Garlic Bread from The Tin Plate in Tekapo

Tin Plate Kitchen & Bar Restaurant

Lake Tekapo 7999
Main Street
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Phone: 03-680 6677

Email:  info@tinplate.co.nz
Website: facebook -- > Tin-Plate-Kitchen-Bar




https://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/pepes-pizza-and-pasta-restaurant-bar.html

https://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/garlic-bread-from-tin-plate.html

https://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/garlic-bread-from-tin-plate-in-tekapo.html


We decided to re-visit this place as they do very good pizza's and other meals at reasonably rates.  This time the decor had not changed and the staff were still a veritable UN representation.  Slightly apprehensively we ordered the Garlic Bread (this time from the printed menu!!) and received a pleasant surprise.  (Maybe they read my previous blog???)   As you can see it is an actual loaf of bread - or rather half of a loaf.  It had plenty of garlic-butter piped into the cuts and also contained a sprinkling of green herbs (Parsley).  The two pestos were a nice added touch.
The bread itself was VERY crusty on the outside and the supplied steak knife struggled to cut through the bottom crust.  It ended up 3 slices each - which is plenty. The bread itself was of a lighter variety (ciabatta type) so not overfilling your tummy prior to your main-meal arriving.
Definitely an improvement from previous offerings.  Now if they would also replace the wooden pizza platter with a solid plate and tweak it a tiny bit, this could well end up being a real winner. . . . . .

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	3 out of 5
Taste:	4.5 out of 5
Quality	3.5 out of 5
Overall score:	14 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from MacKenzies Bar and Grill in Tekapo

MacKenzies Bar and Grill
State Highway 8, 
Lake Tekapo 7999

 

 

Phone: 03-680 6886

No known Website or email contact



http://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/garlic-bread-from-mckenzies-bar-and.html

 http://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/garlic-bread-from-mackenzies-bar-and.html


   As you can see from the above links we have been there before - twice and it is always nice to go back and compare notes - see if there has been an improvement - or not!

   One thing that has always stood out was the use of solid porcelain plates as apposed to wooden platters! So imagine my surprise when a black plate turned up this time.  I used a knife to poke it and yes it is NOT timber - rather some new ceramic like plate.  Nice change.  The bread itself or its make up has not changed in the last 4 or 5 years.  It is still the same cheese topped baguette! Do not let the size of it fool you - the three pieces were rather a large cut (or should that be more thicker?) and more then enough for 2 people.  The arrangement may have suffered during "transit".  Sadly only the topside was "buttered up" and again lacked that distinct garlic flavor.  And like the last time -->  By the time it arrived it was semi lukewarm although cooked just-about right - slightly crunchy on the outside - yet soft on the middle.  I suspect it sat for a minute or two under the heating lamp before it was delivered to our table. 
We felt that the bread itself is pretty much the same as the previous visits, while the plate is a nice change from previous deliveries. 

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	3 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	4 out of 5
Overall score:	14 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Subway - Riccarton

Subway
 Bush Inn Centre, 
334 Riccarton Road,  
Upper Riccarton, 
Christchurch
New Zealand


Well this was a surprise -  we went to Subway for a nice quick lunch snack and saw on the menu board - Garlic bread - so naturally we had to give that a whirl!!!
The actual bread is just a choice of their many rolls - 6 inch! It is topped with the Greek tzatziki-garlic-aoli  sauce and then topped with a slice of cheese and is 'baked' in the grill.  So the choice of bread is not surprising - they do after all bake fresh every day.  The sauce though - hmm yeah ok that makes sense too.
So to the taste: - the Garlic flavour was there - kind of - and almost hidden away by the cheese.  It is the same sauce you can choose for any of your subs - so not surprising that the flavour is toned down.
The 'liquid' has soaked nicely into the bread and it was crusty on the outside.  For a the rest of the meal came in a green plastic tray (going upmarket??) and the garlic bread came in its own paper box! Two slices were just enough for one. 
A generous 8 of 20 for this one!









