Down Under Diary

The daily diary of a wandering restaurateur Down Under
November 6 - Melbourne/Auckland

Today was a typical transit day -- pack up, buy more wine, get to the airport and get out of the country! For reasons I still don't understand (but didn't fight), United upgraded us to first class for the flight to Auckland. Now if we can only manage that on the leg to LA next week . . .

We connected with our friends Jim and Adrienne McPhee at the airport. I met Jim when he was a coach for the New Zealand judo team and I was the Foodservice Director for the Olympic Training Center. We spent some time with them when we were here in '87 and have hosted Jim and his crew a few times in the US.

We went out for a late dinner at a local Thai restaurant they like. I enjoyed the meal, but was particularly impressed by the plate presentations on the appetizers. They obviously took a lot of pride in what they offer . . . and it showed. I wonder if there isn't an opportunity for all of us to re-think the WOW factor in what we put in front of our guests.

For a plate presentation at Royal Thai, click here.

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