February was a month full of traveling. New Zealand in particular. I wasn't sure what to expect with the people but I was pleasantly surprised that Kiwis are really friendly and nice, even in the big city of Auckland. The long drives through the countrysides were scenic and serene, the air was fresh and it was a really nice place to be. The Auckland area was also very diverse and all the ethnic and local foods were incredibly tasty.
Enjoy this view.
Here were some of the things I've enjoyed.
Baked Goods (various locations)
Every morning I would wake and walk a short distance to a different bakery or cafe each day. The baked goods tasted clean and wholesome; not to mention delicious. Each day held a new gastronomic surprise.
Classic Bake House
20 Elliott Street, Auckland
This was a chinese bakery full of some of my favorite things. It took a lot of self restraint not to buy a truckload of all their goodies, but I managed to maintain myself.
Banana Cake. This banana cake was really moist, not too sweet and had a sponge cake wrapped around each layer that was separated with a little bit of butter cream.
Pineapple Square. One of my most favorite treats from childhood. This is a square of pineapple preserve surrounded by a baked pie crust. I'm sure there's a simple way of making it completely square but I'd rather keep believing it's a baker's engineering marvel.
Swig, French Style Cafe
2398 Queen Street, Auckland
The owners of this café were from France and they made wonderful things that reminded me of my trip to Paris a few years ago. It was so good, I ate here two times.
Salmon Quiche. A really cute and tasty savory breakfast. Encased in the light custard was potato, caramelized onion, and salmon.
Croissant. I should have known the best place to get one of these would be a french cafe. Crusty and flaky; everything you want in a freshly baked croissant.
Turkey Sandwich. I picked this up to eat later as an on-the-go snack. It was better than I thought it would be. The bread was nice and chewy, the turkey was roasted nicely and the vegetables were fresh and crunchy.
Flat White. This place also had some of the best coffee I had. A Flat White is a shot of espresso with milk steamed to a creamy texture that's fully incorporated with the coffee and topped with a layer of micro foam. This was creamy and aromatic. The foam art was also a nice touch.
The Avenue Bakery
61 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra 9320
This little bakery was in a small town with nice people. It was a small to-go place but everything was fresh and tasty and done the "old fashioned" way.
Cream Buns. Deliciously dense, tasty whipped cream over-filled these fluffy baked sweet buns.
Meat Pie. Savory minced lamb made these pies fairly hearty. The flaky pastry crust was buttery and these made a good on-the-go snack.
Yo Yo. These were probably the best Yo Yos I had during the whole trip. The shortbread was crumbly but not dry. The strawberry butter cream filling was also not too sweet and gave the whole bite a nice balance. The chocolate dipped Yo Yos were also good.
The Empanada Kitchen
60 Beach Street, Queenstown
This was a tiny little closet-sized to-go place situated right by the water off the main street in Queenstown. Operated by one man from Argentina, he only had empanadas and salsas; all homemade.
Beef, Blue & Stout. This was a very savory empanada filled with blue cheese and beef braised in stout beer. This might have been the best empanada I've ever tasted. The crust was super flaky and buttery and he didn't skimp on the filling.
Cured Meats & Blue. Also a winner in the flavor category. This included blue cheese and cured pork.
Miles Better Pies and more...
Milford Road, Te Anau 9600
To say this was a touristy spot would not give it the accolades it deserves. This little shop was located close to a tourist information center where tour buses stop briefly so people can use the bathroom and get a snack. It had fantastic homemade pies and cookies.
Veal Pie. Encased in a flaky, buttery crust was really tender, moist pieces of veal with a savory gravy. After my first bite, I immediately wanted to stop the bus to go back for more, but it was too late. I never thought much about meat pies but I guess I just hadn't eaten one that was made this good.
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie. The butter in New Zealand is rich and flavorful; made from the milk from their grass-fed, organic cows. This translates into amazing things made with butter. This butter cookie was no exception. Moist, lightly sweet, not too crumbly, with flecks of chocolate chips throughout.
