Just Another Bike Ride

Today was one of the nicest days I've had off recently- sunny and clear without a bone chilling Southerly or Easterly or Sou'Westerly or any other Windy Whateverlys to speak of. I think it's nearly spring, and the presence of flowers and lambs is helping support this theory.

Anyways, nothing new and exciting to report (I just finished night shifts and have the mental capacity of a goldfish), so just a few photos from today.

My mountain bike is getting fixed, otherwise you'd be looking at a picture of it.

Look mom, no hands tan!

It won't be winter forever.

FOR MOM: BABY SHEEP (and what exactly do you think YOU are looking at?! Baa-aaa-ck off!)

Oh, and Scott also managed to get himself a short article in this month's New Zealand Mountain Biker (you know, that one he was on the cover of- proud wifey!). He tested and reviewed a couple of pairs of goggles. And got his stunning photo (by yours truly, in the 5 minutes we had to get it done after forgetting for several weeks) in the mag as well!

And what the heck, since this post has turned into me posting photos from my phone, I'd just like to mention that we went and checked out one of Christchurch's newest restaurants: Orleans. Since I've never actually been to New Orleans, I can't be impressed/offended by how authentic their food is/n't, but hot damn it is tasty!!! Among other delightfully fried foods, we had the chicken waffle. Which is exactly what it sounds like. And is divine.

Maybe if I had a new phone you could differentiate the food in this picture from what your cat barfed up on the bathmat. Oh well.

That's all from Christchurch for now guys!

Eating Out in New Zealand: You're Not in America Anymore!

We like to go out to eat. A lot. I chalk it up to the freedom of not having children and being able to do what we want, when we want. I certainly don't think it has anything to do with my aversion to going to the grocery store, and absolutely has nothing to do with laziness. Anyhow, there are a surprising number of little differences between a Kiwi dining experience and eating out in the U.S. of A.

Bookings
They really like you to make bookings (reservations). Even when the restaurant isn't yet half full, you get a cocked eyebrow when you answer, "No, we don't have a booking". And then you might find yourself towards the back...

Anatomy of the Menu
The Appetizer is called the Entrée. The Entrées are called Mains. Bread is never complimentary. Beer and wine aren't hard to find, spirits can be.

Gor:lla. (nope, that's not a typo!) A little restaurant that prides itself on uniqueness, local and organic.
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Language of the Kiwi Restaurant
Bacon: usually called "Streaky Bacon" (no idea why, and I'm afraid to ask)
Biscuits: Cookies
Chips: French Fries
Gherkins: Pickles (sort of)
Kumara: Sweet Potato
Manuka: Honey (technically it's a type of honey)
Rocket: Arugula

Beverages
Frequently you must ask for water. They're happy to bring it to you, just ask. Good for the enviornment! Beer prices are (expensive... and) reflected by their percentage. 4% ABV beer is usually $1 cheaper than 5% and it seems to go up exponentially from there. Wine is similar, but priced a lot more similarly to wine the States. Oh, and everyone's got cider on the list.


What you WILL find
Lots of lamb, steak, chicken, salmon. Lots of smoked salmon. Tons of pies (think pot pie, not dessert pie). Plenty of quiches and fritatas. Breaded foods, deep fried foods. Ethnic foods. Surprisingly, lots of places that cater to gluten free eating.

What you WON'T find
French Toast without bananas and bacon on top. Nice Calfornia-esque green salads are hard to find. Chèvre. Taco trucks, or really any "normal" Mexican food (Scott and I agree to disagree on this issue). Zinfandel, or any California wines... which I know is to be expected but I still miss it.

The BEST place for brekkie.
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Ordering coffee
Oh man, this should be it's own blog post. So, don't bother trying to find drip coffee, it doesn't exist. Coffee is an espresso based experience in New Zealand, and they are proud of it. You will need an open mind and a translator to get a coffee similar to what you are looking for...

