Food update

Alright people, are you comfortable? Let's talk about the food (and booze) I have consumed in the last fortnight. Here is a quick "do it right" guide- ie. learn from my experience.

First up let's talk fruit. If you have arrived in Otago in January, man you are in for a treat.

Cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, apples, raspberries, blueberries, you name it it's probably ripe and unlike anything you have ever tasted. In Cromwell most people casually have overladen trees that just spew fruit on to the sidewalk. Stalls will sell seconds cherries (one's that are not being exported) that will blow you're flipping mind and you will find odd things like flatto peaches (delicious things).

This punnet was $10. Yes 10 flipping dollars for like 1000 blueberries. Found this gem at the market that is held in the historic precinct every Sunday. You can find details about it here. It's a quaint market with "wee" shops and stalls selling everything from fruit to soaps. Worth the trip if you feel like tasty fresh local produce.

As an Australian, particularly one from Victoria, I like my coffee. You will be disappointed in New Zealand. It's weak, generally a house blend and is often watered down. Mum did find me an amazing coffee in Wanaka in a laneway attached to a barber shop called Sergeant and Madame Mouse which also looks like a bloody good haircut, get in early for the cut though, walk in basis.

If you are in Queenstown and crave bitter, strong coffee I recommend Cafe Vudu. The food is great for Glu-tards and snobby palettes. Coffee is generally ok, again nothing amazing but better than you're average weak brown stuff cafes normally produce. It is on the main strip though over looking the lake so have fun parking and dealing with a thousand summer tourists...

Tip: New Zealand do all their coffee in "double shots". This is a lie, they just use a double barrel with a single shot, even getting a triple shot is pretty shit. I suggest ordering lattes, they generally don't get too wrecked. DO NOT ORDER A MACCIATO, LONG OR SHORT. It ends in heartbreak. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I live in Cromwell so naturally that means I am surrounded by wineries. Cromwell backs on to Bannockburn which has some of the best wines in New Zealand. It's probably best known as a Pinot region but they produce some nice Rieslings (according to mum, I don't like wine that tastes like ethanol) and Sav's. I think the wineries here deserve their own post so I'll save that for later but I would like to make 3 mentions.

First up is Weaver Estate. This winery is about 2 minutes out of Alexander and could almost be missed (but you shouldn't if you have time). My parents and I went for a tasting on a whim because I had remembered someone mentioning it in passing at some point. They have an award winning Summer Rose but what you really are going for is the Autumn Gris ($20), something that is not sold in shops. It is unassuming and soft with a bit more complexity and a little less bite than it's Summer counterpart. Named after the colour of the grapes it is made from Pinot Gris grapes and is actually just yum.

If you like Pinot Noir they have a tasting of Row 13- small batch. Very nice according to dad but is $45.

Weaver estate is a family run business and do everything on site (rare at this point) including bottling. Often they are out in the vineyard if no one is there but I think that's nice. The guy who served us knew his product and really loves his wine.

How was that for some wanky wine talk?

Second Mention will be Desert Heart Wines however amusingly they are making it into this because their food was amazing.

Our amazing friends in Cromwell suggested Desert Heart as the place for food if you are doing the wine run of Felton Rd, Bannockburn. Their wines were ok, nothing to rave about in my mind but their food is another matter! We rocked up on a hot afternoon and had a seat under the shipping container sail, try not to be there, very hot!

We didn't really know what to order, the menu is full of delicious things but what you need to get is the platter, it's $23pp but it is worth it!

Special mentions on the platter was the whipped feta and caramelized grape bruscetta, "Bloody Deni" tomato shot and sesame lamb bite. It was fantastic. Took a little bit of time to come out but it's because it's made to order. I was really impressed.

Third Mention is a "don't do it". Mt Difficulty is "the winery" of Bannockburn. It's dusty and windy up the top and costs $5 to taste wine that isn't that great in our mind. They do make a fantastic Pinot Gris under the label Roaring Meg which I do think is great but you can get it in the supermarket and don't have to deal with bad parking or wind in the arvo. I just don't rate it. It feels over commercialized and no longer a local business. I'd suggest go to the wineries further down on Felton Rd.

Talking platters we also went to the Cardona Distillery, home of The Source Gin. I'd put this on my "to do" list when my parents were over as the Gin is fantastic. They also do tastings of 2 liquors, their vodka and their whiskey- which I personally think is to young.

The staff are lovely and you can have some light food out there. We got a platter and some cocktails which I think was good value for money. The meats platter is great and I wouldn't suggest the cheese platter if you're driving back to Queenstown via the crown range and get car sick. If you sit outside you can view the hills, garden and all the people getting the Wanaka taxi to the Distillery. You can do a tour for 75 minutes but it costs, why would you when you can get a tasting for free?

Side note, the drive back to Queenstown via the Crown Range has some beautiful lupin viewing at this time of year (yes they are a weed, pretty weed though.)

If you are in Queenstown I have 2 suggestions, these are our staples that we have been visiting for years.

If you are happy to spend money on good food please go to Fishbone. You can thank me later.

I have dined at Fishbone 4 times in the past few years and it is consistently good food and lovely staff. It looks pretty unassuming. It's almost a hole in the wall. The best seat is booth 2, you can watch the kitchen (dad worked this out when he went to check his booking). It is mostly locally caught NZ produce. The menu changes each day depending on what they get in and I have never had anything that hasn't been short of amazing. I don't even really rate seafood and I will rave about this place till the cows come home. They have some specialties- green lipped mussels, Bluff oysters and Stewart Island Crayfish. I had Lemon Sole that was so creamy and warming it was like being hugged. The food isn't pretentious. It isn't messed with too much and is more about great combinations of flavours rather than having to be over the top complicated. It's clever simple.

We also got dessert which was chocolate brownie with hazelnut praline and a panacotta. I would have taken photos but we were to excited and had to eat. Lighting is atrocious inside- don't expect to get "gram photos". Just enjoy eating for once.

If you need a cheap option that you want to take away and leftovers for the next day then go to Pedro's. Pedro's house of Lamb is just out of the main section on the road out to Shotover. For $50 you can get a lamb shoulder and potatoes that will give you food coma vibes.

I have NEVER gotten a bad roast from pedro's. They are delicious and nice and have only had 2 price rises in the last 6 years ($40-$45-$50). I think it's good value and for 3 people we still have leftovers that we had on sandwiches for a few days.

My last mention is Alpine Lavendar just out of Twizel. I am only mentioning it because I HAD THE BEST FREAKING ICECREAM IN MY LIFE.

This is a mixed berry softserve with lavender in it and it is delicious. We will skate over the $8 price point and just enjoy the setting and how delicious it is. The lavender isn't overpowering and is a great partner to the berries. It was made even better by consuming it while wandering through the fields of lavender I hope it came from (the sign said it did.)

This is worth the pit stop if you are travelling to Mt Cook or you're on your way through Twizel. Lavender Fields cost $5 to enter- they do Yoga out there sometimes. Very pretty photo shoot when not cloudy.

I have more food to talk about but i think that is enough for one night. I'm now hungry and off to find a snack, blueberries anyone?