Tag: locals

Categories
Europe Italy Siena; dine & dance

Siena, Italy: PRÈTTO; a local place to eat

Pretto, Siena, Italy, Tuscany, restaurant, trattoria, prosciutto, locals, hidden, undiscovered, walk, wine, dining, grappa, cheap meals, pasta, salami, price

Siena, Italy
PRÈTTO; a local place to eat
Via dei Termine,                email:  tamara.pacini71@gmail.com

Places to eat in Italy have historically been tiered by description, loosely ranked from fine dining to in front of the stable; Ristorante, Trattoria, Osteria, Pizzeria, Locanda, Mescita, Bar, Salumeria, Convivio, Pasticerria, Birreria

The waiter at La Torre, a ristorante two steps off Piazza del Campo, the centerpiece of Siena, tossed the pasta on the table within two minutes of being seated.

“Not yet,” I said, “I haven’t decided.”
The waiter replied in Italian, “This is the way we’ve done it for 60 years.”
Change of plan, time to head down the block.

Earlier in the day, Easter Saturday afternoon, PRÈTTO, a hole-in-the-wall prosciutteria, had their door open. Danielle, waived an invite, delivered a carafe of PRÈTTO’s house white wine while assessing life in Siena. She was from Florence. The Sienese and Florentines have a history.

Pretto, Siena, Italy, Tuscany, restaurant, trattoria, prosciutto, locals, hidden, undiscovered, walk, wine, dining, grappa, cheap meals, pasta, salami, price, Tom LaneNow it was 9 pm, Easter Saturday evening; the door was still open and Pretto was buzzing.

Pretto, Siena, Italy, Tuscany, restaurant, trattoria, prosciutto, locals, hidden, undiscovered, walk, wine, dining, grappa, cheap meals, pasta, salami, price
Inside the entrance

“Ciao, Welcome back,” Daniele called from behind the glass food case, “Accomodarsi; take a seat.” She pointed at a table just vacated. Cured prosciutto hanging from the beams, salame being sliced, ragu heating – perfect. The aging furniture is beyond damage, having previously served at an Irish Pub.

Why this place appeals to me
PRÈTTO is either a Prosciutteria, a Mescita (a tap room) or a Convivio (a banquet hall); depends on what wall you read.

Emmanuelle and his wife Tamara own PRÈTTO. Emanuele explained, “Pretto, in Italian, can mean priest. But in Tuscan dialect, pretto means pure; faithful to the origins, food without chemicals. It was my grandfather’s nickname. He was PRÈTTO.”

Emanuele continued, “Pure like our Sangiovese vino, the vino we offer here at PRÈTTO, our house wine,“ he said. “My neighbor, 83 years old, he was a friend of my grandfather, he still watches over as the wine is made. Makes sure it is pretto, pure.”

Pretto, Siena, Italy, Tuscany, restaurant, trattoria, prosciutto, locals, hidden, undiscovered, walk, wine, dining, grappa, cheap meals, pasta, salami, price
Arriva Francesca

Each day PRÈTTO posts a hand-written menu just inside the door. Food choices are few, everything local. Focus is on the meats; salame, prosciutto, heaping platters (affattati) carved in sight and served on wood planks accompanied by Tuscan cheese. Four choices of homemade pasta are offered each evening.

Emanuele returned, “My grandfather wrote poetry. He inspired me when I was young to try new adventures. Here is one of his poems.” The first two lines read

                        There is another path, and soon I’ll set off
                        Opportunity lies ahead but, I must choose the route.

How Far Down the Block?                           [mappress mapid=”9″]

Siena evolved on the top of three ridges leading to the center, Piazza del Campo. Each of the three ridges is served by a main thoroughfare. Every day throngs walk the three routes, into and out of, Siena. Via Banchi di Sopra is the north route, leading to Piaza del Campo from the train station and the bus station. PRÈTTO lies east and downhill, one block from Via Banchi di Sopra.

