LUNCH

Bubbles and prawns at ODT.

Then off for drinks later with the VRWC et al at location well known.

Toodle!

DB or not DB

Readers will be well aware that Roarprawn, and epicurean assistants, cover the food and liquor industries with a diligence which borders of fanaticism!

So it is probably no wonder that we stumbled on this revelation.

It appears that after the highly-publicised demise of the Temperance, quick sale of The Establishment, and the pathetic existence of the Loaded Hog with its skeleton staff and in serious need of some spit and polish, the Wellington empire of the once-mighty Dominion Breweries is staggering.

Apparently management is closely monitoring some 30 outlets. What happens in case of a disaster? Thirty pubs on the market?

Impossible, you may say........ yet thats what happened to the mighty Thwaites, Griffith empire a decade ago.

Readers can be assured your team is closely monitoring events!

Steinlager anyone?

UNEMPLOYMENT AND DEATH OF A RESTAURANT

We gave a heads up on the possibility that there were some ugly unemployment stats for Wellington a couple of weeks ago -

And today Stuff carried the bad news - there are a few empty chairs dotted around the office blocks these days - and more are expected.

But this was the really bad news of the day

The prawns have spent many a lingering lunch at Copita being well looked after by owner and expert sommelier Stephen Morris. Award winning chef Janet Grey was one of the best - elegant food with substance.

Our favourite dish was Arancini Balls - little smokey rice balls - that were unequalled anywhere in the Capital.

Janets expertise and passion in the kitchen is only matched by her knowledge and passion for rugby. We regulars are hoping she will pop up somewhere else in the city - we will follow her.

I remember seeing a certain Mr Meurant and a certain TV executive there in the middle of the scampi scandal. And my last evening drinks there was with some of the power brokers in Maoridom.

So Steve and Janet , thanks for the good times and good luck for the future. And yes, when you get back on your feet again we promise to keep the noise down....

PESCATORIAL HEAVEN - SHED FIVE

When I had a lot to do with the seafood industry on a daily basis, Shed Five was one of my favourite restaurants to take visitors from overseas and it still is a favourite for a special night out or a languorous long lunch.

My Auckland haunt remains Euro.

Simon Gault is one of the best and I will always remember an extra fine dish of Moonfish washed down with Dom Perignon, with my cousins from Bluff, at Euro , on the day they left to fly out for the Tua fight in Las Vegas... many years ago.

It was one of those days. They are crayfishermen, but the moonfish that day is a meal they still talk about.

I also remember a couple of great lunches there with the media Lothario, the late Rod Pederson - he knew food, wine and good times intimately. He introduced me to Te Motu of which I have a few bottles tucked away for drinking in the far future to remember him by.

So I was delighted to get an invite to a night out at Shed Five next week, which is part of the Gault stable the Nourish Group. The evening is called Aqualine 08 and it promises Gaults finest and champagne..

My favourite entree there is West Coast Whitebait with blond asparagus and aioli. Bliss!

And they do a nice turn with Alaskan King Crab for main.

so no blogging next Thursday ...