Garlic Bread from Spaghetti House Italian Restaurant - in the Cook Islands

Spaghetti House Italian Restaurant

1 Puaikura Drive, Arorangi, Cook Islands
Ara Tapu, Arorangi, Cook Islands

T: (+ 682) 25 441

www.edgewater.co.ck 

email:  dining@edgewater.co.ck

The Edgewater Resort & Spa is a well-known Cook Islands resort on the west coast of Rarotonga, and Edgewater's Spaghetti House Italian Restaurant is conveniently located at the Resort's entrance on the main road.

Open seven nights from 5.00pm to 9.30pm, the Spaghetti House Italian Restaurant has authentic Italian cuisine.

The Spaghetti House Italian Restaurant offers a selection of pizzas, pastas and other signature Italian dishes in air-conditioned comfort.

----------------------------------------------------

Here ends the blurb! 

Suffice to say - we recently went there - among other places, while celebrating our recent 40th Wedding anniversary!! Good times. . . . . 

The Garlic bread itself was advertised as: 

Garlic Bread $8.50 
Topped with garlic butter & Parmesan cheese. 

The first above image was from trip advisor's website (which may well have been the "official" Edgewater image (shrugs - who knows?) 

This image to the right, was what was delivered to our table - and was as expected - a crusty dry bread (over-baked?) with a sprinkling of tomato salsa and the cheese!  To its credit - there was also a decent 'Garlic" flavor present - (in the Salsa??) 

Surprisingly - it was easy to eat and did not leave you feeling bloated / full prior to the main dinner!! 

Luke warm to the touch - it never was hot enough to melt the cheese - which was always in danger of falling off as the slice traveled from plate to mouth!

At least - NO napkin under the bread . .  

The cynic in me thinks this is how the pizza's originated in the 1800's . . . . .  

Presentation	2 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	1 out of 5
Overall score:	9 (out of poss 20)

Have Fun

Garlic Bread From the Lucky Rooster Eatery/Cafe in Rarotonga

Located in: Avarua Shopping Centre

Address: Maire Nui Drive, Avarua, Cook Islands
 

Phone: +682 22 215  

Reservations: theluckyroostereatery.com  (via website online form)

Sometimes - you just have to be 'pro-active' or just damn lucky!!  

Of course there is yet another backstory!! The Roosters are a very prominent and VERY vocal feature in The Cook Islands!! The crow ALL and I do mean A L L night long!!!  :(  

In any case - someone decided to make a play on that and name their Cafe after the noisy Rooster's!! Having dropped some friends to the Airport we decided to treat ourselves for a lunch meal out!! Typical Cook Islands - they are open from 8.30am to 2pm!  So we sat down and perused the menu which did NOT list garlic bread - and cheeky me asked the waiter if they do one at all!! 

Yuss - we have a winner!!

The bread was surprisingly light to eat!! We both could easily have had one more slice each! The flavor was divine! It could  have had a sprinkling of herbs - and as all things in the Cook islands - they to would have to be shipped in . . .  so understandable. 

The only major detraction was the white napkin placed under the bread!! Bummer but for that It would have been a perfect rating!!  

Upon paying our bill - I spotted the Brick Pizza oven in the middle of the kitchen - and asked if they still use it for making their pizzas - alas - they use it to bake all of their home made breads only - fresh every day!! Nice!!

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	19 (out of poss 20)

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Garlic Bread from Valentines in Hornby

Valentines Hornby 

7/11 Chalmers Street, 
Christchurch, New Zealand

Ph: 03-421 8926
Email: hornbyreception@valentines.co.nz

https://www.facebook.com/Valentineshornby

Ooooh Wadda-mistaka-I-maka . . . . . 

I forgot to take a picture - so had to hunt for it on their Facebook page - luckily for me - I found this!!

I think that is a bottle of  - urm - drink - and yeah - probably some seafood chowder!!

Anyhow - it was someone's not so special birthday and we had received this flier via letterbox - so felt tempted to drive across town and see/eat!! 

Now I KNOW - it is a Buffet style eatery place! These seem to have gone out of fashion in Christchurch, so not sure what to expect!! Well, this was nicely laid out and spacious and had its own special atmosphere . . .  

