Floriditas, Wellington (NZ)

We loosen our belts after a morning of wandering the Farmer’s Markets and waddle up to Wellington’s epicenter of “cool”, Cuba Street in search of lunch at Florditas. The Boy and I are joined by two of my work colleagues, Lady Ruth and The Baking Lady.  They seem to cope rather well with me “papping” their food before they can eat it – thanks ladies!

Floriditas is a lovely light and spacious restaurant with a bit of an art-deco vibe going on.  Floriditas menu focuses on seasonal, local and ethical produce (although truth be told everywhere we go in NZ seem to serve free range meat and eggs – it’s wonderful to see such a focus on ethical eating. Australia, TAKE NOTE)!

Lady Ruth is delirious at having left the kids back in Sydney so kicks off her week of freedom with a White Peach Bellini ($13.00). I’m childless, as you all know, and can get tipsy anytime, thus today I stick with a good old Elderflower Cordial.  I love this stuff, so much so that I always have a bottle of the IKEA stuff at home in the fridge (no Allen Key required).

The Baking Lady opts for a light lunch of the daily soup with whole-wheat sourdough bread ($13.00) and Lady Ruth chooses the salad of roast chicken, courgettes, green goddess dressing + coriander leaves ($19.50) - I think she choose this because the word "goddess" in the name of the dish. I snuck a morsel of the chicken salad which was light, yet lovely and creamy with tender free-range chook.

I honestly found it really difficult to order – everything on the menu sounds moutwateringly good.  In the end the fish pie with watercress leaves + lemon got my vote ($21.50) and it was a great dish. The pie was filled with chunky pieces of fresh fish in a creamy sauce studded with zesty capers and topped off with a REAL breadcrumb topping that added a bit of a crunch to things. Really excellent.

As the girls are all ordering lunch The Boy decides to be different and order something from the breakfast menu.  He’s a ham lover from WAY back so goes for the ham off the bone, poached, eggs, toast and hollandaise (NZD$17.50). The ham is sliced lovely and thick and just look at that oozy bright yellow yolk – free range eggs really are THE BEST!

The first thing that greats you when you walk into Floriditas is a counter groaning with cakes and sweet treats. It seems cruel as sweeties are the last thing on our eating agenda but we’re tempted by them right up front. I have the memory of any elephant though and it’s not long before a Lady Ruth and I are back at the  counter picking our poison.

Lady Ruth chooses a very delicate looking cupcake and I cannot resist the Seville Orange Lamington that has just the right amount of orange flavour.  My lamington was like a big, soft fluffy Jaffa. A perfect way to end a lovely lunch.

Floriditas is at 161 Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand.