The Vineyard Bistro @ Okurukuru

Okurukuru, Bistro and Restaurant, a wonderful restaurant with an unforgettable name, is located on the coastline 10 kilometers east of New Plymouth, surrounded by a large vineyard. The air of the Tasman Sea is still fresh in early summer. Every breath is filled with sunshine, grass and flowers, which blend to produce a wonderful chemical reaction. After more than ten hours of long-distance flight + five hours of self-driving trek, the tired body can't resist the excitement of the spirit. New Plymouth, as the first stop of the New Zealand trip, attracted me from afar, in addition to Mt. Taranaki, it was naturally Okurukuru. There are many dishes, but the restaurant knows the difficulty of choosing, so it has launched a combination menu, "1-Course, 2-Course and 3-Course", with prices increasing from $30, $40 to $50. You can choose a main course, an appetizer + a main course or an appetizer + a main course + a dessert. If you have seen the ordinary prices of many restaurants in New Zealand, you will immediately understand that this restaurant, which wins with Quality + Location, is a conscience price. I wanted to try the Six Course Tasting Menu for $60, but we didn't have a big appetite. We tried to discuss whether we could just order a share for the family of three. The waiter was embarrassed and said "To be enjoyed the whole table only", so we had to pass. Later, it turned out that the appetite of New Zealanders was enough to kill us. We ordered a three-course meal, a one-course meal and a children's meal. It was delicious, but we had to pack it up after eating too much. Three-course appetizer: Sautéed King Prawn Cutlets served in a Garlic, Tomato and Herb Butter with toasted Ciabatta. King prawn is about the same size as Tiger prawn in Thailand, but it is slightly fresher and chewier. Three-course main course: Prime NZ Scotch Fillet cooked to your liking w Caesar Salad and our Pan Fried Potatoes. The waiter did not ask how well done it should be, probably the default method here. It was actually served at medium well, with just the right amount of juice. The potatoes were slightly burnt, but it went well with the salad. Three-course dessert: Chocolate Brownie w Chocolate Sauce, Whipped Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream. This is basically my favorite. Brownie and ice cream are black and white, hot and cold, which is the most intoxicating combination. Whipped cream quietly hides behind the ice cream, not stealing the show, but neutralizing the taste difference between the two. Fine peanut crumbs and a circle of chocolate sauce around it once again increase the richness of the taste. Absolutely my favorite! Another main course: Pan Roasted Fish of the day, Italian Risotto Cakes, Sautéed Garden Spinach, Vegetable, Tomato and Garlic Butter. This dish gives a surprise. In addition to the fresh and delicate fish meat (as the protagonist, it should be like this, not much praise), the spinach, which was originally just a supporting role, was slightly fried and tightly covered by the fish meat at the bottom, fully absorbing the sweet juice of the fish meat, and instead became the most delicious part. Okurukuru, a customer commented that “The location makes it different”, I would also like to add “Also makes it the chef”.