Chistmas Eve Dinner at Mudbrick Vineyard

A perfect way to kick off Christmas!  A beautiful setting on Waiheke Island, great weather, and -- uh oh -- the food pictures are showing up. This was one of the most well presented meals ever, and every dish absolute perfection.  I couldn't have been happier.  With great credit to John, he made some advanced reservations for our house, our Christmas dinner, and a few other key things.  We would surely have been shut out otherwise, as the island is definitely hopping now!

The property is on the west end of the island, which has some of the best hikes and walks - and a few other nice vineyards we visited like Cable Bay.

 

We can't get enough of the local Te Matuku oysters (and champagne) followed by some Atlantic king scallops with edamame, tete de cochon croquette, citrus tapioca and black quinoa.  I also had tuna Ika Mata, with watermelon, coconut, yuzu and coriander.  Then we had our main courses - sparing you the photos, but I had a beautiful fresh variation on a Caesar salad with white anchovies, grana padano, quail egg, chicken and brioche; John had a shellfish laksa with vanilla, lemon, black dauphine.  Desert was a deconstructed carrot cake, with cream cheese, walnuts, salted caramel ice cream.  Everything was outstanding! 

When we travel, John is all about where we're staying, and I'm all about what we're eating. It's a dangerous but fun combination!