Siena, hidden restaurants, Tuscan dining, local dining
Front room at Pretto

To reach PRÈTTO, visit Nannini at Via Banche di Sopra 24, exiting Nannini’s front door, go straight (east), down the alley called Vicolo Beato Pier Pettinaio, one block. Turn left on Via dei Termine – you have arrived.

Why you might be nearby?
a) You’ve had it with the pigeons on Piazza del Campo and got caught in exodus on Via Banche di Sopra, b) Your tour guide is explaining the significance of Piazza Independenza, just 100 meters from PRÈTTO. When the group moves on to Piazza del Campo, lag in the rear and escape to Prètto.

Lesser Known Facts
Emanuale and his wife Tamara formerly operated an Irish Pub in Siena. PRÈTTO just opened April 12, 2014.

There is an Italian gelato chain Pretto; and it’s pretty good. It is not related to PRÈTTO Prosciutteria in Siena.

Local Recommendation
Choose the house wine (vino della casa). After dinner sample Siena’s ricciarelli cookies, or try Florence’s cantucci and dip it in Vin Santo, a sweet wine. Grappa to close the evening.

Something for Nothing
The cafes and lights of Piazza del Campo, host of the twice annual Palio di Siena, the horse race by the 17 neighborhoods of Siena, are only a 200 meter stroll from the entrance of Pretto.

In his poem, Emanuele’s grandfather continued to search for opportunity, he ends;

                                    After a small drop of wine, as my journey resumed,
                                    What I sought in my travel, awaited at home.

PRÈTTO is a place where you feel comfortable.

Categories
Cortez/Anna Maria; Annie's Bait Shop Florida

Cortez, Florida: ANNIE’S BAIT & TACKLE; Minnows, food, Heineken & cigars

Annie’s, Bradenton, Florida, bait, intercoastal, cigars, Grouper, Cortez, dockside, on the water, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, cold beer, locals, cheap meals, undiscovered, hidden, jogging, running, restaurant, bar, cheap meals, beer, price

Annie’s Bait & Tackle, Cortez, Florida (Bradenton Beach); An inter-coastal bait shop offering Heineken & cigars.

Why this place appeals to me

Annie’s explains their dining as EXTREMELY CASUAL – it is.

     “What time do you open shop?” I asked Bruce Shearer, owner of Annie’s Bait Shop for the past 18 years.

     “6 am, used to open at 5:30, but no reason any more, not busy in the morning,” Bruce said.

     “How come you’re not busy at 6 am, that’s when fishermen like to head out?”

     “They died,” the owner of Annie’s Bait Shop said.

     “The fish died out,” I asked.

     “No, the fishermen,” Bruce explains. “The old guys, down from Michigan, used to charter a boat for the entire season, one day a week, all winter December through April.  Now, an occasional old guy brings his grandson by once a year to show him what a rod and reel looks like.”

Florida, bait, intercoastal, cigars, Grouper, Cortez, dockside, on the water, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, cold beer, locals, cheap meals, undiscovered, hidden, jogging, running, restaurant, bar, cheap meals, beer, price
Annie’s sign from out front

Annie’s Bait & Tackle is local, but with a surprising touch of class.

Nancy pulled a cool Heineken from the cooler as I selected a Macanudo cigar from the humidor atop the bait counter.

“Need a cutter?” she asked.

Nice touch; a $7 cigar does not offend my yearning to go local.

How Far Down the Block?      From McKechnie Field spring training home field for the Pittsburgh Pirates it’s a nine mile drive.

From mid-crossing on the Sunshine Bridge spanning the entrance of Tampa Bay it is 37 miles to Annie’s Bait & Tackle.[mappress mapid=”8″]

Florida, bait, intercoastal, cigars, Grouper, Cortez, dockside, on the water, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, cold beer, locals, cheap meals, undiscovered, hidden, jogging, running, restaurant, bar, cheap meals, beer, price
Cortez Road Bridge from Annie’s Veranda

Why you might be nearby?      Social demands on Longboat Key have you seeking somewhere local to sip on a cold beer.  Grab the tender from somebody’s yacht and zip north to the Cortez Road Bridge, following the channel into Annie’s immediately northeast of the bridge.

