Gengy's Mongolian BBQ

Posted by Boysmum2 over at Life Today

When my boys went to stay with Grandma, they had the pleasure of eating out here, Gengy's Mongolian BBQ.

Now I have never had the pleasure and was a little unsure of how the whole process worked.
So last weekend I decided we needed to venture forth and conquer.
I invited Grandma to join us, for moral support etc.

I will never know what I was afraid of?
If you have never been to Gengy's then now is the time to go.
Unlike other buffet restaurants where you pay to eat as much as you like of the prepared food on offer here at Gengy's you pay to eat as much of the food that you choose that is then cooked how you like it, when you want it. Ok they only serve stirfry, but when it is cooked to your own liking with you own personal ingredients in it, stir fry sounds great.

You get to choose all sorts of raw meat, chicken, beef, lamb or pork even seafood (marinated available if you want too) you add to this any or all of the vegetables available, add a little oil, any sauce flavouring you desire and simply hand it to the chef who then, right in front of you, cooks your stirfry to your liking, simple.
The food was fresh and inviting, there was only a small amount out at a time so it was constantly being changed with fresh stuff. The areas were clean and tidy and this can be difficult to do when you have everyone helping themselves all the time.
Half the fun was standing watching them cook your food. The boys were enthrailed with the flames flying up in the area when the chef made the oil light up and the smell was definitely mouth watering.

My 2 loved this idea and I am amazed at the stuff they agreed to eat, vegetables were being added that I was surprised they wanted and further more actually ate when cooked!
Because you get to choose your own ingredients then there is no wastage because everyone gets dinner how they want it.
Which makes for a pleasant meal because you then don't have to spend the whole meal listening to people saying "I don't like this!" or "I didn't want this tonight!" or "Did we have to have chicken tonight?"

Price wise, they were reasonable as well.
Adults $28.95 and children $3 + $1 per year of age (ie: 6 yrs = $9)
They had quite a few specials available as well.
Students with ID $22.95
Early Bird Special $24.95 (adult) - this is where you can eat between 5-7pm on Friday or Saturday evening but you must be out by 7.15pm.
We however, were not aware of this but we booked a table for 6pm, had dinner and were out by 7.15 anyway, so time wise we know that it was not a rush to eat in an allocated time frame and considering the queues for the food at 7pm I am gald we did eat earlier otherwise the boys would have been complaining about it taking so long, although the queues moved reasonably fast.

There are restaurants available in Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton and Rotorua.

For a peace free meal where everyone eats what they want, cooked how they like it, I couldn't ask for anything better.
We will definitely be going back there.

A meal of incredible inaccuracy - Dennys on Hobson Street, Auckland

By: The Spy at The Undercover Bloggers

So. Hubby, myself and our 22 month old boy hit Denny's on Hobson Street in Auckland, after going to "Walking With Dinosaurs" (An EXCELLENT SHOW, but that's another story!)

We have been to this and other Dennys Restaurants in the past and had both good and bad experiences, however it is usually quite good at this one.

I orderered a Hawaiian Chicken Roll meal, Hubby ordered a Mushroom Cheese Burger and for our boy we ordered a Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Curly Fries (That's how the menu said that they come.)

So. What did we recieve? First the Manager came out with a plate with two pieces of ham and said he was sorry, but his cook had forgotten to put the ham in my roll. That was ok, mistakes happen. Then we realised Dex's Curly Fries were not curly fries but in fact normal fries (which were not very nice anyway).

And then. Yes. There was more.

Hubby bites into his Mushroom Cheese Burger only to find...... no mushroom. A tiny bit of cheese. He couldn't get the attention of any staff, and we didn't have one of the push buttons at our table that are at many others, so he had to go and wait at the counter while heaps of people were served/seated, while his meal got cold. Then when he finally gets to the counter and says what the problem is, the Manager says, get this, "Oh, well is it ok like that?... (after some silence) Oh, would you like me to get the mushrooms for it?" Well.. um. Yes Thanks, seeing as I ordered a mushroom cheese burger.

We had planned to stay for dessert but after them getting 3/3 meals wrong, we figured there wasn't a lot of point, as we were bound to get the wrong thing. So we went up to the counter, paid our bill and left, with no apology for the amazing lack of ability to manage even one correct meal at a table.

Needless to say, that's us done with Denny's in the CBD. Except maybe for their Oreo Shakes/Sundaes as those are still usually pretty good!

Saints Alive!

By Meghan of MNM's

Take 4 people.

 A mummy and a daddy.

And their mummy and daddy visiting from far, far away.

Make it Friday night. Seven thirty would be a good time.

Give them an easy-to-find car park right across the road. Which will surprise them no end given its Sevens night in Wellington and the city is heaving.

Give them a quiet area of the restaurant far away from the noise of the bar and a table by the window. It will have a view of the new waka to be unveiled at Sunday's Waitangi celebrations, and a cheeky outlook onto the big screen showing the Sevens.

Take some tempura lime and chilli prawns for starters.

Followed by 2 massive 400g prime rib steaks, a venison Wellington, and a fish,crayfish and scallop selection. Don't forget the shoestring fries with aioli.