Other Treats (various locations)
Sausage Roll. Savory pork, lamb or beef sausage is rolled into a flaky pastry, brushed with egg wash and baked until golden brown and delicious. This was standard fare in many cafes and little to-go shops. Very tasty if fresh out of the oven.
Yo Yo. This was typically butter cream sandwiched between two butter cookies. They came in different flavors and sizes. All were good.
Lamington. I found one bakery that had these available and they made them really well. The cake was soft and moist, the cream was rich and thick, the jam was light and fruity and the coconut flakes coated everything nicely.
Belgian Waffle. This came off a food stall in a food pod off Queen Street in Auckland. It was cooked on an iron waffle maker, was perfectly crisp on the outside and had that wonderful chew that Belgian waffles are supposed to have. Very nice.
The Exchange Coffee, Kitchen, Bar
39 Ballarat Street, Queenstown 9300
For a city completely run by working tourists from other parts of the world, I didn't find the food in Queenstown amazing. But there were a handful of places that stood out. This was one of them.
Flat White. A strong cup of coffee. Probably good if you're one the people visiting Queenstown for bungi jumping or any of their other extreme sports. I enjoyed it nevertheless.
New Zealand Lamb Mince on Toast. A variation of the Kiwi classic, the "mince" included chorizo and roasted garlic topped with two perfectly poached eggs and doused with a little salsa and parsley.
The Exchange Benedict. A very crispy potato rosti was served with delightfully delicious bacon, creamed spinach and poached eggs topped with a savory hollandaise sauce.
The Sidewalk Café
72 Centennial Ave, Alexandra, Central Otago 9320
This was a neighborhood spot where the locals frequent. There were many "regulars" that visited. The staff and visitors were very relaxed, warm and friendly with each other. It gave the place a really nice vibe.
Flat White. It's always good to have a nice cup of coffee in the morning.
Pumpkin Seed Bagel. Toasted and filled with ham and cheese, this was a lot tastier than I thought it would be. It went very well with my coffee.
Poppy Seed Scone. This might have been the best scone I've ever eaten. It was piping hot right out of the oven and the person behind the counter was nice enough to butter it for me. It was crispy on the top and so soft and moist on the inside. Buttery deliciousness.
The Taste of China
5B Lorne Street, Auckland
After wandering around the city center for a while, this place looked touristy but ended up being completely legitimate. I'm so happy New Zealand doesn't have their own version of Chinese food the way we have "Americanized" Chinese food. This was very authentic and very delicious.
Pork Mini-Ribs. Deep fried until crispy and coated in a sweet and sour soy sauce. This lip-smacking sauce was sticky, sweet and savory and the ribs were done well.
Chicken and Potato Xinjiang Style. Served with fantastically chewy and thick hand-pulled noodles. This was probably the most savory sauce I've ever tasted. It lit up all my taste buds with every bite. This might have been my favorite thing I ate during the whole trip.
The Lumsden Freehouse
448 Khyber Pass Rd., Newmarket, Auckland 1023
http://thelumsden.co.nz/
We visited a local freehouse in the modern uptown shopping area of Auckland. A "freehouse" in New Zealand are local gathering places for people to hang out, eat and drink. Similar to the American gastropub. There were a number of choices that looked tempting in this area but this place just seemed right. I was not disappointed with their craft beers on tap, as well as their fantastic fresh fare.
Behemoth Pale Ale. This was a moderately hoppy pale ale that was crisp and refreshing.
Laughing Bones Joker's Wild. This was a medium-bodied IPA that had some nice hops and was rounded out with a clean, crisp finish.
Popcorn. Seasoned with some spice and everything nice, this was presented to us to snack on before our food arrived. We were also able to write on the chalkboard tables with colored chalk.
Pan-Seared Fish Burger. Two fillets of super fresh and well prepared fish topped a buttery bun and was garnished with pickled lemon zest and scallions. Really tasty fish. The fries on the side were extremely crunchy and delicious as well.
