Matakohe Meal

Thursday (1)

The first thing we have to say is, in fact, about our meal last night. We had this at Matakohe House (www.matakohehouse.co.nz/) which is just down the road from the Kauri Museum. We had booked but when we arrived we turned out to be their only guests. The only thing we can say to those people who weren't there is that you missed a superb meal with customer service that was excellent.

Sue is absolutely revelling in the food, gluten free appears to be a given in every eating establishment we have been in so far. And that ranges from a hotel restaurant, to the cafe yesterday lunchtime and then, again, last night. We won't bore you with the menu but suffice it to say Sue's steak and Bert's venison were a delight and everything was cooked while we waited!

We had long conversations with the waitress about her self-sufficiency lifestyle (goats, sheep, chickens and, her latest acquisition, a Clydesdale horse!). She grows all her own vegetables and fruit which she freezes and bottles. She also makes her own cheese, which she can no longer sell to the public as she cannot afford to bring her cheese making facilities up to 'government approved' standards (now doesn't that sound familiar!) She is a firm believer that barter will come back in a big way to overcome these problems as you can give things away but not sell them. No doubt the government will find a way to stop that!

The proprietor also came in to talk to us, an Australian lady, and we talked about England, Australia and New Zealand. Another very interesting lady who is a qualified nurse (unbelievably she told us she had qualified 52 years ago!) who at one time had worked in a children's hospital as the 'dietary sister' and had quite determined views about gluten etc. She is looking to sell the establishment, it also includes a B&B, and retire. The trip she is looking to do with some of the proceeds is to the U.K. to trace her ancestors – I wonder what she will make of the food when she gets there.