A new Restaurant raises the craft of Asian cuisine to an art form.
As the Red Ginger menu rather wittingly puts it, East meets East, in dishes where the novel combinations of flavours and the sharp, modern presentation suggest something new and unknown.
The repertoire is anything but dumbed down, and since it speaks of creation, emotion and expression, I don't believe it pretentious to call it art.
Located on the western side of Tory Street and in close proximity to Courtney Place, 82 Tory Street contains an existing two storey concrete building with a 3m setback from the Tory Street frontage. Formally a car service garage, the vacant ground floor tenancy has been transformed into a new contemporary Asian bar and restaurant.
A new floor to ceiling height glazed front, external feature screens, signage and a paved external seating area, brings life to what was a bland loading dock, and provides a visual link between the interior and exterior spaces. The industrial concrete shell interior, is exposed as a minimalist backdrop, and the insertion of high quality joinery items and feature lighting, brings a stylish vibrancy to the interior.
The bar is located at the front, with the kitchen to the rear. A suspended timber feature ceiling with linear lighting, runs the length of the space, introducing a dramatic insertion, tying the bar and dining areas together.
The central light well is illuminated with feature timber screening and translucent back panels, providing a dramatic central focal point, which emits a soft warm glow, reminiscent of traditional Shoji screens.
Further illuminated panels with specialist graphics are installed to the concrete side wall, with slender timber screens providing visual divisions to the more intimate seating area along one side of the restaurant.
Red Gingers client wanted to add something extra to the dining experience by mixing fine art with its cuisine, which is an art in itself. Unlike exhibitions in city cafes, where works are often difficult to view and may involve leaning over other customers tables, Red Ginger has devoted an entire 10m long wall adjacent to the bar to showcase works of art. The goal is to adorn the walls with ever-changing works from the local Wellington Art scene.
Cuisine Magazine - Restaurant of the Year 2010 Awards
Red Ginger has been announced as a finalist for the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards (Winners to be announced on 16th August 2010).
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