Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76: Shihad's Jon Toogood ‘shellshocked' as world reacts
Kiwis awoke to the news that lead singer of Black Sabbath died this morning (NZT) aged 76.
In a statement provided to the Herald, Jon Toogood said:
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NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Jesse Mulligan Auckland Restaurant Review: Returning To The Grill SkyCity A Year After A ‘Terrible' Meal
Spoiler alert: If you've been waiting for a sign to visit, Jesse Mulligan is waving you in with bright green flags. It's been almost a year since I took a deep breath and wrote about my terrible meal at SkyCity's The Grill. Publishing a critical restaurant review is an exhilarating experience. Four times as many people as usual read that column and strangers were literally asking about it on the street. The food and beverage manager from SkyCity called me at home for a chat. The person at the Herald whose job it is to sell Viva subscriptions let me know that I should feel free to seek out other terrible restaurants to write about, and soon. The SkyCity guy promised on the phone that they had fixed everything and offered to have me back for free. But it had only been a couple of days since the review had come out – how could they possibly have solved the many, many problems I had listed? What did they do, fire everyone and ship all the boring crockery to landfill? I decided to wait a full 12 months before returning, and this week I did it. I always pay for review meals with my own money and never announce that I am coming, so let's call this a 'check-in'. Below, I have listed my major complaints about The Grill in 2024 and whether or not they have been fixed: The taramasalata and tuna tartlette snacks on the menu at The Grill restaurant in the Horizon Hotel. Photo / Babiche Martens Problem: Service was extremely slow Unsurprisingly, this was not a problem on my return visit, though – full respect to the PR team – the waitress looking after us had not been briefed that I was potentially there to save the restaurant's reputation. I know this because at one stage she looked at me quizzically and asked, 'Where have I seen you before?' before she realised that I was the VIP someone had mentioned to her earlier. She had already proved herself by then – she was fast, knowledgeable, quirky and personal. I bet she gets loads of tips because she has done that rare thing – found a public-facing version of herself that preserves all the best, quirky parts of her personality without sacrificing professionalism. Did they fix it? Yes, they did. Problem: The souffle was terrible and had no puff A twice-baked souffle is a classic dish, so I talked to a couple of chef friends and showed them photos before declaring this one dead last year. I didn't order it this time, but a guy at the table next to me did, and it looked fantastic! It had puff, it had height, and the guy (who was a fan of the old Grill and seemed to have very high standards) pronounced it delicious, mentioning in particular the sweet caramelised onions. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Did they fix it? Yes, they did. The twice-baked cheese souffle now has puff and height. Photo / Babiche Martens Problem: The cocktails were watery, pretentious and pre-mixed The list is still a bit OTT, but I can see the appeal of cocktails with Māori names and local ingredients when you're trying to sell to tourists. The SkyCity guy had promised to sit me down and 'give a bit more context to our pre-mix offering', but I specifically (and slightly rudely) asked that nobody from the company attend our dinner, so I will instead take his word that it doesn't affect the quality of the drinks. But look, I didn't order a cocktail because none of them appealed. Did they fix it? Sorry, not sure. Problem: Nothing appealing on the menu The Grill has expanded its short and brutal list of dishes to a page-turning culinary adventure. Now it has (great) snacks and starters and a double-page spread of interesting beef choices, plus sashimi, oysters and another full page of mains. There's also a brilliant tarte tatin served with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, and a cheese and cognac trolley! They tried it out on New Year's Eve and it went so well they've kept it. I loved everything about that trolley except the prices – $18 per sliver of cheese, but perhaps by that time of night you'll no longer be counting. Did they fix it? Yes, they did. Problem: Everything came on the same boring white plates The plates are still boring, with the odd exception. This might be a future opportunity to lift the experience even further. For now, it's all about the food. