Last week, BBQs and Eating out

It may be Autumn here, with the temperatures getting cooler and the nights getting longer, but we still fancied a BBQ or two.  How about a nice tasty leg of lamb on the Weber?  This was nicely seasoned and the cooking started.  But….. it hadn't quite thawed in the middle so took longer than planned to cook through.  I had attended to the veggies inside, and it was pitch black by the time the meat had finished.  So it was not conducive to take a photo or two, but take my word for it, the lamb was delicious.

Then midweek we planned some lamb chops for dinner.  Once again, Robin jumped at the chance to cook on the BBQ again.  They didn't take too long to cook at all, and I was lucky to take a photo as he was finishing up and putting them on the plate to take indoors.  It goes without saying that this lamb meal was just as delicious as the tasty leg.  And the smell while cooking was divine.

Lamb chops all done

On Thursday we drove down to Kapiti to meet up with our SLG friends.  Leaving home, the weather was so misty we couldn't see the hills, we knew they were there somewhere, just completely covered up.  As we reached the Kapiti Coast the weather had cleared nicely and was warm enough that we didn't need a cardigan or jersey.  First there were a couple of things which needed doing in Paraparaumu, the name meaning  "scraps from an earth oven"; parapara means "dirt" or "scraps", and umu means "oven".

With those jobs attended to we moved on to Waikanae (meaning "waters" (wai) "of the grey mullet")  to meet our friends for lunch.  We were a little early so purchased take-away coffees and sat and relaxed overlooking a park.  It was my turn to organize this outing, and I chose Relish Café for our get-together.  This café always has wonderful food, both from the cabinet and the menu.

Relish Café

Some of the others were unable to make it,  there were only four of us this time.  But that didn't matter, there was plenty to chat about, as always.  And then of course the far reaching topics of conversation meant we put the world to rights, as we do.  What to choose?  Seafood Chowder for me, one of my favourite café meals, if it is on the menu, I’m sure to choose this item.  And Robin decided on French Toast with bacon, banana and maple syrup.  Calvin enjoyed a giant sausage roll, and Helen chose corn fritters.  All of our choices were delightful.

French toast, and seafood chowder

Once again, one of the helpful waiting staff snapped a picture for me, I really appreciate them doing this.  During our lunch conversation we discovered that Robin is in charge of planning our lunch outing  for the group next month, May.  Wonder where we will end up then?  Guess we will just have to wait and see what he decides.

Robin, Calvin, Helen and Jenny