Lesser Known Facts      Bruce Shearer once sold 15,000 bait shrimp daily to the fishermen pushing off from Cortez into the Gulf of Mexico.  Fishing in 2014 isn’t the same as the 1980’s, Bruce moved with the money.  Annie’s Bait Shop now serves cold Heineken with their signature Grouper Sandwich on the ten bar stools, four indoor tables or dockside on their … well, it’s just a dock..

Bruce, a refugee from Michigan – now proprietor of Annie’s Bait & Tackle, headed south in the late 1970’s with a stash of $1,800.  He stands the afternoon watch at Annie’s these days

Local Recommendation

     “What’s the specialty?” I asked.

Nancy, who came down from Cincinnati, was on duty at Annie’s. She said, “The Grouper Sandwich, 100%.”Florida, bait, intercoastal, cigars, Grouper, Cortez, dockside, on the water, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, cold beer, locals, cheap meals, undiscovered, hidden, jogging, running, restaurant, bar, cheap meals, beer, price

Nancy was right.

Something for Nothing      Park your car, lace up your running/walking shoes and head over the bridge towards Anna Maria Island.  Round trip from Annie’s n the east side to the base of the bridge on the West side and back is 1.5 miles.  Continue on the Gulf, extend your exercise routine and return to Annie’s thirsty.

Categories
Florida Fort Lauderdale; SNOOZE, the hotel

Fort Lauderdale: SNOOZE; a boutique hotel featuring just the essentials

Snooze, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beach, undiscovered, hotel, A1A, deck, on the beach, beach, kitchen, boutique, waking path, jogging, ocean view, price, locals,

SNOOZE; a BOUTIQUE hotel featuring just the essentials.

Fort Lauderdale, FL        

     “Who owns Snooze?” I asked,

     “I do,” Robert said from his stool behind the small check-in counter.  Robert, once a London-based

      real estate investor focused on hospitality, had become an Owner/Registration clerk.  No uniform 

      required.

     “Nice place, great location, a bang for the buck,” I said.

     “Bang for the buck is our target.  Provide upscale essentials, just the essentials,” Robert said.

 

Snooze is located on the A1A strip in Fort Lauderdale Beach, far enough from the

Snooze, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beach, undiscovered, hotel, A1A, deck, on the beach, beach, kitchen, boutique, waking path, jogging, ocean view, price, locals,
View from room 301

honky-tonk strip that only traffic sounds and Atlantic waves can be heard through your open window.  A 2nd floor deck offers box seats to view the fruit of A1A; the morning parade, afternoon bikinis and the stream of classic cars.

Why this place appeals to me.  The view, the refrigerator, the cleanliness and the walking options.

Snooze is the best of the Roger Miller’s 1960’s tune, “No phone, no pool, no pets …”  But Roger didn’t sing about offering the essentials; wine glasses, a corkscrew, refrig/freezer and three tables – one for work, another for vitals, and a 3rd for stuff!

How Far Down the Block?     [mappress mapid=”7″]

A 1.1 mile walk south on A1A to the Bahia Cabana bar on the inter-coastal.

Just step outside to join the A1A parade.

Far enough down the block to be out of range from the Spring-breaker throngs trying to resurrect the Elbow Room.

Why you might be nearby?

You’ve stayed at the Fort Lauderdale Ritz Carlton and this time you want to go local.

Snooze, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beach, undiscovered, hotel, A1A, deck, on the beach, beach, kitchen, boutique, waking path, jogging, ocean view, price, locals,
Room 301

The Pillars is too wonderfully serene.

Lesser Known Facts

Snooze was formerly the eighteen room Ocean Holiday Hotel, distinguish by its flamingo pink exterior. A 360 degree view roof-top deck is planned for summer 2014.

Local Recommendation    Upscale local, walk two blocks to the Pillars for an evening glass of wine. 

Consider a cab ride to Casa D’Angelo for an Italian dinner.

Local, local; See if Jimmy Buffett stopped at the Bahia Cabana for a beer and takes the stage.

