The Nugget: Tim Arnold

Issue: 007 · February 2017 · 3 Wise Men About Town

No.7 Tim Arnold

Stylish Man · Family Man · Entertaining Man · Busy Man

The only thing restaurant owner Tim Arnold loves more than good food and wine is seeing other people eating and drinking well.

Childhood dinners out with his family saw him entranced by the kitchen flames, the bustling chefs and the theatre of it all. Today he still believes that every night should be a show.

That’s why his Auckland restaurant Rockefeller has an open kitchen serving amazing food; a stunning champagne list; plenty of different oyster varieties; and turntables manned (actually womanned) by his partner in life and business, Camilla.

Both share a passion for music - and as the lead guitarist of renowned kiwi indie band, Pluto, Tim sees lots of parallels to being on stage and being front of house - the entertaining, the teamwork and the buzz when everything goes perfectly.

He sees Rockefeller as the perfect mix of luxury and punk, banishing stuffiness and adding a bit of attitude. Tim loves the same approach we take to our gear, like these rock ‘n’ roll Dune London Chelsea boots, $250, and our very chic oyster-blue slim-fit Hammersmith suit, $700.

Despite playing the main stage at the Big Day Out, Tim cites his greatest achievement as meeting Camilla and raising their five children together. Fair to say, it’s a busy life. Still, that man (child) power comes in handy when he cooks his favourite dish at home; Spaghetti alle vongole, with cockles gathered by the kids at a secret spot somewhere near Kaiaua, an hour from Auckland.

Pop in to the restaurant sometime and say g’day. Then get him to open up some bubbles, some oysters and maybe, if your luck’s in, the vongole recipe. In the meantime, here’s Tim opening up a little about himself.

Quick Questions

  1. Sporting/concert event you’d travel back in time for? It would have to be The Who, live at Leeds.
  2. Last supper meal? Soup, good bread and great butter.
  3. Best ever dinner party guests? Freddie Mercury, my beloved Grandad, my partner Camilla’s late father (good bugger by all accounts), and singer G.G. Allin to lower the tone.
  4. Favourite ever album/band? At the moment, Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, the self-titled La’s record and Neil Young’s Tonight’s the Night.
  5. Beer or wine? Or both?
  6. Stones or Beatles? Depends on the day of the week.
  7. Thing I’d take if house was burning down? Camilla and the kids, followed closely by my Gibson SG guitar.
  8. Shirts in or out? I dabble with both.
  9. Favourite 3 Wise Men piece of kit? Me new blue suit (said for some reason in a bad cockney accent!)
  10. What was the last picture you took with your phone? My 2-year-old twin daughters dancing.
  11. What was the last lie you told? Anything to get the kids to bed.
  12. At a restaurant I never order... More than three desserts for myself. People look at you funny.
  13. Best way to eat oysters? Natural. Add a cheeky vinaigrette made of one-part good quality merlot vinegar to one-part good quality balsamic vinegar, and a finely diced shallot.
  14. Best tip for shucking oysters? Come to Rockefeller and have us do it for you.
  15. Best way to open a bottle of champagne? Often, especially if it’s Cedric Bouchard. (Pro tip: twist the bottle, not the cork, and always look both ways before you cross).
  16. Life motto? It’s never too late.
Tim Arnold - The Nugget magazine page

As seen in print

The Nugget: Tim Arnold

This story first ran as a full page in The Nugget, our 3 Wise Men About Town series on good buggers from around the country and the 3 Wise Men kit they love.

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