We were headed to Rakaia Gorge for a training session. As it was almost lunch time, we thought we might as well stop by Methven for a quick lunch.

As I haven’t had a proper breakfast, I opted for the waffles. The cinnamon waffles is served with banana, bacon, and syrup. Yum-my! I love this cafe. I would normally stop by whenever I pass through Methven. The last time being a couple of weeks ago. The staff are great.

The voucher was for one complimentary main menu item when another main menu item of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 30. We saved at least NZD 15 this time.

We have finally done it! Considering the occasion, there’s no excuse for putting it off any longer. The much discussed Degustation Menu at Retour. A four course dining experience—two entrees, a main, and a dessert.

I’ll sum it up with—What an experience! The Kir Royale cocktail I order tasted like Champagne… probably because it was mixed with Champagne. The service was top class.

The Gold Card offer was for 25 percent off the total bill; up to NZD 40. Needless to say, we maxed out the NZD 40 savings this time.

Official website: Retour

It wasn’t a particularly nice day as it was drizzling; but I needed an excuse to get out of town. The name Brew Moon Garden Cafe captured my attention, so I thought what could be better than lunch in Amberley.

Since they serve their local brew, I couldn’t resist ordering myself an Amberley Pale Ale. For my main, I had the Moroccan Chicken. Overall, the food was good. I liked the Moroccan spices on the chicken and the couscous. I enjoyed the beer too of course. The staff are lovely.

The voucher was for one complimentary main course when another main course of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 35. We saved NZD 25 this time.

Official website: Brew Moon Garden Cafe

A friend suggested having lunch together. After flipping through the Entertainment Book, we settled on Trevinos. It was very quiet while we were there, possibly because we were having a very late lunch.

I had the veal schnitzel. I don’t normally order schnitzel and I probably never will again. It was too cheesy and too tomato-ry for my liking. Other than that, I don’t have any complaints. The service was great.

The Gold Card offer was for one complimentary main course when another main course of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 35. We saved at least NZD 27 this time.

Official website: Trevinos Restaurant and Bar

As it was such a lovely day, we decided it would be a good idea to have lunch at Mona Vale. So, we did. Not all the flowers are out yet. We were seated in the appropriately named, River View Lounge, as you can see from the photo above. Glad to report, no major earthquake damage.

I ordered the twice cooked pork belly, which was served on udon noodles, with bok choy, spring onions, and ginger broth. The pork was so tender. The food tasted great but the portion was a bit light for lunch. The service was great.

The Gold Card offer was for one complimentary main course when another main course of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 30. We saved at least NZD 25 this time.

Official website: Mona Vale

As it was a fine afternoon, we decided to head to the Terrace Wine Bar & Cafe in Darfield for lunch. Darfield is very close to the epicentre of the recent earthquake. The town itself seems to be largely unaffected.

I had the Roasted Pork Fillets. The first word that comes to mind is hearty. The pork tasted average but it was definitely filling. The pork crackle was nicely done. The staff was lovely and the service was great. The place was fairly quiet; possibly due to the recent earthquake. Then again, Darfield isn’t exactly a big town.

The voucher was for one complimentary main course when another main course of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 35. We saved NZD 27 this time.

Official website: Terrace Wine Bar & Cafe

As it was such a lovely day, we decided to head to New Brighton for lunch. We took a detour through the city to check out the earthquake damages. Roads are still blocked off in certain places. Anyway, we got to the beach without too much drama. I had my camera with me but forgot to take a photo. In my defense, I was distracted.

I had the Chicken Korma combo deal, which included rice, plain naan, a soft drink, and a couple of entree bits. The korma was nice and I think the combo deal is worth the price. As I requested medium hot, my korma had a bit of a kick. I would say it is just nice as I wasn’t sweating or anything. The staff were courteous.

The voucher was for 25 percent off the total bill; up to NZD 20. We saved at least NZD 10 this time.

Official website: South of India

That, my friend, is apparently a salmon. I didn’t even know that when I took the photo. Anyway, you can’t possibly miss it when you pass through Rakaia. That salmon ties in nicely with the Salmon Tales Cafe that we visited for brunch today.

As you might guess, it’s yet another fish and chips for me. I went for the large size, which filled me up really nicely. I believe there’s also a salmon option, but I couldn’t quite imagine salmon and chips. That’s just ain’t right. Anyway, the fish and chips was rather average. Service was good.

The voucher was for 25 percent off the total bill; up to NZD 35. We saved NZD 23.40 this time.

Official website: Salmon Tales Cafe

I felt like having something French for lunch. I’ve seen the Le Tour De France voucher before and thought this would be a nice day to try it. Let the French flag guide you if you’re not sure where the place is. The interior decor definitely have a very French feel to it. There are several paintings of the Eiffel Tower. Considering the name, I expected to see a few cyclists but there were none while we were there.

We ordered escargot, as in the photo above, for our entree and I ordered the duck breast for my main. The food was great. I particularly enjoyed the combination of duck breast and orange. I saw crayfish on the menu but the price… let’s just say the voucher wouldn’t cover it. The staff are really friendly; complete with French accent.

The voucher was for one complimentary main course when another main course of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 25. We saved at least NZD 15 this time.

I have St Pierre’s sushi fairly regularly; partly because their sushi is available through a takeaway shop close to my work place. I like their sushi. At one point, I was having their sushi almost weekly. They have quite a wide variety to choose from. My favourite is the one with the crispy chicken.

The voucher was for one complimentary regular size sushi pack (8 piece pack) when another regular size sushi pack (8 piece pack) of equal or greater value is purchased; up to NZD 8. I saved about NZD 6 this time; but would have been more if I wasn’t short-changed.