 

Presentation	.5 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	2.5 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	8 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Monteiths Brewery Bar in Hanmer

 Monteith's Brewery Bar
Amuri Avenue,
Hanmer Springs  NZ

Tel 03 315 5133

www.Monteith's Brewery in Hanmer

Not much has changed since our last visit there.  The bread / layout - the use of a wooden platter etc- pretty much all the same.  See here ---->  www.garlic-bread-by-monteiths-brewery-in.html
 So we gave it the same rating.
Cheers

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	18 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from 808 Restaurant in Belfast

808 Restaurant

808 Main North Rd,
Belfast,
Christchurch 8051

   
Phone: 03-323 8898


This place recently had a makeover - new name and all.  Formerly known as Harringtons, it is a curios mix of Neighborhood of Bar / Restaurant / Cafe and firmly attached to the Bottle Store next door. While it had a new name, the interior is still the same - so still feels like "at home".  There are other places in town who do a complete makeover (Bishopdale with it's 'Italian Cafe'  now called 'Bishop Brothers' spring to mind!!)  every 5 years or so in the hope of bringing in new customers with the "NEW" decor.  In the process they often forget to pay attention to the quality of the food being served.  Sadly that should be so in this place here.
 
As we had been at this location many times it was interesting to see that the huge LOAF was still being presented - although definitely smaller than recent samples. The bread arrived barely warm and with almost no garlic butter inside.  The idea was - I am sure - for the visible blobs of butter to melt and flow into the loaf top down.  Alas there was no heat left in the bread sooooo;  unforgivable really, as there were only two other tables of seated folk in a place that comfortably can seat 80 or more.   No excuse for not being warm enough.
The cuts in the loaf were only so deep and we had fun breaking / cutting into it - getting greasy fingers in the process.
At least the wooden platter looked new.

Shame - we had better there before.

 

Presentation	2 out of 5
Quantity	1 out of 5
Taste:	1 out of 5
Quality	0 out of 5
Overall score:	4 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Carvers Club in Papanui

The Papanui

310 Sawyers Arms Road, Christchurch

Phone: 359 9586
Email:  reception@papanuiclub.co.nz

Website: Papanui Club -- the carvery

Formerly the Papanui Working mens Club - damaged from the earthquakes and now fully re-built!  One does not have to be a member to eat there - or indeed play - though you miss out on the benefits they are offering.


We had a family gathering there so naturally sampled their Garlic Bread.  The arrangement on the plate looked great.  Though the napkin underneath spoiled a perfect 5! The bread itself arrived luke-warm and lacked the "garlic" flavor I am always looking for.  It was there yet barely discernible.  There are times I get the impression that instead of using genuine Garlic butter some Garlic OIL spray is being liberally applied.  Guess that saves on preparation and skill and at the same time changes the "flavour".  Plenty of bread to go round for two people, almost to much. ( the picture does not give a true indication on the length of the breads)
We shall leave it at that.

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	2.5 out of 5
Overall score:	11 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Stumpers in Hokitika

 

2 Weld Street, 

PO Box 35
Hokitika 7810
New Zealand

E-mail:   enquiries@stumpers.co.nz

0800 STUMPERS (788 673)

Phone    (03) 755 6154

Fax        (03) 755 6137

Website    http://www.stumpers.co.nz/bar-cafe/


Like yesterdays place - we had been here before in 2014.  

 www.garlic-bread-from-stumpers

So it was good to go back there and compare notes.
When you check out the image from 2014 you will notice that NOTHING has changed. Same presentation / loaf and quality! No improvement, so we give it same rating - a disappointing 12

Presentation	2 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	3 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	12 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Theater Royal in Kumara

Theater Royal Kumara

81 Seddon St
Hokitika,

New Zealand

Ph: 03-736 9277

Website:   www.theatreroyalhotel.co.nz/


 
 We had been there before --> theater-royal-kumara.html

So it was interesting to see if or what may have changed since we been there last.
Certainly the type of bread has changed from a cut baguette to slices from a loaf.  It arrived complete with decoration and in fast time (ok so there was only another 2 paying customers - still) almost to fast - it could perhaps have lingered in the oven for another minute and increased in temperature.  I have no idea what plant the decor was but it added to the overall picture and tasted nice.
There was just enough for two and plenty of flavor.  The only down side was the napkin underneath.

