South East Asian dinner followed by chocolate extravaganza

A friend of mine was coming for a visit. Just like that. One Friday night. She had some errands to run in Auckland, so she decided to come the night before, so we can properly catch up. Yeeeey, I was stoked, I love when friends come by!

“I’m taking you out for dinner. To thank you for all that delicious food that your boyfriend is cooking when I visit you guys (I know, not fair to Seb for Val to be taking the credit for his world-class French cuisine). What do you feel like having tonight?”

“Something Thai-ish.”

Right. After a little bit of research, I came across Monsoon Poon – a vibrant South East Asian restaurant offering exotic flavours of India, South China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Close enough!

The menu was overwhelming. “What are we having? Tandoori Lamb Cutlets? Firecracker Chicken or Shaking Beef? Or maybe Billy Tong’s Wontons?” It doesn’t matter, I tell you! The food was divine! I’m not so sure about the atmosphere, though. The place is pretty big, which takes away the feeling of privacy  and cosiness. However, there are different compartments and also the round sofas in the main area that help bring back some of that warm and private feeling. If the music was anything different to modern dance beats, it would also help :). This might sound wrong, but what impressed me most (well, right after the food) were bathrooms, at least the ladies’ one! Man, as I walked in, I couldn’t help myself but to stop, breath in and comment on the outstanding inner design of the toilet. Flowers, music (slightly different to the beats in the dining room), even the smell (and yes, I am talking about the toilet)! Not to mention a wide range of beauty products to help you refresh after your bathroom experience, with (standard and often seen) hand fragrances and even hair spray! At Monsoon Poon, they certainly have thought of everything :).

“Would you ladies like some deserts?”

“No. Thank you, we need to go!” I blurted at a poor waiter. “No, are you sure?? Are you feeling all right? I don’t think I have ever experienced you walking out of a restaurant without a desert…” Val was seriously considered for my health condition…

“We are not saying no to a desert, but I have an idea! I’ve heard of this ‘desert restaurant’ in Britomart…” Milse is tiny, and I guess always busy. This didn’t stop us. We bought a couple of sweets and finished them outside, on the street. Mmmmmmm… I think I have just discovered my favourite place in Auckland…

 

 

 

The confusion with ‘Ponsonby food court’

“Hey! I’ll meet you at the Ponsonby food court at 8pm!” “Sweet, see you there!” I was pretty stoked because for the first time I didn’t have to ask “hm, where is that?”

I arrived at Ponsonby Central a bit earlier so was just sitting outside, waiting for my friend. A guy approaches me and politely asks where the food court is? His friend is supposed to be waiting for him at the top of the stairs. “Hm, I think this is the food court. I’m not sure what stairs your friend is referring to though. Well, there is about 5 stairs, maybe he is waiting for you at that first restaurant.”

A few minutes later the same guy comes back and says that he has just spoken to his friend. He is still waiting at the top of the stairs, but the food court is a place just a bit further up the road. “Seriously? Damn, that means I am at the wrong place as well… And I was so sure that this time I know where am I suppose to go, aaaaaaargh.” Anyway, luckily I was early enough, so I will still make it on time. So we walked together to the Food Court in Ponsonby. And there we found some real stairs.

I called my friend to ask if he is there yet. “I am just about to park. Where are you? Wait for me outside, at the corner of the main and the side street.” “How long does it take this guy to park??” So I called him again, 10 minutes later. “Where are you?” “Well, I’m looking for you. Where are you?” “I’m at the Food Court, and you?” “I am at the food court as well!”

My next question naturally was “Which food court are you referring to?”

We finally found each other. We ended up in a japanese restaurant of Ponsonby Central, the flashiest of the two food courts. The restaurant was a good choice out of other just as good choices: burger place, argentinian, mexican, pizzeria or meatballs restaurant.