Naturally the warm food sits in special bain-marie - obviously - to keep the hordes of people from eating cold what should be warm! Even the Garlic Bread was under a metal cover!  I was really wondering what to expect!  Help yourselves to as many pieces as you may want!!

The picture above is probably as good and truthful as it is in real life! Definitely in previous life a french baguette and cut and buttered ON BOTH sides. Good flavor and the herbs looked attractive! The ' middle' bits still (luke) warm to the touch and soft -as was the outside crust! ( a function of the water-bath keeping warm method?!?!?!) 

Given it is a buffet style place where a bulk food is waiting for you - as opposed to made fresh to order - this was surprisingly a good offering! 

Given that myself made the arrangements on my plate - along with the other appetizer's  - I fail to 'rate' the presentation - and there is not a lot one can do with a small mountain inside the warming bowl . . . 

Thus - given all the limitations - not a bad score! Def could have been worse!! 

 

Presentation	1 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	4 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	13 (out of poss 20)

Have Fun

 

 

PS - Just so you understand - 

this BLOG is most definitely  N O T  sponsored by the soft-drink on display . . .  

Garlic Bread from Saints - Cafe, Restaurant & Bar in Hanmer

Saints - Cafe, Restaurant & Bar 

6 Jacks Pass Road, 
Hanmer Springs 


Phone: 03-315-5262, 

Web: www.saintshanmer.co.nz/ 

 

    Golly - sometimes life gets in the way of living!!  It has been ages since we went out - let alone eating a garlic bread from a Cafe or such!! That said - occasionally we buy a ready made version from our normal super market, and - as they say - this is another story for another time !  

    This time however, we decided to have a romantic (translate NO cooking ) weekend away from home!  A real treat!! To this end we booked a place at Saints in Hanmer!! And yes - one does have to book as we found out, while eating there (and they do 2 seating's) as it was full for the 6pm seating!!! 

The menu had two options:

GARLIC LOAF 
Our celebrated garlic loaf accompanied by our basil pesto & sweet chilli dipping sauce.
$ 14.90 

and  

SAINTS FLAT BREAD 
Freshly rolled 8-inch Saints pizza base topped with fresh garlic, rosemary, mozzarella
& Parmesan cheese.
$ 16.90

    Now - you understand -a LOAF!! At times these were so large that they resembled a rugby ball!! For two people - you are sated before your mains arrives - not what we wanted! So we picked the Flat Bread - full well knowing it is not our preferential Garlic Bread-style!! At least we know what we were getting!! 

    It duly arrived - A F T E R -  the waiter brought out a tiny bowl of warm water with a slice of lemon in it!! Ignoramus that I am thus my darling wife educated me by saying: "it is NOT for drinking" - rather for a quick dip/wash of the fingers - should there be an excess of oil dripping . . . . - Nice touch!! 

    The Pizza base was fine - hot touch initially and had plenty of cheese flavor - which seemed to overpower / distract from the Garlic flavor!! Typical of Pizzas - they get a cut when fresh out of the oven - you can see the slices - and they kind of semi-rejoin by the time they get to the table so we had to break some gently of!! No artistic arrangements as sometimes is the case!! 

    On reflection - there was still plenty to eat - so maybe as a volume thing - it might rival the loaf????  Also - you could easily sell/advertise this as a 'garlic pizza' - given the two flavors / and two typical pizza cheese's as toppings . . . . 

Presentation	1 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	3 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	9 (out of poss 20)

Have Fun 

Garlic Bread from Dawsons Hotel in Reefton

 

 Dawsons Hotel

 74 Broadway, Reefton 7830,
   West Coast, New Zealand

Ph:  +64 3 732 8406

Email: stay@dawsonshotel.co.nz
www:  https://www.dawsonshotel.co.nz/

The Garlic Bread arrived in good time and was still "finger-touch" hot! Artistically? arranged (did not suffer from transport) and on a plain porcelain plate - no napkin underneath the bread - two big pluses!! 

