Have you been to The Birdwood restaurant?
REVIEW: The food gods were listening and they might just be Italian.
A couple of months ago I reviewed Somerfield Italian restaurant Piccolo and bemoaned the lack of similar establishments.
"In a perfect world, every suburb would have a neighbourhood Italian restaurant," I wrote.
Weeks later, neighbourhood Italian restaurant The Birdwood opened in Beckenham, and after giving them a chance to find their feet, I subjected the staff to the cruelest of tests: bringing four ravenous boys on a wet Saturday night.
When we booked, we had been warned that we would be at a high bar table and when I saw how packed the restaurant was when we arrived, I had to apologise as three boys had turned into four. Would that be a problem? It took some scrambling to find a spare chair but we were seated, no problem.
-- Read the full review by clicking the link below.
Poll: How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?
For most of us, seeing a friendly doggo while out and about instantly brings a smile to our faces. But how do you feel about cafes welcoming pups inside?
Cast a vote and share your thoughts below.
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28% I love it!
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32.3% Only in designated areas
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39.7% No, it should be outdoors only.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
2 recliner frames *FREE*
2 recliner frames *FREE*
As-is, where-is. Pick up only, from Aranui.
1 has a cushion which you can have if you want it.
(Replacement cushions are available at homewares stores like Briscoes)
PM if interested.
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