Auckland “Eats” Cheaper Than Monte Carlo

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 14

Auckland “Eats” Cheaper Than Monte Carlo

NEARLY THIRTY SHILLINGS FOR A MODERATE LUNCHEON

New Zealanders who travel abroad discover that they cannot call in at an hotel or restaurant and have a satisfying and tasty luncheon of several courses for a couple of shillings, as they may in Auckland. Mr. J. Winter, of the Waverley Hotel, has just received from Mr. Eliot Davis, the menu of the Liro, a restaurant at Monte Carlo. “This,” writes Mr. Davis, “will give a rough idea of the enormous prices one has to pay there, compared with Auckland. The figures are francs, and if you multiply by two it will give you the amount in pence for each item. If you divide it by six, it will give you what it is worth. Cut that in halves, and it gives you the satisfaction you feel when you come out of the restaurant (hungry).” The menu has a most artistically designed cover, with an illustration of a little girl in red and green who is admonishing her doggie- for lapping water from a tap—“lf you drink water you will get the stomach-ache!” Doing himself only moderately well, the Aucklander at Monte Carlo might select the following luncheon, avoiding

tlie more highly-priced items on the menu.

Half-a-dozen oysters, 4s 2d. Grilled salmon, ss. Entree (calves’ liver), 3s 4d. Cold roast lamb, 3s Bd, with artichokes (2s 4d) and spinach (2s 4d). Peaches and cream, 5s Sd. One must have something to drink with one’s lunch, and “hang the expense!” As tea and coffee are not mentioned on the menu, and one is warned that water will give you stomach-ache, champagne cup at 8s 4d may be passed by and a small bottle of claret at 3s Id, be selected. This light luncheon will have cost the traveller £1 9s 7d.

There is a delightfully long list of cocktails —64 varieties, in fact—but the prices are not marked. Judging by the names of these cocktails, however, the patron would get something for his money, for the varieties include Angels’ Kiss, Bosom-Caresser, Bunny’s-hug, Cameron’s Kick, Dream, Doctor, EyeOpener, Fascinater, Fourth Degree, Hula Hula, Leave-it-to-me, Maiden’s Blush, Pink Lady, Stinger, Souls-Kiss. Welcome Stranger—and Monkey’s Gland!