Kebab Hunt

Those of you with whom I’m also connected on social media will be familiar with my most popular social media output – Kebab Hunt.

I travel a lot with work, Sure, I’ll have my snout in the Koru Lounge trough sometimes but, mostly, work travel is not luxurious or even comfortable, nor very rock n roll. It’s A to B. Stumble into a motel / hotel. Deliver exceptional learning experience. Travel back. Rinse and repeat. Remind myself to blink now and then.

The kebab hunt is, what I believe young people refer to as, my ‘thing’. The challenge is wherever and whenever I am, I need to find a new kebab place. There are some rules (I’m not a monster). No delivery. If I have a rental car, I can drive. If not, I gotta hoof it on foot. Sometimes it’s a challenge in a small town in the rain with a 10pm arrival, so maybe I need to get creative with a daylight arrangement or a stop-off enroute home.

It keeps me awake. It keeps me alive. It exercises me. The ritual distraction of it humanises what otherwise can be a very draining side of what I do. I’m not complaining; I love what I do.

In a facetime with my mid-20s daughter recently, it turns out that her and her friends are always interested in the next instalment. My contemporaries prod me to make it my next book.

I should also stress I do not literally order a kebab. The default order is whatever variation of mixed kebab iskender / salad + fries. Effectively, a breadless kebab.

Best one in NZ so far after many years of hunting was in Tokoroa and, given that there are 2 places in Tokoroa, I bet you’ll be surprised which one it was. I was training 40km away in a dairy shed in Mangakino. I had my car. Recently, a court found them guilty of a bunch of employment offences relating to wages, conditions, and immigration. My reviews will be once-over-lightly and glib. I'm not a forensic detective.

I have not really been taking it seriously, hence establishing this page. I do not wish to give me myself an onerous task, nor a homework assignment, but I’ll make sure I generate enough content so over time the collective hunts might be book-worthy. And to keep me honest, I’ll be posting my hunt trophies here. I’ll be supporting local businesses and you may like to do so too. I’m pretty chill. The worst review I would have ever done would have been, “Great value for money. Ample portions”.

It's not really about kebabs. I write about workplaces, people-skills, and leadership. Business travel is a big part of what i do but not everyone. It's a peripheral view into my work's impact on my life - mindset, family, health, fitness, etc.

The hunt is on...

Morrinsville: Saz Kebab and Pizza 2nd October 2024

Morrinsville itself seems on first arrival to have its civic act together. One stray Coca Cola can rolled in the wind as the only evidence of street trash. I saw no obvious graffiti. Funky art cow statues adorned most every corner of the main drag. I’m sure that Morrinsville, like Twin Peaks, has its own dark dirty secrets but as a business traveller rolling into town at dusk (like that Coca Cola can) any drama was not for me to find. I was no special agent and I don’t like coffee, even if it is a damn fine cup. My prey was kebab and I’d already searched ahead of time to ensure it would still be open. Saz Kebab & Pizza was open and the service was efficient if not effervescent. But if I was after effervescence, I’ll go find a full can of Coca Cola. (Note to self – pitch Coca Cola for sponsorship?)

My motel was a mere 400m and the weather favoured me, so I parked up, packed out, and trekked off on foot.

Standard offerings in terms of salads and sauces. I go for all salads and the sweet chilli + garlic yoghurt. Side of fries.

The fires had an aioli dip at no extra cost but they did not travel well, despite it being only a 400m stroll. That would be my only critique. Otherwise fine.

And, at a sub-$20 for a large mixed meat salad, tremendous value for money. When I asked my clients about Saz, the general vibe was positive.

Recommend.