This week’s small pleasures 499

Thistles and Kiwis

So we are now in week 28, well over the half way mark of the year. This Friday, 10 July, is Matariki, the Māori new year. It is a time of reflection, a time to remember and a time to share kai (food) with family and friends. More on that next week. The weather remains seasonal, with some winter sunshine last week but a return to the rain today (and quite a lot of it too). Ah well…it is far worse down south where there are floods, road closures and a red weather warning,

Anyway, I make no apologies for this being a rather food forward post this week, but it was my birthday on Friday. I had a cake delivered on Saturday from Arobake as I couldn’t be bothered to make one. Here it is – a lemon sour cake which I served with a dollop of Greek yoghurt for an afternoon treat over the weekend.

Conversations with strangers

I popped the latest Elizabeth Strout into my bag on Friday (I took the day off for my birthday), and started reading it on the bus. I got to one of my favourite cafes for lunch, and settled down to read some more. The woman next to me said she had just finished it and how much she enjoyed it. We talked about the author, how we think she draws excellent characters with normal human flaws, and wished each other a good day. On the way home, I pulled the book out of my bag again, and an elderly gentleman next to me said he was just about to start the book, had I seen an interview with the author (I had not), and how much we enjoyed her books. It was so lovely to connect to strangers over a book.

Eating out on my birthday

Friday was my birthday, and we headed out to Rita for dinner. A lovely little place in the Aro Valley, the food here is always excellent, with seasonal ingredients just perfectly prepared. The menus are handwritten, and kept in a drawer in the tables where you can also find the cutlery. There are three fixed courses, and three things you can add on if you wish. We started with the French toast topped with creme fraîche and truffles which was fabulous.

We then had raw kingfish with orange and fennel which was possibly my favourite dish, combining three things I love. The main dish was lamb shoulder, served with baby carrots and sprinkled with nuts and olives. We also ordered the chard as a side dish, which went perfectly with out main dish. For dessert, we had angel food cake that tasted of Christmas, served with a honey custard and ice-cream. The waiter had found out it was my birthday, so I got a candle on the cake which was fun.

Lunches

On Wednesday, I treated myself to the excellent Caesar salad at long term favourite Floriditas, which never disappoints (with this dish or anything really). I went to perennial favourite Squirrel for one of their excellent ‘Maude’s chicken sandwiches’ (called after the owner’s dog) on Friday. Some great and simple eating!

In the basket

In the Wonky Box delivery this week: broccoli. a little bag of potatoes, mushrooms, bok choi, a swede, a leek, and not pictured, a lettuce and a bag of spinach. I added on some tomatoes too as they were a good price for this time of year. I found some Jerusalem artichokes on Saturday, which I will make into soup on Wednesday. I also added Brussels sprouts, fennel, and some things for our Matariki lunch on Friday – cheese, smoked mussel pate and this excellent salmon spread. I also got some muesli with the Wonky Box. I don’t like cereal for breakfast, but it is nice to have a bag of this around to add to fruit or yoghurt. We enjoyed some tarakihi on Saturday, serving it with spinach and last week’s yams (oca) roasted with black garlic honey, and I made Nigella Lawson’s carbonnade à la Flamande for Sunday’s dinner which we had with potatoes and the Brussels sprouts with the leftovers today (Monday).

Simple things

  • Enjoying winter sunshine for a few days (just a few).
  • Buying more beautiful tulips (see featured image).
  • Reading about the first Michelin stars to be awarded in New Zealand (and yes I have been to all three Wellington ones). 15 Wellington restaurants were also listed as ‘Michelin Recommended’.
  • Opening up birthday presents and being delighted.
  • Going to the hairdresser.
  • Keeping cosy.

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.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

48 Comments

  1. Wow! I’m feeling full already this morning, just looking at all those food photos, Barbara, but I’m so glad you had a good birthday. Wishing you an excellent week ahead and thanks again for the link xx

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  3. Happy belated birthday smiling at the candle atop – just the right amount of sweetness not to feel ‘guilty’ afterwards. Love all your foodie photos as usual and am checking whether I have not seen and read some of the posts you describe. Must see whether I can sight some of your smoked mussel pate . . . my fridge always houses some jars of your green-lipped ones . . . cannot always get herring at my supermarket . . . that has come to ‘make do’ 🙂 !

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  9. It is good to read of your happy birthday celebrations! I wonder which Elizabeth Strout book you are reading – we are a little behind here 🙂

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  14. I already wished you a Happy Birthday, but it is wonderful to see how you enjoyed it 🙂 I love it when something like a book can strike conversations with strangers 🙂

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  15. What a wonderful birthday you had! Our family’s philosophy is to celebrate early and celebrate often, and it sounds as though that’s exactly what you did. How cool that Elizabeth Strout, a Maine writer, is read in New Zealand. Even cooler that you met other people who were reading her. As always, thanks for the mention.

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  18. Happy Birthday, Barbara! Thank you for sharing your perfect celebration with us. I particularly loved your reflections on conversing with strangers. In my experience, being in a public place with a BOOK (or even a pleasant expression on one’s face) is a ticket to wonderful connection, as you said. In contrast, gazing down at one’s phone seems to create something of a wall around the phone-gazer.

    I’m delighted (and not surprised) to know that you too read books in public places and enjoy the company of strangers!

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    1. Thank you! The conversations about what is an excellent book were such fun. Books invite a conversation I agree. A phone is different as it could be the person is reading a serious message from family. Or just doing Wordle.

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      1. Yes, that’s exactly right. Phones (to me) erect a high bar to interruption. I will be deeply immersed in a book — don’t interrupt me! — but if the interruption is about my book, I welcome it. It’s fun to think about this…

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