Drunken Sliders and Chips. These were super cute and the buns were so fluffy, moist and buttery. Each one contained a different protein. Fried fish, pulled pork and beef with bacon and blue cheese. It came with a gravy on the side for slider dunking. This gravy was so flavorful, it was probably a combination of all the pan drippings from each meat. I could have drank that by itself. Each protein was expertly prepared and very satisfying.
Degree GastroBar
204 Quay Street, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
http://www.degree.co.nz/
This was located right on the water at the Harbor where the cruise ship docked. Seemed touristy, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food and drink they served.
House White Wine and House beer on tap. Not sure what this wine was but it was very light, citrusy and mildly sweet on the finish. The beer was a mildly hoppy IPA. Both paired well with our food.
Lamb Duo. This was two ways of lamb. One was marinated lamb rump and the other was a saddle chop. Each piece was perfectly medium rare and tasted the way lamb should taste. Like it was raised on clean grass and fresh water and enjoyed a great life. Fresh vegetable ratatouille and celeriac puree finished this dish very well.
Pork Belly. I was in heaven after one bite of this dish. It was a hearty cut with the skin broiled so well I thought I was eating ridiculously crunchy meat candy. The gnocchi with a creamy, cheesy sauce was also amazing and the pickled vegetables on top gave it a nice tang. The textural variations on the plate kept my palate very interested with each forkful.
Panna Cotta. Served with house made vanilla ice cream and strawberry compote, this was a nice dessert that was light and gently sweetened.
Ichiban
17 Albert Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
I knew this little place was legitimate as soon as I saw the pat of butter on a patron's ramen. The two guys running the place had very thick Japanese accents, they were very polite, efficient and knew how to make fantastic food.
Gyoza. These were filled with pork and vegetables, pan fried, then steamed until just done. The skins had a great chew and the filling was savory and delicious.
Pork Yakisoba. This was a quickly stir fried noodle dish with succulent pork, fresh cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts and green onion.
Ichiban Miso Ramen. Made with a rich, miso based broth, this was a taste of Japan in New Zealand. I loved the corn in the bowl. It made me feel like I was in Hokkaido.
Wild on Waiheke
82 Onetangi Rd., Waiheke Island, Auckland 1971
http://www.wildonwaiheke.co.nz/
After visiting wineries all morning, this brewery was a good place to get a high-quality but relaxed bite to eat. The servers had tattoos and piercings and I felt right at home sitting outside watching other patrons play chess on a huge chessboard.
Beer. All the beer was fairly light, but my favorite was the Matiatia Malt. It had a bit of hops balanced with a malty mouth feel.
Starting from 6 o'clock and going clockwise:
Wharf Road Wheat Beer
Onetangi Dark Ale
Baroona Original Pale Ale
Matiatia Malt
Waiheke Island Cider
Hauraki Island Ginger Beer
Beer Battered Onion Rings. Fresh and crispy. These came with house made ketchup and aioli.
Prime Beef Burger. A juicy and excellently prepared piece of meat, this burger was filling and satisfying.
Wild Venison Pizza. Venison salami, olives, feta, beets, horipito relish and rocket greens all topped a very crunchy pizza dough. The salami was the star. It was meaty and slightly sweet. Just the right amount was used to balance all the other ingredients.
Sixteen Tun
10-26 Jellicoe Street, Wynward Quarter, Auckland
http://16tun.co.nz/
This was a fun gastropub. Or as Kiwis call it, "Freehouse". Despite how busy it was, the staff was very nice and inviting. I probably could have ordered everything on the menu since it all looked and sounded really good. The atmosphere was very trendy with solid wood décor and a large common table.
Beer. All the beers here were excellent. My favorite was the Oyster Stout. It was malty with strong flavors of coffee and dark chocolate.
Starting from the bottom right and moving clockwise:
Croucher Brewing Co. Low Rider
Croucher Brewing Co. Single Trace Ella IPA
Southern Malt Collective Red Ale
Liberty Brewing Co./Hallertau Imperial Oyster Stout
No 1 Hallertau Luxe Kolsch
Oh Brother Pale Ale
Hallertau Maximus IPA
Ben Middlemiss Brewing White Lady Witbier
Ruakaka Paua Fritters. Served with lemon aioli and micro greens, these fish fritters looked like pancakes but tasted like super fresh flaky fish.
