The Old Shipping Office Church Street Akaroa Phone 460

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 27

The Old Shipping Office Church Street Akaroa Phone 460

(By

GARRY BRITTENDEN

The quaint and historical Old Shipping Office restaurant provides a most interesting place to eat in Akaroa. Built in 1891 to serve the needs of a busy port, the building was used as a shipping office, flats and an antique shop before becoming a restaurant earlier this year. The building has one architectural peculiarity: the wooden facade has been made to resemble stone. There has been extensive renovation of the interior and much effort has been spent in an attempt to create an appropriate atmosphere. This is a very pleasant place to eat but I think the interior could have been

improved with more consistency and taste. The blue walls do not provide a feeling of warmth, while the intricate and expensive light fittings clash with the simple tables and booth seating arrangement. We came to eat, however, and the blackboard menu provided interesting, even exotic choices. We began with soup, with the choice between cream of chicken and corn, and mushroom. I found the mushroom soup perfect. The quantity was generous, the dish full of chopped, juicy mushrooms and it was beautifully creamed. My friend, who had the cream of chicken and corn, was also fulsome in her praise, noting especially the quantity of fresh ingredients. The main course provided a choice of fillets of lamb served in a vermouth and herb sauce; pasta fettuccine served with basil sauce, and baked fish fillets topped with mushroom and marjoram sauce. I chose the lamb dish and, not being a regular eater of red meats, I was a little apprehensive. I need not have been, the lamb arrived, covered with onions, fresh herbs and the vermouth sauce. The result upon the humble lamb and my unsuspecting palate was most pleasurable. The fillets of fish also met with approval. Although my friend felt the fish was not overly flavoured, the mushroom and marjoram sauce and an attractive presentation offered ample compensation.

Another of our group, who chose the fettuccine, was initially surprised and disappointed to be presented with shell-shaped noodles, and not the traditional fettuccine of Italy. The skilful cooking and fine flavour, however, made the over-all reaction a positive one.

The vegetables with the main courses were runner beans, cooked grated beetroot and corn on the cob. They were delicious. Nothing was overcooked, and the corn on the cob was a rare and delightful treat.

The desserts offered the temptations of home-made rock melon and ginger ice cream, blackcurrant cheesecake or fresh fruit salad. To me the home-made ice cream was the highlight of the evening. Home-made ice cream is usually rather special but the creamy texture and fresh fruit taste made this exquisite.

The blackcurrant cheesecake was a little strongly flavoured but I found the real fruit flavour rather good. Our over-all feelings about the evening could be summed up by the one word — quality. Everything was done with quality in mind. The cooking was superb, the presentation of the various dishes interesting and very imaginative, while the service was prompt, efficient and friendly.

The size of each dish was also noted with approval. The sight of a huge plate piled high with food does nothing at all for the palate. At The Old Shipping Office, dishes were of a moderate size, and appropriately priced. I completed the three courses with the feeling of having had plenty to eat, but not too much. The other thing which appealed to me was the feeling that we, as diners, were not there simply to provide a profit for the management. What was clear was a real pride in

what was being produced, and pleasure in pleasing the customer. The dinner for two came to a very modest ?20. A visit can. be highly recommended.