Lunch

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 17

Lunch

Sign of the Takahe Hackthorne Road, Cashmere Hills, Cashmere. Phone 324-052 (8.Y.0.)

it is rarely that a feeling of well-being, even of living in opulence, can be discovered without thought of overdrafts, but lunch at The Sign of the Takahe provides these comforts at a cost which, by present standards, is astonishingly low.

Christchurch is not short of attractions for the tourists, and this must surely be reckoned among them. It may not rank, either iin historical interest or in accessibility, with a visit to the Pronvincial Council Chambers, but history must sometimes take second place to gastronomies and there are occasions when a museum has far less attraction than a Moselle as a proper accompaniment to good food.

But it should not be only the visitor to Christchurch who appreciates this asset. The Takahe appeals as an excellent restaurant for a business lunch although it is a few kilomatres from the city centre, it is very accessible. there is ample parking about the building. Most important, the food is excellent. There is something special about the Takahe, but if it offers a hint of the baronial hall, midday is no hour for roaring log fires, mediaeval music, and huge hounds strewn about the carpet.

There would probably be a by-law about the hounds, at anv rate. No, the management of the Takahe has managed to retain the charm of the old stone building and put with it catering which would appeal to the most fastidious.

An air of welcome pervades the place. Our visit was on a bleak morning, but our table still afforded a pleasant view of the plains. On aa clear day, the mountain views are excellent. And if it was cold outside, there was a gentle warmth within. Lunch at the Takahe is a smorgasbord, and at noon promptly it was in a state of perfect presentation — a further appeal to the man on a tight time schedule. If the organisation is efficient, there is an unhurried air about the place. One can lunch at a personal pace, yet there are no delays, although business was brisk. The handsome brass candlesticks and the soft candlelight, the attractive flower arrangements all helped to make

this lunch something of an occasion.

So much for the background; even the Albert Hall would not do much for a standard two group of be-: ginners on the recorder. But the Takahe setting was matched by its food. , There was a very pleasant, bland pumpkin soup, and the hot dish was a fine beef Stroganoff fortified with mushrooms and served with sesameal bread.

There was an astonishing variety of cold meats and salads, presented by someone with the eye of an artist. There were three in our party, each one having a different basic dish. All three, who seldom agree on anything, concurred on the excellence of the cooking. A particular pleasure was the rare beef; seldom can one find it done to perfection, as this was. There were five meats, including chicken and ham, and 10 salads.

The egg salad, it was reported, was a particular de-

light. With it was an intriguing cream sauce, wmen probably has one of those closelyguarded recipes handed down from, father to son. This spectacular array was supported by an abundance of pickles and relishes. Both gourmet and gourmand have very thing going for them here. There was an abundance, yet an abundance of quality. So-to the sweets. Reported to us was the quality of the cheesecake, with dried fruits in the base to counter the sweetness of the dish. We were not quite so fortunate, in ■ choosing the apple shortcake. Someone at a school tuck shop might have accepted it willingly enough. This was the only slight flaw in a really excellent meal. Lunch at . the Takahe can be thoroughly -recommended. In setting, in style, in quality, it was outstanding. Even the most acquisitive of people might find it slightly embarrassing to pay only $7.00 for such a fine meal.