Garlic Bread from 5 Stags in Hanmer

5 Stags Restaurant

2 Fraser Close,
Hanmer springs

Tel: 03-315 7799

Website:  www.fivestagshanmer.co.nz/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fivestagshanmer/

Another night out and we decided to try something new this time - the 5 Stags restaurant - which was appropriately themed!
We ordered the Garlic bread and that arrived in good time.
 It was hot with plenty of garlic butter / flavor inside.  The outside was soft - could have been a teeny bit more crunchy. Loved the liberal added / sprinkled herbs (inside and out)!!
The roll was just enough for two, not to much or to little!  The sauce - was a revelation - sour-cream with a touch of garlic and - wait for it - a little bit of jalapeno (all blended together) making it spicy (and just right).  It arrived on a new-ish timber platter (bamboo), which was a shame but for that it would have been near enough perfect. (readers from previous blog entries will remember that I prefer the garlic bread to arrive on a porcelain plate - for health/cleanliness reasons)
We rated this very highly and no doubt will go back there on our next visit to Hanmer.



 

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	4.5 out of 5
Overall score:	18.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the Moeraki Tavern

 Moeraki Tavern
144 Haven St,
Moeraki 9482

Phone: 03-439 4705
www.moerakitavern.com/
Email: publife@moerakitavern.com

https://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.com/2018/03/garlic-bread-from-moeraki-tavern.html

 The link above will take you back to our previous time we were there.  This time it was far less crowded so wee able to take a seat.  It gave us the opportunity and compare notes as well as do a proper assessment. 
The garlic bread itself has not changed from last time - so that was a nice surprise.  Even better was the presentation - nice clean (and warm) platter.  The only tiny bit distracting was the the placed napkin.
The taste was excellent - lots of flavor and the sprinkling of herbs helped! The "fleshy" and "crusty" bit were in perfect harmony.  Do not let the image fool you - the pieces were large enough and we  ended up with 1.5 bits each (cutting the third slice in half). It ended up with just the right amount - not to much or less!
The napkin underneath will give you an idea on size.
Overall we rate this very highly and give top marks.

Presentation	4.8 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	4.8 out of 5
Overall score:	19.6 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the Roasted Bean Cafe in Hanmer

The Roasted Bean Cafe

47 Amuri Ave,
Hanmer Springs 7333

Ph.  03 315 7430

Web: www.roastedbean.co.nz/

It is listed on the menu as "Fresh baked loaf of bread served with garlic butter"  and sits opposite of the "Grand Flat Bread - which is Garlic and pesto base with sundried tomatoes, cashew nuts, feta cheese, olives and a sweet chilli swirl. 

We gave the pizza based bread a miss and ordered the 'loaf'.  The news from the waitress was that it would arrive first and our pizza's (our mains) sometime after that.  So imagine our surprise when they arrived all at the same time.  The Garlic 'Loaf' itself was a ciabatta type bread - nicely cut into triangle and had lots of garlic butter flavor along with a tiny amount of green herbs.  You could easily see the garlic in the bread.  It was crusty on the outside and soft fleshy on the inside - and again - with plenty of flavor.  It arrived as you can see on a plate and had no serviette underneath - a big plus there.   Do not let the image fool you - the size of the slices was rather large and even though we  (2 of us) were hungry, we struggled to get through that lot - in fact we had a doggie bag.  It might have been different if our mains had arrived much later - but not wanting to let the pizza get cold we ended up using the aforementioned doggie bag. But for that it would have rated very highly.

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	17 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Coco Putt Ale House Rarotonga

 
Coco Putt Ale House Rarotonga
Onemaru Road
Aroa
Arorangi
Rarotonga

Phone: (+682) 27181
http://www.cocoputt.co.ck/index.htm

info@cocoputt.co.ck

 It should prove to be a good night out! Coco Putt is a min Golf place almost literally in the middle of no-where and like so many places  in the Cook Islands have more then one string to their bow!  Attached to it is a eating place - affectionately called Ale House. 
The Garlic bread we ordered came in good time and there was plenty - both in flavor and quantity! If there would be one fault - we almost struggled to eat it all - and leave some space for our main dinner! The artistic display may have suffered a tiny bit during transit - but was still upright.  The Garlic Bread was soft on the inside and crunchy crusty on the outside.  As regular readers of this blog know - for H+S reasons I prefer my bread to be served on a solid platter and not on timber that has seen better days! A napkin was supplied with your cutlery so there was no need to add one to the plate itself (thus no distractions) !  We rated this very highly - certainly one of our top ten samples we have consumed over the years! 

