To really discover the finest culinary delights of New Zealand, you have to be prepared to relax. While the food itself is delicious, one of the things that most enhances the experience is the Kiwi preference for long, languid and laidback meals where you can savour every mouthful. Plan your trip accordingly and be sure to try sample as much of the Pacific Rim cuisine as you can.
Wild Food Festival
Foodies who are keen to try anything and aren’t particularly squeamish must book their flights to New Zealand to coincide with the annual Wild Food Festival. Held in Hokitika, this festival draws about 10,000 people, and gives them the chance to sample some bizarre delicacies from a massive selection of stalls. Think bug larvae, wild highland beef, curried Hoki Tikka, pesto ice cream, mountain merino and much more. Also, while you’re in Hokitika, you must soothe your palatte with some of the delicious Hokey Pokey ice cream.
Flavours to savour
No matter where in New Zealand you’re visiting, there are some national favourites that must be sampled. Look for slow cooked lamb, pork and venison and be sure to try some of the massive range of fresh fish, especially local Kiwi shellfish, pipis and tuatua. You’ll be offered sauces and garnishes that draw inspiration from Europe, Asia and Polynesia, but have their own unique twist.
Have your fresh meat or fish barbequed and finish it off with a glass of the sauvignon blanc or chardonnay (make sure you try Cloudy Bay if it’s on the menu) New Zealand is famous for.
Traditional Maori hangi
True foodies won’t be able to resist experimenting with a traditional Maori hangi during their holiday. Traditionally cooked in an underground pit covered with fire, your meal of meat and vegetables will have a distinctive and delicious smoky timbre. You won’t find hangi-cooked food everywhere, but there are several tourist resorts offering the experience, most notably Rotorua in the North Island
Food celebrations
There are many other festivals for those who’d like a slightly more subdued taste explosion, with the best of the bunch taking place in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Nelson, Canterbury and Queenstown. Grab some cheap flights and time them to visit a festival or two or plan a tour of some of New Zealand’s biggest and best vineyards, where you’ll find excellent restaurants serving food designed to show off the qualities of the local wine. Your taste buds will love you for it.
James writes for Skyscanner.net