CAFE GOVETT BREWSTER

Two Breakfasts, Two Flat Whites. 

Len Lye Strikes A Pose

Fresh Changeable Cabinet Of Seasonal Produce

Eggs Benedict With Toasted Ciabatta, 
Crispy Potato Rosti + Hollandaise With 
Bacon ~ Smoked salmon ~ Spinach + mushroom 

Sweet corn, Red Chilli And Coriander Fritter
With Bacon, Poached Egg, Baby Spinach And Tomato Relish

Cheese + Bacon Scones Strike A Pose

Take Out Flat White by CGB from Ozone Roastery

The Corner Graphic

Govett Brewster Cafe + Art Gallery 

Love Len Lye Pin Badges

#35 Jump and Jive

Kinetic Coffee

If for the last decade you have been sleepwalking in your PJ's, you might have missed the cutting edge coffee being discreetly served by New Zealand roasters. Having just returned from a trip to Aotearoa, it seems the perfect time to blog a few of my favourite food places in the southern hemisphere who serve freshly roasted coffee and to highlight those cafes smitten by wanderlust, who have already migrated across the oceans to set up shop in the northern plateau.

Coffee is kind of massive in NZ in a laid back unpretentious way. They even have their own  NZ Speciality Coffee Association.

So whats the big bean addiction ? Mainly an ingrained desire for great tasting fresh roasted coffee. Served with fab tasting quirky combinations of seasonal food produce to indulge your senses and amidst the sort of relaxing, quality assured, lived-in-habitat where you feel so at home, you want to move in statim. 

This first blog focuses on the popular Cafe Govett Brewster already an institution in New Plymouth, the starry night city snug under the dazzling Mount Taranaki, located on the west coast bubble of the North Island. 

CGB is located adjacent to the Govett Brewster Art Gallery, the home of the permanent Len Lye gallery and guardian of the Len Lye Foundation and Archive. This artist is considered a genius to those that know and if you don't know, you will discover his work occupies its own unique space in the art world and is unforgettable.

The cafe offers wide open sky spaces with a sun drenched aspect, being only a short dash from the award winning coastal walkway. The coffee is roasted across the road at Ozone headquarters who I will be giving their own airspace in a future blog. Their Kinetic coffee creates its own unique force of motion.

The menu at CGB is inspired for breakfast, brunch or lunch and with a side of 'target word' from the Taranaki Herald, the morning blends seamlessly into midday. All the staff are lovely here. If I was a traveller I would have scribed a cross on the kerbside to signify my recommendation..... or perhaps it should be a koru.

The deepest southern hemisphere has the advantage of being mixed cultural, with an array of influences and ingredients continually progressing the cuisine. Coupled with a New Zealander's genetic inclination to innovate, experiment and tread new ground, the cafes serve food which occupies the enviable space of being so far away from the generic homogenisation of the western world, they are able to maintain their own barometer of influence as a secret gem.

This innovative leaning is demonstrated by CGB's star plate of Sweet corn, Red Chilli and Coriander Fritter, with Bacon, Poached Egg, Baby Spinach and Tomato Relish. Words can not describe how perfect that tasted at 11am, so I wont try to elaborate.

We followed our regular morning visits to Cafe GB with trips to see Julian Ward's photography at Puke Ariki, the T'Art gallery and a swim at the aquatic centre with indoor and open air pools facing the wild rolling sea.  A rad experience to start your day.


Cafe Govett Brewster Like No Other.

Garden Cafe, Inner Circle, Regent's Park

Long Sleek Lines Of The Well Loved Tactile.

Bits And Bobs To Tuck Into

This Could Be Aotearoa!

The Perfect Simple Menu, Simply Set Out.

The Reason We All Come And Keep It A Secret. The Food.

Game, Set and Match!  Move over Belgo.

#23  A Duck and a Flea

Full Circle

Thank you so much for following my blog. On the 18 June, I will be celebrating completing 1 year of blogging, with an unknown meal with my side kick at an unknown favourite haunt. 

I find it amazing without a single attempt to advertise this blog - other than word of mouth between family and friends, it has generated an audience spanning 15 countries, with 1319 hits.

This does make me think a bit more about the content and wondering who is reading my drivel. Above all else, this is fun, unpressured and importantly a not for profit occupation to record thoughts and memories. Documenting the places and companions who shared the pleasure of discovering a favourite place to eat a meal.

A lucky sibling will soon be going to noodle heaven in Malaysia. This kind of intrepid exploring across continents, in search of the perfect breakfast bowl of noodles inspires me to keep this blog going.

Yesterday the blogger found himself passing through New Zealand House in Haymarket to view the incredible Te Pouihi carved by the equally incredible Inia te Wiata. Not only was Inia a incredible Opera singer he was also an incredible wood carver.

Pop your audio sound on and have a cup of tea, watching this amazing video:

Inia's 7 year day job.

I then passed by the Chinese Embassy on Portland Place and having watched the dedicated sitter for over 12 years, decided to take a closer look and understand the reason for this silent protest. 

This led me to Falun Gong and to learn of the terrible social injustice in China forced upon a peaceful movement that had no other aim but to improve health, vitality and inner peace for all.

Pondering all of this, and the other economic woes in the world, such as the financial meltdown in Europe and the worrying lack of Bees and Butterflies in our natural landscape, I found myself passing the same piece of nature in London's inner sanctum, which had started me off on this blog trail, exactly 12 months ago.

The Garden Cafe in Regents Park's inner circle remains a favourite destination, though I fear the Olympic hoards might flood heavy footed over its quiet, dignified, elegant oasis.

The menu is so simple, perfect for summer with fresh ingredients and so impressively  priced at only £14.75 for 2 courses. And this is central London folks and nestled into a beautiful open park, it is a wonder there aren't queues winding all the way back to Stratford. Of course the beauty of its quiet remote destination is London's quick fill city brigade couldn't be bothered trekking there.

I ordered as a starter, Smoked Chicken Aioli & Gem Lettuce salad and it was a gem of a dish. For the main course a lovely bowl of Moules Marinieres with a side accompaniment of quite honestly the most delicious chips I think I have ever tasted. Their brown skins still snug on their backs for an earthy, healthier guise.

For refreshment I was given a very large jug of free tap water with a slice of lemon. Bingo.

I do love this place and sitting inside and away from the throngs seated outside (well 20 people), with a lovely view through large glass panes of 'toi toi' swaying in the distance, bosomed by large London Plane trees, it gave a distinct feeling of being in Aotearoa. A country well versed in the luxury of dining close to nature.

Perhaps on this occasion the team 'waiting on' were a tad slow on the attention to service, though I was so relaxed I didn't care and the chefs skilfully balanced this baton exchange by being faster than Usain Bolt.

So Full Circle it is, as I circumnavigate this edible journey and long may it continue.