Fabulous Food and Flagrant Femininity – Only at Fifi’s

Well well well, look what the cat dragged in. Oh, I’m not talking about you – god no! I’m talking about slack and blog-neglecting self, who quite frankly should be ashamed for not writing ANYTHING since August. Absolute trash blogger right here.

Pushing the self-loathing aside, I’m back writing to let you guys know about a brand-new and brilliantly bougie café that has just opened up in the heart of Wellington. Tucked away on the dodgy-but-cozy Marion Street is Fifi’s – a new café that serves up scrumptious sandwiches, beautiful bakes, and cracking coffees – all served with a side of flagrant femininity.

I’ve been craving to come and check out this curiosity-inducing café ever since I saw it open, and finally, on a fresh December Friday afternoon, I got the chance to see what the fuss was all about. If this place was in New York, there would be a Tasty video on the décor just alone, but since we are in Wellington, you gotta go and check out this dope as place for yourself. Fifi’s have paid homage to their women-only workspace, by decorating the walls with infamous artworks, that all have a slight feminine twist. We found our seats at one of their perfectly imperfect mismatched tables, with the ideal view of the cabinet food and the baristas killer magenta eyeshadow look – the first person to actually pull off pinkeye (it’s a bad joke, I know, I’m rusty remember?).

I could ramble on and on about just how cool this café is, but you guys are here to know about their food and drink, so let’s cut to the chase. Drinks first, as always. Because it was one of those #CBWOAGD (can’t beat Welly on a good day) kinda days, I opted for a iced coffee to keep refreshed and to keep the caffeine withdrawals at a minimum (I hadn’t had one all day and it was 2pm, ya gal needed her fix) – whatever coffee beans they use there are magic, the coffee was delicious! Now, onto food. They have the classic little lunchtime/brunchtime menu, but as soon as I looked into their savory cabinet, a giant bready boy filled with what I can only describe as green crunchy, cream, fresh delicious goodness, stole my heart and my stomach. As with the drink, choosing this sandwich was one of the best decisions of my life, because that perfectly toasted ciabatta sandwiched together some sick fillings (including rocket, feta, avocado and cucumber) to create the meanest greenest sandwich I’ve ever tasted. This sandwich literally gave me butterflies it was that damn tasty.

So, summing up: Fifi’s is freaking fantastic, and anybody who says otherwise probably didn’t go to Fifi’s, and is just making crap up, their food is everything, and their staff are eclectic and awesome. So, what does that mean for me? Well, it means I have to give them a stonking 9.5/10 for my visit to their humble and vivid abode! Love the food, love the feel of the place, and I love the feminine movement they have going. If you haven’t been here, please please PLEASE jog on down to Marion Street and get your hands on their nosh! Muchos Gracias Fifi’s for the lovely lunch. I’ll be back.

Hula at The Lula

I don’t know if you heard, but Ed Sheeran arrived in New Zealand a few weeks ago to conclude his ‘Divide’ tour, and as proud fans of this ginger guitar guru my Mum, my sister and I all flew up to the big smoke, Auckland, to admire his craft in the flesh. Of course, when you travel to a new city, there are three main must-do’s; explore the area, drop tonnes of money on shopping, and most importantly check out their food scene. Auckland has an incredible number of cafes, restaurants and bars that are all influenced by a variety of different cultures and cuisines – which made choosing a place to wine and dine for our Friday night dinner immensely difficult! After about an hour of trawling Zomato and other foodie platforms, we all came to an agreement to check out one of Auckland harbours hot-spots; The Lula Inn.

We didn’t really know what to expect with this place, after a few scrolls through their menu, gallery and tags on Instagram we managed to gage a vague idea of the vibe at The Lula Inn, however we completely underestimated the sheer buzz of this place. The restaurant is split into various little sections; with a dance floor and stage as you enter, an epic bar stacked with various alcohol, and then their dining area with indoor and outdoor tables. During the day I could imagine this place is a hip little lunch spot, but at night it transforms into a bustling social scene. This place gives off a South-Pacific style ambience with its botanical décor, dim mood lighting, and loud hip music; it’s a tropical dining paradise!

Since it was a girl’s night out (and mum was paying), cocktails were a must. Every time I have a cocktail, I like to try new flavours and combinations that I wouldn’t usually go for – however the possibility of getting a cocktail that I don’t like frightens me a little! All concerns aside, I crossed my fingers and ordered their ‘Golden Ivy’ rum-based tropical cocktail. A massive weight was lifted off my shoulders as I sipped this concoction, as it was mind-blowingly delicious and punchy, with a perfect mix of sweet passionfruit and sour limes – all topped off with a warm touch of white rum. Deciding on my dinner was less risky due to all the options sounding delectable, and as we had done so much pre-dining research I already had an idea of what my tummy was craving – their prawn and scampi spaghetti. I will always choose seafood above anything else on a menu, and the chef at The Lula Inn certainly did not disappoint my fishy taste buds by serving perfectly Aldante pasta smothered in a rich garlic burnt butter sauce that was laced with beautiful freshly caught prawns and scampi. This dish made my tummy and tongue want to sing ‘under the sea’ with how utterly gorgeous it tasted!

