The politics of dining
Has anyone noticed that the election campaign has spread to restaurants? Piccolo is sporting a big blue Stephen Franks poster in their window, and I'm not sure what it says about potential National voters if Vivian St is seen as fertile advertising territory. La Kasbah has taken it further: not only was the proprietor wearing a Labour badge, with a donations jar on the counter, but Trevor Mallard was filling up on tagine and couscous tonight! Yes, it seems that Damian Christie was right: in Wellington, that does count as a celebrity sighting.
Do any of the other parties have fanboy restaurants? Kai in the City seems an obvious Maori Party stalwart, and perhaps Aunty Mena's and Green Land would go for the Greens. But what sort of place would support NZ First or ACT? And does anyone from United Future eat out?
Kai in the City seems an obvious Maori Party stalwart, and perhaps Aunty Mena's and Green Land would go for the Greens.
Let's not get toooo bound up in stereotypes, shall we?
And does anyone from United Future eat out?
Yep. Peter Dunne eats his wife out every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.
Oh.. is that not what you meant?
Hasn't Kai in the City gone?
Wouldn't surprise me, I felt the quality had gone down (and the prices up) since they moved from Island Bay
I love all things Wellington, hence read the blog, but really, couldn't you at least try to hide your bias occasionally?
ACT are no more the evil right wing devil than the Maori party are a bunch of poi wavers who would only ever eat at a Maori themed restaurant, or the Greens a pack of hippies who chew lemongrass while chanting OMMMM.
Keep up the great writing, but please make an effort to stop pushing your blatantly left agenda - it ruins the otherwise great columns. If you must do that, at least be up front about it and have a separate category for it.
Disclaimer: I vote ACT, but I don't feel the need to rag on the left to do so. :)
When we do talk politics we always do so lightheartedly. Clearly we are left-leaning but we do no campaigning nor party boosting. We know that everybody isn't going to have the same political philosophy as us, but we can all have a laugh about it, right?
Also I think the Fly was fishing for stereotypes (hence Green Land and Kai in the City). So Act members would clearly be dining at places with holiday surcharges, NZ First think eating is cheating and will be drinking at Hummingbird, and Peter Dunne eats out... oh Stephen already made the joke.
oh Stephen already made the joke
Oh c'mon, you gonna tell me that that WASN'T the joke?
Ok ok, Peter Dunne eats out at the Bucket Tree restaurant in Tawa.
Happy? ;))
Well how's this: Dunne eats out nearly every night, however, his wife will often complain about the service.
Inu-ewwwww-endo
Umm, where did the Fly even mention anything negative about ACT? And the idea seems to be not which parties dine at which restaurants, but which restaurants would support which parties.
Having said that, NZ First would have to be either the Green Parrot or the Upper Hutt Cossie Club.
I think it's safe to say NZ 1st ARE the green parrot, i've seen them (as in assorted members) there a few times!
Doesn't loving all things welly mean embracing the political nature of the city? And seriously, wouldn't it be worse if we weren't upfront about our beliefs?
PS: one of the members of the Wellingtonista is friends with John Key on Facebook. We don't all think the same and act the same, but in general Wellingtonistas are chosen because they're good people. That's why we care.
BTW - given the LIBZ have a sign up near the Karori tunnel saying "Legalise SMACK" (authorised by Bernard Darnton) where do you think they might like to eat?
As far as I'm aware (ie: I watched Trainspotting) those who are into smack aren't that big on eating at all. If this was Auckland and it still existed though, I'd say the Lost Angel Cafe because it had a needle-exchange box.
Brazil on K Road was the junkie's fave. You'd see them there, sitting on the outdoors tables, dressed in black, smoking cigarettes and drinking espressos.
Yeah, all with their wrists bent that funny way.
The Lost Angel was the best cafe! And not just for the needle box.
We used to got here every Sunday for toasted sandwiches and milkshakes (total of $5!). It was a lottery whether you would actually get the sandwich your ordered, or indeed get your sandwich at all, but it was the best food/milkshake/coffee on K-Rd.
Indeed it was, in many respects, "the best cafe". The owner was the very embodiment of "be the change you want to see in the world", their focaccia sandwiches were ahead of their time and bloody good value and it was just the kind of cafe that is unique to a time and place.
Much respect.
McGill, the only restaurant I've ever seen you in was the Hamilton East Pizza Hutt.
P.S. Give me a yell the next time you're in the 04.
