New Zealand: Gastronomic heaven
New Zealand is typified by an eclectic variety of culinary styles. The influences range from a broadly British cuisine, with a touch or two of Mediterranean, Maori and even Indian cuisine. This is very reflective of the cosmopolitan nature of society in New Zealand as a whole, and so you get the best of both worlds - the Continent and the Orient. If your tour of New Zealand was guided by your taste buds as much as your desire to explore new places, you surely won't be disappointed.
New Zealand cuisine has a rather firm basis in seafood. Of course, the sumptuous barbecues that Kiwis make have pork, lamb and beef too, but the seas around this island nation will throw up a delight or two on your plates. Pacific salmons, abalones and snappers, among others, are basic ingredients used in a lot of Kiwi food, and you will be mesmerized by how ‘fresh' and delicious they taste. New Zealand small group tours are incomplete without savouring the plethora of shellfish dishes available in Kiwi restaurants. You can have them raw, like sashimi or sushi, or cooked/marinated, with usual delights like oysters and lobsters.
But don't think that Kiwi cuisine is restricted to just a bit of random seafood. A perfect example of the eclectic nature of food in New Zealand would be its national dessert - the pavlova. Named in the honour of famous Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova (who had visited New Zealand in the early part of the 20th century), this is a crispy meringue that will leave you asking for more.
A New Zealand tour is bound to have some of the novelty factor of Maori cuisine. Hangi meals are a traditional Maori cooking method, where hot rocks are buried in pit ovens and used to cook food. Water is sprinkled over the ovens to create a smoky steam, and after a certain amount of time, the hangi dish has a rather unique taste that will surprise and yet delight you.
The wines of New Zealand have also led to a flourishing new industry for them. Millions of litres get exported annually, with Marlborough's sauvignon blanc the recipient of much adulation worldwide. Its fresh, unique flavours make it an ideal accompaniment with traditional Kiwi cuisine. You should also try out Gisborne's chardonnay and Martinborough's Pinot gris to experience more of the versatile wine industry.
New Zealand's unique assimilation of cultures, societies and history is reflected in its food. Its wines are also considered to be among the finest in the world, making New Zealand a place that appeals to gourmands from every background.
New Zealand cuisine has a rather firm basis in seafood. Of course, the sumptuous barbecues that Kiwis make have pork, lamb and beef too, but the seas around this island nation will throw up a delight or two on your plates. Pacific salmons, abalones and snappers, among others, are basic ingredients used in a lot of Kiwi food, and you will be mesmerized by how ‘fresh' and delicious they taste. New Zealand small group tours are incomplete without savouring the plethora of shellfish dishes available in Kiwi restaurants. You can have them raw, like sashimi or sushi, or cooked/marinated, with usual delights like oysters and lobsters.
But don't think that Kiwi cuisine is restricted to just a bit of random seafood. A perfect example of the eclectic nature of food in New Zealand would be its national dessert - the pavlova. Named in the honour of famous Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova (who had visited New Zealand in the early part of the 20th century), this is a crispy meringue that will leave you asking for more.
A New Zealand tour is bound to have some of the novelty factor of Maori cuisine. Hangi meals are a traditional Maori cooking method, where hot rocks are buried in pit ovens and used to cook food. Water is sprinkled over the ovens to create a smoky steam, and after a certain amount of time, the hangi dish has a rather unique taste that will surprise and yet delight you.
The wines of New Zealand have also led to a flourishing new industry for them. Millions of litres get exported annually, with Marlborough's sauvignon blanc the recipient of much adulation worldwide. Its fresh, unique flavours make it an ideal accompaniment with traditional Kiwi cuisine. You should also try out Gisborne's chardonnay and Martinborough's Pinot gris to experience more of the versatile wine industry.
New Zealand's unique assimilation of cultures, societies and history is reflected in its food. Its wines are also considered to be among the finest in the world, making New Zealand a place that appeals to gourmands from every background.
