Those of you who have had Covid, will know it takes a while to get over and feel back to normal. I’ve been struggling a bit with tiredness and blocked sinuses, but am getting there bit by bit. I’m back at Pilates and got out and about this week too, as you will see.
First up, after my Pilates class on Thursday, we decided to treat ourselves to a post-Covid meal out at Concord. Opened earlier this year, this was our second visit. The menu is a mix of things like shrimp cocktail and steak sandwiches, and a red interior with a sort of 1970s feel to it. This visit I opted for the oysters which were from Waiheke Island and the steak sandwich again as I had really enjoyed it last time. Karl had the chicken liver pâté and cheeseburger. There was a lot of food, especially as there was also some lovely warm bread with garlic butter, but it was really good and we just rolled home.
Still on food, on Wednesday I had an excellent avocado toast for lunch at Le Café Plum on Cuba Street, which for some reason I had never been to, but to which I will return. The featured image at the top of the post is of the interior which as you can see almost makes you feel like you were in France. The toast itself was a sourdough bread topped with plum chutney, avocado, feta, shallots and lemon – just a bit different but very good.
Moving anti-clockwise round the pictures below, in the shopping basket this week was a celeriac which I mashed with potato to make a topping for a shepherd’s pie on Sunday, oranges and lemons as it is citrus season, kale and Brussels sprouts for greens, a fennel bulb for salad, apricot coloured yams, passion fruit and I bought four little cioggia beetroot. As regular readers know, I am not fan of beetroot, but had been told these were less beetroot tasting than regular ones. So I roasted them and added them to my lunch today, and I can confirm that they still taste like beetroot but were at least edible!
On Sunday we drove over the Remutaka Hills and had lunch at Brac and Bow. Their smoked fish and prawn chowder is absolute heaven, and perfect for a winter Sunday afternoon lunch.
From Featherston we drove over to Martinborough, to browse the shops and have a walk around. I found a new trivet, some interesting looking red pepper jam and stocked up on a bottle of balsamic vinegar from a lovely little deli. The picture below was taken as we were leaving the town. Look carefully…the white in the distance is low lying cloud. Quite spectacular to look at.
So, what were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life.
- Do take a look at Carol Ann over at Fashioned for Joy – a lovely post scattered with pictures from the Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition.
- Ju Lyn at Touring my Backyard revisits the bat flower – and very glad to hear you are recovering from Covid.
- Natalie the Explorer takes us to some lighthouses in Newfoundland.
- Anne over at Something Over Tea shares pictures of a giant-leaved fig.
- Deb at Deb’s World is planning to travel to the other side of the world with just carry on luggage. I’m off to Canada in a few weeks and am wondering if I dare try the same….
- Have a coffee with Trent over at Trent’s World.
- Check this week’s Monday Motivation from Popsicle Society.
- The Annoyed Thyroid visits Canberra and eats some excellent food. I’ve been there once and would love to go back one day.
- Laurie celebrates the dog days of summer over at Notes From the Hinterland.
- And Anyways shares what is on her bookshelf.
- Retirement Reflections also shares what is on her bookshelf.
Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
It is good to know that you are out and about; well enough to enjoy eating out – and about to travel!
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I have to be fit and well for 31 August! It was lovely on Sunday to see something outside the city.
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Another luscious post, filled with engaging writing and beautifully composed photos. I love following you around the restaurants of Wellington. And I’m very intrigued by the avocado toast composed plum chutney, avocado, feta, shallots and lemon. I love each of those ingredients (along with the sourdough bread) but never thought to combine them. My guest this week are in for a treat!
The feature photo is beautiful. And thank you for your enthusiastic mention. The exhibit really is worth sharing!
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I wasn’t sure about the plum chutney until I tasted the whole thing – avocado needs something to stop it being too bland I think. Thank you for your kind comments!
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Once again I’m hungry after reading your post! 😀 I’m loving that gorgeous box of fruit & veg too.
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Looks like my kind of food!
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Hi, Barbara – I knew better than to open this post until AFTER I had dinner. But I couldn’t help myself. Everything looks and sounds delicious. Now I am starving!! 😀
Thank you for the shout-out. I greatly appreciate it!
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😀
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I love the warm cosy look of the restaurant in the first photo. Lovely to have a bit of a foodie trip on a cold weekend…nothing warms the heart more!
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So many small pleasures, in the end I believe its the little things that matters the most. Great to hear that you are getting your strength back.
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Thanks Maria – getting better each day and agree it is the little things that matter the most.
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🌼
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Lovely looking food! I’ve heard of chowder but what actually is it?
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A sort of creamy fish soup.
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Ah right. Sounds good!
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You had a broad assortment of food, Barbara. The food all looked delicious – even the beets. My husband loves beets so I great them in California. You’d be safe if you visit us in Prescott, Arizona. No beets grown here. Of all those lovelies, which was your favorite taste? I’ve had avocado toast and thought it was pretty good. Have a great week.
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I think my favourite was the smoked fish chowder. I always have it when we go to this place. The oysters were good too of course! It is funny about beetroot…a love it or hate it vegetable I think.
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I think. My favorite go to veg in Australia was pumpkin. I probably told you about it, but they put it in everything. Yummy!
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I commiserate with you on your Covid symptoms. They linger far too long. I’m glad you were able to get out and get some good food though, like a light at the end of the tunnel!
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Every day I get a little better but it does linger as you say. It was good to get out and do something normal at last!
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My brush with covid was certainly not expected – I went away on a Retreat – after a few days I became a household contact with one who fell ill – then a few days later I had caught it from her as well. I was unavoidably detained for the prescribed gov’t isolation. Coming home yesterday – now surrounded by all the things “I love and are mine” – I was well taken care of but I was semi-locked in my room with meals to a table outside door…I finally had enough energy to go into the garden, masked because there was a outside side door to my room…
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