Welcome to
the constantly traveling website - New Zealand Travel Guide - On
the Road
Let us introduce a very special place:
Bellafico
Restaurant
& Wine Bar
17 Maxwell
Road, Blenheim
email: info@bellafico.co.nz
website:Bellafico
Restaurant & Wine Bar
phone: 03-577-6072
fax: 03-577-6076
In our travels
throughout New Zealand we are constantly in search of special places we
can introduce to people so they can expect not to be disappointed in
their choices. Restaurants and cafes are important.
One of the best
examples of a top quality restaurant is Bellafico in downtown Blenheim.
Dietmar Schnarre has created one of the most pleasant restaurants to
enjoy in the country.
Dietmar himself
has shown he is a notch above most in understanding and providing an
evening out that will create a memory. He has paid attention to
detail that is so often missing. The restaurant is warm and inviting to
all. The selections of wine is phenomenal matched with
outstanding choices on the menu. Be sure to keep room for
his dessert menu.
Heike &
Dietmar Schnarre are the proud owners and operators of Bellafico
Restaurant &Wine Bar, having previously worked in Switzerland and
in some of New Zealand’s finest dining establishments.
The combination of the innovative cuisine by Elizabeth Parkes (Head
Chef),along with the professional and relaxed atmosphere created by
your hosts Dietmar and Andrea, makes everyone feel special. You will
know you have had a wonderful evening at Bellaficos.
-----------------------
Dietmar was most
excited the other day when Paula and I stopped by explaining his
new dining adventure.
Dietmar will be opening the Drylands Restaurant at the Drylands
Winery on Hammerichs Rd on September 1.
It will feature an
open kitchen right in the middle of the restaurant where guests can
watch their meals being prepared. "To watch a chef preparing your meal
is a completely different experience," he
said.
Drylands manager
of wine making and viticulture, Darryl
Woolley, said the company had always wanted a restaurant at the winery,
and a room had been set aside with that in mind when the winery was
built in 1995. For more than a decade that room has been used for
private functions, Christmas parties and storage, but
the time had come for it to play its true role. He said the number of
people seeking out the winery's cellar door had increased "hugely" in
the last two years, with people obviously using their wine maps, and
their knowledge of the Drylands label. But Hammerichs Rd
was still less traveled than its Jacksons Rd neighbour and the
restaurant would be a valuable draw card, he said.
Dietmar said he
had always liked the Hammerichs Rd building and the view it offered
across the winery's old vines. The Drylands 13 hectare home block was
planted in 1980 on its own rootstock and the plantings are believed to
be one of very few original Marlborough
sauvignon blanc plantings still in existence, the rest having been
pulled out when phylloxera hit Marlborough. He said the restaurant
would have "a char-grilled feature with integrated kitchen" and the
menu would feature top of the South Island produce. As well as lunches,
it will be used as a wedding venue, and Dietmar already has bookings on
that front through until May next year. He is also planning jazz and
blues music evenings in winter. He said the kitchen would also be used
as a show kitchen for certain events and
high profile foods.
So there we have
it. Not only do we have Bellafico but soon we will have another Dietmar
creation at the Drylands Winery. Can't wait to try out that experience
especially on jazz and blues nights.
Hope to see you
there.
Ron & Paula
Have a look at the
Bellafico Dinner
Menu
and Dietmar's Signature Menu
For the fabulous
wine list and the complete information on Bellafico Restaurant
and the new Drylands Restaurant go to: Bellafico Restaurant & Wine Bar
If
you need to get in touch
with Ron or Paula
(or Sylvester and Chocolate):
© Copyright 2005
Ron Laughlin - All rights reserved
