Wine & Pate at the White House

WHITE HOUSE RESTAURANT

Cuisine: New Zealand
Address: 15E Minden Road, Te Puna 
Phone: 07 552 4443
Website 
Drinks: Fully licensed
Reservations: Recommended

 

(I've written about the White House before, but that was lunch and yesterday I was struck again by how nice it is as just a casual drop-in spot...)

 

And actually, the title says it all. I just thought I'd pop this quick post up as it struck me that there are probably people in the vicinity of Te Puna who are perhaps not taking advantage of having a handy restaurant open all day most days (Tuesday to Sunday from 12 midday).

 

We remembered on the way home, so as we were passing we called in for a quick pate and glass of wine.

 

• Hihi The Full Monty Chardonnay (Gisborne) 2017      $13
• Prophet's Rock Pinot Gris (Central Otago) 2018           $15   
  

What a nice way to wile away an hour. The wines were both excellent. The Chardonnay was a deep yellow and had a strong butterscotch edge along with the lovely creaminess you get from malolactic fermentation. It is not an expensive wine but does its bit to help support Gisborne's claim to be New Zealand's "Chardonnay Capital"

The Pinot Gris was really very lovely, the dominant flavour being pineapple, with a little mixed fruit salad sitting behind that. It was both fruity and dry, very well balanced and with a hint of the textural "oiliness" you get from Alsace Pinot Gris.

 

Homemade Chicken Liver Pate (GFO)                                                   $18 

toasted ciabatta, dijon mustard, caramelized onions, gherkins & walnuts

 

And the pate was top notch too. There's nothing hard about making pate - you just have to do it right and here they do. The various accompaniments work well. I'm a sucker for the candied walnuts and the dijon and caramelised onions both complement the pate. The dukkah and almonds were good with it too. Simple pleasures.

 

There we go. Just a reminder that good food is lurking just up the rise at the back of the Te Puna shops. And if you call in to the White House don't forget to check out the Te Puna Deli which you'll drive right by - it a home of great artisan chartcuterie and cheeses as well as fresh organic veges and all sorts of good stuff.