Monday, 6 April 2015
The Culinary Side of New Zealand
Like me, if you enjoy travelling, then I’m sure that food is one of the major reasons why you travel. This is one aspect of travelling that never fails to amaze me. You can tell a lot about a country by sampling its food.
Food is also something that we New Zealanders take pride in. As a lot of my friends abroad wanted to know about the country, I thought, “What better way to help them understand more about New Zealand than talking about the local delicacies?”
Food of New Zealand
New Zealand has a wonderful mix of Maori and European cuisines. Add to it the continual growth of Asian cuisine, and delicacies from the Pacific islands, and you have a smorgasbord of sights, aromas, and tastes. However, I would like to talk about some dishes and styles of cooking that are quintessentially Kiwi.
• Seafood: With a coastline of 14,000 kilometres, seafood is an essential part of New Zealand cuisine. A local speciality here is green lipped mussels, a shellfish dish that can be cooked with parmesan cheese or Thai red curry. Another local dish is bluff oysters. These are grown in the waters of the Foveaux Strait. We even have a Bluff oyster festival in May to commemorate this dish.
Other seafood delicacies include deep fried whitebait, which are caught during springtime. Scallops are also a favourite as they are found in abundance here. Like the bluff oyster, we hold a scallop festival every September.
• Maori Hangi: The term ‘Hangi’ stands for ‘earth oven.’ This is a traditional Maori cooking method, however, it is only used for special occasions now. The hangi can be used to cook savoury as well as sweet dishes. Simple dishes include chicken or seafood, steamed or slow cooked along with vegetables. If you have a craving for something sweet, you can check out some traditional hangi steamed pudding.
• Desserts: Kiwis are known for their sweet tooth, and ice cream is a passion for us. A favourite is Hokey Pokey – vanilla ice cream with honeycomb. Another local favorite is Pavlova – a meringue type dish, which is served with fresh fruit and cream. This dish is particularly popular during the Christmas season. If this does not entice your taste buds, the simplest side treat can be a bowl of kiwifruit, which is known for its taste and health benefits.
There is so much more that I can tell you about the culinary side New Zealand. However, simply writing about it won’t be enough. You will have to come here and experience it.
Food is also something that we New Zealanders take pride in. As a lot of my friends abroad wanted to know about the country, I thought, “What better way to help them understand more about New Zealand than talking about the local delicacies?”
Food of New Zealand
New Zealand has a wonderful mix of Maori and European cuisines. Add to it the continual growth of Asian cuisine, and delicacies from the Pacific islands, and you have a smorgasbord of sights, aromas, and tastes. However, I would like to talk about some dishes and styles of cooking that are quintessentially Kiwi.
• Seafood: With a coastline of 14,000 kilometres, seafood is an essential part of New Zealand cuisine. A local speciality here is green lipped mussels, a shellfish dish that can be cooked with parmesan cheese or Thai red curry. Another local dish is bluff oysters. These are grown in the waters of the Foveaux Strait. We even have a Bluff oyster festival in May to commemorate this dish.
Other seafood delicacies include deep fried whitebait, which are caught during springtime. Scallops are also a favourite as they are found in abundance here. Like the bluff oyster, we hold a scallop festival every September.
• Maori Hangi: The term ‘Hangi’ stands for ‘earth oven.’ This is a traditional Maori cooking method, however, it is only used for special occasions now. The hangi can be used to cook savoury as well as sweet dishes. Simple dishes include chicken or seafood, steamed or slow cooked along with vegetables. If you have a craving for something sweet, you can check out some traditional hangi steamed pudding.
• Desserts: Kiwis are known for their sweet tooth, and ice cream is a passion for us. A favourite is Hokey Pokey – vanilla ice cream with honeycomb. Another local favorite is Pavlova – a meringue type dish, which is served with fresh fruit and cream. This dish is particularly popular during the Christmas season. If this does not entice your taste buds, the simplest side treat can be a bowl of kiwifruit, which is known for its taste and health benefits.
There is so much more that I can tell you about the culinary side New Zealand. However, simply writing about it won’t be enough. You will have to come here and experience it.
