Friday 21 February 2014

FSO Eating and drinking

A paragraph or two with photos featuring your favourite cafe, coffee shop or restaurant and that tells us why it appeals to you?
 
I went to town on Wednesday armed with my camera.  I had a plan for where I would go for lunch, even what I would order and take pics.  Yes, well!  Time has taken on a whole different meaning now that I'm retired.  I popped in to where I used to work for a catch up and talked for hours, then had another long chat with a friend who also has a son living in Brazil.  In the hardware store I ran into another lady I haven't seen in years and we trotted off to the store cafe for lunch together.  No, that's not my favourite cafe but I did remember to take a photo. 


Revas featured in my post last week, too.  It's definitely top of the pops to me when it comes to eating out.  It's been something of an institution in Whangarei since 1976, I remember I tasted my first ever pizza from that first little 'Pizza Parlour'.  Twelve years later it was still going strong, moved and became a licensed restaurant near the waterfront. Up until then eating out meant dressing up, going someplace where you didn't feel comfortable, coping with pretentious waiters and paying through the nose for the privilege. 


Whangarei developed the Town Basin in the early 90s and in 1995 Revas were invited to open the town's first waterfront restaurant in the new development.   The new Revas had an open fireplace, generous seating inside and outside, and views to live for.  Despite being much larger than their previous premises, it retains the laidback charm and intimacy of the earlier restaurants, including local art on its walls.  




Lovely as it is inside, I always prefer to sit outside, along the verandah looking out at the boats moored in the marina, watching the occasional traffic on the water. 


Fi, from Four Paws and Whiskers  commented last week that she always thinks of Rivas as the place the french traitors ate before the Rainbow Warrior bombing (in 1985).  Before moving to Auckland to carry out their deadly mission, French agents off the yacht, Ouvea, visited Reva‘s and signed her guest book. Two weeks later, the Rainbow Warrior lay sunk in Auckland Harbour, victim of the explosives brought into NZ aboard the yacht. The agents’ moment of carelessness turned out to be a crucial piece of evidence in the subsequent investigation and charges being laid against them.

It will be interesting to see where other FSO contributors like to eat and drink.  They will be here.

12 comments:

  1. love your sunny Northern town. Planning to drive up in 2 weeks.

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  2. The waterfront looks so cozy!

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  3. Oh what a beautiful place! Very envious of you!! x

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  4. Wow, Reva's looks like a great place to dine. I would prefer sitting outside too. Such lovely sights to look at.

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  5. It looks like my cup of tea - would love to eat at your favorite place especially on the waterfront.

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  6. It looks lovely, a place I would enjoy. The story of the French agents eating at this lovley restaurant before the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior brought it all back. Very interesting post Pauline and I enjoyed your photos also.

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  7. I do not live in a "town" and I think that such lack of unity in the shopping areas around me are the reason I rarely run into someone and say "hi."

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  8. Great post. Very informative. I think that cup of coffee looks very inviting, but my favourite pic would have to be the old Revas restaurant. Love the leading lines into it and that red telephone box (?) just catches the eye.

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  9. What a great spot to get some food. That view alone at the waterfront makes it worth the visit.

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  10. I agree with Barb love the shot of the front with the red phone booth. Great narrative with this Pauline. I know how it is when running into friends. My daughter asks me if I know every single person in town. Yes probably.

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  11. Reva's is special to me in that it was the first place you showed me for a coffee on the first occasion that I went to Whangarei. They were preparing for dinner but they still served us coffee and we sat outside watching the harbour's activity (or inactivity!).

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  12. That is the place to eating your lunch, umph, looks good.

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