A seat at the table: Craggy Range

This summer we decided on just having a mini break up in one of our favourite parts of New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay. We have such a big trip coming up in our autumn, that we are saving our energies for that. It takes about 4 hours to drive up there, so not too bad a trip.

Last year we had lunch at Craggy Range, which we had thoroughly enjoyed, and so decided to go again for a special treat. The setting of this winery is so perfect and makes a stunning backdrop to the vines, tasting room and restaurant. There is also accomodation available should you wish.

Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest and second largest wine region. Craggy Range sits beneath Te Mata Peak, in a fabulous setting for wine making and visiting. Below you can see what looks like cows resting on the grass, but these are in fact statues.

We took a walk before lunch, remembering not to climb on the chickens….

…but enjoying looking at the vines….

It was then time for lunch. This year, over the holiday period, there were fixed menus on offer, and we decided to go for the shared menu. As I was not driving, I also took up the wine match option, with Karl sticking to two small half glasses of wine (though he did taste a spot of mine). Below you can see the blanc de blanc the meal started with, along with delicious bread and a honeyed cultured butter.

To start ,we had their signature venison tartare served on potato rosti with a tarragon sauce and a potato and leek fritter with black garlic mayonnaise, both of which you can see in the larger picture below. Neither disappointed, the venison tartare being a real special mouthful. The first course was beetroot cured salmon with lemon verbena dressing, nectarine and celery. The other dish was a marinated octopus which was fantastic (top left below). I drank a chardonnay.

The second dish consisted of two plates – one a crispy duck tonkatsu, wedged between soft white bread, which was a delight and can be seen bottom left.

The other dish was halloumi with burnt honey and lemon dressed beetroot and candied walnut, which was also excellent (and yes dear readers we both ate the beetroot and enjoyed it). I drank a pinot noir from Martinborough. The main course was a slow cooked glazed lamb shoulder with an almond cream, anchovy and harissa dressing and asparagus. This was served with garlicky roast potatoes, and I had a Bordeaux blend from the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard which was a perfect match.

They offered us dessert on the terrace, so we moved outside (into the shade naturally), and enjoyed a fig leaf and yoghurt ice-cream with poached apricots, burnt honey and hazlenut. I had a semillon and coffee alongside.

This two and a half hour lunch was fabulous – a 5* experience and 10/10 for the food. Quite a special way to spend part of our holiday.

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 also find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook and Instagram.