Kohu Road Creamery and Cafe

It was raining, so with all four kids in tow, their weren't many options for a peaceful and pleasant morning! So Vanessa called and said, " Lets check out Kohu Road Cafe, recommended in our best cafes to take the kids list, at least we can bribe the kids with ice cream! Vanessa made it there quite easily, I got lost (not unusual when you don't ever look at a map and you try and wing it) but I asked at the local paint shop (Kohu Rd cafe is located in the industrial area of New Lynn) and I was told look for two green poles, parkings a bit of a squeeze, but it was so worth it as the coffee alone was amazing.

When I arrived, Vanessa looked like she had bedded down for the night - Jake was happily checking out the 50's caravan, which according to one boy, "No adults  were allowed". Fine by us....that was exactly what we were hoping!

The Food

Most of the food is on display at the counter and cooked on the premises. (you can see the chef in action whilst at your table). Its rustic cafe style rather than full on meals but sure to please a variety of tastes. I had a freshly baked bacon and egg pie and Jake couldn't go past the sugary jammy doughnuts. When Ingrid and kids arrived they tucked into brioches with their coffee and fluffy. There was also a soup option on the blackboard menu.

 

Like Ingrid said, the caravan was a definite drawcard for two boisterous boys so leaving came down to bribery with ice creams. There were about a dozen flavors on offer as well as a freezer stocked with takeaway options.

 

The Kids

We are constantly on the look out for places to go that suit the boys, babies and us. We both love our coffee and the cafe scene and struggle to find places that fit the brief. Kohu Road cafe is spacious, not too precious, welcome kids with big open arms, and the staff are super friendly. It's a working creamery out the back, and the cafe is sectioned off with used lolly trays (see Jake below resting up) that you can purchase for $10. Perfect for breakfast in bed, toys or crafts, or paint with blackboard paint, add a rope and hang in your kitchen. The caravan is a winner, complete with a flat screen TV and selection of DVD's. Three comfy couches in front of caravan in which to watch the kids.

Initially we were just buying cookies and cream ice cream for the boys and as it was Monday and we were both on our post babies diets LOL. There is always next Monday! Ingrid and I tucked into the BEST chocolate sorbet EVER! The staff assured us it was dairy free but full of sugar.  I told Ingrid, you burn sugar quicker than fat, so we should be right. Ingrid replied, No chance, if we sit around cafe's all day! I would make the trip from the shore just for the chocolate sorbet, it was that good!

A great cafe to serve the needs of both adults and kids, go early if you want to get the parks, and don't leave without an ice cream.


Kohu Road Creamery and Cafe, New Lynn 

www.kohuroad.co.nz

44 Portage Road, 

New Lynn

09 827 9990
Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4:30pm

Balsamic Mushrooms

Balsamic Mushrooms - Delicious

Every so often Ingrid and I (OK often) head out sans kids to a cafe for most of the morning. Dizzengoff on Ponsonby Road has been a regular favourite for years, in fact I have been frequenting the place for nearly 10 years and that's pretty amazing for cafe culture.
They do strong coffee and the most amazing and addictive mushrooms (LOL). No matter what I order I always get a side of mushrooms. Re-creating this dish was actually pretty easy, I think I nailed it the second time.
Now if there is anyone from Dizzengoff reading this, I know you wont want to part with the recipe but please please please let me know if I am close...

What you need (recipe for one person - double for two)
About 12 button mushrooms per person
1-2 garlic cloves finely chopped
Olive oil for cooking mushrooms
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
50mls cream
Salt/pepper to taste

How to make
Add the oil, garlic and mushrooms to a frying pan and saute for a few minutes.
Add half the balsamic vinegar to the pan and turn up the heat so it bubbles and reduces, when its reduced quite a bit, add the rest of the vinegar. Keep it bubbling but don't let it reduce to nothing.
Take it off the heat and add the cream and salt/pepper.
Reduce the heat and cook until the cream is hot - you may want to reduce it a bit more.
Pour over crunchy ciabatta bread or serve as a side dish.

So good you could easily eat two...

Hobsonville Farmers Market

A few Sundays ago we decided to head to Hobsonville point in Auckland to check out the farmers market. It was a bit of a drizzly day but with nothing else planned and a busy 3 year old, we had to get out. I had been to the area before doing a 10km fun run (Runway challenge) and knew the area but had never been to the market. 

History of the area

In 1924 Hobsonville was chosen by the government as a site for both land and sea based aviation. The Landing, a key feature of the site, was constructed in 1928 by hand and horse-drawn scoops. An access road, slipway and jetty were constructed in 1929.

