Category Archives: Locations

Cafés, Food Analysis, New Zealand, Restaurants, Takeaways

New Zealand Food Exploration: Fish and Chips

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I imagine any UK readers are looking askance at the title of the post and thinking “Um, thanks, but I think I know what fish and chips are,” while rolling their eyes a little.

But before you jump ship to another site muttering “teach your grandmother…”, perhaps you haven’t heard of tarakihi or warehou, kumara chips or corn patties. Neither had I until very recently, and I’m desperate to show off my newly-acquired knowledge to anyone who will listen.

Due to our budgetary constraints, takeaways were bound to feature on the menu a few times. We couldn’t afford fancy fish restaurants, but we could stretch to the occasional fish and chip supper.

fish and chips

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Cafés, Food Analysis, New Zealand

New Zealand Food Exploration: Cheese Rolls

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If there was ever a time to take the Lord’s name in vain, it would be to express my love of cheese.

Mostly deprived of it in Thailand due to the high prices of imports, when we hit the shores of New Zealand I spent many a happy meal enjoying cheese in its various forms once more.

Before arriving on the South Island, some online research had indicated to me the existence of something called cheese rolls. This is not a bread bun with some cheese in it, but instead a rolled slice of bread containing cheese and allegedly onion or more, and then toasted. Admittedly that doesn’t sound hugely exciting, but mentions of powdered onion soup and evaporated milk as potential ingredients piqued my interest and I was determined to give it a try.

cheese roll

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Food Analysis, New Zealand, Takeaways

New Zealand Food Exploration: Mutton Bird

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One of the stops for my New Zealand research was Not Quite Nigella’s blog posts about a trip she had made there. One in particular spoke about a Queenstown visit she had made to a fish and chip shack, where she tried something called mutton bird.

Despite it sounding a little unsavoury, I was intrigued at a foodstuff I had not eaten before, and hoped I’d get a chance to give it a go.

When we eventually found ourselves standing outside Aggy’s Shack (Marine Parade, Queenstown), staring at the menu, it suddenly seemed less appealing compared to the crispy fish and chips I could see other people tucking into. After much deliberation though, I threw myself on my sword in the name of experimentation and ordered it.

After a short wait, the mutton bird (also known as titi) arrived resting on a bed of golden chips. I eyed it suspiciously. It resembled a bony portion of duck, and did not look very appetising. I poked it a bit with a fork and eventually levered off a shred of meat and popped it in my mouth.

mutton bird

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Food Analysis, New Zealand

New Zealand Food Exploration: Kumara

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I’m really pretty crap at this blogging malarkey. Every time some food turns up, my laden fork is halfway to my mouth before H exasperatedly reminds me yet again that we should have taken a photo first.

This is for my blog, you understand. I know, I know, I should be suffering for my art, nobly allowing the photographer to work while my dinner starts to cool. I should probably be taking the photos myself in fact, instead of lazily allowing H to exercise his skills. However photography is his thing and he does it brilliantly, so I view it as a win-win.

Besides, my “forgetfulness” means I get to eat straight away while H instead has to take a photo of his still-intact plate. Score!

Anyway, all this is leading on to explain why there is no picture of a kumara to accompany this post. Kumara chips? Ate them. Kumara mash? Ate it. Any other form of kumara? Nothing to see here, folks. I suggest utilising the wonders of Google (yep, I’m a failure and I give you homework…hey, why are you reaching for that X in the corner of the browser window?).

So kumara (which peeps seemed to pronounce as coo-mer-a with the emphasis on the first syllable) is a sweet potato. It turns up all over the place, adding a mealy heft and caramel note of sweetness to the plate. Buy it and try it, oh and send me a photo please…