It’s a two-fer!
Alright ladies and gents, we understand that with weather like this (weather warnings all over th place, and Northland getting blown off the map again etc), there may be a small incentive needed to venture out doors to the warmth and comfort of your favourite restaurant. So, each week during winter, we will be running a very special deal. Each Monday we will choose our favourite dish for that week, and make it an extra special price when ordering two of them.
The first one for instance, is the Venison. Order 2 of our Juniper berry marinated Denver Leg of Venison, and pay just $45! That represents a massive $13 saving…meaning you have cash left for dessert :-p.
Keep your eyes peeled ladies and gents, we’ll post this every Monday, (as it is now Friday, the venison will run for an extra couple of days) – it would be a shame for you to miss out on sampling the special wares of our outstanding chefs.
It may be cold and wet outside, but come and try us out for yourself, I guarantee you’ll leave feeling warm and fuzzy 
Happy Birthday Liz!
So, Queens Birthday. The unofficial celebration of the birth of our reigning Monarch, chosen as the 1st monday in June over here, the 2nd Monday in Australia and any of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Saturday’s in the UK. NOT because they have managed time the birth of monarchs that way, and not because off time differences; but because King Edward VII wanted the warm weather when his birthday was actually in November. Incidentally, Queen Elizabeth’s actual birthday is April 21st, so if any of you sent a birthday card, I’m sure she appreciates the thought, but you’re a little late.
As it would really be wrong to celebrate this birthday with out a tipple or two, we’re offering all diners a complimentary G&T, made of course, with Beef Eater Gin. The quintessential drink of the monarchy and reminiscent of the English summer (no laughs please), I see no reason why we should not embrace the Juniper Berry and raise a glass to The Queen.
It may only be a short post this week, but I would like to add a little video – my personal favourite part of the whole jamboree is the Trooping of the Colour…lots of posturing, marching, bangs and indeed colours; just like any good party
So, after many attempts I was unable to embed the video in the blog, so you’ll just have to click on the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enhJd3ssUGg
New Menu!!
Just a very quick update as I’m about to start service! New menu launches today! Make sure you come in over the next few days to get the first feedback in!
Menu available A la Carte Dinner Winter 2011
Desserts A La Carte Dessert Winter 2011
Anyone got a spare umbrella?
Well, I hope you were all safely tucked up during the thunder last night. It’s been a while since we’ve heard the clamouring of the heavens as one of the gods dispenses a lightning bolt our way…personally, I love it! If it hadn’t been 3 am, I would have been quite happy larking around getting drenched (taking care not to stand too close to trees mind) and generally enjoying fond childhood memories.
So that’s it – winter is upon us. Someone has turned the light off in Picton and businesses everywhere are going in to hibernation mode, or at least rationing the resources. For us, it means Winter hours, so we’re shut every Tuesday and Wednesday from now until September (and this Monday as a one-off). It also means a fresh wave of tantalising offers to attract you out of your hidey holes and into the bright lights. We’re still finalising a few details, but there will be early bird specials, a daily 2 for $something offer, new menus, a beer offer involving DB Draught and Export Gold and probably a few more besides.
Now, I’m going to try something new, and see if any of you will invest 4 seconds in a poll. I’m running out of the Riesling we sell by the glass, and am contemplating whether or not to replace it, so my question is this…is a Riesling by the glass a pre-requisite for a winters wine list? Let me know your thoughts by clicking on the poll below!
Now, I have no idea what th’s going to look like, or if it’s going to work. If it seems weird or won’t let you vote or something, let me know!
As always, thanks for reading!
The Chartroom
Happy Easter! (part deux)
Happy Easter everyone! Hope you’re all smashing you’re way through a mountain of chocolate. Don’t forget to come check out our super special four course delight for only $55 tonight; resplendant with seafood, lamb, a mousse called Espuma, and of course, a mini-mountain of chocolate for dessert…Reservations recommended!
Happy Easter!
Hope you’ve all bought your Easter Eggs! It was only yesterday that Santa was burning himself on the barbeque, and now he’s probably worrying that the reindeer are running out of snow to play in. It is the end of April, and that means Easter this year. It also means one of the biggest weekends for Marlborough, with the Omaka Airshow happening over in Blenheim. It’s certainly provided a small but intense revival of summer business for the region – and true to form, the money tree still has plenty of leaves on it, so who knows, maybe it’ll hang around for a couple of weeks yet!
We are of course open right over Easter, no joy of public holidays for some of us! It’s going to be busy busy busy, with groups all over the place, both from far away (think polar opposite side of the world), and much closer…we happy to be hosting Nimon and Sons from Hawke’s Bay in their adventure to the weekend airshow. Make sure you book your table to ensure you’re not disappointed!
Friday and Saturday we will be running our regular a la carte menu (click here to see it), and Sunday will be extra special…a sumptuous 4 course meal for $55! Bring the friends, bring the folks and come enjoy this special event of a menu, guaranteed to leave you sated and ready to take on whatever May has to throw at you
Well, there are tables to lay, menus to print and plenty besides, so that’s it for now…have a safe and very Happy Easter from us all at The Chartroom.
Pasta Trees?
Alright, so I may be a day or two early, but pinch punch and all that jazz – it’s April already! Friday is indeed April Fool’s Day, the most amusing of the months’ starts. Anyone got any good pranks planned? I always forget until the last-minute, so may have to steal some ideas. Back home the BBC once (very convincingly) ran a news story that Sweden, thanks to the eradication of the Spaghetti Weevil, had enjoyed a bumper crop of Spaghetti and was inundated with English people wondering how to grow their own pasta. My personal favourite was however Patrick Moore making the world believe that at 2.47 pm on April 1st 1976, Pluto would align with Jupiter and Earth’s gravity would be nullified. The BBC received hundreds of calls from people claiming to have floated out of their chairs!!
Now, on to the serious stuff. The 2 for $10 is back (or should that be changing, as it never really left?), with the drink of my kinsmen…Cider! April and May are Isaac’s months. 2 for $10 on Isaac’s Apple Cider and Isaac’s Pear Cider! Confusingly, pear cider is still made with apples, just with added pear juice to sweeten the deal. Perfect for the light aperitif when you’d rather not wine out the evening too early, or just as suited to popping a few back in the fantastic autumn sunshine.
For Advantage Plus this month, it’s all about the caffeine. Come in for Dinner, keep your receipt and we’ll give you free espresso coffee at Breakfast the next morning! Of course, if caffeine is not your thing first thing in the morning; (congrats, you get enough sleep) there is always decaffeinated grounds to full your cup with.
How has everyone survived summer? Businesses are starting to slow and the high street is less densely populated; at least for now. Who could forget that this weekend is Graperide! Those more, shall we say dedicated; have been training for months for the 101 K that will form the loop fo this years standard race. Anyone taking part in the Magnum, (202 K), or Ultimate (505 K) has hopefully been training slightly longer and is fully aware of what they have got themselves in to. Anyway, for all riders of the Graperide, be it standard, magnum or ultimate, there’s a free bottle of Speight’s Gold Medal (or Old Dark) and happy hour prices until 7 pm for you here on presentation of some evidence…
That’s it for now, but keep eyes peeled for the next update, and make sure you let me know of any exceptional April Fools pranks you commit 
