I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We have had a nice break and are back to work feeling all fresh. New Years menu this year;

New Years Eve Dinner menu 2011

Salmon tartar and vodka cured gravedlax, served with lime scented tomato gazpacho.

Salad caprese with caper and raisin puree, fresh basil and sherry dressing.
Wine recommendation Kina Beach Rose '10

Smoked rabbit and mushroom terrine, shot of game broth and pear and date chutney.
Wine recommendation Kina Beach Chardonnay '08

Strawberry vanilla and champagne sorbet.

Either
Fillet of venison wrapped in prosciutto, kumara and sage crumble, and mushroom mousaka.
Wine recommendation Kina Beach Pinot Noir '08
or
Baked snapper fillet (catch permitting) warm smoked eel and potato salad, creme fraiche froth and crayfish jus.
Wine recommendation Kina Beach Sauvignon Blanc '11

Iced lemon and basil gratin, with summer fruit salsa and saffron syrup

Hazelnut gallette, macerated cherries and bitter chocolate mousse
Recommendation Lustau Pedro Ximenez San Emelio Sherry

Slips and rivers.

What a lot of rain, caused a whole manner of problems for many people. We were very lucky, no exacuations or damage. We did however have our busiest week on record.

Quite a feat in the midst of such bad weather.

Now we are firmly focused on the Christmas break, and then our New Years Degustation.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Paper work

So, its been a funny week here this week. Too busy some days and quieter others.

But its the weekend, and if the rain holds out we will erect our gate.

The start of our inner city raised bed garden.

But now we are 6 days a week, it will take some real motivation to paint it!

I have Katie spending her nights checking the recipes for the book, and correcting my errors.

I think its starting to come together nicely.

Time will tell.

Happy Birthday

Mint Dining Room passed a milestone on the 1st of December, 2 years since it all began. Thanks to everyone that has dined with us over that time.

Katie baked a cake and it was delicious. Those lucky enough to be here on the night got to try some.

Work experience Jess

We have been fortunate enough to have had Jess from NMIT helping us for a couple of weeks. Here is picture of her filleting John Dory.

What a great time we had with her, and she will be working with us every Thursday as a member of staff.

Mint Dining Room

Another book blog update

http://mint-book.blogspot.com/2011/11/another-week-further-into-it.html

Then again, why slow down!

A couple of weeks have passed, and its all systems go! The deck looks amazing, lights, tables....everything.

We are more than pleased. And it gives us another couple of seats. We are still the smallest restaurant in town, just a bit bigger!

The wine list just broke the 60 choice barrier, and we got some nice old french wine in to add a bit of interest. My next project will be to create a raised bed garden and picket gate in the front driveway.

Outdoors dining!

Time has come to open up the deck and offer alfresco dining.

For the last 3 weeks, chef/painter decorator has been renovating the front of the restaurant.

Dave the sparky will finally finish the lights tomorrow morning, and I pick up the tables and chairs tomorrow.The tables as with all our tables were hand made by Katie's father, David Pinker.

We also get a bit of lighting out over the disabled access.

We head out on location photo shoots for the book next week.

And we invested in some different wines for our library list.

There's no time to stand still around here.

Next job, making a garden in the driveway area, with a picket gate.

Nice letter regarding FWG Dinner

Hi Grant

Just a quick note to thank you again so much for doing us proud on Friday night at the Guild of Foodwriters dinner. Both the beef and lamb were superb (and I know that because my dining neighbor and I swapped a couple of times to show each other how delicious our meals were!)

The feedback from the foodwriters, both on the night and the following day, was absolutely outstanding – and I can assure you that’s no mean feat, coming from a fairly fussy bunch, as you can imagine. Many of them have asked me to pass on their appreciation to you directly.

Thanks again for a job well done.

Kind regards

Jennie

jennie dean I foodservice manager
beef + lamb new zealand inc.

wow, time to slow down!

What a challenge we had last week, but even after Airline blunders, missing lamb and savoy shortages, we made it!

So no trophy this year, but we had a great trip to Christchurch, and caught up with family, and enjoyed the awards.

Came back, and nearly was bumped off our flight......the one I needed to be on to cook the dinner for the NZ food writers guild. But after a bit of protesting, threatening to sue and the threat of me litterally exploding in the middle of the airport, I flew back on time.

Katie and wee Brodie had to wait for another flight.

The dinner went very well. Big thanks to Bill and the team at the Rutherford for their help,

and Wangapeka Prime Lamb for finding the missing lamb(Through no fault of their own, or mine), and Lamb and Beef New Zealand for sponsoring the dinner( and asking me to cook it!).

And now we get to enjoy the first normal week in some time.

Aaaaaah

So back into book writing mode.

PostNew Book Blog

http://mint-book.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-into-it.html

Awards

Us recieving award 2010

Best Lamb dish in New Zealand

2011- Finalists Hanz awards for excellence.

Best Beef dish, and Best Lamb dish in New Zealand

2010- Finalists Hanz awards for excellence.

Best Beef dish, and Best Lamb dish in New Zealand( Winner Best Lamb )

Us recieving award 2010

Best Lamb dish in New Zealand

New book blog post

http://mint-book.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-accepted.html

Things are coming along brilliantly.

Book blog update

So its help me time, can I please have a bit of feedback.

What makes a perfect cookbook?

Apart from the restaurants recipe content, what would everyone like to see?

Suggestions please?

Perhaps......

Our favourite food, things we like to make at home etc?

or

Bits around Nelson, the markets, fishing boats, orchards etc?

or

Something completely different?

