A surprise contestant in the HBGFF&CA

Our book group (the library one) went out for our Christmas dinner the other night and this is where the surprise contestant comes into the HBGFF&CA.  We went to The Loading Ramp which is a pub in Havelock North, and on their website is no menu and when you get there the menu doesn't list what is gluten free and what isn't so I had to go and ask, oh the effort I go to sometimes lol.  I was super tempted by the pizzas they had on offer, but then I thought hmmm prob won't be back here so why not get the gf fish and chips and add to the adventure, after all that is what it is all about really :)

So the gf fish and chips I got, and once again too much salad in my opinion.  Did I eat it all this time?  Ummm no cos Julie offered me a piece of her gf pizza pork belly pizza and pizza totally wins over salad every time :D hehe.  The fish was dry and meh, but the chips... oh wow the chips.  No idea what they did to them but Julie, Michelle and I all agreed they were next level and possibly magical.  So very delicious.  And there was a nice huge helping of them so def can't complain about that :)

Everyone agreed that the food was good and rather generous portions for us all.  There were a few doggy bags taken home, never a bad sign I don't think.  Though the service did leave something to be desired, Mya did have to go and tell them we were ready to order when they still hadn't come back and some of our drinks were almost gone.  We had also had to go and ask for a drinks menu as didn't get one at the table.  The lighting was rather dark, I think it was meant to be moody or atmospheric or something but it didn't really work for us.

Score time (remember all are out of 5, total out of 15):
Presentation and Service - 2 (sorry Loading Ramp)
Atmosphere and Drink Selection - 2 (sorry again)
Taste and Quantity - 4 (pretty purely on chips alone lol)
Total - 8

The HB GF Fish & Chips Adventure continues

So in my last post I said it had been a busy couple weeks, and it was which is why this review is a little late in coming.  And please remember when you read it that the author is absolutely, totally, completely biased lol :)

The next place on my HB GF Fish & Chip Adventure was Jarks.  Mum, Bro and I went there last Saturday night for dinner and I thought why not get the Fish & Chips and continue my adventure with where I know will win (remember how I said the author is super biased.... well you were warned lol).  The surprise might come in that Jarks is not getting a perfect score though, I know I am as shocked as you are!!  And what did they do to deserve less than a perfect score I hear you ask, well it is only a small thing, and some people I am sure wouldn't mind (like dad for example) but for me it was a boo moment.  They gave me too much salad :O (ps that's a shocked face for those who don't know), it was like lots of lettuce and stuff, so they got some points deducted for that.  Ok so not many points, but hey who ever said this was a logical scoring system lol.  And yes I did eat all my salad, cos I'm a good girl.

Jarks' score (remember all are out of 5, total of 15) - 5 for presentation and service, 5 for atmosphere and drink selection, 4.75 for taste and quantity.  Total of 14.75

Again no photos as this was part of my holiday... and I also couldn't be bothered, I just wanted to tuck in hehe.

The HB GF Fish & Chip Adventure begins

This summer I have decided to find the best gluten free fish and chips in Hawke's Bay, well in Napier and Hastings but Hawke's Bay sounds better lol.  The scoring will be out of 15 and this is what it will be made up of: 5 for presentation and service, 5 for atmosphere and drink selection and 5 for taste and quantity.

So that is a the boring part out of the way, well the semi boring part anyhow.  I am sure I won't get to everywhere that does gf fish and chips, mostly cos I am sure I don't know everywhere that does them lol.  But the main places will def be gone to I am sure.  And my favs of course, which means that Jarks will have to be tried and rated as well, oh how sad that will be lol.

And yes I am aware that my scoring is not likely to be consistent cos that is life, but oh well, it'll still be fun I believe.

Ystdy Jenny and I went to The Gin Trap for round number one.  I do like The Gin Trap, it has gorgeous views of the harbour and a nice atmosphere.  The only downside, I think anyhow, is that it is in Ahuriri, Napier so is a bit of a drive.  The first point to note is they have a 47 page Gin Bible, aka gin menu, and I don't know how you are meant to pick one sensibly, or even if you are meant to.  I normally just pick by randomness lol.  I had a Day Off something or other feijoa one which was beautiful, and Jenny had a strawberry one (or a raspberry one, a berry one anyhow).  Here's was also nice she said.

The fish and chips were amazing as well, for starters mine came battered, I know very surprising.  I normally end up with pan fried fish which is also yum I think.  Had forgotten how filling the batter can make them though.  And the chips were yummy, and so was the salad.  Not sure what dressing the salad had on it but it was good, and they came with aioli not tomato sauce which I appreciated as prefer aioli anyhow.  Jenny got the normal fish and chips so we could compare and said that they were also very good, for those non-gf ppl out there who were wondering :)

I have given the following ratings: 4 for presentation and service, 5 for atmosphere and drink selection and 4.5 for taste and quantity.  So a total of 13.5.  Not a bad start to my adventure at all :)