French Flag Flies at Otaki | Murray Lloyd Photography

murray lloyd September 1, 2014

The French flag was flying again at PukeKaraka Marae in Otaki where guests assembled for Ruth Pretty’s “Casssoulet and Karaka Trees”, a Wellington on a Plate event.

Fr. Jean-Baptiste Comte, a French Roman Catholic Priest founded the mission at Pukekaraka 170 years ago in 1844 and brought with him a typical French passion for food.

Together with local Maori, Comte built a flourishing community with three flour mills, maize, wheat and food crops that supplied shops in villages from Otaki all the way to Wellington. Was this the first Wellington on a Plate?

Guests being invited onto Pukekaraka Marae in Otaki..

After a formal welcome onto the marae by Ngāti Kapu and an appropriately crowing rooster, guests were invited into 'Hine Nui o te Ao Katoa' which translates into 'Mary, Great Woman of the Whole World, Woman of Light'.

Hine Nui o te Ao Katoa, Pukekaraka, Otaki.

Interior of Hine Nui o te Ao Katoa at Pukekaraka Marae in Otaki.

Dressed in 1840's attire, Fr. Phil Cody prepares to say Grace

Baked potato and eel rillette by Ruth Pretty.

Guests dined on baked potato and eel rillettes before the much anticipated cassoulet was served with a salad of pear, walnut and perennial greens

Menu with Ruth Pretty's cassoulet ingrediants displayed

Wellington on a plate event by Ruth Pretty

Rawiri leading the singing at Pukekaraka Marae.

A walk up the 'Cavalry ' was needed after the wholesome lunch where Rawiri Rikihana gave a short history of the area.

St Mary’s Church provided a fascinating backdrop with both local custodian Irene Mackle and Mary McLeod (Martha’s Pantry) giving an intimate account of the beautiful interior. Restored lovingly in the early 1990's it was easy to see why this Church has the highest Historic Places rating. Built in 1859, St Mary's is the oldest Catholic Church that has been in constant use in New Zealand

Iphone photo of little French Cakes on plate by Ruth Pretty

Fr. Comte flew the French flag to signify feast days for special prayers. As champion of harmonious relations between Maori, Europeans and Priests I am sure he would have had no hesitation hoisting it once again for Ruth’s “Cassoulet and Karaka Trees”

Close up of sheep dog looking interested in crowd of poeple

Running of the Sheep in France | Murray Lloyd Photography

murray lloyd July 16, 2014

The Fete de la Transhumance is celebrated in St Remy de Provence annually on Whit Monday. This traditional French festival commemorates the days farmers trekked for days to take their sheep from drought stricken lowland in search of greener pasture in the mountains. I am sure Van Goph (sans left ear) would have appreciated the 3000 sheep, goats and donkeys being herded through the town for the 31st Fete de la Transhumance. He was living (self-admitted) in an asylum in St Remy between 1889 and 1890. The river of sheep winding through the narrow streets of the town resembled a readymade impressionist painting.

Photographers in action on street in St Remy de Provence

Unlike the running of the bulls in Pamplona, no instant fines were handed out to people with cameras. The sheep did two laps of the town before departing – I hope they did not notice the menus.

Infatable horse at the Fete de la Transhumance

Farmer herding sheep in street at the Fete de la Transhumancein St Remy de Provence

Sheep in street at the Fete de la Transhumancein St Remy de Provence

Boys playing with sheep at the Fete de la Transhumance in St Remy de Provence

sheep at the Fete de la Transhumance in St Remy de Provence

Fete de la Transhumance at st remy de provence, france.

French restaurant sign advertising rack of lamb.

4 Flavours of Melbourne Food | Murray Lloyd Photography

murray lloyd February 23, 2013

One bite of the soft shell crab and avocado roll was all it took to launch me into Vietnamese food nirvana - and I wasn’t even in Vietnam. The crunch, flavour and texture of the roll emanated from Dandelion Restaurant located in Melbourne’s suburbs.

Aside from excellent food, Dandelion restaurant seems to have found an answer to food bloggers ruining the restaurant atmosphere with cameras. The food has already been well photographed by Rob Banks and images are available via pinterest or through very well organised downloadable media packages.

Duck legs, braised with sugarcane, pineapple and chilli Kampot peppered pineapple salad, saw-tooth coriander.

deep fried black sesame icecream with palm sugar caramalized figs

As good as Dandelion was, the other food sensation was the A1 Lebanese Bakery on Sydney Road in Brunswick – at a fraction of the price.

A1 serves up Lebanese style 'pizzas' with toppings of zaatar, halloumi cheese with tomato, and finely minced raw lamb (there were others) in unpretentious but exotic surrounds. The baklava was another highlight. Anthony Bourdain raved about the A1 bakery on his show No Reservations a while back but the prices can’t have been affected.The ‘pizzas’ ranged from $1.50 to $4.50 and one was all I needed for lunch.

This craft beer and wine bar in Moonee Ponds allows patrons to bring their own food or to order in restaurant food from nearby and then eat it with a beer or wine from the premises. The Valley Cellar Dooroffer nibbles, including cheese and cold meat platters, but encourage people to bring whatever takes their fancy - they’ve even installed a BBQ out back. It would be great to see this catch on in Wellington.