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	4.5 out of 5
Overall score:	18 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Speights Bar in tower Junction - Christchurch

Speights Ale House

Tower Junction Mega Centre,
55 Clarence St,
Riccarton,
Christchurch 8011

Website: www.speights-ale-house

Email: reservations@speightstowerjunction.co.nz  
Tel:     (03) 348 6020


 I often zip past the Ale House - on my way and stopping at other shops, so it was a nice surprise to go there just for a meal.  The Garlic bread - or should that be loaf - turned out to be a major disappointment! It came WHOLE and luke warm and initially only with a table knife. Eventually a small steak knife came as well in order to CUT the bread.  This should proof to be a major challenge as the crust was extremely crusty thus scattering bread crumbs not only over the table but also all over our clothes and floor.  Given the small nature of the knifes supplied we ended up butchering the loaf - getting severely out of shape! Further given the luke-warm inners, the supplied Garlic Butter barely melted into the bread and was not enough to round - or butter all bread! 
Looking at the timber board the loaf set on I noticed the large crack in the timber - a safe harbor for goodness knows what bacteria.  All in all a very disappointing effort!

Presentation	0 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	1 out of 5
Quality	1 out of 5
Overall score:	4 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the Lost Spring in Whitianga

The Lost Spring,

121A Cook Drive,
Whitianga, 3510,
Coromandel Peninsula
New Zealand.


General Inquiries
Phone: +64 (0)7 866 0456 Ext: 1
Fax: +64 (0)7866 0457

Email: magic@thelostspring.co.nz
Web:   www.thelostspring.co.nz/


DAY SPA BOOKINGS
Phone: +64 (0)7 866 0456 Ext: 2
Email: dayspa@thelostspring.co.nz


www.facebook.com/thelostspring


We had been there before (www.garlic-bread-from-lost-spring) so roughly knew what to expect.  There is a new chef and while that did mean a new menu- the Garlic Bread itself more or less stayed the same.  The bread is a bit longer then previous efforts and possibly one slice to many - then again it could be that we were not overly hungry to start with?!?!   The arrangement itself slightly differs - the sauce/decoration though is still the same! The exception being a distinct lack of Garlic flavor - almost completely missing!

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	4.9 out of 5
Taste:	3 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	17.9 (out of poss 20)

Garlic bread from Tomi's in Taupo

Tomis Place

Address: 18 Tuwharetoa St,
Taupo 3330

Phone: 07-376 5393

Facebook: TomisTaupo/
Website  www.tomis/

We knew that this being Italian themed and more of a pizza place we would get a pizzabread type garlic bread.  So no surprises there.
The Bread was pre-cut and arrived on the wooden platter - which showed the previous cuts being made on the board.
The Cheese topping drowned out any other flavour, and was a little bit oily.

We were ready to majorly downgrade this effort when the waiter arrived and surprise surprise asked the correct question = namely "HOW is garlic bread?"

Now you have to forgive me -
I am saddened and sick and tiered of waitress staff asking "closed" questions - such as "is everything alright"!  Answer "yes" and hoping they go away. 
THIS time however the question started with a "How",  an OPEN question!!  yusss!  Basic communication lesson 101!!!
This required a descriptive answer and we just almost jokingly sad that from garlic was little evidence.  Right there and then he offered a apology and a replacement, and having eaten almost half of it already we declined saying something along the line - its ok for now.  Surprise surprise, one short  minute later he came back from the kitchen along with a tiny wee side dish containing a FRESH cut garlic clove - so we could add this to the rest of the bread that was  left on our table- along with a friendly warning that this might be a little strong flavor!! 

THUS  the  waiter was asking not only a  "W"  question,  he  a l s o  listened and then took appropriate  action!  YUSSSS!!! Perfect!

For THIS ALONE we forgive the other shortcomings and rate it as nearly perfect!!!

Presentation	out of 5
Quantity	out of 5
Taste:	out of 5
Quality	out of 5
Overall score:	19.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic brad from Jo's place in Dargaville

Jo's Home Cookery

138 Victoria St,
Dargaville 0310


Phone: 09-439 5435
Email: joshomecookery@gmail.com

Website:  www.jos-home-cookery/

 The ordered Garlic bread arrived in good time. Sadly it was luke warm at best by the time it arrived. 
There must have been a misunderstanding in the order too as two plates arrived - either one plate short (one each for three people) or it was deemed that one plate is not enough for three.  Personally - one plate is not enough for two - barley for one!