Something for Nothing

Snooze supplies free WiFi, free beach chairs, beach towels and umbrellas.  Each morning God and Mother Nature provide the A1A parade.  Two of everything joins the parade just after dawn.  It is not possible to feel uncomfortable or out-of-place strutting on A1A at 9 am on a March morning.

Categories
Nelson; THE SAILS, boutique hotel New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand: The Sails; a boutique hotel

Nelson, New Zealand

The Sails; a boutique hotel

The Sails Nelson, NZ
Sunrise at The Sails


Why this place appeals to me:     The owner/operators Max and his wife Robyn are hands on; chatting as they fold towels inside the overhead door of The Sails laundry facility.  Max and Robyn live on-site.  The Sails is somewhat unknown as it opened new in Dec. 2012.  The Sails sparkles.

Each room has full kitchen amenities, superb coffee service, full glassware and silverware, a small deck and a glass and chrome bathroom. 65 channels are provided on an LCD TV.  Wi-Fi is complimentary.  Max enthusiastically acts as de facto concierge at The Sails; advising on events, dining and drinks.

The Sails is a bit of a splurge at NZ $160 for thrifty travelers, but worth the price.

The Sails Cocktail hour
Cocktail Hour at The Sails

How Far Down the Block?     Six blocks from the bus station on Bridge Street in the center of Nelson; your likely arrival point as there is no train service in/out of Nelson.  From the bus station it is a 100 meter, half-block walk to Trafalgar Street, lined with a choice of pubs and restaurants. Turn the corner north and walk five blocks to The Sails.

Why you might be nearby?     A) You fell into the gravitational pull of the Marlborough vineyards, B) You were cold and Nelson is reported to have consistently pleasant weather.

Two of New Zealand’s top offerings are featured in Nelson; cycling and brew pubs. And they compliment each other.  Confer with the locals in choosing a ride, make sure it passes by, then ends with a proper pub.  Paved bike trails run along the ocean, up the rivers leading into Nelson and into the low mountains surrounding Nelson.

From The Sails it is a quick, uncluttered ride to join the cycle trails.    [mappress mapid=”5″]

Lesser Known Facts:     Max worked for IBM, based in Connecticut, USA for fourteen years.  Max got his start in hospitality developing pubs and restaurants; selling when the establishments achieved success.  He bought the site for The Sails and oversaw construction of the hotel.

Local Recommendation:     The Saturday morning market in downtown Nelson.

If you turn the wrong way where Bridge Street meets Trafalgar after leaving the bus station, you quickly arrive at The Vic, Mac’s Brewpub on Trafalgar Square in Nelson. Stop for a beer.

When traveling I take along baseball-style caps scripted with Traverse City, Michigan – my hometown.  For extraordinary service, a cap is awarded.  The cap does not replace tips or accolades, it is an added acknowledgement.  Max was awarded a cap for his exceptional facility and guest service.

Something for Nothing      The Sails provides two bikes on site for use by their guests.  Not the same quality as the cycle rental options nearby, yet perfect for a 90 minute exploration of Nelson.  The Sails offers laundry service for guests for $8.00 a load; an appreciated touch for frugal packers.

Categories
Martinborough, restaurant COOL CHANGE New Zealand

Martinborough, NZ: COOL CHANGE; a restaurant & bar in wine country

Cool Change; a restaurant & bar in Martinborough, New Zealand, 30 minutes south from Highway 2, New Zealand’s Wine Trail

What appeals:  On Tuesday, a lot of eating and drinking places in Martinborough close.  It was Tuesday and Cool Change would be open that night … and they had a bar.  Too few upscale NZ eating establishments have a bar; drinks are served at the table.

Jimmy, Cool Change’s afternoon barkeep, touted the special to be served later Tuesday evening; the platter of roast lamb served with Martinborough veggies and NZ potatoes. Two migrants from Minnesota sipped late afternoon beer at Cool Change’s bar.  He said they hadn’t been back since they left seven years ago.  She said they didn’t plan to ever go back.

Tirohana Estate; a boutique vineyard less than a kilometer from Memorial Square in Martinborough, offered white linen, their own wines,  veggies from their garden and the promise of top-notch service.  Tirohana Vineyard should have been an easy choice, but Cool Change was … more local.

