EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY PONSONBY CENTRAL’S TORU CAFE: NEW CHEF AT TOKYO CLUB SERVING UP BRUNCH WITH A TWIST Chef, Mr Hideharu Shimura has arrived in New Zealand as THE SISTER CAFE OF THE AWARD WINNING ESTABLISHMENTS TEED Street Larder and Wai Kitchen, Toru is part of the still-feels-like-new Ponsonby Central dining and shopping precinct, and one of its busiest spots at that. This is mainly due to the quality of its fare - which serves up some of the most unique brunch and lunch options on the Ponsonby strip – and its spaciousness, meaning that a fight for a seat isn’t usually an issue no matter the size of your group. I popped in with my family for brunch one Sunday early in February and it was business as usual – the place was buzzing with locals and visitors grabbing coffee and clutching the weekend papers, sunglasses often still in place after the kind of Saturday night revelry that I can only dream of! We usually sit up the back towards the Ponsonby Central hub, but this time chose a table next to the open front doors as it was a classic Auckland muggy summer’s day and the breeze passing through was the perfect solution. This turned out to be a mistake as we were pretty much ignored for well over 10 minutes – a marked contrast to the always-fabulous service we’ve always received ‘up the back’.
Executive Chef of Tokyo Club, Ponsonby Central.
Mr Shimura has finished his role as Executive Chef at the Michelin-star rated property Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo, to join the family run business located at Ponsonby Central. Mr Shimura brings to Auckland a long and successful career working at the best restaurants in Tokyo and throughout Japan. He will be one of the most experienced Asian chef’s in the country. Tokyo Club is a casual Isakaya style dining bar, open seven days, serving cuisine and beverages from the streets of Tokyo. No bookings required. PN www.tokyoclub.co.nz
After a bit of embarrassed prompting things were soon on track however, and the amazing fare placed in front of us was so good that it almost cancelled out our earlier feeling of utter abandonment! A plate of ricotta pancakes was large and fluffy and served very simply, which was a bonus in my husband’s books and left ample room for his side of crispy bacon. I went for another traditional dish in the form of a vegetarian eggs Benedict, which came with the rich but utterly addictive addition of goats curd and perfectly wilted spinach. The real hit for our four year old – AKA His Lordship, and well tolerated by the staff at Toru on a more than regular basis – was the banana, chocolate and peanut butter smoothie, which was just sweet enough to be kid friendly but a stellar pick for those over the age of 10 too. I’m aiming to head back to try the peach & vanilla version, which sounds like a little slice of summer in a glass if ever there was one. For the more adventurous brunch diner (and there seemed to be a lot of them out there on this particular Sunday) they offer the likes of the fresh berries with buffalo yoghurt, baby basil and raw honeycomb, Waikanae crab omelette with sambal, and the colcannon (a traditional Irish dish mainly consisting of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage) with corned beef, sauerkraut, crème fraiche and poached eggs. The menu changes often too, so chances are a return visit will unleash a whole set of new options to explore, usually with a seasonal bent. If you’re just popping in for something small they have a counter selection that includes donuts, delicate macarons and heartier scones, and the always -excellent coffee served up at Toru comes from local roasters Three Beans. There is also quite a selection of fine TWG teas from Singapore for those that shun the long black and the flat white, and juices both freshly made and in a bottle. This place really is an asset to the Ponsonby café scene and a brand new local for more than a few of us out there, so get your nose stuck in a menu ASAP. (HELENE RAVLICH) PN TORU, Ponsonby Central, 136-138 Ponsonby Road T: 09 555 1229
44 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2013
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)