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Fishing Spots in and Around Auckland
If you’re an Aucklander, chances are you have gone on a fishing trip. Fishing is a popular and longstanding hobby for Auckland residents, with many great locations in and around the city. If you are thinking of coming to Auckland, and fishing is your main goal, then you need to have inside information on the best places to go.
Where to Fish around Auckland
Being a fishing enthusiast myself, I have tried to find different places in and around the city where you can find a quiet place, cast your line, and catch some amazing fish. For first timers, I would recommend the following fishing spots.
• Waitemata Harbor: Also known as Auckland Harbor, this forms the north and east coast along the Auckland peninsula. Despite being a central port, Waitemata has many points of access along the wharves and headlands. You have the opportunity to fish for strong young snappers here. Weekends are a good time to come here, as the ferries are not as frequent as during the week.
• City Suburbs: The harbor can be used as a starting point to travel to fishing areas close by. Coastal suburbs known as great fishing spots include the Herne Bay wharf, Tamaki Drive, and the Orakei wharf. Fishing enthusiasts will find the fish biting in these areas, and you can catch garfish and kingfish.
• South Auckland: The southern part of Auckland also has a variety of fishing hubs. The old Mangere Bridge off Manukau Harbor, as well as the Huia wharf are great attractions for young and old fishing enthusiasts. You will find various types of snapper, gurnard, and the coastal fish kahawai.
• Eastern Auckland: Besides the harbors and wharfs, Auckland also boasts of beaches that are sought after by recreational fisherman. Maraetai Beach and Duder’s Beach are among the well-known locales to set up your fishing line. Another favorite spot is Musick Point, located east of the Tamaki River. These three areas are rich with trevally, kingfish, snappers, and large kahawai.
• Kawakawa Bay: Kawakawa Bay is a place that will meet all the needs of rock fishing. By that, I mean a singular rock near the water, where a man can cast a line and pass hours at a time. Rock formations are found just off the main bay. Despite the kelp that is floating around in the water, you can have the opportunity to fish here. Flounder and king fish are known to swim through these waters.
These are some of my favorite fishing spots in and around Auckland. If you happen to visit any of these places any time soon, do reply to this post, telling me about your experiences.
Where to Fish around Auckland
Being a fishing enthusiast myself, I have tried to find different places in and around the city where you can find a quiet place, cast your line, and catch some amazing fish. For first timers, I would recommend the following fishing spots.
• Waitemata Harbor: Also known as Auckland Harbor, this forms the north and east coast along the Auckland peninsula. Despite being a central port, Waitemata has many points of access along the wharves and headlands. You have the opportunity to fish for strong young snappers here. Weekends are a good time to come here, as the ferries are not as frequent as during the week.
• City Suburbs: The harbor can be used as a starting point to travel to fishing areas close by. Coastal suburbs known as great fishing spots include the Herne Bay wharf, Tamaki Drive, and the Orakei wharf. Fishing enthusiasts will find the fish biting in these areas, and you can catch garfish and kingfish.
• South Auckland: The southern part of Auckland also has a variety of fishing hubs. The old Mangere Bridge off Manukau Harbor, as well as the Huia wharf are great attractions for young and old fishing enthusiasts. You will find various types of snapper, gurnard, and the coastal fish kahawai.
• Eastern Auckland: Besides the harbors and wharfs, Auckland also boasts of beaches that are sought after by recreational fisherman. Maraetai Beach and Duder’s Beach are among the well-known locales to set up your fishing line. Another favorite spot is Musick Point, located east of the Tamaki River. These three areas are rich with trevally, kingfish, snappers, and large kahawai.
• Kawakawa Bay: Kawakawa Bay is a place that will meet all the needs of rock fishing. By that, I mean a singular rock near the water, where a man can cast a line and pass hours at a time. Rock formations are found just off the main bay. Despite the kelp that is floating around in the water, you can have the opportunity to fish here. Flounder and king fish are known to swim through these waters.
These are some of my favorite fishing spots in and around Auckland. If you happen to visit any of these places any time soon, do reply to this post, telling me about your experiences.
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