Smokin' Ribs. Slowly oven-roasted pork ribs were infused with their homemade, smoky BBQ sauce. It was sweet and savory and finger linkin' good.
Alpine Origin Merino Lamb. This was a well-prepared plate of naturally grazed lamb from the South Island Country. Cooked perfectly medium rare, sliced thin and served with parsnip puree, mixed herb salsa and the pan drippings.
Marvel Bar and Grill
Corner Jellicoe & Halsey Streets, North Wharf, Auckland
http://www.marvelgrill.co.nz/
Another excellent restaurant at the harbor, the indoor/outdoor style seating was perfect for a sunny day.
Cheeseburger. I'm not the biggest fan of burgers in general, but this one was very moist with beef, Swiss cheese, bacon, pickles and Dijon mustard. They really nailed it with the tangy slaw on the side. This was a great accompaniment to the savory burger and fries.
NZ Scallops. Served with spiced butternut squash, black bean salad and pumpkin coconut mousse. These scallops were so sweet and tender and fantastic, especially with the scallop roe still attached and cooked along with the scallops. They were so soft and buttery. I wish U.S. restaurants/seafood vendors would include the roe with the scallops served here. We're really missing out on some good eating.
Boo Radley's
Above Tequila Mockingbird at Level 1, 98 Victoria Street, Christchurch
http://booradleys.co.nz/
We basically walked right past this spot, since it was on the 2nd floor above a different restaurant. I'm glad I saw the sign though, it turned out to be a great spot for food and drink. The background music was bluesy and soulful and paired nicely with the food offerings.
Gibbston Valley Gold River Chardonnay 2013, Central Otago. This was one my favorite wines I tasted while in New Zealand. It was buttery but crisp, with a slightly sweet finish.
Chocolate Milk Stout. I never heard of beer made from chocolate milk before but this absolutely worked for me. It was creamy, medium bodied and well balanced.
Shoestring Fries. I'm not sure if it's because of the British influence of "chips" or if Kiwis just really know how to fry a potato. This, along with all the fries I had in every city I visited, were super crispy on the outside and creamy and fluffy on the inside. Very enjoyable.
Marinated Prawn Lettuce Cups. With avocado and "comeback" sauce, this was a great starter. Fresh lettuce, cabbage slaw and tangy pickled onions made every bite a delight.
Southern-fried Chicken Tenderloins. Exceptionally fried, tender pieces of chicken were served with maple and black pepper caramel sauce, house slaw and a grilled lemon. This was very crunchy, juicy and savory.
Blackened Market Fish. The white fish of the day was well prepared, well seasoned and served with 3-bean and corn succotash, lemon and herb butter. Fantastic.
Bourbon and Cola Glazed Venison Ribs. "Soon-to-be-famous", slow-cooked ribs were served with a sticky bourbon and cola bbq sauce. These were tender, juicy and one of the best ribs I've ever tasted.
Movenpick (various locations)
https://www.moevenpick-icecream.com/Pages/default.aspx
Originating in the 1960's in Switzerland, this brand of frozen delights are now offered in more than 17 countries around the world (sadly, not the U.S.). They have a philosophy of only offering the finest quality ice creams and sorbets. I was very impressed with how creamy and true to the flavor each ice cream was.
Cappuccino. One of my favorite coffee drinks in ice cream form.
Stracciatella. An Italian word meaning "to tear". This was "torn" pieces of chocolate encased in sweet cream gelato. So good.
Mango & Cream. Very mango-y and creamy. Super refreshing on a warm day.
Mint Chocolate Chip. Better than any other mint chocolate chip I've tasted before (this tasted like real mint). I'm also glad it didn't have any fake green food coloring.
I was immensely pleased with all the food I had in New Zealand. The cooks, chefs and waitstaff all took a lot of pride in their offerings and were certain that what came on the plate was nothing less than the best they had and the best effort they could give. I look forward to coming back.
