Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Auckland City Nights

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  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    And the Lynnmall one is probably better than St Lukes, if you're malling

    Yes. I particularly like the grill place in the middle.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    But I bet Leo would hate it with a passion. "Everyone is eating dog food!!".

    Lol.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    I only meant the Japanese one. Don't know enough about the others.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome, in reply to BenWilson,

    Whilst Food Alley is good, the Thai place at the Ponsonby foodcourt wins hands down (for me) because of their excellent yet reasonably priced vegetarian dishes. It also helps its on my walk home...

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    Don't know enough about the others.

    I can assure you the McDonald's is within the acceptable 1% variation that their quality control allows. The chips become disgusting at precisely 7 minutes after being lifted from the fat. The pickles are not crossed. The sundae gives you diarrhea for only one poo. The milkshake will only travel up the straw at the same moment that the chips became revolting. I've not counted the sesame seeds on the buns, but feel pretty sure they will be tightly clustered around the acceptable limit, and evenly spaced. Their menu still runs from the Teresa Gattung playbook of pricing confusion, in which somehow you always ended up with a lot more food than you wanted. I expect McDonald's have modeled this more carefully than Telecom, doing time and motion studies on exactly when the average customer enters the totally confused state, in which upsizing feels like a moment of clarity, but turns out to have been a trap, and the free drink was not a gambit after all, because you realize you didn't actually want a cup of ice and coke syrup.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to HORansome,

    excellent yet reasonably priced vegetarian dishes.

    An alien concept in Thailand though. Even the most humble vegetarian looking dish uses fish sauce.

    I don't think much of the food in the PFC is particularly authentic (tried to order in Bahasa at the Malay place and got a blank stare) but I love the place for the buzz and the people you see - and some of that not that authentic food is really quite delicious.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Even the most humble vegetarian looking dish uses fish sauce.

    Fish isn't vegetarian!?

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    That was my point - there is almost no such thing as vegetarian food in Thailand aside from the likes of fresh fruit dishes. And even when fruit is processed for some dishes, prawn or fish extract is added.

    This explains.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I’ve not counted the sesame seeds on the buns, but feel pretty sure they will be tightly clustered around the acceptable limit, and evenly spaced. Their menu still runs from the Teresa Gattung playbook of pricing confusion, in which somehow you always ended up with a lot more food than you wanted. I expect McDonald’s have modeled this more carefully than Telecom, doing time and motion studies on exactly when the average customer enters the totally confused state, in which upsizing feels like a moment of clarity, but turns out to have been a trap

    Ben, your words are an evocative outpouring.

    I've only ever had hot apple pies from McDonalds, on account of my veganness - when it's 3am and you're driving between Canberra and Sydney, there's very little on the road, and even less that's open.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Fish isn’t vegetarian!?

    I tell people I don't like to consume the souls of other beings. That really throws them.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    there is almost no such thing as vegetarian food in Thailand aside from the likes of fresh fruit dishes. And even when fruit is processed for some dishes, prawn or fish extract is added.

    I tried my luck a little in Thailand, but mostly I just went to the 7-11, where you can read the ingredients.

    You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered that sambal (Indonesian flavoured chilli paste, for the uninitiated) frequently contains shrimp and fish sauce. I still eat it by the spoonful, although I'm careful when buying my own.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to George Darroch,

    I tried my luck a little in Thailand,

    Of course I should be saying, there is almost no such thing as vegetarian in Thai cuisine. Vegetarian food is widely available in Thailand.

    sambal

    The two core ingredients are Shrimp paste and chilli. Indonesian food is a little more vegetarian friendly - as I think we discussed sitting in that cafe in Soi 38 - but not greatly so.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Fish isn't vegetarian?!
    That was my point

    True, I was (badly) paraphrasing the vegan dude in the Scott Pilgim-movie.

    Chicken isn't vegan?

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Aye, the fish sauce thing is awkward (and also eggs are apparently vegetarian, as are shrimps). I'm probably going to Malaysia at some point next year. Anyone know if it's going to be possible to be vegan there?[1]

    1. A friend of mine stopped being a vegetarian a few months because she moved to Russian (so as to get used to eating meat again) because, having lived there before, she said it was next to impossible in Winter to survive on a vegetarian diet.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    True, I was (badly) paraphrasing the vegan dude in the Scott Pilgim-movie.

    I got the irony after I posted.....

    Rather slow today after heavily meat infused pasta last night and cheap Italian red (the mention of such things normally gets a response like 'you have Italian food in Bangkok?')

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to George Darroch,

    Ben, your words are an evocative outpouring.

    My 5 months there were formative. My favorite encounter was with a drunk rural Maori guy who came in and asked for "1 fish and a dollar chips". The look of shock on his face when he saw how much $1 of chips was at McDs was comical/sad. I really felt for the guy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to HORansome,

    I'm probably going to Malaysia at some point next year. Anyone know if it's going to be possible to be vegan there?[1]

    The large Indian population would likely be your best bet outside of KL I'd imagine. Malay food itself is rarely vegetarian.

    In KL itself you can get anything - the food can be incredible.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Anyone know if it’s going to be possible to be vegan there?

    Yes. You'll mainly be eating tofu, simple vegetables, and the same Indian you trust back home. Most speak English well enough to make it easyish.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome, in reply to George Darroch,

    I've been told to stop eating my trusted Indian. The neighbours are being to talk.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I’ve been told to stop eating my trusted Indian. The neighbours are being to talk.

    Think nothing of it. Personhood is conferred, not axiomatic.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to HORansome,

    A friend of mine stopped being a vegetarian a few months because she moved to Russian (so as to get used to eating meat again) because, having lived there before, she said it was next to impossible in Winter to survive on a vegetarian diet.

    I travelled through the good 'ole Soviet Union in the mid-eighties and food was generally... umm... a challenge. It practically made me want to become a vegetarian.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to George Darroch,

    Yes. You'll mainly be eating tofu, simple vegetables, and the same Indian you trust back home.

    But watch out for the salt - often in the cheaper places it's chicken salt. Asking for vegetarian and actually getting it in SEA are quite divergent experiences. At least in the Indian places there is often a religious reason to expect.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    But watch out for the salt - often in the cheaper places it's chicken salt.

    Don't they just have a chicken fly over a vatful of the stuff before they package it, as they're reputed to do with chicken flavoured chips?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to HORansome,

    I've been told to stop eating my trusted Indian. The neighbours are being to talk

    They're probably conspiring against you...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I'm only at page 7. I think it's what your doing it for and why they did it. If you can find that out ,I don't think a tip is great unless you are broke and needed it. But Ben's matter of factness is quite typical of what is a winner for yourself. Something like what Islander did, seems a wonderful gesture.I think if that happened to me, it would bring tears to my eyes because it reflected someone's impression of me. Carol and Danielle are right too, don't ya think? Giving is the best anyone can do for another, and if it floats your boat....

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

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