NZ Food and other random discoveries and questions

Food is a big focus on a road trip and a well stocked fridge (and bar) is essential because you don’t always know what shopping opportunity lies ahead. NZ is generally great for food and coffee, with quirky little cafes in the most unexpected places and sometimes no cafes where there should be.

Here are some food discoveries (both good and bad).

·         Fush and chups are delightful and Solo Senior has eaten them far too often. Snapper Jacks in Whitianga, Kaiaua Fisheries on the Seabird coast and Ocean Seafoods in Opotiki are big winners so far, although the competition is far from over

·         Katz Pyjamas in Katikati has the best cheese and onion scones ever

·         Drinking a beer by the open fire in the dining room of the Duke of Marlborough in Russell on a cold windy evening is one of life’s special moments

·         Date scones at Sally’s cafe in Russell

·         Paua fritters are disgusting! They are like deep fried green slime.

·         Pork roast at the Success cafe in Coromandel Town

Other random discoveries and questions

·         ‘Wh’ is usually pronounced ‘f’ (although not by everyone) and ‘a’ is often ‘u’ so Whakatane is an interesting name

·         Northland is described as the ‘winterless north’ so why are there more businesses closed there for the winter than anywhere else I have been in the North Island?

·         Why don’t toilet rolls unroll properly in public toilets and caravan parks?

·         Pubs/Taverns often do not have meals – they are gambling and drinking places

And, the BIG one (see photo below)

·         Is the grass always greener on the udder side of the fence? It certainly is this side of the ditch!