The first night in the big city with my mother and sister was made perfect by coming to this harbour-side haven. The ambiance was vibrant and loud which created the perfect environment to enjoy punchy cocktails and drool-worthy dinners. Putting my criteria to the test, I can confidently rate The Lula Inn a solid 8.8/10. With an endless drinks menu, tantalizing food menu, and a live DJ followed by a local band performing, this place created not only a cheerful and poppy atmosphere, but some exceptional dining memories. I had high hopes for the hospitality industry of Auckland from reading fellow foodie blog posts and social media updates – and my expectations were more than exceeded with the service I was given at The Lula Inn.

Livin La Viva Mexico

Holy Moly It’s been ages since my last blog post – university really does NOT hold back on the workload in third year! That being said, I always find time to sneak in a little dinner out every now and again, so I can give you guys recommendations on our bountiful Wellington eateries, and to also keep my sanity! A few weeks ago, I went out with my girls to celebrate one of their birthdays, and instead of choosing to go into the CBD for somewhere to eat, we decided to put our faith in our local Newtown dining scene to see whether It was up to scratch. I would never have thought Newtown would be a dining destination, however over the years I have seen more and more cafés and restaurants opening here and these places have been getting excellent reviews, so we thought why not! Being students, we didn’t want anywhere too expensive – so after a quick look on Zomato we decided upon one of Newtown’s favourite dining places – Viva Mexico.

I always walk past this place on my way to and from home, and when I peer in its always packed with people laughing, socialising, and above all eating some darn good-looking meals! I was excited to try this place out as I am a firm lover of Mexican food, and let me tell you, they do a service to this central American cuisine. The interior of this restaurant makes you feel like you have been transported right into a Mexican grandma’s home, with rustic floors, walls and décor; it’s a perfectly cosy place to enjoy a hearty meal. We were welcomed enthusiastically by each and every staff member, who made us feel more like guests at a dinner party rather than customers at a restaurant. After being seated, we poured at the menu to see what Mexican eats would take our fancy.

Starting with the drinks, I was recommended one of their imported fruity sodas, however as soon as my eyes glazed over the ‘chilli lemonade’ I knew instantly, that as a lover of all things spicy, I had to try it. It’s a drink that you either love or hate, and I loved it! The mix of the sweet bubbly lemonade with the punch of the bitter and hot chilli was a true palette cleanser that added a bit of spice to the evening – in my eyes a perfect accompaniment to a flavourful Mexican dish. Now, onto the main event – The food! Quesadillas are my all-time favourite Mexican meal, and I know it sounds like a safe option, I decided to stray from the classic by ordering the Mexican cactus stuffed quesadilla. All of my friends were put off by it, but I was intrigued by what this flora would taste like; and it was delicious! The cactus has a mellow and bitter flavour, not dissimilar to a green pepper which pairs well with the bean, mushroom and cheese combo sandwiched inside two warm, toasty tortillas. This was served up with a fresh salsa, crisp salad and spicy dipping sauce which created an absolutely mouth-watering meal – and only for $13, a student dream!

Newtown has really amped up their food scene, and Viva Mexico is a perfect example of one of the local restaurants that has deliciously drool-worthy meals on offer. This restaurant perfectly captures Mexican cuisine and culture, with their lip-smacking drinks, hearty home-style meals, and loud and joyous waiters and waitresses – they don’t just provide for a meal, they provide an experience. Weighing up all these factors against the Café Crawler Lucy criteria, I have no other option but to score Viva Mexico an 8/10. This place is perfect for everyone, from kids to adults, students to retirees – there is something for everybody to enjoy (mostly the prices for students). The only thing I would critique is the wait time – it was quite a busy night, so the meals took a while, however we didn’t get our drinks until after our meals had come, leaving us in a state of crazy hunger and thirst. In my eyes, Viva Mexico is not only one of the best cheap eats in Newtown, but the whole of wellington! If you find yourself too lazy to cook dinner, but too poor to eat out – look no further, Viva Mexico has got your back and will serve you up an awesome feed.

A Fiftieth Foxglove Feast

Birthdays are a joyous occasion to throw away a little cash with friends and family and celebrate, however it’s not every day you turn 50, so to commemorate my Dad’s 50^th, we pulled out all the stops! My parents had traipsed up to Wellington for Dad’s birthday as my siblings and I all live here, therefore us kids were restlessly researching places to take our dad to properly toast the big 5-0. We wanted somewhere with a drool-worthy menu, a classy ambiance, and one with great views and good reviews. After pretty much trawling through the whole internet, we all decided that the place that best met our tough criteria was; Foxglove.