THIS MONTH OUR FOOD EDITOR REBECCA JONES (AKA MISS JONES) has been busy updating our local cafes and restaurants for our A-Z guide this month. There are 12 new comers including Atico, Escobar Espresso, Ipanema, Kokako, Tango PIzza and Cafe O to name but a few. We hope, like us, you will continue to support our locals in what have been tough times for hospitality. ONE OF MY TEAM’S FAVOURITE HAUNTS IS RICHMOND ROAD, and I regularly support Sliced, the sandwich business, by buying a simple cheese and tomato toastie and some times I’m in the mood for a Green Goddess! A healthy combination of spinach, cucumber, apple and lemon. Priced at only $7, this sets me up for the afternoon. Richmond Road is the longest road in our community and there are plenty of choices for both retail and healthcare. We hope you enjoy reading Ripe Deli owner Angela Redfern’s story on page 34. WHEN I FELL ILL SIX WEEKS AGO, JAY AND I DECIDED TO GET away to unwind and recharge our batteries. We went to Rotorua and spent four fabulous nights as guests of Bryan Hughes, Chief Executive of Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort. What a great man he turned out to be and what a fabulous place to convalesce. We had a suite, with a kitchette, and enjoyed views looking towards Mokoia Island - this resort is truly magical. We had spa treatments every day using products from Bryan’s own range Alite. The therapists, Yuki, a gorgeous Japanese girl and Lita Mahy, a Samoan beauty were like angels to us. (When we left Lita rushed out to give us a farewell blessing for a safe return journey to the city). Bryan Hughes, couldn’t have been more generous. He treated us to four nights dinner in his award-winning Mokoia Restaurant, where they had no less than eight (including soup) vegetarian/vegan options. On our third day he arranged for us to go to Mokoia Island Bird Sanctuary with guide Rawira. We had a magical afternoon walking through the bush and raking up leaves so birds swooped down to catch insects and worms disturbed by our presence. When I saw the sign beside Hinemoa’s pool, which said No Swimming, I almost cried, however, Rawira said, “look mate, if you can stand
The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
FROM THE EDITOR temperatures of 50 degrees … jump in!” I gingerly put a foot in and before too long sat down in the pool. Rawira told me that since the Christchurch earthquake the temperature in the pool had risen by 10 degrees! While I was soaking, my partner Jay sat at the bush line watching birds coming and going. Suddenly, and rather unexpectedly, a weka appeared and came within a metre or so of Jay. Thankfully, he captured the moment on his iPhone! “I bet I can get this weka to come and play” said Jay! “I’ve always had a way with the birds!” Back in London, maybe I teased him ... he was always being chatted up in the pub by what he termed dolly birds! This is serious conservation stuff, I told him, this bird is almost extinct! A BIG THANKS TO THE MINI GARAGE PONSONBY! Those nice guys loaned me a great charcoal coloured MINI COOPER ($48,000 and it was a soft-top) for our long weekend in Rotorua! Thanks guys - we love Mini and are very tempted! IN CASE ANY REGULAR READERS ARE WONDERING WHERE MY other colleagues are this month, I’ve decided to go it alone to help publicise SAFE’s new ‘Go Veg’ campaign to be launched later this year, in time for World Vegetarian month. I’ve now been vegetarian now for over 50 years and apart from a recent health issue, I’ve been fit and healthy for most of my life. The SAFE campaign also profiles and names a diverse range of kiwi’s who you may not realise are vegetarian or vegan.... Amongst them are our friend Denise L’Estrange-Corbet of WORLD, ex Thompson Twins and Madge founder Alana Curry, news reader Samantha Hayes, singer-song writers Gin Wigmore, Flip Grater, actors Anna Paquin, Emily Barclay, Lisa Chappell, Tania Nolan and Michelle Langstone, playwright Thomas Sainsbury, directors Peter Salmon and Colin Mitchell, MPs Gareth Hughes, Ruth Dyson, graffiti artist Askew One, rapper/poet/writer Dominic Hoey ak Tourettes, artist Yvonne Todd, Ponsonby Anglican Minister Jody Kilpatrick and yours truly. Why not consider making this lifestyle choice and joining us? Next issue: Home interiors and renovations; Win a ‘very Ponsonby’ wardrobe; Sustainability - it’s the little things we do which make a difference.
DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH May 2012 PONSONBY NEWS+
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photography: Jane Blundell @ kloser
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