Are there any special New Zealand dishes or food I should try when Im there?
There are very few (if any) foods in New Zealand that are not found anywhere else in the world. This is because we are a highly multicultural country. In general, I would suggest that whenever you come across something, which has a name you’ve never heard of before, try it. If you are looking for a Maori/NZ cullinary experience then definitely try a ‘hangi’. This involves digging a hole in the ground and placing rocks into it which have previously been heated up over a fire. All the food is placed on top of the stones (in a container or wrapped in leaves) and the hole sealed with earth. This creates a kind of steam oven and the food comes out beautifully cooked with a taste that has to be experienced to be believed, all the flavour and juices having been sealed in during the cooking process. This is a style of cooking rather than a special type of food. Also look out for foods indigenous to New Zealand – traditional Maori food (if you want to phrase it that way). These include: Kumara