Everyones feedback is welcome!

http://mint-book.blogspot.com

Book blog update

http://mint-book.blogspot.com/2011_10_06_archive.html

Over the hill...

Spent today over the hill at Marlborough wine and cuisine,

Great day, doing cookery demo's for lamb and beef Nz.

Bit of publicity about the day.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/5748377/Toasting-our-place

Minor celebrity moment.......

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/5741208/Dishing-up-culinary-delights-online

In Print!

So the Nelson Mail ran an article on the book, wheels of progress are turning.

Win some meat.......lots of meat!

Restaurant Directory

The restaurants listed in this directory have been awarded the NEW ZEALAND BEEF AND LAMB EXCELLENCE AWARD, meaning you can expect tasty, skilfully composed and superbly presented New Zealand beef and lamb dishes.

During the month of October 2011, anyone who dines at the participating restaurants listed in this directory and orders a beef or lamb dish from the menu, will go in the draw to WIN A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF NEW ZEALAND BEEF AND LAMB DELIVERED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD*. A total prize value of NZ$2,500.

http://www.beeflambnz.co.nz/index.pl?page=restaurant_directory&m=232

Not naked, but famous.....ish!

Our little blog for our book has been thrust to dizzy heights, and the bright lights of the Nelson Mail have been shone upon it!

Ha ha, in other words, we had a jouralist in to talk books and bits with us!

Mint Dining - Fresh, local and very tasty!: The big bake off

Mint Dining - Fresh, local and very tasty!: The big bake off: So, embarrassing video posted....Thanks Scotty! We had a lot of fun baking up a storm the other day, we have 'proved' (bakery humo...

Our Little Army

Watching the Cadets out the window, they look so smart in their uniforms. Its quite a spectacle to see Navy and Army marching together. But never as exciting as the show of lights and sound when the Police are after a miscreant! It can be quite a spectacle out our window.

Painter and decorator!

Well what a weekend, finally got the bathroom painted in the restaurant. Did a few picture with Scotty, and talked to the sparky about lighting for the deck. Didn't feel like days off this week.

Still plenty of rugby coming to town this week. The yurt and its party people seem to be having a great time next door at the Rugbeer festival. So here's to a great week.

Cheers.

Book update!

http://mint-book.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-see-bread-i-see-bread-i-see-bread.html

Sprung

Out go the hanging baskets to liven the front of the building. Feels summery already!

Summer Hours.

Day light savings, and our hours change after this weekend.

Dine early becomes a permanent fixture, and sees us open at 5pm Daily,

Dine early from 5, Alacarte from 6- late.

Its Summer hours baby!

Sizing up tables to go on the deck, alfresco for summer.

So your favourite little restaurant will be bigger, and go longer.

Had to laugh.....

I was flicking through an old cuisine magazine today, and saw an article on Nelson. I chuckled to myself remembering seeing the article (the first magazine to feature the restaurant.) I also remember my shock reading how we were a bistro specialising in the finest seafood.

Apart from not considering ourselves a bistro, we also had no real seafood on offer at the time!!

Quick menu change that day.

Haha.

Looks like rain.

Sky is going black! Glad it wasn't last night. Walked home through town after service, and felt a good buzz after the rugby. Well done Nelson.

Happy Rugby

So world cup fever hits Nelson! We have Italy versus Russia tonight, and there's quite a celebration going on all around town. Its a gorgeous day, and should be awesome!

Meanwhile, Im peeling asparagus!!!

Fresh new seasons strawberries, good to see them. Means its nearly summer!! Asparagus tomorrow!!!!

Bready Goodness

I have spent my morning compiling the bread recipes, and Monday we are set to kick off the book properly. The Nelson Mail may come in for a chat with us too, so it will be a great start to our project. They want to get a picture of Scotty taking a picture of the food. I will trump that, I will take a photo, of them taking a photo of Scotty taking a photo, of food. Ha ha, watch this space for that post!

New book blog update.

http://mint-book.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html

Its a lot of fun working on the book, and Scotty has a nice way with words.

Photo session

We had a quick trial photo session yesterday, was productive. The local paper called us up as they saw our tweets about the book and want to run an article! God bless social media. Scotty is working on the blog post, pics etcetera and I will post the link when it's ready. Next week we are going to make a little video I think. Im sure it will be fun.......

Sourcing Marlborough's best

Wine and Cuisine Marlborough is coming along swiftly, and I am very grateful for all the support from the local suppliers;

Marlborough saffron, gorgeous long threads to go in the Saffron Aioli.

Sherrington Grange Cheeses, for the lovely Derville cheese shavings on the beetroot carpaccio.

Forrest Wines, for the wine matches

Uncle Joes nuts, for the walnuts I will be pickling.

Marlborough truly is a bountiful resource when it comes to seeking out boutique local suppliers, and I cant wait to get stuck into the demos.

Mint Dining Room - Publication: Well, first blog. - What are we doing here?

Mint Dining Room - Publication: Well, first blog. - What are we doing here?: Hi. I'm Scotty, I'm a graphic designer and a photographer. I've known Grant since we played soccer for Stoke suburbs - under 11's I think....

Mint Dining Room - Publication: An idea we had

Mint Dining Room - Publication: An idea we had: While chatting one day, Scott of Aeon Design, and Grant and Katie of Mint Dining Room decided to write a cook book. We haven't written one b...

Awards again

Fresh from being named one of cuisines top 150 restaurants, we are again at the Hanz awards!

Defending our best lamb title, and again also as a finalist for best beef dish in NZ. Aplolgies to you all for my lax updates, but the blog is back on the go!