Repost: New Zealand Cuisine?

[Morgan]

I had to repost this from the home cooking board even though recipes are TOTALLY welcome. I need to make this food, not just write it down!

Going to a wine tasting party and need to bring food. Is there a specific cuisine of new zealand? What do the Kiwis eat? Help!

[Gary Soup]

Banana Sandwiches?

Link: http://www.nz.com/new-zealand/guide-b...

[welle]

sounds like PB banana sandwich to me - with butter|margarine instead of PB.

[Seth Chadwick]

Morgan,

You might wish to check out the Turner New Zealand site (link below). It is a New Zealand importer that also has a restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA that features food from New Zealand. There is also a link to the menus at the restaurant.

It is an interesting site and I hope it helps you out.

Best wishes!

Link: http://www.turnernewzealand.com/

[Jef]

Lamb. Meat Pies. Pavlova. Butter. Tea. Lamb.

[jdherbert]

Morgan-

In my secret-not-to-be-discussed identity in real life, I answered this question for a customer who was hosting just such an event at his restaurant... I pulled together some info and I'm pretty sure its bouncing around my files/hard drive...
Email if you'd like me to forward a copy to you...

W dicided to play up the locally produced items, so yes, there was a lot of lamb, but also Venison, apples, and squash.

As a general note, From what I've learned, NZ embraces it's Pacific Neighbors and all of their excellent sauces & techniques.

[Brian S]

Last year the New York Times did a good report on what's happening in Sydney's cutting edge restaurants, and from what you say above much of it might also be true in NZ. Of course it depends on what you want. If I were planning an event on NYC food, I'd try to duplicate stuff from the top restaurants. But some people might like pastrami and pizza, which I, a New Yorker, eat rarely.

Link: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/09/14...

[Loren3]

Lamb, but you knew that. Lots of farm-raised venison and other game. Walkaway food including kebabs of all sorts.

Seafood! Especially green-shelled mussels.

As for cooking, i've included a cool link to an upscale resto site in NZ. I used it when I was planning my trip there in Feb. We went to Bowman's for our wedding dinner. Pick some locations and restos at random and get some great ideas!

Link: http://www.menus.co.nz

[Zoe]

New Zealand cuisine is nothing like Australian; it is at best, plain food with some exceptions. For instance, every sandwich we bought - North and South Islands had a slice of pineapple added to it - every sandwich. It was hard to find mussels in restaurants because most are exported. Fruit is good but roast lamb is king with roast potatoes. The vegetable I was crazy about was squash like but we couldn't bring back seeds because it grows like a potato. However we brought back a gallon container of mint sauce, it lasted for ever and was delicious.

[Loren3]

How long ago were you there? We went this past Feb - north and south island - and never once saw a sandwich with pineapple, every decent resto we went to had mussels, and the better places had some very creative stuff on the menu. The only boring meal we had was a pizza at a youth hostel resto in Waitomo - it was the only place that was open that late.

I guess we were lucky! Anyway, we had a great time, and the food was not the least of it.

[Chorus Girl]

ANZAC biscuits.

[BronzeLioness]

Lamb, venison, salmon, trout, snapper, paua and other shellfish, sea urchin, kumara and pork, anything barbecued, fish and chips, pavlova with kiwi fruit and strawberries. And of course a nice New Zealand sauvignon blanc.

[Cheese Boy]

I see this is an old post ... but, I'd like to bring some attention to the Jazz Apple of New Zealand. This variety of apple is what came about when New Zealand married the Royal Gala to the Braeburn. Look --> http://www.jazzapple.com/varietyprofi...