A smattering of herbs - which does lead me to belief that an actual butter was used - BUT - as I could not see any of the tiny bits of Garlic - I was wondering if a garlic infused oil was used instead! Given that the menu lists the item as 'V' - meaning Vegetarian - oil most certainly was used! Dang

Crusty bread on outside and soft on the inside, while maybe a touch to dry bread to eat - certainly could have done with more butter to melt into the bread! 2 slices for each person - more then enough!

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	3 out of 5
Taste:	1 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	11 (out of poss 20)

Have Fun

Garlic Bread from Thatcher & Small - Hokitika

Thatcher & Small All Day Dining place

84 Revell Street,  Hokitika, NZ

www.thatcherandsmall.co.nz

Tel:  +6432809636

Email:  hello@thatcherandsmall.co.nz

 

Oddly enough - I was thinking of a different Thatcher (one ex UK) - which would have been just dandy as we took a certain UK gal' round a short round trip in NZ!

Their website says : You’ll discover vintage charm and contemporary elegance – an homage to Thatcher and Small’s mesmerizing performances.  - Have to be honest - NEVER heard of either of them . . . .

Thus to the bread - advertised as Housemade Garlic butter, sweet chilli and grilled cheese at $17.-

Not sure what type of Bread this originally was - it would seem certain to be a square initial bun type that was cut diagonally (to the delight of my lady).

Slightly crusty on the outside and then the garlic, smattering of herbs and - yes that baked cheese on top - then artistically arranged on the platter and then - drowned -  with a chilli sauce! 

Now if you a fan of that - by all  means great stuff.  This writer prefers the garlic bread to be - urm - naked for a better word! Naturally given the sauce was just spread over the top - some of it ended up on the plate - whence no napkin underneath - which is a plus - as was the plate itself! We split the bread between 3 of us - so almost left wanting a slice . . . .

 

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	2 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	14 (out of poss 20)

Have Fun

Garlic Bread from The Vibe in Papanui, Christchurch

The Vibe

88 Harris Crescent, Papanui,
Christchurch 8053,
New Zealand

Tel:  03 3520203  

Web:  https://thevibepapanui.co.nz/

 

 

It is a little neighborhood eatery, and the pictures on the web looked great! Turns out the size of the place is actually quite small!

Still

This offering would have to  be ALMOST perfect! The plate was hot, as was the bread! Crispy on the outside and soft fleshy inside. Lots of flavor and a good sprinkling of herbs! Triangular plates are a rarity to see! NO napkin underneath - rather a soy??/sauce drawing - excellent!!  Even though we were  moderately hungry - 8 pieces between two of us was just a tiny amount too much - 6 would have been perfect - whence the ALMOST part!!

 

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	4.9 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	19.9 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Better Half Kitchen & Bar in Leithfield

 

Better Half Kitchen & Bar
 
14 Ashworths Beach Road
Leithfield 7481

Tel: 03 3129083

Web: https://www.betterhalf.co.nz/

Email: info@betterhalf.co.nz

 

 

Clearly this is a loaf!  It came semi hot to the table - as the cheese seems/was added post oven and had not yet melted! To its credit there was a large amount of garlic butter inside the slices - so once you cut them off - both sides were still lathered with the good stuff!

I needed something for size comparison - my son said will this finger do????  hmmmm Not really!  

The wooden board has seen better days and not sure why we needed a fake news paper under the loaf - which cut too as you sliced off the pieces of Garlic Bread.

 

Presentation	1 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	4 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	9 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the 65 and Dine Gastropub Smokehouse in Twizel

 

65 and Dine Gastropub Smokehouse

13 Tasman Road,
Twizel 7901

Phone: 03-435 0832

Website www.lunchtime.co.nz/Top-Hut-Bar-and-Bistro/Mackenzie/menu/
Email admin@falstonehospitality.co.nz
https://www.facebook.com/65andDine/
 

 

This is a case of "rinse and repeat" - certainly as far as the garlic bread is concerned. In fact the chef offered us our money back if we thought it was not the best ever . . . . I did not have it in my heart to tell him . . . . .  