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	18.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Vaima Polynesian Bar

 
 Garlic Bread from Vaima Polynesian Bar and Restaurant

Ara Tapu RD, Takitumu District,
 
PO Box 1050, Rarotonga,
Cook Islands,
South Pacific


Tel: +682 26123
Email vaima@oyster.net.ck
http://vaimarestaurant.com/

 Go to the Cook Islands they said and you will not find Cloth-badges (from Souvenir shops) and no Garlic bread neither - they said!!
Hmmm well - guess what - we did find both!

This sample is from the Vaima Polynesian Bar. It is listed on the menu as:  Garlic and Cheese Pita Bread
with dipping sauce (for two)  $10.00!

It came out in good time , even though they looked to be full and busy!  The bread itself - as you can see is more of a pizza base and I had a feeling of it being more of a wrap then pita bread base.  It was very crunchy and thin.  Not sure what the dip was  - at first look you would guess a avocado dip - yet it tasted different.   Lots of flavor to savor! One major redeeming feature was that it came on a porcelain plate.  

Presentation	3.5 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	3.5 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	14 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Reflections Cafe in Tekapo

Reflections Cafe in Tekapo

Reflections Café and Restaurant
SH 8 Lake Tekapo 7987

Tel +64 3 680 6234

Website: www.reflectionsrestaurant.co.nz



www.garlic-bread-from-reflections-cafe-in.html

 The fun part of this blog is that every now and then we re-visit some of the places we have been to and then compare notes. To see if there has been any change (for better or worse)!

Tekapo has a limited number of places where one can eat - so we often end up in the same place.
I have to say - it has been 18 months since we were there last - and - there has been zero change to the offered Garlic bread (see above link) sooooo we give it exactly the same rating!!

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 Cobb & Co in Dunedin

Cobb & Co

20F Anzac Ave,
Dunedin, 9016
(inside the Railway station)

Phone: 03-929 1073

www.cobb.co.nz

The history of Cobb & Co is in itself interesting enough .  See below.  The setting (inside the famous Dunedin Railway Station ) is an inspired choice.  And as with all 'chain' restaurants you know what you are likely going to get . . .  And the Cobb & Co chain is making a comeback of sorts .  . .


Now to the Garlic bread itself.  It proofed to be a major disappointment.  Firstly given the "fancy" plates the rest of the food came on - I cannot understand why folks insist on a wooden platter - especially one who has seen better days.  Deep cuts in the timber suggest a many things - not all that healthy. 
 There was (clearly) just one slice of bread for me and my wife - leaving us wanting.  Not sure why we got supplied with an extra knife!? The bread itself was luke-warm and showed no sign of fresh cut garlic - which always leaves you open to the suspicion of a  (olivanis?)  Garlic-oil being sprayed on and used.  Sadly as a former baker by trade - I recognize that the bread is not exactly freshly baked either. . .

The arrangement shall we say is plain and basic and could be improved on (again - given the rest of the food that came with a artistic-more-plate-then-food arrangement why not make more effort here???)  The only redeeming feature was the conspicuous absence of the usual paper napkin (often under neath the bread)!

We give it a total of 6.5 out of 20 points.


(from their Website - copied and pasted  here . . . . ) 

History

So you wanna know how it all got started?

How the guest was won?

Mate, life in New Zealand was tough in 1861,
it wasn't easy and breaking in the land was not much fun!

In the 1860's luxuries were few, there wasn't any electricity and hardly any frills,
in fact there wasn't much of anything but there was gold in them, thar hills...

News of this fabulous find, around the world began to gush
Sparked off the start of what became known as the Otago gold rush.

Before you knew it, we were all the rage...
and over-run with shiploads of pioneers of doubtful parentage!