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Did they fix it? No, they didn't. You'll be able to make your carnivorous dreams come true here. Photo / Babiche Martens Problem: Some of the food didn't taste good Most excitingly, the food now tastes very, very good. The starters are exceptional, the oysters and sashimi are wonderful, and the steak? Well, spoiling this glowing review somewhat is that I ordered the three-part 'study of beef' and, while the sirloin and scotch were great, the wagyu rump cap was underdone and unable to be broken down by human teeth alone. What a shame. That cut will need further work, but I feel certain that you'll be able to make your carnivorous dreams come true here: pick anything else, alongside some sauces and sides and gobble it all down with a big glass of Cabernet. Did they fix it? Yes, they mostly did. Problem: The wine service was bad, with typos all through the menu The turnaround here was quite exceptional. The Grill's wine guy these days is fantastic – with a short, interesting, ad-libbed speech for every wine-based question we gave him. There's also now a Coravin menu offering wines by the glass that would be too expensive to open otherwise. We drank some beautiful wines and heard some beautiful stories. Look out for the Plume methode, which I have never found anywhere else, and I reckon is one of the best bubbles options in New Zealand. I can confirm I have audited the wine list and found no spelling mistakes. Did they fix it? Yes, they did. The final verdict Wow, what a turnaround. The staff have a spring in their step and the open kitchen seems to be buzzing. The customers are all happy too – from hotel guests to Auckland foodies, coalescing over precise cooking and great drinks. If you've been waiting for the all clear to visit The Grill, I'm officially waving you in with bright green flags. More restaurant reviews According to dining out editor Jesse Mulligan. Nomiya's Japanese Snack Bites Are Works Of Art. ... And Jesse reckons their oysters are the best you will find in Auckland. Palato In Browns Bay Has The Best Pasta Menu In The City. And their tomato pasta sauce is unrivalled in New Zealand. What Happens If You Ask AI To Create Your Restaurant's New Menu? Luke Dallow did just that for his new Ponsonby Rd bistro, Gigi. But does it work? Birkenhead's Bon Pinard Completes The Set With Duo & Uno. This North Shore wine bar serves up indulgence with a flavour-packed menu. Feeling Blue In Ponsonby. Jesse recommends you head to Blue immediately for the persimmon salad. Food You'll Rarely Come Across, With A Side Of ... Lamps? It was high risk, high reward at this unassuming Georgian-Turkish fusion restaurant.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Ozzy Osbourne cause of death revealed as heart attack
Ozzy Osbourne had performed with Black Sabbath just two weeks prior to his death Photo: AFP / Getty Images / Kevork Djansezian Ozzy Osbourne , the lead singer of British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, died of a heart attack. The 76-year-old had suffered from coronary artery disease, the New York Times has reported , citing a death certified filed at a registry in London. Osbourne, whose real name is John Michael Osbourne, had performed with Black Sabbath just two weeks prior to his death - rattling through the band's most iconic songs in front of an adoring hometown crowd in Birmingham, England. The 'Prince of Darkness' held court from a giant leather throne, topped with a bat, at Villa Park stadium, firstly in a five-song solo set and then with his original bandmates for the first time in 20 years, and also last time. According to the New York Times, the death certificate filed by Osbourne's daughter Aimee, lists cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes of her father's death. It also noted that he had Parkinson's disease. His occupation is listed as "Songwriter, Performer and Rock Legend". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Ozzy Osbourne's death certificate reveals he died of a heart attack
His wife of 43 years, Sharon, 72, laid a wreath at a bench dedicated to Black Sabbath, where thousands of tributes, balloons and flowers had been left. From left, Jack Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne arrive to view tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne. Photo / Getty Images Osbourne, a heavy metal innovator who revelled in his 'Prince of Darkness' nickname, had several health problems in recent years and was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's in 2019. He made the last public appearance of an extraordinary career on July 5 at the Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning concert. Osbourne performed from a black throne decorated with bats – a nod to the most notorious moment of his career, when he bit the head off a bat after mistaking it for a rubber toy. Despite his frailty, he managed five songs with his solo band and four with Black Sabbath – joining original members Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward – and was visibly moved by the crowd's response. The event was said to have raised £140 million ($315.7m) for charity. Osbourne had surgery to his neck in 2019 after a fall, which left him with nerve damage, and suffered two bouts of pneumonia. He required further spinal surgery in 2022, which forced him to announce his retirement from touring in 2023. He spoke publicly about his Parkinson's in 2020, but said he had suspected for years that his shuffling gait and tremor were signs of the disease. In an interview with the Telegraph in 2020, he expressed amazement that he had reached his 70s, given the wild life he had led. He said: 'I ain't done so bad. At the end of the day I've had a great life.'