While the butter had soaked in it stopped 1 millimeter into the dough. The bread was soft all round and (as commented by my partner) "chewy"! Possibly a reflection of not enough time in the Oven?

Presentation had everything going for it - again the napkin underneath detracting from the overall image.


 

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	1 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	9.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Wilsons Hotel in Reefton

Wilsons Hotel
Hotel, Pub Bistro & Restaurant

32 Broadway
Reefton 7830
Buller
West Coast
New Zealand

Phone: 03-732 8875
       03-732 8800
       0800 468 351

Email:  hjmjfoster@xtra.co.nz
Email:  wilsonshotel@xtra.co.nz

In Reefton Township on August 1888, about 12 years after the discovery of gold in the area had bought about a population, wealth and technological boom, street lighting was switched on for the first time.
By “switching on” Reefton had not only beaten the rest of New Zealand to this luxury, they had also beaten the fashionable suburbs of London and New York and become the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to have a street lighting system!
1886 a young gentleman named Walter Prince arrived in the town with his small electric generator in tow and held public demonstrations of its use. These demonstrations amazed the public and sparked the locals to form a company and build the Reefton Power Station.
The Reefton power station became the source of the first municipal power supply in the Southern Hemisphere supplying electricity to the booming town of Reefton for over 60 years before being decommissioned in 1949 when the town was connected to the national grid. The station was a hydro scheme generating electricity through the steady supply of water from the nearby Inangahua River.   Initially power was supplied only to the street lights and selected shops and then on Mondays to every house (Monday = Washing day) and due to increasing demand Tuesdays (Ironing day) was added.

Anyhow - nowadays Reefton is still a small sleepy provincial town = and it sports 3 pub's / hotels.
Not sure how the local population can support all three.
When we arrived for a meal there were only 3 yes three other patrons and eventually another couple arrived for a meal.  We wondered what we let ourselves in for!

The bread arrived in quick time - still hot and survived the travel = very nicely artistically arranged!
The three slices were just enough and had plenty of flavor! No timber dish - with the napkin underneath the garlic bread being the only minor distraction!
Otherwise this particular dish had everything going for it! We rate this effort very highly

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	4.5 out of 5
Overall score:	19 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the White Pub in Fox Glacier Country

Heartland Hotel Fox Glacier
The White Pub

11 Cook Flat Road
Fox Glacier 7886

Tel: +64 3 751 0839


Website:  The White Pub
Email:  fox@heartlandhotels.co.nz

The Garlic Bread arrived in good time and was very tasty - good layer of flavor!  The baguette was crusty on the outside and soft on the inside and still being warm to hot - the last piece we ate had still some warmth left!
  The size could be misleading whence the image of the cutlery added! It was just the right amount for two people with the bread not being overly THICK!
The presentation was sabotaged by the napkin underneath - pity as it had everything going for it otherwise.

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	4 out of 5
Overall score:	17.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from New Orleans Hotel in Arrowtown

New Oleans Hotel

27 Buckingham St,
Arrowtown 9302

Phone: 03-442 1748
Website www.neworleanshotel.co.nz/index/
Email:  info@neworleanshotel.co.nz

The bread turned out to be a loaf - of large proportion.  It arrived and at first glance you could be forgiven to think you had to butter it yourself! The little dish on the side was there just in case you needed more " flavor"! For all that it arrived luke-warm, so by the time we had eaten  the first slice, the rest was more or less cold and the additional butter no longer melted into the bread.
  sighs
Yes it was a large loaf - and 3 of us struggled to eat it all, let alone leaving room for the rest of our dinner.
The upside was a sprinkling of fresh herbs - not often seen.

The Loaf was semi crusty (at least on the top - the bottom was very hard and you needed a steak knife to cut the slices fully of!) soft on the inside.