Flat White: Most similar to a latte, but with a slightly higher coffee to milk ratio
Short Black: Basic shot of espresso
Long Black: Similar to an americano, 2 shots of espresso poured over hot water. (I fear if one tried to order a "Long Black" in America, you run the risk of being slapped and/or arrested.)
Bongo: A double shot with hot milk in a small cup
Fluffy: Steamed milk (for kids)

Oh yeah, a French Press (the closest you're gonna get to that Peet's coffee that you actually want will require a French Press) is called a "Plunger". Appetizing, no?

Cafe Metro, my favorite little coffee place near our house.
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Gratuity
You may have noticed that your fancy dinner didn't come with complimentary bread, you had to ask for water, and your server dropped off your food and disappeared into a black hole. New Zealand is not a tipping country. Of course they won't turn down a little cash bonus upon your departure, but it is not expected. Ever. I felt guilty the first couple of times we left a restaurant... but now I relish in it. No one asks you 5 times in 20 minutes how your food is. I'm eating it, aren't I?! Sure if you need a new fork, you may have to catch someone as they walk by. I don't mind. The downside? When we return to the States, tipping is going to be so annoying.

Payment
No matter how fancy-smancy the restaurant is, you pay the cashier when you leave. No one brings the bill to your table. This left Scott and I sitting for a long time once or twice. But actually, it's kind of sweet. Don't you hate when the waiter brings your bill while you're still finishing your meal? Maybe you wanted another glass of wine? Or worse, when you need to get to the movie theater but your waitress vanished into that mysterious black hole of a kitchen again. No biggie; here in New Zealand, you always pay at the front.

The Coffee House Cafe & Bistro (pre-earthquake, the wall is gone now...). A favorite.
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The Cost of Things... and other odds and ends
At many restaurants there is a 15% surcharge on public holidays... which, if you'll recall, New Zealand has frequently.
Pizza is available at almost every restaurant, and is a nice choice for those on a budget.
Happy Hour is a fond but distant memory.
Eating out is pretty darn expensive compared to the US, although buying your food at the grocery store isn't too much pricier.
Napkins are sometimes called "serviettes", which I like because one time I taught myself French for 3 months... and now it's totally paid off.

Healthy Eating

I'm very pleased to say I've discovered some organic grocery stores in Christchurch. For the first 8 weeks we lived here, I relied on the local "Countdown", which is actually the nicer of the two chain grocery stores. Nevertheless, finding local, organic, or gluten-free items proved to be a challenge. It took me 6 weeks to find steel cut oats (hidden in the "health food" section...?) and the same to find black beans (in the gluten-free aisle, with the raw almonds...?). Their organizational logic amuses me.

Anyways, I don't know why it didn't occur to me sooner, but I'm glad it did at all. Google. Google: Organic Grocery Shopping Christchurch. Low and behold, not one, but two stores. 

I went to both, my favorite being Liberty Market. Both are small, and a lot of things are pricey. But the good stuff (organic non-spray produce, raw nuts and seeds, alternative flour options) actually wasn't much more expensive than the Countdown. And some of it, the same as in California. This is both a relief, and detrimental to the pocketbook. Now full-boar cooking has once again commenced.

One thing brought a huge smile to my face... I'm not a huge juice drinker, but the Knutson's juice  pictured below is produced in my "hometown" of Chico, California. We used to drink it by the gallon- Morning Blend aided many a hangover- and we drove by the factory frequently. A little piece of home... 5,000 miles away. Cool. (Actually the Santa Cruz apple sauce bears a misleading name, as it is also made in Chico!!)

Never mind that I looked like a creep taking a photo in the grocery store

In other news, this weekend is the enduro race in Craigieburn, which I am mostly (so not) ready for. I have been running and riding regularly, and eating well thanks to Liberty Market... so hopefully this race treats me better than the last. Either way, it will be fun, which is why I do it.

I also started a tab up at the top, next to About Me and My Daily Reading. On my new Christchurch Recommendations page, I'll post links to restaurants and sights that I think are must see, must do, and must taste experiences in Christchurch. Hopefully visitors and expats can find this page useful, and the rest of you will be swayed into coming for a visit! All of my recommendations are, of course, unsolicited. 

Last... the view from my house as I type this very second. It never gets old.