Last Night in Auckland
After bidding my parents farewell at the Auckland airport for their trip back to the States, I headed downtown and checked into the Hilton at Princes Wharf. I got together with three friends for dinner -- David, who had drove up from Hamilton; Kerry, a food and wine critic living just north of Auckland; and Chris, an attorney I had met on a transaction down here a year or so ago. Chris was originally based in Wellington, but she had recently changed law firms and had moved north to Auckland.
We all got together at the Number 5 Restaurant and had a great meal with great wine and a fun conversation. All three are very extroverted folks and so the discussion was dynamic and free-ranging. Wine helps with that!
David was staying over in Auckland on business, and we agreed to meet the next morning to do some sea kayaking, as I was not leaving Auckland until late in the afternoon. That should help tire me out so I can get some sleep on the long flight home.
I had a crisp delicious Seresin sauvignon blanc with a rocket salad with smoked salmon, gorgonzola cheese, cherry tomatoes, pears and pine nuts. The combination of flavors was wonderful.
For my entree, I had a beef wellington along with a Martinbrough pinot noir that was divine. The pastry shell around the wellington was flakey and not dried out at all, the pate around the meat was wonderful and the beef was very tender. A+.
Of course I had to try the creme brulee with a glass of port to complete my meal. The creme brulee was delicious with flecks of real vanilla bean throughout.
The restaurant had many different entrees to choose from including seafood, duck, venison and pork, as well as vegetarian options like risotto with vegetables. Everyone in your party can find something to enjoy I am sure.
The hotel has an ultra modern, clean feel. Hardwood floors,specially woven carpeting, and the use of "white" colors throughout the hotel really add to that feel.
The hotel has a unique swimming pool -- it is suspended over the parking lot between the hotel and the adjacent condominium building. It has a glass wall so that you can look into the pool from the harbor -- or out of the pool if you are swimming.
One bit of warning -- if your room is on the harbor side of the hotel, be careful when you open your curtains in the morning. Large cruise ships often come into port at night and moor adjacent to the hotel. I arose one morning, threw open the curtains and gave a couple of ladies in the recently docked cruise ship quite a show! The hotel had slipped a note under my door to warn me of that possibility, unfortunately, I had not read the note until after I opened the curtains!
Be sure to try the restaurant at the hotel, White. It's a great restaurant (reviewed separately).
