“From OUR hearts to YOUR plate”.
Executive Chef – Josh “Daygo” Evans

NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Are you going to a show at this year’s New Zealand Festival of the Arts? If so why not pop in and try our pre and post show special set menu meals. A main course, dessert and wine match for both courses for $70. This starts on 24th February and runs for the duration of the festival, booking times are 5:30-6:30 for the pre-show and 8:30-9:00 for the post-show.

THE MENU THIS WEEK

“There is so much in life worth celebrating, come and celebrate our love of Sicilian, Greek & Middle Eastern smart dining.”

ON ARRIVAL

Salumi, a selection of tastes from the Mediterranean:
Fennel salami,  Coppa, Prosciutto San Danielle,
Paprika Ceviche,  Chilled Almond soup, Marinated olives
$24.00

Warmed Marinated Olives:
Salvagno, Kalamata & Atlas
$7.50

Organic Home-Made Bread Selection:
with “Lot-8″ Olive oil & Butters
$12.50

WHET YOUR APPETITE

Watermelon Carpaccio with Tomato Jelly
Oregano Goats Cheese & Balsamic Pearls
$22.00

Pan Seared Quail Zaladina, Verjus & Pommegranate
with Duck Liver Parfait & Brick Pastry
$25.00

Dukkah Crumbed ‘Rose’ Veal Sweetbreads
Caramelised Carrot Salad, Black Pudding & Date Jam
$26.00

In-House Cold Smoked Salmon Stuffed with Avocado Mousse
Chilli & Citrus Picada & Gazpacho Sorbet
$26.00

Pan-fried Haloumi & Candied Pecan
Crispy Chickpeas, Orange & Basil Salad
$22.00

Prime Angus Beef Tartar with Smoked Shallot Aioli
Micro Greens and House Made Crostini
$20.00

MAINS

Pan-roasted Line Caught Fish & Bakalyaros with Cress Aioli
Braised Olive & Baby Fennel with Red Pepper Puree
$38.00

Spring Chicken with Pumpkin Seed Pilaf & Pea Hummus
Salso Rosso with Calamari & Zucchini
$38.00

Chargrilled Angus Beef Fillet with Blackened Corn Custard & Smoked Shallots
Heirloom Tomatoes, Anchovy & Olive Brittle, Manchego Arancini
$38.00

Seared Duck Breast with Quinoa & Crispy Duck Leg Salad
Baby Heirloom Carrots, Giblet Gravy & Picked Blackberries
$38.00

Pan Roasted Wharekauhau Lamb Loin and Herb Crumbed Lamb’s Brain
Creamed Celery, Crispy Potato and Salsa Verde
$38.00

Braised Pork Cheek with Candied Eggplant, Kalamata & Pine Nut Crumble
Grilled Artichoke, Butterbean and Smoked Pork Hock Salad
$38.00

Pan-fried Mustard & Chickpea Ravioli with Sautéed Spring Vegetables
Parmesan & Roast Garlic Custard & Salsa Vinaigrette
$35.00

A SIDE DISH?

Bread – $3.50

New Zealand Round Beans, Olive Tapenade & Shaved Parmesan - $9.50

Mixed organic salad-greens with Sprouts & Seeds – $7.50

Fresh Fig, Pistachio and Prosciutto Salad – $9.50

Crispy Rosemary potatoes with Aioli – $8.00

DESSERTS & CHEESE

Sweets  – you know you can!

Saganaki Nectarines with Almond-cake
Goats Cheese Sorbet & White Chocolate Zomo
$16.00

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Pistachio
Berries, Biscotti & Blueberry Dérma
$16.00

Valrhona Chocolate Velvet with Rose Pagato
Hazelnut Praline & Blackberry Gliko
$16.00

The Ambeli Mess:
Yoghurt Custard with Braised Rhubarb & Raspberry Sorbet
Freeze-dried Feijoa & Eton-Meringue
$16.00

Trio of Sorbets
Rhubarb, Citrus, Granny Smith Apple
$15.00

Oh my word! Is that a cheeseboard?

Selection of 3 – $24.00

Selection of 5 – $28.00

Have our cheese waiter show you the selection of today’s cheeses.

Degustation at Ambeli . . .
The Chef Choice tasting menu

Available Sunday through to Thursday -or by prior arrangement. From $90.oo

Because you simply must have it all!
Allow Josh to write you a “Chef Choice” – serving the most meaningful aromas, colours, and flavours.
What’s fresh? What’s the highlight of the season? What shows Ambeli’s Mediterranean heritage? What shows that Ambeli’s staff are proud Kiwis? We promise, by the end of dinner, you will know!

Have your Chef Choice “degustation/tasting menu” matched with wine by New Zealand’s first most-celebrated waiter

Invite a living-treasure to augment your dinner experience:

Cuisine Award “Best Personality” winner Shae Moleta, quoted to know his wine-list “better than his own mother”, and whose recommendations “are invariably spot on!” truly listens when he asks what do you like?

The most hertfelt enjoyment of wine-matching has been plagued with inflexibility and dogma. Ambeli is different: Shae’s love of seeing a happy guest at rest has sculpted a rare and exceptional talent -one that he has managed to instill in all of those of his staff that wear the hallowed Ambeli Bow-Tie. Part wine-encyclopedia, part story-teller, Moleta delivers a huge slice of added satisfaction to your night.

Ambeli has achieved the Hallmark of Excellence, the highest standard of cuisine in Beef & Lamb 5 Years Running

2008  2009  2010  2011  2012