Healthy Dining
Heritage Auckland is helping the environment and diner’s waistlines with a unique healthy dining concept. Hectors Restaurant and The Lobby Bar have both launched new menus that are entirely plant-based, using ingredients sourced from the local area where possible.
Why all plant-based? Everything the human body requires for excellent health can be found in plant-based foods; they are free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat, but high in fibre and nutrients. Plus far less land, water and energy are required to produce them.
But don’t worry, diners needn’t sacrifice flavour for the health benefits. Developed by executive chef Jinu Abraham, Hectors Restaurant now offers a delectable new range of healthy and sustainable menu options, or pop in to The Lobby Bar for fresh fruit juices and muffins, all using only the freshest local produce.
So thorough has this new approach been that part of Heritage Auckland’s kitchen has been dedicated for plant-based food preparation only, right through to a coffee machine using only soy and rice milks.
Heritage Auckland is also the first hotel to become a corporate member of the NZ Nutrition Foundation.
Some highlights from the new menus:
- Breakfast: Apple, pecan and buckwheat pancakes, with maple syrup and strawberry salad
- Lunch: Mushroom-stuffed pansotti pasta with rich tomato and basil sauce
- Petit fours: Fig and pistachio baklava, and a dark chocolate log with a raspberry and anise centre
- Dinner: Spice dusted polenta with vegan cheese and chilli salsa
Alyson Gofton discusses Heritage Auckland's vegan and vegetarian menus with Paul Holmes on Newstalk ZB.
To listen to the interview please click here (courtesy The Radio Network).
Diner feedback: “We were both very impressed by the menu. I had the tofu skewers... My friend had a tofu wrap and he thought it tasted very good. We had smoothies too - they were just fabulous!
It's great to have a place that caters for my special dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten and dairy free) and does such a good job of it…. Well done to the chefs! Please pass on my gratitude and congratulations to them. I will definitely be back!” (B.C.T.)
"The menu is extensive and interesting and we rarely had the same thing twice… The lobby bar is a nice place to be and the staff were universally helpful and knowledgeable on the menu." (Lee H.)
"On the recommendation of a friend and fellow vegan, I recently had the pleasure of dining at Hector’s Restaurant. A soaring glass ceiling and tall palm trees give the restaurant a unique courtyard feeling.
It was marvellous to be able to peruse a menu with at least 4 vegan choices for the starters, mains and desserts. In the end I settled on the chef’s signature dishes for all three courses. All in all, the meal was a great success. The taste and presentation of the courses were thoughtfully done, with colour, texture and flavours either harmoniously paired or interestingly contrasted for maximum enjoyment.
We will certainly be back for the other vegan options of pre-theatre snacks and tapas, a leisurely breakfast or set an afternoon aside to indulge in the vegan high tea offerings." (Laurinda Erasmus)
Downloadable Menus:
