Leuven, Wellington's Belgian Beer Cafe

*GUSH*

This my third year in Wellington and I swear this is the FIRST time I've been impressed by the angmoh food here...

My team went out for dinner this evening to Leuvan on the corner of Featherston and Johnston streets, just a 10 minute jaunt from office.

We even had a glorious clear calm evening to stroll in; it wasn't even that cold.

LEUVAN, Wellington's Belgian Beer Cafe
http://www.leuven.co.nz/

Famous for their mussels, they serve Hoegarden on tap!!!

I had:
GROOTMOEDER'S VARKENSKOTELETJES/COTES DE PORC
Herb-crumbed pork cutlet served on stoemp with red cabbage compote and rhubarb relish $23.90

Stoemp is mashed potatoes.

The portions were generous. The first ang moh restaurant in my Wellington experience with decent sized portions.

Like I said in the 3 years I've been in Wellington, I have been SO unimpressed by the food here in terms of taste and portion size. Especially portion size. Trying to be so French and sophisticated and serving molecules of food on platters the size of manhole covers.

Recalling the pathetic drops and crumbs of food dished up at Hazel and St Johns, the two places I was dragged to for company Xmas lunches last year (and had to pay for self, mind you), I had gloomily resigned myself to another exorbitant midget meal.

Instead it was magnificent and bountiful. I am so impressed that I've come home to immediately start waxing lyrical about it on my blog.

LEUVAN'S MENU
http://www.leuven.co.nz/menu.htm

Next target:

SCHAPEPOOTJES/PATEÉD’AGNEAU
Beer braised lamb shank and seasonal root vegetable pie $21.90

Sounds unimaginative and stodgy but imagine this deep dish covered with a pie crust and baked golden brown, with the lamb shank sticking out jauntily and crowned with a sprig of rosemary.

Piping hot stew on a cold winter night.

Such a generous portion that the Scottish guy next to me couldn't finish.