Eight is an exciting culinary destination offering eight open, world kitchens taking diners on an unforgettable culinary journey.

At Eight dining is a journey, and every destination is as fascinating as the next. No two meals are the same. What is the same is the quality, passion and freshness of the food prepared at each of the eight kitchens that comprise this exciting culinary journey, as you create your own personal degustation.

Plate 1

Indian Curries

Desserts

Desserts

I was at the doctors today for a routine check-up and she doesn't normally tell me to hop on the scales but she took one look at me and told me I'd put on weight :( I put on 4 kilos! It's on my record now too!

Possible contributing factor (of many), Eight at The Langham! Above are just a small selection of the goodies I ate for lunch that day. It did get a bit messy and over indulgent after the first few dishes. The sushi and dessert stations were my favorite because I didn't have to wait for the chef to cook it. We ate for two hours and Jack had to give up, I could still keep going but it's not fun eating alone... and they had a pink chocolate fountain!

Definitely worth the price and can't wait to go back. Need to work out a strategy for eating though, because while eyeing what every other table was doing I noticed that they must have been seasoned buffet eaters and worked as a team, for me with food it's every man for themselves but then you waste time and don't eat as much, need to work out a strategy and train Jack's stomach!

Thank goodness we don't have awesome buffets down here...  

Crab and Prawn Yaki

Spicy Grilled Squid Legs

Caramel Filled Churro

After Japan day's disastrous takoyaki experience, I wasn't too enthused with these little morsels. However, this stall we found didn't just offer takoyaki, they had crab and prawn "takoyaki"! They were amazing. After eating one of these juicy pillowy balls I remembered I was still extremely full from dinner but I could not let my stomach down! 

We should have stopped after the balls but you know... we found a grilled lamb and squid stall. Back home at the lantern festival we got ripped off by the lamb kebab stall so we did not have high expectations but not only were these kebabs cheaper, they were much tastier too! The squid was hard to eat until Jack told me that if I was going to eat street food I was not allowed to be a lady! Got it!

Dessert was a jumbo churro filled with caramel. Jack wanted the cheese filled one but they sold out. I don't normally like caramel but yum... and how do you take a picture of a jumbo churro without it looking dodgy?

Morning in Auckland

We stayed at the Hilton. Get this, we even got a drink from the mini bar! How luxurious. HA HA! It was really nice. 

Adidas Horse

and there was a horse in the opposite building to greet us... ? 

Interior.

When we arrived, a minute after 5.30 because I hadn't mastered google maps yet, it was empty. In hindsight, I probably didn't need to book a month in advance but it's better to be safe than sorry and I probably would do it again because I love this place. It was lovely inside, we were promptly seated and given a drinks menu to study and the table next to us in the photo is where we would later be seated. 

 

Monkey and Dragon.

The reason why we were moved was because Jack had to make it awkward and spill his cocktail all over the table. They were so nice about it though and replaced his drink as well. At Tatsumi they do their own japanese inspired cocktails based on the chinese zodiac and even though we're not monkeys and dragons, they sounded tastier, and they were.

 

Complimentary Appetiser

Anything that's free makes me happy, even if it's something little, I'm yours. Smoked salmon with avocado in pastry cup. Simple but flavorsome. And FREE!

Fish Carpaccio

We decided to go for the degustation menu and share the choices so we could eat more things but had to add the carpaccio because it's always been our favourite dish and no one does this better than they do. NO ONE! 

Assorted Appetizer

First Course. This was awesome. I've never had gooseberry in my life and then Jack broke into his story telling mode about it, long story short, i thought it tasted like tomato but I am wrong. Anyway, left to right, top to bottom, oyster shot in tomato vodka concotion (bloody mary?), marinated fish (Jack loved this), fried fish, edamame beans with lotus root, duck and gooseberry (so tender) and beef tataki.

  

 

Pan Seared Scallops

Second Course. With a parsnip puree and miso beurre blanc sauce. Jack was very kind and let me have the extra scallop. We were very behaved and did not lick the sauce.

 

Variety of Sashimi. Tuna, Salmon and Blue Cod

 

Tempura Soft Shell Crab

Third Course. Only thing I didn't like about this dish was the goat cheese in the salad, but that's because goat cheese  tastes too farmy for me and I haven't quite acquired the taste for it yet. Other than that, delish!

Crispy Skin Salmon Teriyaki

With creamy wasabi mashed potato, portobello, onion rings and blue cheese tortellini. This was very filling despite only being in mini form and the mash was sooo good. I'm ashamed to say that I was actually nearly full after this.

Assorted Tempura

Canterbury Wakanui Blue Beef Steak

Main Course. Tempura is pretty straight forward. The dipping sauce was nice and warm. The beef was accompanied with polenta crisps, a puree, mixed mushrooms (apparently according to Jack) and a pickled ginger shoot which they explained could only be eaten at the fat end but that did not stop Jack from trying.