--->  https://garlic-bread-critique.blogspot.com/2020/06/garlic-bread-from-65-and-dine-gastropub.html

'Nuff said

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	3.5 out of 5
Taste:	4.5 out of 5
Quality	4.5 out of 5
Overall score:	16.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Donegal House in Kaikoura

Donegal House

258 Schoolhouse Rd,
Kaikōura Flat,

Kaikōura 7371 NZ

03 319 5083

Email:  donegalhouse@xtra.co.nz

Web:  https://www.donegalhouse.co.nz

 

 

Donegal House  is such an interesting place to go to. If you ever near that place - it has some history that is worth in its own right never mind the meals.

We stayed with friends and went for an evening meal - and of course had to have the local Garlic bread!  It is LOADED with cheese at the top - smothering all flavors! The cheese also makes it a bit oily - so napkins are a must  have! It arrived Hot - despite the huge crowd in the place (watching the All Blacks). 

Wicker basket inside a steel frame basket?? Hmmmm

Plenty to go around - more then enough for two people (just as well it was a four-some) 

Presentation	2 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	1 out of 5
Quality	2 out of 5
Overall score:	7 (out of poss 20)

Garlic bread from Tavern Harewood

 

 

ttps://www.tavernharewood.co.nz/

Tel: 03 359 9075

Email: tavernharewood@gmail.com

Parkside Plaza,
333 Harewood Rd
Bishopdale
Christchurch

 

 

It was advertised as:

S T A R T E R S
GARLIC LOAF
Served warm with garlic butter $12

 

I have to say - this was not what I was expecting! The printed menu might need an update?!

We ended up sharing some around within a larger group!

The little buns had to be cut - or ripped apart and were luke-warm at best! At least the garlic butter had been fluffed up and was easy to spread! The wooden platter had seen better days and looked like I feel - older! The paper underneath had a nz multi answer quiz on it - alas = half the answers were cut off so for some questions we re still none the wiser!

 

 

Presentation	2 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	3 out of 5
Quality	1 out of 5
Overall score:	8 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Hanmer Alpine Village Inn

47 Amuri Avenue
Hanmer Springs 7334


P: (03) 315 5133
E: info@mbbh.co.nz


https://www.hanmerhospitality.co.nz/venues/alpine-village-inn/

 

 

Ohhhh - what a pity! ALMOST another perfect score!

Alas, the napkin so carefully placed detracted from what was a good serving!

It arrived hot and in a timely fashion! Plenty of herbs and Garlic flavor! Just the right amount too.

(Note to myself - have a  little lunch beforehand!!) 

Crispy on the outside and nice soft fleshy on the inside.

 

 

Presentation	4 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	19 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Costas Taverna in Christchurch

3/478 Cranford Street

Redwood 

Christchurch
Tel  +64 3-3523232

Email: cranford@costastaverna.co.nz

www  https://costastaverna.co.nz/

It was advertized as: 

Garlic Pita Bread v

Experience the unforgettable combination of toasted village pita bread filled with creamy garlic and herb butter 14.9

 

It sure was - and when it arrived it was still almost to hot to touch!  I did wonder how they got the garlic butter inside and it dawned on me right at the end that the Pita bread had in fact been cut through the middle!! 

Lots of flavor with  good herbal sprinkle.

The wire basket was a nice touch - less so the napkin underneath!
 

It is a Pita bread . . . . .

 

 

 

 

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	15 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Brydone Hotel in Oamaru

 

Brydone Hotel Oamaru

115 Thames Street
Oamaru
North Otago


Tel +64 3 433 0480

Email: brydone.hotel@olt.co.nz
www: https://www.brydonehotel.co.nz/



GARLIC BREAD $11
house made bread

 

 We actually rung thinking that we may have to reserve a table! Turns out - just as well - as they are NOT normally open to the public for meals on a Sunday - but being the steampunk festival weekend - they decided there might be enough buisness to be open! 

Alas - I think we were the only street walk-ins for a meal!!  And promptly got treated like royals!!  

The Garlic Bread arrived hot.  

Crusty on the outside and soft fleshy on the middle - just as we like it and is supposed to be! 

So much flavor and a very liberal helping on the herbs! 

The platter and no napkin were the final nice touch!

Overall a very very rare full 20 marks!!

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	20 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Crescent Bar & Grill in Kaitangata

Crescent Bar & Grill

 2 Clyde Terrace, 

Kaitangata 9210
 

Tel 03 413 9790

WWW. -->  on Facebook only

 

Oh did we love this offering - our second ever perfect 20 from 20!!!

