Paper Moon - eat, drink and enjoy the sun

Continuing the theme of eating (particularly important when you’re so busy shifting house that you don’t have time or inclination to prepare anything yourself) I have always enjoyed Paper Moon in Mairangi Bay and have eaten there twice in the past week. A colleague took us out for breakfast, which was hearty and nicely cooked (the eggs were perfect), and I dived into Mairangi Bay for a quick takeaway lunch and a coffee to keep me going with all the house cleaning I was doing. I was impressed with the take-away hot food container which was made of recycled cardboard – good on you Paper Moon for this initiative.

The restaurant (in mainstreet Mairangi Village) has an adjoining deli ideal for your morning coffee or  a bite to eat after a walk on the beach. There’s also a bar which is very popular with locals – the outdoor tables and bar leaners are packed on sunny days. Paper Moon has built up a loyal following over a number of years and they continue to provide a high level of service and very good food. Click here to visit their website and  check out the menu.

Having had its first market day on 29 May 2010, this is the North Shore’s newest weekend market and one of only 3 bonafide Farmers’ Markets on the Shore. Sponsored by Harcourts, Bayleys and Barfoot & Thompson Mairangi Bay, this is a great initiative for the area and it’s drawing a lot of interest from locals. It’s small and relaxed, mainly about food, and there are some delicious and delightful products to be had.

I bought a parsley plant from Clevedon Herbs and Produce - they run a blog with recipes and other interesting foodie stuff, and they sell deliciously fresh lettuce greens and herbs, ready to eat salad mixes and all manner of vegetables (subject to the season). Based in Clevedon, Phil and Jenny Tregidga have been growing their produce hydroponically since 1984. Earlier this year they shifted the focus of their business from supplying supermarkets to being vendors at a number of Auckland markets.

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