Food and Wine in New Zealand
New Zealand is famous for adrenaline activities and stunning scenery. But at the end of a hard day pursuing all these activities you will have worked up an appetite. Which brings us to the other legendary Kiwi delights: food and wine.
Lamb and other meats
In a country where sheep outnumber people thirteeb to one, lamb is a national favourite and the preparation has long since evolved to a fine art. From lamb roast with delicate garlic and rosemary flavours to lamb pies served pub style with mashed potatoes peas and gravy you will have to try some Kiwi lamb! The ultimate rack of lamb is served in Canterbury.
Rotorua and Taupo share the distinction of using geothermal heating for culinary pursuits. You can attend a Hangi in Rotorua where a traditional Maori feast is cooked underground, utilizing the natural energy at Tamaki Maori village. Or sample the unique geothermally grown prawns in Taupo.
Southland has many deer farms and venison will be served in all the surrounding restaurants. Mackenzie country also sport deer and ostrich farms.
Seafood & freshwater fish
The Maori language adorns much of the shellfish harvested from its shores – and the list is almost as large as an All Black lock forward, including Toheroa, tuatua, pipi, paua (Taranaki), cockles, several varieties of oysters (Bluff oysters are hailed as the best in the world, so plan your visit in April during the Southland Seafood Festival), black abalone (New Plymouth) lobsters (Kaikoura), crayfish, scallops (Marlborough), cod, flounder, hapuka, kingfish, John Dory, snapper, squid terekihi, green lipped mussels (Marlborough), and even good old fish and chips (Mangonui).
Brown and rainbow trout fishing is very popular near Lake Tekapo – Trophy sized Brown trout can be caught in well-stocked rivers around Mataura and Gore. Alternatively go for farmed salmon from Stewart Island, Lyttleton and Akaroa (where you can also partake in some groper). If you visit between September and mid-November make sure you try a whitebait fritter. Another freshwater delight from New Zealand is eel.
Cheese, fruit and more…
Oamaru and Dunedin has an award-winning Windsor Blue and excellent Camembert, Feta, Gouda, Romano, Gruyere, Brie, and Cheddar can be found throughout New Zealand.
Exotic fruits such as aubergines, beetroot, blueberries (Northland), , feijoas (April and May), kiwifruit (May to December in Te Puke), rock melon, and tamarillos (May to December). There are also strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, loganberries, melons, passionfruit (March and April), and red pineapples (Northland).
You will never be short of interesting flavours in New Zealand from nuts to honey, saffron, wild thyme and olives – if you are in Dunedin, be sure you sample the chocolate.
The Pavlova controversy
A perfectly crafted meringue (crisp on the outside soft marshmallow on the inside) filled with cream, strawberries and kiwifruit this famous desert is claimed by both Australia and New Zealand. Whenever I feel the need to get to the bottom of the debate I generally have a large helping …a couple of bites into this dessert and you only care about where your next serving will come from.
Wines and spirits
Here is a list of places to try some of New Zealands fine alcoholic beverages.
Taranaki: Beer, Raspberry and boysenberry wine
Wairarapa: Pinot Noir
Lake Horowhenua: Schnapps, liqueurs, oils and vinaigrettes
Waiheke Island: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Gisborne: Chardonnay
Hawke’s Bay: Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot and malbec, Chardonnay
Marlborough: Sauvignon blanc (85% of NZ production) Pinot noir, Rieslings
Central Otago: Pinot noir
Nelson: Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot noir
Waipara: Pinot noirs(,Rieslings, Chardonnay
Queenstown: Black currant, liquorice, raspberry and cherry pinot noir
Wanaka Beerworks: Vienna larger, dark larger and pilsener
Dunedin: Milford single malt whisky
Greymouth: Monteiths boutique beer brewery
Visit www.hotelscombined.com to find the best hotel and plan your visit around the following celebrations:
Annual festivals of food and wine
Harvest Hawke's Bay Wine Festival
Venue: Hawke's Bay
When: February
One of New Zealand’s biggest celebrations of wine and food
Wine Marlborough Festival
Venue: Marlborough
When: February
A premier Wine and Food event
Devonport Food & Wine Festival
Venue: Devenport
When: February
A charity event focusing on music and diversity in food and wine
Whangarei’s food festival.
Venue: Whangarei
When:February
Hokitika Wild Foods Festival
Venue: South Island, West Coast
When: March
Fancy Huhu grubs and fish eyes or maybe only the more usual venison pork and whitebait?
Hospitality NZ
Venue: Greenlane, Auckland
When: August
Five combined events: Hospitality Show, Wine New Zealand, NZ Culinary Fare, Telecom Seminars and the NZ Bar Show.
Taste Bay of Islands
Venue: Paihia
When: September
Featuring the best The Bay has to offer
Foodtech/Packtech
Venue: Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
When: October
An important trade event
Sausage Festival
Venue: Blackball
When: November
Salamis and rata-kamahi bush honey
Savouring the Source
Venue: Waimate
When: November
Held in conjunction with one of the oldest agricultural shows including food, juice, wine and olive oil exhibitions.
Cooking schools
Paihia Beach Resort and Spa Cooking School
Ruth Pretty Cooking School (most weekends from March to December
Queenstown Resort College
Ki Tao Cooking School
And if you visit Rotorua book Charles Royal’s indigenous food tour. Learn about traditional Maori cooking methods and native herbs.
Weekly markets
Kerikeri
Farmers market every Sunday
Hawkes Bay
Farmers market in Napier
Feilding
Artisan food market every Friday