Today's Special, Cool Change, Martinborough, NZ
Tuesday’s Doings

And Jimmy had already poured me a NZ pale ale.

How Far Down the Block?

If you’re driving Highway 2, the NZ Wine Trail, Martinborough is a 17 kilometer jog south – a pretty drive. Places never mentioned in travel books intrigue me.  Cool Change, located across the Kitchener Street from the well publicized Martinborough Hotel, was below guide book radar.

[mappress mapid=”4″]

 

Why you might be nearby?

You have been tasting at the vineyards surrounding Martinborough.  Quality vineyards stretch into town, their entrance a short walk from Memorial Square.

Lesser Known Facts

The name Cool Change was inspired by a change from city life and influenced by the Little River Band’s tune.

Local Recommendation

Returning at 9 pm, Cool Change was booming.  Platters of lamb came forth from the kitchen; every bar stool had been claimed.

Jimmy the barkeep morphed into the evening Maître D’, yet was easy to locate. His evening dress was the same as his 4 pm look; Venice Beach surfer dude circa 1968 featuring a loose white tee shirt, over-the-neck dirty blond hair and a three day growth. Diners in Cool Change’s dining room signaled for Jimmy’s attention.

My roast lamb platter had been reserved that afternoon.  Jimmy waved, confirming my lamb platter and pointing at an open table.

At 10:30 pm the dining room crowd had thinned, the bar in Cool Change still hummed.  A tri-athlete and a birthday guy sat side-by-side encouraging each other to drink beer.  Jimmy returned to the bar, he set a shot of Jameson Irish, neat, in front of me and said it was on the house.

Cool Change, TC cap
Service Award
Traverse City Cap

When traveling I take along baseball-style caps scripted with Traverse City, Michigan – my hometown.  For extraordinary service, a cap is awarded.  The cap does not replace tips or accolades, it is an added acknowledgement. Jimmy, the barkeep/Maître D was gracious during the brief award ceremony.  He set the cap atop several bottles behind his bar.

Something for Another Day

At 7 am, Wednesday morning not a car drove down Puruatanga Road as I jogged past Tirohana Estate.  How many diners did they serve last night?  Next trip, maybe.

I turned the corner and trotted into Martinborough, past Cool Change.

Cool Change, Martinborough, New Zealand (2)
Cool Change for the Lamb Platter
Categories
New Zealand Summer is Missing

New Zealand Summer; January 2014

New Zealand Summer;  January 2014

January is summer in New Zealand, the equivalent of July in North America.  Halfway through three weeks of exploring NZ my weather question was whether I would push on with the rest of the trip.

On Day Two, a 6.3 quake brought down the Hobbit Eagle that had loomed over the concourse the Wellington’s airport.  On Day Four in blew Cyclone June, on a two-day buzz through New Zealand featuring 80 MPH winds that smacked the North Island.

It was Day Nine in New Zealand, the weather summary consisted of two days of cyclone winds blowing 74+ MPH, each of the other seven days the wind achieved gale force rank; a velocity easily appreciated when it’s in your face.

Napier, New Zealand: Day Nine

Napier is touted as New Zealand’s prettiest city.  Located on the shore of Hawke’s Bay, Napier is also credited with being one of the sunniest and warmest climates in NZ.  Vineyards thrive.  Napier lies between the 39th and 40th degrees latitude south; a southern hemisphere counterpart to Baltimore or Kansas City.

        “Sawadee,” said the waitress at Thai Chef, a Napier restaurant. Sawadee means Hello in Thai.  Thai dominates ethnic food choices in New Zealand.  The Thai Chef had been recommended by a local woman who refused to suggest a second choice – despite the Thai Chef being locate two kilometers from downtown Napier.  
    
        “It’s cold,” I replied.  Napier  was overcast, it reminded me of Michigan in winter. I had run from the car to the entrance of Thai Chef.
       
        “Isn’t it a nice change to have the cool weather,” the waitress said.