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	1 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	8 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the Tin Plate in Tekapo

Tin Plate Kitchen & Bar Restaurant

Lake Tekapo 7999
Main Street
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Phone: 03-680 6677

Email:  info@tinplate.co.nz
Website: facebook -- > Tin-Plate-Kitchen-Bar







The place had undergone 2 renovations since we visited first.  The menus stayed the same though.
Mostly a casual place to enjoy pizza's and a few other meals and it doubles as a drinking bar - presumably post visiting the Church of the Good Shepard.

In any case since we had been there previously we were keen to see if there has been any improvements.  Sadly they went backwards - almost unbelievingly so.  The bread arrived in good time - although luke warm. There must have been garlic in there somewhere  -  but it was drowned out by the Cheese flavour. The melted cheese (yes Pizza cheese) of course let go of its oil and so it became a challenge to eat this without dripping fat anywhere.  In fact we would almost have been better of using fork and knife . . . .
Served on a wooden platter with enough (butter) on the plate that would have been enough to RE-OIL several platters - enough said there!

The last effort rated a miserable 6 and we will have to lower todays effort, sadly!

Presentation	0.5 out of 5
Quantity	1 out of 5
Taste:	0.5 out of 5
Quality	0 out of 5
Overall score:	2 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Reflections Cafe in Tekapo

Reflections Café and Restaurant
SH 8 Lake Tekapo 7987

Tel +64 3 680 6234

Website: www.reflectionsrestaurant.co.nz


We have been there twice previously and were keen to find out if this time we would get the same bread - or something very different.
Guess it is the same - kind of.
Instead of a foot long baguette (along with the long plate ) we got a shorter version on a wider shorter plate.
Unlike the previous edition they also added a napkin underneath - which showed the butter having soaked through.  To the bread itself - it came in good time and was luke warm. While the outside was crusty the inners lacked flavors. The herbs were missing in action too.
All in all this is a step backwards.  One got the impression they were trying to save on the cost of the bread / garlic etc. 






Compare this effort too:

http://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/garlic-bread-from-reflections-cafe.html

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	3 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	11 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Monteith's Brewery Bar in Hanmer

Monteith's Brewery Bar
Amuri Avenue,
Hanmer Springs

Tel 03 315 5133


www.Monteith's Hamner

We had been there before - mainly cause the food in general is good - typical pub-fare!

The bread itself turned out ok - was reasonably fast to the table and still warm to hot!  The arrangement suffered during transport and delivery to the table. 
Once again - a wooden platter - sighs - an immediate 2 points down!
Plenty of flavor - a redeeming feature and more then enough for 2 people.
The bread itself was crunchy on the outside and soft-ish on the inside. Almost wondered if this was an older (as in days old) recycled bread!
I'd have to look it up - am sure we had better there before!

Presentation	1 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	3 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	8 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Caesars Family Restaurant & Bar

 


Caesars Family Restaurant & Bar
1 Radcliffe Rd,
Belfast,
Christchurch 8051,
New Zealand


Phone: 323 5420

email:  restaurant@caesars.co.nz
Website:  www.caesars.co.nz


Living and eating out local gives you the opportunity to revisit places  and in this case it would be our 4th visit to Caesers!

Not much has changed from our first visit some years back - still serving on a wooden platter that has seen better days - at least the original oblong shapes are now round. Sorry Jamie Olliver! Square  vs round really doesn't matter - it's still wooden - more on that later!

The bread (loaf) itself came out in reasonable quick time - maybe to quick???  Given that we were the first paying (and eating) customers to be seated - one wonders why it was barely above luke-warm.  The first slice was just warm and only just melted the additional Garlic butter. By the time we got to the second slice - it just stayed a butter spread.  Seem to remember this from a previous visit. It is almost like they are afraid to serve steaming hot bread as you might - shock horror - burn yourself!!!
The serrated knife was needed to slice of the slices - at the bottom - being already decently precut. One could easily just have ripped them apart. The downside with timber and serrated edges is that you dig into the timber as you cut.  I am always left wondering how good their washing / hygiene in the kitchen is.  At least this board has still some life left - not like the last one that had a long deep split (which again - coming form someone who has worked in a kitchen and is a woodworker just means they did not look after the timer properly)

Flavor a plenty and more then enough for 2 people.
Shame - the loaf itself (without any other considerations and garlic) is quite nice to eat.

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	4 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	13 (out of poss 20)