 

Assorted Nigiri Sushi

Sushi Course. I discovered that I love scampi. It tastes so much like crayfish. Jack gave me half of his :D then I discovered (so many discoveries that night) that I am possibly allergic to raw scampi and crayfish because my mouth went a bit numb, throat got scratchy and I started swelling around my mouth, not the first time this has happened but I survived, it was very mild and not going to deter me, I want more!

Scampi Miso

 

Scampi Battle

This was so cute. A little twist to the miso in a teacup and because we're not very mature and to be honest, why wouldn't you?! Scampi battles! I like to think my scampi won. 

 

Green Tea Fondant

Black Sesame Creme Brûlée

Dessert. We got to choose our own desserts and like the good old days, we chose our favourites. As usual Jack shared most of his and I was very stingy with the sharing of my fondant... it was too good! I gave him my candied orange though!

Dinner was a two hour affair and the first hour we were the only ones in the restaurant. When we left another table came. I hope they get busier because they really are a wonderful restaurant and I can not wait to go back to Auckland to eat everything else on the menu with the fish carpaccio as well of course...

They don't have pictures on their website yet but they do have a delicious sounding menu which I frequent weekly, if not daily... definitely worth a visit.

http://www.tatsumi.co.nz

Jack lived in Auckland for yonks so he knows where to eat. We were supposed to eat buns but due to navigational difficulties even though it was the same road (?!), we settled for dumplings instead. Apparently this place has some of the best dumplings so I was automatically excited.

Juicy Dumplings etc...

Back in the days I never understood the charm of xiaolongbao, I always ordered it at yumcha because of the name but never really liked them... that is until one day a new restaurant opened and when I bit into their dumplings, soup poured out of it. I was instantly enlightened! The broth was a bit rich in these dumplings, but probably more authentic and the fried dumplings were delish!

I was not expecting the drunken chicken to be in an alcoholic soup though because I'm probably more used to eating it the Cantonese way of being marinated in alcohol, served cold, soupless and garnished with spring onions and chilli peppers but it wasn't too bad. A lot of chicken, obviously couldn't finish because we also had soup... a lot of soup.

Crab and tofu soup. It had two crabs in it. More of a serve 4 option. The thing I love about going to Japanese restaurants is that they let you know if you have ordered too much and in some cases say no to me because I am being ridiculous (happens a lot), Chinese restaurants on the other hand... and because we were flying back that afternoon, I was not taking a doggy bag of crab and alcoholic chicken with me. I enjoyed lunch, a little on the fat and/or salty side but I think that's just the style of food.

Auckland... Up a hill somewhere then a garden? not the Auckland expert...

Enjoying a cool drink

I like flowers...

Not too long after lunch we went to Mission Bay and got Movenpick ice cream (I have a problem) and sat at the beach for a bit... honestly I wasn't too excited with the overcrowded small beach, made me miss home...however, the company was perfect :)

Cupcakes!

We stayed at Skycity this year. Breakfast and lunch were all at the hotel and boy do I hate buffets. Well, we have this love/hate relationship. I did behave a little this year... I didn't go back for seconds, only filled my plate up like silly and dessert (you have to eat dessert!). I don't normally eat like this (at least not from today I swear... well, I'll try...) but when it's all you can eat, you have to eat!

Jack: What did you eat for breakfast?

Me: I had 3 sausages, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, mushroom, hash brown, eggs benedict, bacon, smoked salmon and a bowl of fruit... because that's healthy...

He thought I was joking... If I hadn't eaten all those eggs I could have had more... stupid eggs.

Menu

Entree

My beef main

For the gala dinner we went to The Wharf. According to their website, they are Auckland's leading premier corporate, social and wedding venue. Very beautiful location especially with the sun setting on the water. Entrees were nice, the salmon flavours with the cous cous didn't blend that well with my palate though and texture wise, the chickpeas were a bit strange with the chicken. I still finished it all. I think I was the first at my table. No time to talk, too busy eating!

I chose the beef for my main because the waitress wasn't sure what the fish was and had a sneaking suspicion it was tuna and that kind of put me off. I like tuna but it's hard to cook and you can ruin a steak and it normally still tastes better than ruined tuna. The short rib was really good! The rest of it was okay because after Strawberry Fare you just couldn't compare. My beef was a little over done, the lady next to me had a juicier looking one but I guess when you have to cook for 70-80 people, consistency is hard. I'm glad I got the beef though... the tuna looked dry and colours were a lot blander than the description would imply.

Dessert was amazing though. Simple, but it worked really well. Visually it wasn't worth me taking a picture but it was the highlight of dinner. So, you can't judge food by how it looks (I know that, I cook a lot of tasty slop), except the tuna, a lot of people didn't finish theirs...

I came back last night and it's amazing what a day away of eating can do to you... but hey, now there's a little bit more of me to love right?!