4 March 2010

PRAISE OUR SOUL

There’s one restaurant in Auckland that’s light years ahead of the pack when it comes down to knowing their market and dealing to it. It’s Soul Bar and Bistro, which can be found occupying the top position on the city’s Viaduct Basin.

I have always admired owner Judith Tabron as the most sassy restaurateur this country has, and probably has ever had. (Valerie Littlejohn, Madame Louise, Bob Sell and Lada Ourednik were good, but not as good as The Blonde.) She knows how to pull the crowds, she knows her customers and exactly what they want. She instigated witty viral marketing campaigns, has great mates in the wine world, and is not afraid to risk it all for a fabulous promotion that will bring new punters along to the restaurant, sipping and swilling alongside the regulars. Fashion parades, underwear exposés, literary lunches, Melbourne Cup Days complete with the tote, and promos where girls get free Moet all contribute to a constantly moving and developing scene that’s unrivalled in New Zealand.

But this week will be hard to top, IMHO. Tuesday was the annual Soul Bluff Oyster Lunch. Keith Lovatt, the champion oyster opener and fisherman from the deepest South (where they only have two drinks I am led to believe: Speight’s and a frothy concoction of Kahlua, ice and milk, sipped through a straw) was flown up to shuck his way through an impressive 200 dozen oysters in less than three hours. (He had quite some blisters by the end of that performance.) And more than 230 people fronted up with $130 for the privilege of tasting the first of the new season’s bivalves, accompanied by Deutz Prestige Cuvee or Mumm Champagne. And they were well rewarded as Judith budgeted on about 4-5 dozen oysters per head (yes, you read that right.) We ate plate after plate of freshly shucked oysters, briny, sweet and delicious, and then followed that with half a dozen fried oysters on a minted slaw, a cup of rich satisfying Oyster Broth, and a cute little oyster and beef pie that was superb. (see photo). To wrap up the lunch there were more freshly shucked oysters and a sublime dessert of Peach Melba.
The stars were out in force for this including Kerre Woodham, Marcus Lush and even some Visitors From Wellington and partying continued as long as the oysters lasted, which was well after the sun had set.

And to top all that, Soul launched their newest promo tonight, Garden of Soul, with Havana Heaven Party. Loved those mojitos and Kantuta playing! Xanthe White was commissioned to turn that amazing deck into a garden, complete with fountain and an array of living plants. Over the next few days there will be a Morning Glory High Tea in the garden (Saturday), a party to celebrate the Garden of Good and Evil (late night Saturday Masquerade Party), and a Fire and Brimstone Barbeque (Sunday from 4pm). I’ll be back, although the deck may never be the same without that lush green growth to fancy it up. Judith confesses she’s organised this promotion as she misses arranging the flowers that used to dominate the centre of her previous restaurant Ramses. I thought her mother came in to do the flowers there. Whatever; it is certainly not to be missed, running from 4-9 March.