You could not want for better . . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	20 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from the Hurunui Hotel

 

 

Hurunui Hotel

1224 Karaka Road, 

State Highway 7, 

Hurunui 7385

Phone: 03-314 2207

www.thehurunuihotel.co.nz/

https://www.facebook.com/hurunuihotel/

 

garlic-bread from Hurunui Hotel

 

 

Rinse and repeat. . .

Copy and paste from last visit . . . 

No changes or additions compared to the last visit there . . .

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	2 out of 5
Taste:	3 out of 5
Quality	3 out of 5
Overall score:	11 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Heartland Hotel in Auckland

 

 Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport

14 Airpark Drive
Airport Oaks
Auckland 2022
New Zealand


https://www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz/auckland/heartland-hotel-auckland-airport/runway-restaurant-bar/
 

https://www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz/auckland/heartland-hotel-auckland-airport/


P: +64 9 275 4540
E: aucklandairport@heartlandhotels.co.nz

Listed as:

  Garlic Ciabatta (V)
Mozzarella cheese
– Add Bacon: $2.00
   $14.00

 

It certainly was a Ciabatta bread.  There was lots of flavor and a good sprinkling of green herbs present.  Crusty on the outside and soft and fleshy on the main body - inside! The cheese added a slightly nutty flavor to the bread!  It arrived in good time and was still hot to the touch - but not to hot to bite right into! Not sure if the presentation suffered from " transport" to the table - could have been a teeny bit better.

Kudos for the plate and lack of napkin.  We rated this version very highly

Presentation	4.5 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	4.5 out of 5
Quality	4.5 out of 5
Overall score:	18.5 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Dawsons Hotel, Reefton

 

Dawsons Hotel in Reefton

74 Broadway,
Reefton 7830,
West Coast,
New Zealand


Ph. +64 3 732 8406

Email: stay@dawsonshotel.co.nz
Web:   www.dawsonshotel.co.nz/

 

It had to happen eventually - after nearly 13 years of searching and blogging - and at times getting to an almost perfect score - we struck Gold - In Reefton, NZ!!

 Everything as it should be - perfect flavor - hot crusty on outside  - herbs - no napkins - porcelain plate - just the right amount (not to much or little) - presentation ok . . .   

We did enjoy this particular sample

 

Presentation	5 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	20 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Rotherhams Hotel

Rotherham Hotel

42 George St
Rotherham
North Canterbury
New Zealand

https://www.rotherhamhotel.co.nz/

Phone: +643.315.6373 

  

The garlic bread arrived in good time.  The wicker basked is a nice touch - the napkin under neath not so much.  As it was the semi melted garlic butter did manage to drip a bit right through onto it!

The bread itself felt warm to the touch and was very soft outside.  Lots and lots of garlic butter inside - still melting away - so one had to be careful how one broke bread!! 

Lots of flavor and a sprinkling of green herbs complementing said flavor! Surprisingly - there was just enough to eat - and not leaving you full before your main course arrives - or maybe we were just over hungry?! Overall very enjoyable to eat!

 

Presentation	3 out of 5
Quantity	4 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	4 out of 5
Overall score:	16 (out of poss 20)

Garlic Bread from Fat Sally’s Pub & Restaurant in Oamaru

 Fat Sally’s Pub & Restaurant

84 Thames St
Oamaru,
New Zealand

Phone: 03 434 8368

https://www.fatsallys.co.nz/

 

Oh -  this turned out to be almost 100% perfect!  Easy to eat - leaving you wishing for one more bite! Lots of flavour / colour herbs etc! Crusty on the outside / nice soft on the inside! Nice arrangement!

Porcelain Platter - serviette on the side (not underneath as some do) - arriving hot but not too hot and in good time!

The ONLY markdown  - the platter had a tiny little chip at the side - which we only noticed, once we had eaten most of it!! Apart from that - yup - almost perfect!!

Presentation	4.9 out of 5
Quantity	5 out of 5
Taste:	5 out of 5
Quality	5 out of 5
Overall score:	19.9 (out of poss 20)