The immigrant gold-diggers needed stage-coaches to get around
so Freeman Cobb said "of course we can..." and that's the way the uniquely kiwi Cobb & Co. story was found!

Everything was sweet for over 60 years until trains and the new fangled motorcar became all the go. In the early 1920's the wheels started to wobble and in 1924, they really came off, to lots of woe.

Sadly at this time, Cobb & Co.'s last stagecoach disappeared into the sunset for the final time.
But it was not the end, for the company is again ready to shine.
Today Cobb & Co. is New Zealand's oldest and original Restaurant chain and continues to serve
in the fond memory of Freeman Cobb with a dash of humour and verve.

Welcome back to Cobb & Co., where your friends and family will enjoy our all time favourite food,  where you can kick back and chilax, just like coming home.

And that my friends, is how the guest was won.


PS --  check out the Garlic bread from Cobb & Co from June 2012   :)
Cobb-co New Plymouth

Now for the ratings:

Presentation	1 out of 5
Quantity	1 out of 5
Taste:	2.5 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	6.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the Moeraki Tavern

Moeraki Tavern
144 Haven Street
Moeraki

(03) 439 – 4705

email: publife@moerakitavern.com

https://moerakitavern.com/

 We camped out at the nearby camping ground and decided that we will try and do the traditional NZ 'take out - fish and chips'  from the local tavern.  Seeing that garlic bread was also on the menu we ordered one of that as well.  Not having a great expectation and it is hard to judge - we did have a 10 minute walk back to the campground and it came in a nice lined cardboard box (to keep warm).  So we suspend some of the marks and do flavour / taste and maybe also quantity only.

It certainly had definitely plenty of flavor and the smattering of herbs added to that.  It is always nice to see the individual cut pieces of garlic, knowing that this is the real deal as opposed to a "oil"-spray being applied.   There was enough for the two of us. all in all given the circumstances it was a good feed and we will need to go back and sample it at the Tavern for comparison at a future date!!!!

Presentation	-- out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	-- out of 5
Overall score:	9 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Trevinos in Christchurch

 

Trevinos Restaurant
Cnr Riccarton Road & Mona Vale Avenue,
Christchurch,
New Zealand


Phone: 03 343 5378
Fax: 03 343 6356
Email: info@trevinos.co.nz
Website: www.trevinos.co.nz
Facebook   www.facebook.com/pages/Trevinos-Restaurant-and-Bar/473755485979313




It was described on the menu as :

GARLIC AND HERB FOCCACCIA
Homemade garlic butter $10.00



 Have to say - There is one word only for it:    P E R F E C T ! !
A first!!!!
 

 If you want to be really picky - you could criticize it for not being a traditional baguette.  It did however match the description on the menu - so  full marks!!

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

Garlic Bread from The Trout Cafe in Wanaka

The Trout Cafe
151 Ardmore Street
Wanaka, 9305


Ph: (03) 443 2600

Email: troutbar14@gmail.com
http://www.troutbar.co.nz/


Garlic Loaf - $10
Tasty oven baked garlic loaf.
 

 I did ask how big the loaf was, and got a semi useful answer - but was still not much the wiser.  In the end it was always a given we would order one - if nothing else for this blog.
This loaf was six individual (flavor topped) small buns, obviously baked in a bread tin.
The garlic bread itself came pre-cut (along the "seams") and had the melted garlic butter inside aplenty.
All you had to do was to cut through the crusty bottom - a feat you could do easily - although if truth is told - one could easily just have wrenched the individual bits loose.  Better to do it with the supplied knife and do it in style.

Lots of flavor - plenty to eat - almost to much - warm enough to enjoy it.  It's only major distraction being served on a wooden platter (and its ONLY saving grace there being the nice wood-grain perhaps walnut?)