Give them a break after dinner, to chat some more while they consider if there could possibly be room for dessert. They'll work out there's really not much so they'll just share one Boca Negra - chocolate fudge cake with Pinot Noir strawberries between them all.

What does all this add up to? A night they will never forget at Saint Johns Bar. They'll declare it the best meal they've had in ages. And they'll be right.

Oh and it's a Buy one Main, get one Main free in the local Entertainment book too!


St Johns Heineken Hotel
5 Cable Street
Wellington City
www.stjohnsbar.co.nz
04 801 8017

Safran Restaurant: Perfect

STORY BY SIMONE FROM GREATFUN4KIDS

When you're parents to a bunch of kids with no local grandparents to babysit, it's a rare treat to get a night out. Even more rare is a night out with other Friends who have kids. A whole bunch of you let out for the night, to eat and drink and talk uninterrupted. Bliss.
So a couple of weeks ago when a bunch of friends all met to go out for dinner, I probably wouldn't really have minded if we were meeting somewhere pretty average. The main thing was to be out, right?

We hitched a ride in our friends' car, boys in the front, girls in the back, giggling like teenagers off to a party and arrived in Newmarket with no idea what to expect from the restaurant. One of our freind's had picked it. None of us had been there except her. All we knew was the name and location: Safran, in Newmarket. Spanish and Mediterranean food.

First impressions: my kind of place.
Quirky, characterful, lots of candles and plenty of atmosphere.
The waiters all speak with intriguing accents and smile  a lot. Nothing is a problem.
There is plenty on the menu. Even for a gluten-free girl like me.
There were about 20 of us, all seated around a long banqueting table, having a great ole time. Safran is perfect for groups, but also can accommodate romantic twosomes with little nooks and crannies, all candlelit. It's the kind of place I would happily visit with my hubby. So much atmosphere, so relaxed. A place to enjoy yourself and feel comfortable.

I had left my camera behind so borrowed my mate's iPhone and annoyed everyone with my snapping of pics.
Totally loved the Sangria. Mmmm the dips were delish.
Nice big mains, I would have had the salmon (was served on something with wheat so no go for me) so i had the steak. Again: Delish.

Then it came to the dessert and I was scared. I rate a good restaurant by the quality and variety of their desserts, but would there be anything for me, Miss Gluten Free??
Oh happy day!! The pannacotta with star anise and apricot sauce. The waitress even knew which menu items were gluten free. Wow. And when my dessert came in all it's glory I was not disappointed. I did not feel deprived. It was delicious. And big. And oh so heavenly.

Oh Safran. Now that I have discovered thee will any other restaurant do? I will be back with bells on. And look, now I'm telling all my friends about you. Oh how I love Thee.

Safran Cafe Restaurant

71 Davis Crescent

Newmarket Auckland City

Ph 09-5205664

Website (with menus)

Turkish Food-lovers' Delight

STORY BY ANGELA NOELLE FROM STRIKING KEYS

I once had a hankering for Turkish garlic bread.

It looks like this.

And tastes like this:

So I went in to get some. The little bell at the door sounded my arrival, and I giddily trotted to the counter.

But no one came to greet me.

I signed the petition supporting more severe penalties for animal cruelty.

I read the wall menu.

I lamented lacking the budget to sample the pistachio Turkish Delight in the glass jar on the counter. Pistachio flavour! Pistachio.

I scanned a magazine.

I leaned in attempt to peer into the kitchen, out back.

My gaze returned to the Turkish Delight.

Nope, I only came for the garlic bread. I could only afford the garlic bread. I would only get the garlic bread.

Still no one.

Then I decided I should try coming in the door again.

"Ding!"

There appeared the familiar face of the owner, no less.

With many apologies, he took my order, and swiped my card. I was chatty and cheerful - because I would be eating Turkish garlic bread soon.

Apparently someone was on the phone elsewhere in the building (preventing eftpos use). The owner apologised even more...then offered me a bag of complimentary pistachio Turkish Delight for "all my trouble".

Me = happy camper.

Thank you, Yilmaz, for being an example of gooooooood service.

Yilmaz Dunedin
906 George St Dunedin North
Phone 0800-YILMAZ
Website

Romantic Restaurant = Great Date

You know how it is sometimes when kids come on the scene? Romance can tend to get lost in all the chaos and busyness. It's something we have to be deliberate about, which I am not always good at.

Since I have been a little distracted with the raising of three rascals, the upkeep of one domicile and the endless blogging all that entails, it would seem that my poor hardworking man has felt a little bit neglected. Overlooked. Uncared-for.

It never even occurred to me before that I could be the one to book a babysitter, plan a date night, take the initiative. Old fashioned girl that I am! Sitting around waiting for the man (who happens to be my husband! duh!) to ask me out??

Realising my neglectfulness (after a few "marital discusions"), on Friday I took the bull by the horns, and for the first time ever in our marriage I initiated a Date Night. On a whim I booked a babysitter. In a burst of enthusiasm I googled "Italian restaurants" and booked one that looked good.