Two new restaurants

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 18, 2 October 1984, Page 28

Two new restaurants

PARKLANDS

If you're ever feeling peckish late at night — or indeed at any time of the day — and haven't booked a meal, the answer could be found at Ohakune's newest restaurant...guests are welcome as late as 10.00pm. Parkland's Restaurant, on the western approach to town, opened recently after extensive alterations - to separate the former combined cafe, grocery and take-away facilities. The new restaurant seats 40 patrons in attractive surroundings and provides a blackboard menu catering for a range of appetites and pockets...main course prices range from $4.50 to $9.50 for a fillet mignon. All main meals are served with fresh vegetables or salads. Soups, entrees and deserts, including a homemade apple strudel, are also available. The strudel is authentic — Parkland's restaurant proprietor, Franz Brandl, is originally from Austria, the home of strudel. Franz Brandl first came to New Zealand in 1973 after spending five winter seasons

MISTY'S

Since it opened officially on Tuesday 28 August Misty's has become a popular dining-out venue for locals and visitors alike who obviously enjoy this new and much-needed amenity in National Park. Partners Gail Henderson, Jaan Oldbury, Steve Lewis and Paul O'Neill have spent the past 12 months converting an old workshop behind Parkland's Service Station into a cosy new restaurant with a warm and intimate atmosphere. The restaurant was named after an 8-year-old friend of theirs from Whakapapa Village, Misty Smith, who was obviously delighted to have a restaurant named after her. The conversion was quite a challenge. The cold and dirty workshop — a grease pit stop for many an old and dilapidated vehicle — with its large metal doors and grey concrete block walls needed a lot of imagination and plenty of faith and work to transform it into its present comfortable and attractive role as a 40-seat restaurant. The interior decor now features warm pink walls and burgundy drapes and a

on ski patrol at Thredbo, one of Australia's most popular ski resorts. In New Zealand he first worked at the Chateau for eight years, six of them as bar manager, before taking over Turoa's Giant Cafeteria at the top of the second chair

large open fireplace occupies the centre of the room. Another visor-type fire occupies a corner of the room. Dimmed lights and soft music complete the cosy atmosphere... an essential quality in National Park. Memories of the late Roy Turner and his family, who were tragically lost in the Southern Alps last year, are also featured...an old pair of wooden skis belonging to Roy and a large black and white picture of Ruapehu photographed by his wife Ann. All four partners have had previous associations with the National Park area. Gail was born in Taumarunui and lived in Raurimu. She worked as a receptionist at the Motor Inn at Stokes Valley near Wellington followed by a season at Happy Valley on the Whakapapa Skifield. She then spent a year-and-a-half as a parks assistant with the Tongariro National Parks Board. Jaan left this country to travel overseas for four years and worked in the New Zealand embassies in Australia and London. She then spent five years with the Taupo and Turangi Police department before joining the Tongariro National Park staff as a receptionist six years ago. Steve Lewis, who was born in Mosgiel and attended school in Dunedin,

two years ago. He still has this contract and is now into his third season. Unlike the Giant Cafeteria however Parkland's Restaurant will be an all-year-round facility with extended hours. It opens for breakfasts at

has been working in the Ruapehu region for about two-and-a-halL years as a Park assistant. Before that he had been employed by the Department of Lands and Survey in the Otago area. Paul O'Neill, who was born and educated in Upper Hutt, has also been employed by the Parks Board for about two-and-a-half years but as a carpenter. Before that he worked in the Kaiangaroa Forest, in

7.15am (7.00am on weekends) and remains open t.hroughout the day serving morning and afternoon teas as well as lunch and dinner up until 10.00pm every night. A BYO licence has been applied for.

Wairoa and in the Wairarapa and spent three-and-a-half years in Australia working for various contractors in the Sydney area. All four partners take an active and enthusiastic part in this new restaurant venture. Misty's is a BYO restaurant which offers a varied blackboard menu and they are open from 6.009.00pm daily except Tuesdays.