Entries from August 2009 ↓

So, 2 more events in the Wellington on a Plate food festival attended on Thursday and Friday.

Continuing on the coffee them we went on a tour and tasting at the new Mojo ‘Coffee Central’ roastery and retail outlet on the waterfront on Thursday. One of the old wharf sheds near their Kumutoto cafe has been transformed into a roastery, offices, retail and training/showcasing space. It was pretty cool.

The cupping part of the tour was just like what we did at Supreme but I don’t know whether I’m so tainted by my loyalty or so disappointed in Mojo coffee in cafes that I thought that the taste of Mojo’s single origin beans was definitely not as nice as Supreme’s beans. At that stage in the process when beans are cupped they’re  essentially just a bean that’s been roasted … what could go wrong. However at Mojo we learnt a lot about how the shipping and transit storage of beans can have an impact on the end result so who knows, perhaps that’s something to do with it.

It was quite cool seeing the roaster working and listening to his stories about his techniques and how he’s grown up with coffee – including a story about his mum roasting coffee on their open fire and him as a little boy turning the roasting canister on a split-like device to keep the roast even.

Then it was off to Floridita’s bakery on Friday. A tiny almost windowless space in a dark alley way off Cuba Street. They used to go by the name Comtessa so we’re really familiar with their baked goods having sampled several from Moore Wilson’s. And when they say everything is handmade using only ingredients you can get yourself as a home baker from the supermarket, they’re absolutely right. We saw Emily the head baker making pastry “don’t be afraid of the pastry” was her advice and she was so swift and confident with it and her pastry cases just perfect. She also make a chocolate brownie using the same chocolate bits that you can get from the supermarket, a tray of hand cracked eggs and the final mixing was by hand, up to her elbows in chocolate! Gross.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to see or sample the date cake with caramel icing that we so love and have been inspired by in our own attempts at home but we did come away with some great tips and advice and enjoyed a delicious white chocolate, macadamia and orange cookie.

The Mister and I represented Xero at the NZ Internet Industry Awards last night at Parliament, in the Banquet Hall. It was a very glamorous evening and amazingly, we won again. Very humbling especially as there were only 3 awards – Best Business Application (our award), Best Education Product or Service and a Societal Impact Award.

The Mister had to line up on stage with the 3 other nominees in our category and wait for “And the winner is …. envelope please …” then give an acceptance speech. And he gave a really great speech – someone at our table said he was “sincere yet direct”. I was so proud.

It was pretty cool being at Parliament, and I felt quite movie starrish posing on the Parliament steps!

And a close up of my frock and wrap for Mothers

And Dad, the jewels I wore were Nanna L’s gold bangle with ruby in it and the little oblong gold brooch – but I can’t remember if I got them at my 21st or when Nanna died.

Mrs Moggy had some left-over wool and after seeing my first attempt at a puppy sweater asked if I could make her one from the wool that she could donate to the SPCA. This one 2-toned even – darker blue on the underside. Such a shame we can’t get to see a puppy wearing it.

Here’s my arty minimalist shot out the window of the plane flying back from Auckland yesterday (can’t believe we just waved off my parents on their second overseas trip!)

When we got back into Wellington airport I noticed this rather large patch of orange on the slowly growing pumpkin structures at the airport – not sure if it was afternoon tea time, there was something to look at or some kind of meeting – either way – there were a lot of workers gathered!

First Wellington on a Plate event was a tasting at Fuel Espresso. Nice to visit the roastery again and see old faces. We slurped espresso shots of Fuel’s 2 brands and searched for ways to describe the taste off a big wrap sheet of coffee descriptors containing words like ‘acidy, musty, caramelised, nutty, sweet, winey, grassy, buttery’ – very like wine tasting. Was interesting to taste straight shots because I drink both their blends every day and both with milk. They also had the roaster going so we got to see a freshly roasted batch of beans come out into the cooling tray and smell that freshly roasted smell that wafts around town sometimes up close.

Our old friend and also long time Fuel drinker Keith joined us. It was a great evening.

Just found out today that Xero is in line for another prestigious NZ-based award so The Mister and I have been asked to put on our posh tux and frock and represent. So we’re off to the NZ Internet Industry Awards to be held at a black tie dinner at Parliament this Thursday.

However I’ve got frock nerves – I’ve gotten away with wearing my same black dress to a few awards now but have only ever been caught and published on Xero film at the last awards – the Webbys in New York. So if we win, and I am photographed again, apparently the fabloids will be out to criticise me for wearing the same frock. Yikes! I was consoling myself thinking that our shareholders might appreciate that I am not paid enough of their hard-earned investment to go out and buy a new frock every time I am called upon to attend a black tie event for Xero. Which turns out to have been quite a few over the last 3 years.

However, am laughing in the face of societal pressure, again, and will be wearing the same frock. But this time, being that it’s winter, I’ll finally get to wear this gorgeous wrap of orange felt, velvet ribbon and beads, handmade by my sister for me last year.

Which I will try to be wearing if I am photographed!

Took a couple of random photos on the way to work this morning.

There’s always someone who goes along in the morning and sprinkles seed for the pigeons – they must go quite early because there’s always birds pecking at it on weekday mornings when we head out around 7.30m.

Flowers are in full bloom and smell in the garden on the corner of Mercer and Victoria. Looks quite pretty.

After our vacuum cleaner trip to Lower Hutt yesterday we went on right up to the top of the valley to catch up with old friends.

My friend Andrea & me

Me & Sophie my goddaughter (time’s flying, she’s 16!)

On the way home we drive the full length of Fergusson Drive in Upper Hutt – must be the longest street in Wellington. Was a bit of a trip down memory lane for both of us. On that one street we saw 3 gas stations abandoned and derelict, bad economic times.

Took a trip out to Lower Hutt because that’s where you have to go to find vacuum cleaner stores. In the past we’ve just gone to some kind of electronics or appliance superstore and helped ourselves (because those kind of stores never have staff that know the details about their stock) to one based on colour and whether or not the vacuum needed bags, because we always seem to end up with one that has really specific bags that we can never get any more of from the supermarket or the store where we originally bought the vacuum from because by the time we get around to it they’ve stopped making that brand!

Anyway. Going to an actual vacuum cleaner store means that even on a Saturday afternoon you get a girl who knows her stuff. I mean really knows. Asks about pet hair, floor surfaces, size of dwelling, willingness to clean filters, price range, who does the vacuuming etc etc and then demonstrates a range on carpet and tiled flooring including sucking up various items from pots of sand and wool fluff they have on hand, and lets The Mister have a go (he does the vacuuming).

So we’ve come away with a well-known brand, in our price range, that has bags (that you can even get from the supermarket) because we’re not inclined to clean the filter (and who knew you had to do that on a bagless one every week otherwise they blow up after a year or so, well now we do and if we’d had someone to help us in the aforementioned electronics store we might’ve made a different choice) , has a great floor foot that is good for cleaning stairs and doesn’t require all manner of attachments for different surfaces.

I give you the Hoover Tranquility:

So snaps to Godfrey’s and the very helpful Saturday Girl. And BEST of all, we just left our old vacuum cleaner and all its bits there to be disposed of. That was a plus on already great service – like getting rid of a Christmas tree from an apartment, broken appliances present similar challenges!

Hot off the press – Nikau Cafe is set to re-open mid-September! Probably around the week of the 14th. Great news. Apparently kedgeree will still be on the menu, no mention of date scones so will have to get onto them about that!! Yaaaaay!