By the 1930s, the land airstrip was too short for larger planes and Hobsonville eventually became a repair and equipment facility. The base has also since that time provided housing and support facilities for the nearby Whenuapai airbase.
In 2001 the NZ Defence Force began the gradual relocation of its operations from Hobsonville.

(Taken from http://www.hobsonvillepoint.co.nz/about-the-point/history/)

Now, Hobsonville Point is fast becoming a purpose built housing development area for mid to high priced houses equipped with a cafe, playground, coastal track and of course the farmers market. The houses are compact, mostly two story and with minimum outdoor lawn/garden. This seems to be the way of living in New Zealand now, gone are the days of a quarter acre section, gone too are the days of having the time to tend to the garden and lawn. Saying this if I lived in Hobsonville I wouldn't mind as there is lots of space and flora extremely close by...

An overcast day but perfect to blow away the cobwebs

What a bonus, the market was undercover, even better it was in a large enclosed barn like building. When we arrived we could smell crispy mussel fritters simmering away and a waft of strong roasted coffee. Perfect!

The set up of the stalls is around the perimeter and a few rows in the middle. There was lots of space to walk around, even with buggies, kids and scooters. Dogs had to camp outside!

This beautiful dog was guarding the entrance but secretly dreaming of what was inside...

I actually expected the market to be full of fruit, vegetables and herbs but discovered that yes there were a couple of stalls, most of the market was delicious foodie creations. There was fish, meats, sausages, jams, chutneys, baked goods, flowers, sushi, homemade lemonade, coffee, cheese, pies, langos (Hungarian bread puffs with toppings), olive oil, flavoured salt, fritters and even curry made on the premises. 

What a welcome!

We started the day with coffee and a donut for Jake, not the best breakfast for him but when you have a 3 year old that isn't a great eater in the mornings, you settle for almost anything. Lewis whipped back in to buy a mussel fritter whilst I supervised the sugary and jammy mess about to happen...

Finger lickin good - I got to finish it! 

Looking around the markets with a 3 year old is hard work, we were forever avoiding collisions with others and had to have eagle eyes to avoid disaster so I suggested Lewis took Jake to the playground while I meandered around getting a few pics. Ahhhh Perfect solution! 


Photographing when there are lots of unknown people around can be challenging! I didn't want to be intrusive and was very aware of peoples privacy BUT was desperate to get my lens in to all the delicious food. I was using our NEW 100mm Canon Macro lens so looked the part although was pretty green using it! It made the camera heavier and the focusing a bit tricky when not using a tripod so the first few frames were a disappointment. The lighting was also a challenge because shooting at 100ISO/ASA and a low aperture created blur! I cranked up the ASA/ISO to 400 and played around till I got it right or at least until I was happy. 

A perfect breakfast finished off with a takeaway coffee

You cant go past coffee at farmers markets and just recently preggers, I have been on the decaf with the odd regular coffee. In fact once I got over the initial detox few days (Oh the headaches) I didn't crave coffee like I used to. I still love the idea of sitting in a cafe, car or walking around a market with my steamy takeaway cup of aromatic coffee. This particular morning I very keen to fulfill the pre-pregnancy coffee addiction. There were a couple of places selling great coffee as well as the cafe Catalina, across the way. The thing that excited me the most however was the sign that said "Coffee Sacks $3". Not really having a use for them, I bought 2 and gave one to Ingrid. maybe one day they will feature in one of our blog posts or like the sign also said "A great mat for your pets". My lucky cat Saoirse (Irish for freedom) 

  

A perfect present a bag of fresh coffee with a bunch of flowers

Boy did I miss out on the samples!

Pregnancy definitely had its challenges. Walking around the markets and avoiding the samples is just one of them. On offer were all sorts of delicious looking meats and cheeses as well as salmon, dips and chutneys. 

My stomach was rumbling (It does this all the time now) so lunch was a couple of pies. Now Kiwis are precious about their pies - they love the things. I am partial to them and enjoy when I indulge but don't usually seek them out. I bought a Thai chicken for me and a butter chicken for the lads. The Thai chicken was to die for, my only disappointment was I only bought one!     

Unfortunately no pics of the pies, they were too good to stop and shoot!  

So to wrap it all up I recommend the farmers market at Hobsonville Point, its convenient to get to, undercover, spacious and with lots of parking. Take your walking shoes and combine it with the coastal walk or let the hubby look after the kids at the playground and chill out at the market. 

Vanessa