The Larder, Corner Darlington and
Camperdown Roads, Miramar, Wellington, Tel: 891-0354
Peter
Jackson is a shining star for Wellington and
indeed New Zealand. His brilliance has sparked a lift and buzz in
the Eastern suburbs and spawned a host of successful businesses, both directly
related to and in support of the movie industries, in which he is so highly
regarded. Suddenly, Miramar has become a locale of importance,
where internationally renowned movers and shakers, film stars and creative
designers must meet and have dealings.
And Miramar
has responded accordingly, welcoming change and providing the infrastructure to
provide the essential services that such people require.
Good
food, and good drinks fuel creativity, and we at Regional Wines has seen a
marked increase in business from the Eastern suburbs, where we are the ‘local
wine shop’. The demand for new,
interesting and quality wines, whiskies and beers has never been greater and
this is due in no insignificant way to the influx of the film industry
personnel and to the vibe flowing from these people to those around them. Hence the immediate success of The Larder,
the café, practically next door to Weta’s works. The Larder provides excellent, contemporary
food, outstanding service and real value, making it the obvious destination and
indeed first choice for something to eat in Miramar.
It is so good that in the eight or so months since The Larder has been
open, it has become something of a shining star in Wellington’s dining scene.
Delving
into The Larder’s background, it comes as no surprise why this café ticks all
the boxes, not only for the film-set glitterati, but also for all people who
appreciate a top and modern dining experience.
Owners Jacob Brown and Sarah Bullock have the pre-requisite experience
and outlook to make it all happen. Jacob
has nearly two decades work in the top kitchens such as Sean’s ‘Panorama’ and
the iconic ‘Tabou’ and with some of the best chefs, including Yanni Krystis and
Gay Bilson in Sydney,
before a stint at Boulcott Street Bistro.
Sarah, similarly has extensive front-of-house time in Sydney at the likes of ‘Fuel’ and
‘Balzac’. They took over the Eva Dixon’s
site, a long-serving and well-known Miramar
eatery, renovating the villa, and replacing and up-dating the kitchen. The work has transformed it into a bright and
breezy place, open plan with polished wood floors and a view into the spotless
food preparation and cooking area. The
entrance leads to a spacious area for ordering gourmet sandwiches, counter food
and baking, along with the all-important coffee. The dining room seats around
30 people. Jacob and Sarah’s aim is to
source good produce, add their personal touch, and serve the local
community. And the measure of their awareness
of the standards of the local and greater community has seen The Larder one of
the most popular eating spots in the city.
The café is invariably full for lunches and dinners.
The
menu changes regularly, usually daily, and reflects what Jacob sees as the best
product available at the markets. On the
card for lunch early this week was cauliflower soup with Bluff oyster fritters
and black pepper oil; risotto of duck, Porcini mushrooms, hand cut fries and
onion rings; or snapper with Beluga lentils, spiced eggplant and watercress
sides in the eight dishes available.
Dinner in the weekend listed entrees such as Tio Point oysters (natural
or battered), twice cooked Gruyere and goat’s cheese soufflé with white truffle
oil, and mains including braised fennel with baked olives, buffalo mozzarella,
confit tomato and polenta; and peppercorn crusted sirloin with braised braised
Wagyu brisket, spinach and potato gratin.
Desserts and cheese are delectable (more later).. The prices asked, lunch mains and dinner entrees
sit between $15.00 to just over $20.00, while the dinner mains at just under
$30.00, and desserts or cheese at around $12.00 – all give real value for what
is given on the plate in terms of quality ingredients, flair of cooking and
contemporary eating pleasure.
The
wine list is short, snappy and snazzy.
You can match the Oysters with Highfield ‘Elstree’ Cuvee Brut 2005 or
Gosset Champagne
‘Grand Rosé’ Brut NV, and then move to the likes of Mt Edward Pinot Blanc 2009,
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Spade Oak Viognier 2007, Escarpment Chardonnay
2007 and Forrest ‘The Doctors’ Riesling 2009.
Reds include Wild Rock ‘Cupid’s Arrow’ and Felton Road Pinot Noirs, both
2008, Unison Reserve Merlot 2007 Trinity Hill ‘The Trinity’ 2005 plus several
rare and difficult to source labels. It
caters from very affordable to special occasion.
Taste
of the South
As a
culinary delight for Jacob and Sarah, as well as keen diners, The Larder is
running a series of month-running, themed food and wine matched menus. For April into early May, it’s ‘Taste of the
South’, where all the produce and wine is sourced from the lower half of the South Island. You
can experience this at $85.00 pp. For
those not imbibing, it is $55.00 pp (but then you miss out on the real
purpose?).
We took
as our guest, a well-known N.Z. wine writer, educator and judge to experience
what Jacob and Sarah had put together for the four courses in the ‘Taste of the
South’. First was a rabbit and wild pork
terrine with pickled swede and black pudding served with Olssens Gewurztraminer
2008. An intriguing and very pleasant
pairing, based on contrasts, the subtle savoury terrine lifted by the sweetness
and opulence of the wine. Next was a
very tender venison cutlet with braised red cabbage and sauce soubise paired
with Surveyor-Thomson Pinot Noir 2006.
Here the wine contributed to the flavour layers and had sufficient
structure to work alongside the texture of the meat. This was well-matched. Arguably the star pairing was the Mt Edward
Chardonnay 2008 with Karikaas vintage gouda and Blue Valley
pecorino. A refreshing change in tack
with the meal, the ch