 

How Far Down the Block?     Masterton, NZ:  Day Ten

Highway 2 is New Zealand’s Wine Trail.  Highway 2 heads out of Napier, reputed to be NZ sunniest town, and leads into Wellington, 250 miles south.  Along the way villages featuring wine and food beckon.  In the wine village of Masterton along Highway 2 the overnight temp dips to 2 degrees Centigrade; that’s 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Only the sheep were dressed for the weather.

Why you might be nearby?     Picton, New Zealand; Day Twelve

On January 30, the temperature topped out at 68 degrees in Picton.  The day had been cloudy.  Just after 6 pm a 60 MPH blow swept through the village, cleaning the streets.  I sat at a picnic table in the courtyard of the Escape to Picton Hotel for the twenty minute assault; pretending it was summer.  After the wind settled, a New Zealand beer seemed appropriate.  The brew pub was only a three-minute walk.

        “I’ll have the pale ale,” I said to the barman.  He wore a shabby short-sleeve shirt. I wore a short-sleeve shirt, a long-sleeve shirt and a sweater. The barman was barefoot, I was not. 
        “Nice day,” the barman said.  He pulled the tap, the pale ale refused to pour.
        To make the barman’s day easier I said, “I’ll take one of the other brews if that tap is a problem.”
        The barman said, “No, no, the hot weather today has our tap system misbehaving.”

 

Lesser Known Facts     Weather terminology in New Zealand

Sam Wallace, the breakfast weatherman for TV One in NZ, delivers their morning forecast.  Sam’s style suggests he studied under Biff America, a local TV character in Summit County, Colorado twenty years ago.

Sam’s weather vocabulary differs from US terms.  Brilliant means sunny.  Fine translates as partly/mostly cloudy.  Chilly warns of really cold weather.  Kiwis use the word chilly in chilly bin – a picnic cooler.  What Americans call an ice box.

When Sam says, “Today we’ll experience explosive cyclogenesis,” he is advising that a cyclone with extremely colds winds will hit.

There is no such thing as a prevailing wind in NZ.  The wind blows from all directions.

Local Recommendation    Locate an Irish Pub so you can fortify with a shot of Irish Whiskey before bedtime.

A Kiwi in his 80’s tries to explain NZ weather to a small group of visiting complainers huddled inside Churchill’s bar, found inside the County Hotel, Napier; a rare real bar.

The experienced NZ man, a fruit grower of many years, ties the vagrancy of his weather to cricket, New Zealand’s impact on WW II, and the Marx Brothers.  None of those present, not even Grant the Canadian bartender, can interpret his musings. But, we were inside, it was warm and the beer taps were functioning.

Something for Nothing      NZ provides universal health care.  It is intended for Kiwis only, unless the foreign traveler is injured in NZ due to an accident – slipping on the ice for instance.

Categories
Auckland; Thai food New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand; Mai Thai Restaurant

How to locate Mai Thai Restaurant

Auckland

The Airbus A330 approached the International Date Line at a speed of 550 MPH, the carriage began to shake, the seatbelt sign flashed on, the flight attendants scurried to their jump seats.  The Airbus rocked for two full minutes, then went smooth. Just like that DeLorean shook in Back to Future.  We had busted through the International Date Line. Friday 8 pm became Saturday 8 pm. I thought they made up that shaking business just for the movie; neat.

18 hours in a jet plane, across the equator, landing in New Zealand; my reservoir was depleted. A one hour, late afternoon nap on my second day in Auckland would be the final step required to restore me.  A few minutes after slipping into REM sleep, my hotel bed began vibrating, very pleasant, yet I didn’t recall a vibrate option.

Hobbit Land was shaking at 6.3 intensity.

The TV news folks predict 23 aftershocks will continue to quake New Zealand for a couple of weeks. The quake center lies 250 miles south of Auckland, alongside New Zealand Highway 2; The Wine Trail. This paved path leads from Hawks Bay into Wellington, the capital; my driving route five days hence.

At some vineyard along the Wine Trail, I’ll sip wine, watching the mountain tops jiggle; a New Zealand peep show. 

