Road trip - Ah Napier Here We Come - Food and Wine Capital of The North Island

Over the years we have visited Napier at least once a year. Normally we are there for a special occasion, just 3-4 days this time the Heinzies had us for a week.
Lucky them!
But let's digress for a moment.
Back to the 6 Degree connection, our relationship with the Heinzie's Plural, is around 40 years.
Dale, meanwhile had a longer friendship with Heinzie himself.
Who remembers The Pavilion Bar in the Grand Hotel in Wellington.
A watering hole, mainly for blokes.
After our return from our OE in the UK, Dale was working at Inglis Wright, his immediate superior was one Richard Sanders.
Richard had lived with Henizie abroad, so old friends... and they all used to meet, of a Friday evening, and have several drinks. Of course they all drove home, as one did in those days.
Amongst these drinkers were Dave Burger, George Clarke, Gerry Loesch, Graeme Martin, Terry Christie
At this same time Dale started working with John McCready read about this here This is John's account of their their working life together.
Heinzie worked in Insurance and his immediate superior was one Barry Davenport, who was very famous as the first person to swim Cook Strait. He was supported on this swim by members of his Surf Club. The Worser Bay Surf Club. Prominent in this club, was Terry Christie,
(Creative Director at Inglis Wright, where Dale worked)... our Wellington host on this trip.
The boys/men formed a Soccer team. The team included, Dale, John, Terry, Heinzie,
John Greenaway and assorted others.
They were all well into their 20's, which was considered to be fairly elderly, for a sports team in the early 70's. Consequently, the team was called "The Brooklyn Dinosaurs".

Mary met Heinzie at the Bar, I rarely went there, wives weren't encouraged.
We had to look after the children, don't you know.
Of course the women may not have frequented the Pub, so we held many dinner parties.
This way we were included in the fun.

Heinzie and Mary got married and moved to the Hawkes Bay in 1976, and the dinner parties became Le Grand Bouffe, initiated by Mary. This meant many weekends spent in Napier.
Dale and I drove down from Auckland and Laurie and Adrienne Bushell drove up from Wellington.
Weekends of great hilarity.
You may notice the ridiculous hats.
This became the highpoint of each social occasion
Certainly, an icebreaker

This visit included 2 dinner nights, but we are much more restrained these days.
Still had loads of fun though.
Napier City Dwellers are very lucky, they live in a beautiful City.
The area is also the fruit and vege bowl of New Zealand with superb fresh produce
The place is full of excellent eateries, including of course, Chez Heinz

Ms Mary dishing up our Chili Dinner
This Dinner preceded by excellent Margaritas, was held in honour of The Heinzie's ex neighbours Jodie and Paul who were moving the next day to Perth
They got married the weekend before and they are cutting a miniature Wedding Cake, they had been given.
All the best for you in Perth, Jodie and Paul

The next day, Mary and I met two friends at a Cafe called Smiths, excellent food and coffee and they have their own garden. Nice idea.

Since we were last in Napier, the Heinzies have moved into an apartment.
Huge space, very industrial looking, very cool. Luckily they had plenty of furniture to fill the space.
In their last home  Heinzie had developed a  large fertile garden

But you can't keep a good gardener down
It maybe diminished. But it still looks great.
Lovely herbs.

Talking about Gardens. It seems just stick something in the ground in Napier and it grows
On one of trips out, we bought sweet corn
12 cobs for $5

Pretty little farm, selling at the gate.

Transport to cover everything

On this same trip we had lunch at Clifton Bay Cafe.
This is situated on the road to Cape Kidnappers.
What a view?

I had an excellent Salt and Pepper Squid Salad for my lunch.

A cheeky Rose washed that down

On the way home we passed the famous Cape Kidnappers Lodge

This is for the Super Rich
There is a world class Golf Course and really out of our reach
As we drove past, Mary noticed the Gate was open, which is unusual

An invitation we felt, so in we drove
Would you believe...it is 6 km in through the country, soon we arrived at this amazing place
Heinzie parked the car

 Ms Mary popped in and asked if we could have a quick look.
As it turns out the gate was being repaired, hence being open.
The young lady on the desk, kindly let us have a quick look.
Obviously there wasn't anyone rich and famous there, or we would have been escorted out
quick smart I suspect

"Welcome plebs"

It is fantastic.
Just a few images

On another day, we also ate at a restaurant close to Hastings, called Ten, Twenty Four,
the brainchild of Kent Baddeley. Renowned for it's food and service. Very simple design.

I ate a beautiful Rabbit Liver dish, with Sour Cherries.

 Mary had fresh flounder
Great presentation, great flavour.  

Napier, Food and Wine Capital of the North Island. I reckon.
Next blog, we discover some Art Deco