THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

One of our favourite Wellington publicans is due to become a dad. Dermot Murphy is as Irish as you can get and we were well entertained by his Irish lilt today at lunch. Now he is quite excited by the prospect of becoming a father. However he is even more excited by the prospect that his baby is due to be born on St Patricks Day.

Dermot is the owner of D4, the Establishment and Chicago. And it seems that Chicago is one of the waterfront venues which we be a " place to be" come the Rugby World Cup.

Dermot is young, works hard and knows the hospitality trade well. He is the type of young entrepreneur we need more of in NZ.

Interestingly we were talking to another Restaurateur today who is a little sceptical of the increase in trade that the Rugby World Cup is expected to bring.

While the Wellington waterfront bars did a roaring trade on the back of the Rugby Sevens the top end bars did not fair so well. Seems pies and chips are the order of the day for the young rugby crowd. So there is some concern that the RWC spin off may largely be limited to some big bars.

We hope that is not the case and there is a vast difference between the Rugby sevens - youngish crowd and the Rugby Union fans. We remember the Lions tour and there was a huge range of people from those who toured the country in Helicopters to the Welsh village postie we met who saved five years to visit NZ and was pretty much limiting his eating and drinking spend to $50 a day.

So we are hopeful that there will be enough fans who like fine dining to keep the Wellington restaurants rocking during the tournament.

Bring it on.

KOI CLASS ACT

Wellington's newest restaurant Koi has opened quietly in the lovely space once occupied by Copita. It is part of the growing Dermot Murphy empire.

Anyway we dined there with the mustachioed (he not a she) big brown fella prawn for lunch.

He had been there before and was well versed with the menu.

For lunch you start with a range of stunning nibbly bits - We had the squid - which was the softest squid we have had in ages and then had beef tongue which was a bit chewy but tasty and chicken livers - again yum. We then tried some of the octopus sashimi - delicate and juicy!

The big brown fella had the lunch plate with mackerel. It is a lovely plate of fillets and a number of Japanese inspired condiments. You can have a vegetarian, 0r meat option. It looked yum but we opted for more squid. We had a lovely Yealands Sauvignon Blanc which was light and elegant.

We finished the meal off with a cheese board.Served simply with muscatels and figs.

We think that Dermot is on to a winner with Koi. The surroundings are lovely - warm white with touches of eastern decadence. And he has retained the lovely comfy chairs from Copita.
Koi is a little different and there are quiet elements of kiwi fusion layering the offerings. We understand that they have had a Japanese consultant in to assist with the menu.

The other feature of Dermot's foody fiefdom is the staff. They are always attentive, knowledgeable and efficient.

Anyway a mate and client was at the next table and he picked up our tab. You cant get better than that!

WELLINGTON FOODIE GOSSIP

Word on the wharf is Dockside has been sold, apparently everyone was saying so - no-one was confirming but it would come as no surprise. Something to do with Palmerston North connections. We know no more.

But the best news is Wellingtons best up and coming publican Dermot Murphy ex Black Harp now publican -owner of the delightful D4, and latterly the Establishment up the top end of Courtney Place, has added Copita to his collection of good Wellington places to eat and drink. It is to be renamed Koi - and will be a fusion of Japanese and Kiwi kai.

Nice Dermot, very nice.