Good Hobbit food and plenty of it

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 295, 18 July 1989, Page 7

Good Hobbit food and plenty of it

Ohakune's two new "Hobbits" are Pip and Alan Collison, who aim to continue providing skier-sized meals at the yearround licensed restaurant.

The couple are quick to point out that they don't live in an underground home and have definitely not got hairy feet! - the characteristics of the better known Hobbits of literature. Pip and Alan left Tauranga to take on the running of the Hobbit restaurant, Pip having been chef at a private hospital there. Alan was until recently running his own moiorcycle shop. The reason for the shift in work for Pip was dissatisfaction with hospital catering. She had previously run her own catering business in Masterton and the couple decided to take on the Hobbit lease for a year, for an initial period at least. They haven't made any great changes to the restaurant yet - the meals there were already popular - so they will continue to offer well-cooked food which appeals to almost everybody, and lots of it. Big complaints "So far the only complaints have been that the meals are too big," says Pip. She does have plans, though, which include offering a blackboard menu which will have varied entrees, mains and special deserts. Such fare as sweet and sour wontons, creamed mushroom and bacon, spare ribs and quiches will probably feature on the blackboard, says Pip, as well as some special deserts. "If someone were to eat here three times in a couple of weeks we'll be able to offer them a variety of food," said Alan. Another feature will be special Robert Harris coffees such as toffee and rum, Irish cream and decaffinated, all served in plunge pots at the diner's table. Any major changes to the menu will be made gradually, if at all, as people make suggestions and requests say the Collisons.

Because the restaurant is part of the Hobbit Motel complex they serve breakfast to guests aqd they will offer breakfast to casuals as well. Also, they

will serve lunch to group bookings. The most notable interest the couple have apart from the now time consuming catering business is Alan's

interest in motorcycles. When the Bulletin asked if Alan rode bikes as well as sold and serviced them, he replied modestly that he'd "won a few races, when everybody else fell off." Detecting an excess of modesty the Bulletin asked Pip if he was making an understatement, and Pip said yes, he had done quite well at motocross racing. "Over a few years I had a good run," said Alan. "Which years," asked the Bulletin. "Oh, '64 to about '84," said Alan. The Bulletin later found out that "Collison" is one of the country's top

motorcycling names and Alan was one of the top New Zealand motocross riders. Alan said he switched to road racing when his body wouldn't handle the rough motocross riding any more. Another interest the couple have, which has been sidelined while they try their Ohakune venture, is their 32 foot keeler yacht which they are building. The couple were planning to finish her this year and go sailing, but that plan is now on hold while they try their hand at satisfying the appetites of hungry skiers, as well as locals - the restaurant will continue to stay open year-round.