Dr Samuel Johnson – poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer.but best known to most Kiwis as the fat dictionary guy on Black Adder the Third – famously said "There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn."
He is completely correct. Tuatara is proud to support and supply many of the finest taverns, inn and even pubs around New Zealand. One of the newest and best is The Hop Garden on Pirie Street in Mount Victoria, Wellington. It is next to the KFC – an appalling description of the location but sadly most people then know where that is. It is the former site of Theo’s Greek Taverna. The proprietor is the legendary James Henderson of Bar Edward fame and he has bought in long-time Tuatara friend Scott Boswell, multi-award winning barman and proud plaid shirt wearer.
The beer selection is exceptional. The food is amazing – even David Burton, a feared food critic who can be exceptionally harsh on food in pubs was impressed. Consequently, a beer and food matching event there made perfect sense. The Hop Garden made the official announcement on their handsome new website:
The Hop Garden in association with Tuatara Brewery is proud to present "Excuse me waiter, there's a Tuatara on my plate": a six course food and beer matching extravaganza. Head Chef Gavin Grant and Mr Tuatara Carl Vasta will offer their insights into the dishes, the beers, and the symbiotic relationship between the two. Wednesday May 4, from 6.30pm. Tickets are $80 per person, and strictly limited to 40 places. To book, please email thehopgarden@gmail.com
None of us here are brave enough to call Carl “Mr Tuatara” far less make jokes about “symbiotic relationships.” It is going to be a mouth-watering event and places are selling out fast.
Like most normal people we regularly Google our own name and this week came across this gem about the Tuatara romance film – “Love in Cold Blood - which is up for three awards at the International Wildlife Film Festival. Here is how the documentary makers describe their film which is "not your ordinary wildlife documentary": It is the twisted tale of the long-running courtship between two tuatara at the Southland Museum. After nearly 40 years of their on-again off-again relationship with enough drama to rival Coronation Street , Henry, 111 and Mildred, 80, were finally caught "in the act" in their enclosure. Henry and Mildred survived rival suitors, love triangles and medical mysteries to triumph with fantastic results for the tuatara captive breeding program.
Tuatara wishes those crazy kids Henry and Mildred all the best and the documentary makers every success at the Festival!
Cheers from the team at Tuatara
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