Stormer999

True post I see some of the breakfast chefs at the big hotels start work at 04:00 am every day, that's even worse than working a night shift

Stormer999

??

LoCarb

?? Yes I thought that too.

Stormer999

No you read me wrong, I am confused as to why you find it surprising to have Indian staff working at Maison 8

LoCarb

Yes, I'm just being sarcastic, sorry

I should have said, they where the kitchen chefs & kitchen workers, and I did find that a surprise in a European restaurant, but probably just the result of new changes we are seeing in NZ society.

But in tune with the theme of the thread, why aren't unemployed Kiwis being trained to do these jobs instead of languishing on the benefit?

Why is the National government favoring immigration over retraining Kiwis?

My guess is..... probably lower wages and more profits for the elite.

Stormer999

BBC - Food - Chefs : Tony Singh recipes

It is sometimes so easy to be wrong and so easy to put things into wrong pockets.



Suppose being a Jock he can't even make a good curry....

LoCarb

True, could be jumping to conclusions, but chef is top of the list in the immigration stats which I find surprising.

Bo-Jangles

Yes it is very surprising, considering that eating out for Kiwis is still a pretty limited experience mostly centred around burgers, steak and chips, fish and chips, butter chicken and pies.

At the higher end NZ food culture is still largely stuck in the 80s and dining out on former glory of long since past it's sell by date bullshit of 'fusion' cuisine created by the 'Godfather' of Kiwi cooking Peter Gordon - he who has lived out of the country for the past 20 years or more and flies in once a year to sign some books and check his name is still above the door.

If you watch any of the cooking shows, MKR, Hottest Baker, Masterchef the lack of finesse and food knowledge in NZ stands out a mile - the look and feel is always at the low end of amateur on the spectrum when compared to equivalent shows in other countries; particularly the Aussies and UK who are absolutely streets ahead in terms of variety, knowledge of food, presentation, quality of ingredients etc. even at amateur levels.

Kotare

I bow to your expertise.... but the better restaurants in Kerikeri (and I suspect the bigger NZ cities) are as good as anything I have experienced in UK or Europe. Agreed some of the more rural NZ towns are limited to a meat pie or fish and chips - but I have had many really really bad meals in France/Italy etc - I believe hamburgers are the fashionable meal in Paris now.

Stormer999

I find the standard of food in Chch to be excellent and freshly cooked on the premises as opposed to early morning delivery cold vans from the food factories. Germany always served me good food, Italy the worse together with equally as bad service. I am not much of a European foodie when out meat and two veg does not excite, more Asian for me but not bastardised versions just real...

jmh

I don't watch reality TV, but my experience of eating out in NZ, limited though it is to Auckland, is that the food is pretty good. You do notice the foreign input of chefs, and it can make an interesting 'fusion' of foreign influence on fresh local produce.

My only complaint is when cafe's have gone down the low-fat fad diet route of not putting butter on bread or burger buns, and using awful fake spreads instead of natural fats. Use to be in the old days you would tell them you didn't want butter, now you have to tell them you do.

Charismatic

Civil war in the kitchen mountains is driving Chefs to move away from Chefistan. UN is trying to broker a deal that will get Ramsey and Oliver around a table for peace talks but finding a menu that both will agree too is proving challenging.

garethwm

Bo Jangles you need to get out more beyond the food hall at Albany Mall. We frequently dine at one of the many restaurants at the viaduct, or Ponsonby Rd, Devonport, and more usually around Botany and Howick. The food is first class and the customers are usually not Brit Expat snobs. Lol.

SSky

Yes I was thinking what are they on about, the food here not being good. I think it's wonderful and top class. The street food in Christchurch is awesome too.
This thread got me thinking about the migration job shortage list also, I'm obviously a bit dim as it never occurred to me that the jobs on the list were put forward by companies that don't pay their staff well but now it's like a light bulb has been turned on. Yes, yes! that's exactly why they're on there and it's bloody criminal isn't it. I've done allsorts of jobs here and had no trouble getting jobs but it's probably because I'm willing to accept the shite wages and unsociable hours when I think about it. I now work for myself and am a lot happier.

Justcol

Ouch !!
Thats a bit harsh.

Apart from the Esplanade, there aren't really any restaurants in Devonport that rank over cafe standard.
The viaduct is better if you like things in batter or pasta.

I'm not a snob, but if I pay top dollar, I expect top food