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	17 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Montheiths Bar in Alexandra

Montheiths Bar in Alexandra
26 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra 9320

Ph: 03-448-9189
Email: mbba@xtra.co.nz

http://www.mbba.co.nz/
https://www.facebook.com/MonteithsAlex

This ought to have been interesting - always like going to franchises and and see how much 'license' they have with their menu.  Turns out quite a bit - in fact, often it depends on the local chef.  So this was indeed interesting!
The Garlic bread arrived in good time.  It was sold on the menu as :

Warm Ciabatta Loaf
$9.90
Served with garlic butter

As you can see it was on a platter and nicely arranged.  So far so good.  Upon touching it several things became clear quite quickly.  The 'warm' bit was a gross understatement.  It was hot to the touch - which - of course - made the cutting a bit tricky if not difficult.  Now I do like Ciabatta bread as a general rule. It does have a light springy texture - which in this case worked to its advantage for as you held the loaf (2 seconds at a time) and tried to cut into it - even the serrated sharp knife 'squashed' the loaf until you got the bottom , then cut through the base and presto it sprang back into its desired shape.  I am a pastry chef by trade - so I do have more of a 'heat-tolerance"  on the skin of my hands then most people have - have to admit - 2 seconds was the  most I could hold it.  Probably should have used the supplied napkin to shield myself from the 'warm' loaf.  The disappointing part was that the bread itself on the inside was luke-warm at best and given that the supplied piped butter came almost straight from the fridge and needed to be cut rather then could be smeared . . . . .
Because the fleshy part of the bread was luke-warm at best and the butter almost stone cold not much melting was done - thus when you ate the bread you bit into bits of butter - not overly pleasant.  

The next surprise was that this was not a timber bread board that it came with - rather some form of stone and that in-itself was still warm.  Presume it is the same plate that would be used for ' cooking - on - the - stone - plates ' of various steaks etc.  I did notice several 'grooves' in it presumably from the steaks being cut. At least the heat would have killed any left-behind bugs!

For my taste the garlic butter could have done with more garlic flavor. 
There was enough for 2 people with the loaf being cut into 4 slices easily (once you got past the 'hot' part) and did not leave you with the 'I want more' feeling.

I am aware there is a growing trend and ongoing discussion about "De-constructed" meals / coffee's.  I am of the personal opinion that if I am parting with my hard earned cash and pay someone to cook for me - then it should be just that - cooked.  It is not that you get 'cheaper' prices for a half constructed meal/drink.  I guess my expectation differed from the honest written menu.  Remember - it was written as "Warm Ciabatta Loaf served with garlic butter" and it was literally just that - apart from the warm part . I will have either to revise my expectations or ask some more questions before ordering the next time we eat out again.

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	1 out of 5
Quality	1 out of 5
Overall score:	10 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from La Porchetta in Riccarton

La Porchetta

20 Rotherham St
Riccarton
Christchurch 8041
New Zealand

Phone: 3487 990


Email:  riccarton@laporchetta.co.nz
Website: https://www.laporchetta.com/store-locations/suburb/riccarton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaPorchettaRiccartonNZ/?hc_ref=ARQGxA5ihdqvRg9bLZV6P5JWXEmac1JU6IgEO5EKP73XcKAoonKNvNgLSKzmaL3yhbU&fref=nf

I've been here before, and received the standard tin-foil wrapped supermarket version which always sinks the heart (and stomach) of a garlic bread enthusiast. This was a meal out with friends (Jon, Helen and Chris), and a good opportunity to review the situation.

What arrived was a definite improvement on the previous version. It arrived with reasonable promptness for 7pm on a Friday night in Christchurch, and looked quite reasonable at first glance.

I explained to my friends about the marking criteria, then we did a joint critique.

Presentation: I explained about the problem with a wooden chopping board and pointed out the crack in the wood. On the other hand there is no napkin underneath, which might look nice but is a problem if you have to cut the bread off a loaf. No extra garlic butter supplied.

Quantity: Six pieces at about 10mm thick, of ciabatta-style bread. It felt like a good starter-size. One of our party was not keen on garlic bread, so we ended up with two pieces each. The meal followed reasonably soon afterwards, so this did a good job of getting us started and we weren't left feeling hungry until the main course arrived.

Taste: Not enough garlic for me! Too much garlic for Helen. Jon and Chris both thought it was appropriate.

Quality: very enjoyable. The thinner bread was quite crunchy all the way through, the butter had soaked in nicely. More garlic would have made it more enjoyable for me, but I suspect none of the others would have eaten it. A good compromise.

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	4 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	17 (out of poss 20)