Why Leave Weiheke...

Island life is one of the most relaxing, productive and beautiful lives to live. The people that inhabit islands are on their own time and have this remarkable sense of self reliance that highly populated areas may have forgotten about. If someone is unable to complete handy work around the house, it will fall apart. Hiring contractors is the least plausible solution and the most expensive. Having the knowledge of "how" will generate a more fulfilling lifestyle.




This is not to say that the renaissance worker, the jack of all trades, is entirely extinct. We exist few and far between and strive to pass on the knowledge. However, when I travelled across the valleys of Weiheke island and most other Polynesian islands, there was a strong sense of pride in the "do it yourself" lifestyle. The generational knowledge of working congruously with the land carries pride and tradition. I experienced this in Hawaii, Australia, Thailand and now New Zealand. Each time the energy brushes against me, I get the feeling that these teachings are what we need to practice in order to provide a healthy, sustainable world for future generations.




So here is my question to you... Why leave such a magnificent place like Weiheke island? There are incredible valleys scattered with netted grape vines and olive groves. Restaurant owners are building their own clay and straw ovens out of love for their craft to offer a small bit of history to their diners and to have something different. The farmers have a deep understanding of how the land communicates what it needs in order to cultivate incredible products. The lifestyle of the residents is never stagnant and has incredible views of a beautiful royal blue ocean. The only worries in the world on islands is how I will feed my family, and how will I make an impact for the better of the community.




I ask again... Why leave? What can I bring to the table of my home in the states that Islands like Weiheke have taught me? I want to hear your ideas. Feel free to reply via blog or email. (ezaghaza@gmail.com).

Pies of Paihia...

The bay of islands, in between Paihia and Russell is one of the most peaceful places I have visited to date. I arrived in the afternoon when the sky was crying. It had been storming for the past few days and this was the final trickles. The morning after was crisp and clear, filling everyone with vigor and excitement. It was time to come out of storm hibernation. 

Lucky for me, I had met a group of lovely ladies from all around Europe. It almost sounded like the start of a great joke. "What do you call a German, an Austrian, an English and an American in a bar?"  We hiked to Haruru waterfall which was so incredibly powerful, fished for our own dinner, people watched and practices gymnastics at 2 am on the beach. Together, we all had the same idea of what we wanted to do and had great conversations during it all. 

As it turned out, the ladies loved to eat while I love to cook. Let's just say we had a pretty harmonious relationship. After we caught the fish, we would all go to the market for veggies. They would help me prepare all the ingredients and then I would finish them to be eaten. Becoming spoiled with food while traveling is never a fun thing to walk away from. It was a family affair to put dinner on the table and we all loved it. 

On our last day, we all woke up to see the sunrise. It was one of the most beautiful sights to see. The sun was coming up in the perfect spot and the clouds seemed to be painted on the sky. As the rays peeked through the gaps, a sense of calm enveloped our senses. Everything was still and silent while this magnificent beauty was unveiling j front of us. Even then, we still managed to crack smiles and giggle a bit. 

We filled our days with adventure, food, laughs and drunk, sleep talking Koreans. Thank you Paihia, for letting us borrow ou to have such a great experience. Until next time!

Drinking up New Zealand...

Wine. Elixir for gods, celebratory for humans, aged through time to reach its maximum potential. No matter where in the world you are, there will always be wine. It joins us together in celebration of life and binds us throughout holidays. It is one of the oldest beverages in documented human history. 

New Zealand has some world renowned wines coming from a small portion of the land. Most of New Zealand's wine is produced between Queenstown and Picton. Marlborough is the most commonly known and most sought out of them all. Popular in Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc, the all blacks have been dealt a rather fine hand when it comes to viniculture and viticulture. 

I was lucky enough to enjoy these marvelous wines with my parents. It was amazing of them to come and share some of these incredible experiences with me. So in return, I was able to help them make some rather important realizations about the nations wine culture. 

One of our favorite stops on this cellar door excursion was Black Estate near Waipara. Our palates were dancing with crisp notes of green fruits and peppery apricots. It was amazing to see their minds wrap around the age old process of winemaking. Giving them a deeper glimpse into my life's work has brought them closer together and with me. All of this because of wine. I rest my case. 

Thoughts...

I have been doing a lot of thinking about where to go in my culinary career. Slowly the cogs are falling into place. One of the major factors is walking into the unknown with a keen sense of curiosity. When you go into a restaurant to eat, is there a sense of excitement lingering above you? Or do you already know what you are going to get with all the specific alterations. 

I want to give you a taste of adventure that has been the driving force of my exploratory journey. It's almost a taste of fearing the unknown. Some tastes may appeal to you while others don't necessarily tickle your fancy. But that is one of the most important things in life. 

The adventure of learning what you do and don't like. And that's where the chef comes in. We give you opportunities to try new flavors with old ingredients. So why not sieze them? 

Back on Track...

Hello all, welcome back to the adventures of ezaghaza. Before we continue, I must apologize for my absence with my writing. I have been rather lax about updating you all on the incredible food I have been eating and experiences I have encountered. Here is a quick catch up on currently past events. 

For my remaining time spent at Pure South Dining, all the cooks were able to collaborate on lunch menu items. From appetizers to desserts, each of us stretcher our creative capabilities. I was lucky enough to work with a partner who was just as excited about this as me. We had some amazing flavor combinations together; and of course some failures. 

The last two weeks of January was jam packed with avid tennis enthusiasts. It turns out that Melbourne is home to the Australian open. Being a sport addict myself, a few fellow cooks and I headed to the matches to watch some of the first matches in the tournament. What a day that was. Watching tennis on tv as opposed to being in the audience is so incredibly different. And yes, you get rather dizzy watching the ball go back and forth. Especially with serves up to 237 km/h. (That's 148 mph!!!)

Now, the last day of the open, my parents landed in Melbourne. We are going to be traveling together until the 18th of February. Up until now, we have trekked through the wild jungle of Daintree, swam with Nemo and friends, celebrated the life of Steve Erwin at the Australia zoo and learned about Aboriginal tribes indigenous to the Queensland region. Such an informative and expansive exploration of the north eastern territories has broadened my appreciation for Australia two fold. 

 

As we round the corner over to New Zealand, we plan our stays at sheep farms, sailing through harbors and drinking at amazing vineyards. The landscape in New Zealand is by far one of the most stunning I have encountered on this adventure. In one direction, you see beautiful fields of grapevines. If you look slightly to the left, a monstrously beautiful valley unfold itself from the mountains. We are in total amazement. 

New Zealand, having a strong history of Maori tribes, never gave in to the European settlers. They fought back and didn't let themselves get killed off. This was absolutely amazing because now, their culture runs rich throughout the modern lands. Children grow up speaking the language and practicing the ancient traditions. With the mixture of modern technology and ancient knowledge, there is a beautiful harmony. Now, it is up to us to learn from them. To have harmony and peace, we need to take the blinders off our eyes. 

Now, I know that was rushed and a bit out of the ordinary for a blog post, but, I would like you all to be caught up with what's happening now. It's important that I continue to share with you what is going on around the world. So now that we are in the now, this won't happen again. So please stay tuned. There is much more to come. Kia Ora!!