standards, often with an interesting twist.
We chose to sit on a couch while reading the menu and waiting - you order from your seat, not at the counter (there's hardly room!) and then moved to a table for the serious business.
Coffee: excellent
The coffee got extra points from me even before I sipped, they served my "long black" with the extra water in a jug on the side, and in a china jug so it would keep its heat till I was ready to add it. (A nice touch, so often even cafes who realise that not everyone who orders a "long black" wants their esspresso drowned in a liter of hot water, serve the water in metal jugs, which though they look nice cool fast!)
Barbara said her cappuchino was "a bit strong", but surely this is a good failing :) mine was near perfect, strong dark and fragrant!
Food: Good (small menu but done well and with some nice inventive touches)
Although the menu is fairly short, there were some inventive touches. The basics were well done, poached eggs soft, but not too soft, frying crisp and not too oily, presentation good...
My Eggs Royale (poached on toasted bread, with spinach and smoked salmon) came with a "hash brown" actually a mashed potato croquette - but the mash was fresh and lightly spiced (corriander and cumin I think) the frying crisped the outside nicely. Yum.
Barbara's pancakes with blueberries were good, and large enough that she was in doubt if she could finish the whole helping.
Okra Espresso Lounge
161 Sandringham Rd
Morningside
Auckland
Phone: 09 846 6662
Verdict: We'll be back! (apparently Okra won an award from Metro in 2006, I'm not surprised.)
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Yesterday we visited Okra Espresso Lounge a narrow fronted corner shop on Sandringham Road. The menu is as narrow as the shop-front (but as you will see below, this is no bad thing), but has a reasonable range of standards, often with an interesting twist.
We chose to sit on a couch while reading the menu and waiting - you order from your seat, not at the counter (there's hardly room!) and then moved to a table for the serious business.
Coffee: excellent
The coffee got extra points from me even before I sipped, they served my "long black" with the extra water in a jug on the side, and in a china jug so it would keep its heat till I was ready to add it. (A nice touch, so often even cafes who realise that not everyone who orders a "long black" wants their esspresso drowned in a liter of hot water, serve the water in metal jugs, which though they look nice cool fast!)
Barbara said her cappuchino was "a bit strong", but surely this is a good failing :) mine was near perfect, strong dark and fragrant!
Food: Good (small menu but done well and with some nice inventive touches)
Although the menu is fairly short, there were some inventive touches. The basics were well done, poached eggs soft, but not too soft, frying crisp and not too oily, presentation good...
My Eggs Royale (poached on toasted bread, with spinach and smoked salmon) came with a "hash brown" actually a mashed potato croquette - but the mash was fresh and lightly spiced (corriander and cumin I think) the frying crisped the outside nicely. Yum.
Barbara's pancakes with blueberries were good, and large enough that she was in doubt if she could finish the whole helping.
Okra Espresso Lounge
161 Sandringham Rd
Morningside
Auckland
Phone: 09 846 6662
Verdict: We'll be back! (apparently Okra won an award from Metro in 2006, I'm not surprised.)
Labels: auckland_cafes, food, review
¶ 5:32 PM
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