Oh Robyn, you're all class.
What are you doing down there?
I moved here about 5 months ago. The lure of the Malthouse (and other the fine establishments of this town) was too much for me to ignore, so I got a cool job and moved here.
Well not so much the stereotyping, but Winnie the Pooh eats out at TGP (as is well known) and also Monsoon Poon.
Rodney I would say eats/drinks at Concrete?
I dunno. I'll leave the political pigeon-holing to the semi-professionals.
I don't know what it does for stereotyping but last night Cathy and I found the Yeung Shing again, in upper Willis St. She reminded me that I "took her out" thirty years ago to the Yeung Shing when it was in Cuba St. Apparently it was my introduction of her to Wellington cuisine.
Of course I don't recall it. She says she 'should have been warned' by that choice.
For old times sake I had Egg Foo Young, probably the first for 20 years, and it was excellent.
30 years ago? Then you would've been served by my friend Kerry-Ann's parents.
Gawd, is it still there? Probably been around for 30 years thirty years ago.
They still do a wonton soup accompanied by buttered white bread?
My minestrone the previous evening at Tom Stacey's Piccolo also had nostalgia sauce.
His restaurant too had moved, in this case from Kilbirnie, where Cathy spent half her motherhood watching kids at the Aquatic Centre.
I realised there that it was our wedding anniversary dinner.
"My minestrone the previous evening at Tom Stacey's Piccolo also had nostalgia sauce."
Oh National, what a lovely power you have when someone spits in your sauce and you spin that into "Nostalgia" and being down with the kids.
Is it getting cancerous and corrosive in here, or it just me?
Me-owwww!
I dunno, but something is making me love the thought of a hot dog (but not want to eat it)
I think it's excellent that a local candidate comes here & comments on the posts - bring on that labour guy & the others from those parties whose names I can't remember.
Especially the libz guy, he wants to legalize smack.
I always enjoyed the Wellingtonista's air of good-natured civility, and this is beneath you, even if you're a fly.
See, I would have thought it would have been bad if the Barfly had produced a list of cafes that offer doggie bowls outside for Stephen Franks to take his one true love to...
Actually, no wait, that would have been awesome.
dog bowls... much more inspired than my overly obscure hot dog attempt
Umm, where did the Fly even mention anything negative about ACT?
Well, it did make implications about National voters getting their kicks in the red-light district. By extension, Act voters would presumably be visiting Marion Street while high on illegal narcotics.
At least, that's the way I read it. Shame on you for putting those thoughts into my head.
Obviously National voters would be on Vivian Street as they'd be driving down it, having just got off the motorway.
Walking? Pft!
By extension, Act voters would presumably be visiting Marion Street while high on illegal narcotics.
Ironic how far Labour Minister Marian Street would be from there. My punt for her would be Floraditas. Err, so actually very close to Marion Street after all.
ACT must eat at whatever the private club is where the waiters wear bright yellow jackets. And frequently too I'd guess - spend $5000 and you can have your own jacket.
Yeah, NZ First are forever linked with the Green Parrot. United Future probably go to that place that the Indians go to for an "English", and ask for the blandest thing on the menu.
Point taken. Thanks for the replies. :)
Left me missing Wellington, as usual.
Also, no mention of the Malthouse? Such a cornucopia of beer styles means there is something for all - neutral ground for all parties?
Also, no mention of the Malthouse? Such a cornucopia of beer styles means there is something for all - neutral ground for all parties?
Not for any parties that respect women (their open-mouthed urinals are disgusting, and a vaguely related way I'm glad that Max Hardcore (don't google at work) is going to jail). So I guess United Future must drink there.
You know, I've been there many times, and never noticed the urinals until they were pointed out here.
My advise? Ignore and focus on the great beer list. :) Have a word to the owners if it's a real problem for you, or just take it as a joke, admittedly a very poor taste joke. it would be a boring world if there wasn't something to offend though, right? ;)
their open-mouthed urinals are disgusting
What's it to do with women, again? Or are they also disrespectful to anyone who wears lipstick and/or perform sex acts with their mouth?
Or perhaps you're just overreacting.... ?
This is not to say however that they're AREN'T crass, ugly and misguided. Cos in my opinion they are. And they also make me feel like I'm pissing in Mick Jagger's mouth. Which kinda rules/sucks at the same time.
I don't think its funny, just stupid and offensive. Certainly calls for plumbing vagina dentata.
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