WAIHEKE ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL FINISHES ON HIGH NOTE

The Mudbrick CLassic Sunday Brunch

Over 100 of us crowded in to the picturesque Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant on this glorious Spring morning to be greeted by a glass of Mudbrick Methode Champenoise,followed by a "superb selection of tastes" from Julie Le Clerc's new cook book, MADE BY HAND.

Before eating we were introduced to the menu by Julie who talked of the ingredients being picked from Mudbrick's own gardens just this morning.

Our menu:
Green Soup with Quesadillas
Avocado with Smoed Salmon & Bean Salad

Millet, Watercress and Marinated Asparagus Salad (pic right)

Meringue-Topped Fruit Pudding
and Hand Made Petit Fours from the Mudbrick Kitchen.

Between our main course and dessert were were entertained with stories by Book Blogger Graham Beattie and Waiheke Bookseller Liz Eastmond built around the history of Penguin Books, the collecting of early Penguin titles, their cover designs, the Penguin archive, and the reecently published Popular Penguins where the original orange & white colour schehe has been revived.

Following dessert and before coffee were were treated to an address from Dame Cath Tizzard who also read a couple of very funny passages from her recently published memoir, CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS.

Then those of us from Auckland travelled back on the ferry full of conversation and laughter and feeling very satisfied with the way we had spent our Sunday morning.

Congratulations to Festival Director Geraldine McManus and her assistant John Daly-Peoples, and thanks to Auckland City on a splendid three days of Words on a Small Island.