Reporter’s diary

Press, 23 June 1986, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Rainbow fare

ALTHOUGH the Rainbow Warrior affair was anything but funny, it has, like all such events, generated its share of black humour. A leading Rangiora hotel, the Junction, recently obtained the services of an excellent chef of French descent, and someone has good-na-turedly suggested some modifications to an already fine menu. Diners could order Rainbow trout (listing to starboard on the plate, with a gash in its bottom), fresh Greenpeace vegetables, and French fries. And what about a bottle of Chateau Prieur to wash it down? Good-humoured though Michel may be, it is doubtful that the dish will ever grace his table. Short change WHO SAID that New Zealand rugby lacks imagination? In Southland recently the Foveaux Golden Oldies used an innovative tactic — probably a world “first,” in fact — to baffle the Marist Wombles. The line-out call went out, “Let’s make this a short one,” and the Wombles watched bemused as the Foveaux fowards lined up in the kneeling position. It was their throw-in, and they won th 6, ball. This tactic

migm not be Alex Wyllie’s cup of tea, but you never know when it might come in handy ... Lamb dishes RESTAURANTS throughout New Zealand are featuring rather special lamb dishes every day this month as their chefs compete for a trip for two to Vancouver, Canada. This is the first prize in the Meat Producers’ Board’s gold plaque competition, designed to stimulate chefs to create some really superb dishes from our “national meat,” and to ensure that some of the best prime grade carcases are available to the hotel and restaurant trade. One finalist from each of the four regions will be selected to compete in a final “cook-off” at Bellamy’s on August 4. In the meantime diners at any of the 30 restaurants involved are able to taste efforts that may become regional or national winners. These dishes will remain on the restaurants’ menus for at least two months after the competition. The Meat Board’s promotions consultant, Mrs Robyn Cameron, says that the chefs are serving lamb in a wide variety of ways, with an interesting list of herbs and other ingredients such as morel and shiitake mushrooms,

smokea salmon and leeK, onion marmalade, muttonbird, pistachio nuts and truffles. “These dishes are quite unlike anything mother served at home, but the competition might inspire home cooks to try something a little different with lamb,” said Mrs Cameron. Dead end QUOTED in the Public Service Association Journal ' from a Government department notice board: “A committee is a cul-de-sac into which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.” Uplifting A NEW restaurant near the Vatican caters for those who enjoy fine food with a bit of spiritual uplift on the side — if not on the menu. L’Eau Vive is run by women from a lay Roman Catholic order. They describe themselves as “Roman virgins in the manner of Joan of Arc,” and all the profits from their French restaurant go to charity. The less spiritual items on the menu include veal brains and wild boar pate. Meals are interrupted regularly for readings from Scripture and singings of “Ave Maria.” Safe flying AUSTRALIA has the saf-

est airlines in the world on both international and domestic flights, according to a 10-year study of accident records published in “Flight International.” The average fatal accident rate, based on the statistics of 25 leading flying nations between 1973 and 1984, was 1.8 for every million landings. Australia’s figure was only 0.06. Scandinavia, Japan, the United States, France, Britain and West Germany followed Australia in the air safety ratings. The least safe countries were the Soviet Union, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, and Colombia. Everybody’s? HARRODS of London, in jumping up and down about small companies round the world using the name, seems to be ignoring its own Latin motto: “Omnia, Omnibus, Übique.” (Everything, Everyone, Everywhere.) Too tough? A RECENT match between Ashburton’s Tinwald and Celtic netball teams ended with a bang halfway through the second half. The ball exploded. Comer