Mai Thai RestaurantMai Thai, across Street

Walking the sidewalks of Auckland, the multi-culture is remarkable. Thailand is not the largest émigré community, but they influence the dining options.

Mai Thai            As you enter Mai Thai    you will  be welcomed with the Wai, the Thai greeting consisting of a slight bow, with palms pressed together prayer-like. White linen covers the tables, superb spicy Thai food.

How Far Down the Block?

A half block away from Mai Thai, the largest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Auckland’s Sky Tower, looms.  Sky City, anchored by its tower, is the easiest destination to locate while exploring a new city anywhere in the world.

[mappress mapid=”3″]

Why you might be nearby

The Sky Tower complex features a Casino and two large hotels.  It is surrounded by several first class eating and drinking spots.  A four block walk and you arrive at the restaurants and bars of Viaduct Harbor. Sky City is a major confluence for busses serving metro Auckland

Lesser known Facts

Prepping for my trip to New Zealand, three tastes kept tempting me; seafood, lamb and Thai.  Lamb ribs, a featured appetizer at the Depot, were my first taste along with the local Epic pale ale.

I washed the huge serving of green-lip mussels for lunch at the Auckland Seafood Market with a six-glass tasting of NZ red wines.

Mai Thai Restaurant was recommended by 1) an Irish bartender while serving me a Tullamore Irish Whiskey, straight-up and 2) a Kiwi from Christchurch, a Microsoft guy who commuted to Auckland weekly.  Their recommendations sealed the deal.

Local Recommendation

Around the corner on Federal Street, 200 feet from Mai Thai, lies The Depot, for fresh oysters and NZ wine on tap.

Something For Nothing    Freebees

In New Zealand, if you’re a senior 62 years or older, lots of stuff is free or discounted.  First step is to buy a New Zealand Senior card for $39 – I did this before leaving the states.  Best free service for seniors in Auckland is the bus system.  The City link, Inner Link and Metro Link serve rings of the city – like a metro tour bus without audio. Bus 767 hugs the coast on the ride to Mission Bay and St. Helier’s, both locations have a seaside walkway and several ocean view eating drink spots.  I’d live here in January-March

 

Categories
Michigan Sawyer; a microbrewery

Sawyer, Michigan: GREENBUSH BREWERY; a stop off I-94

Downtown Sawyer, Michigan

How Far Down the Block?

The Tap Room at Greenbush Brewery is a half mile west of Exit 12 on Interstate I-94, just across the rail tracks in downtown Sawyer, Michigan. A two-minute zig. The Tap Room is located right next to the railroad crossing on Sawyer Road, the main street.

[mappress mapid=”1″]

Why you might be nearby

  • You are driving between metro Chicago (80 miles) and Northern Michigan (240 miles to Traverse City, Michigan).
  • You’re gambling at the Four Winds Casino (13 miles) and only have $10 remaining.
  • You’re at the Warren Dunes State Park (2.4 miles) and it’s raining.

Lesser Known Facts

Corvette Central, restoration parts maker, was founded in Sawyer, Michigan.  Greenbush stores its ales across the street from the Tap Room in a former Corvette Central site. Fork lift trucks porter barrels of beer across Sawyer Road from the storage house to the Tap Room.

Silas Sawyer built a saw mill in 1854, giving his name to the town.  His product was transported to the Chicago market from Greenbush pier, just a few miles away on the Lake Michigan shore.

Founder Justin Heckathorn, FOO (Financial Operations Officer) is a refugee from banking, and a former colleague of mine.

Founder Scott Sullivan, HMFIC (Head Man For Information Control), apprenticed as a furniture maker, website developer and home brewer.

Recommendation

Deep in the warehouse lay several barrels of Cream Stout aging in wooden barrels Greenbush Tap Roomthat once ripened Rye Whiskey. This Greenbush ale, called Delusion, is tapped annually.  Delusion might be sipped as an “after dinner” beer.  The Rye taste of the smooth dark stout suggests a cigar and political conversation.

Something for Nothing

Tasting sessions, often gratis, are conducted throughout the Midwest.  Here is the current schedule; verify your age, then click events.