Couch Culture Club - New Zealand
New Zealand has always felt like a comfy “Jersey”. We are practically family and even though the Kiwis sound funny sometimes, we speak the same lingo and have shared values. Their roads are great, you’ll see amazing scenery plus the food and wine are sublime. I’ve driven both the North and South Island, stayed in fantastic lodges and country homes, some amazing little motels and even a stellar international golf resort that has drop dead gorgeous scenery and a flock of resident ducks.
I often think Wellington is overlooked, it is a quirky little city, very pretty and home to so much art. You’ll find the formidable Royal NZ Ballet, the Symphony Orchestra, the Weta Workshop and Te Papa which is one of my favourite National Museums.
It’s a great launching pad to visit Martinborough the the Wairarapa winery region or even to head over to Marlborough and all of it’s glories.
Transport yourself to the land of sheep, shores and serenity from home with fish and chips Kiwi style. Enjoy with a serving of a Maori staple the sweet kumara. As American as apple pie, the iconic kiwifruit is a national symbol of New Zealand. You can toast the day the refreshing Kiwi Cocktail. Bring it home with a choice Kiwi movie, the zany story from Taika Waititi, his fabulous film Boy.
If you’ve headed with us to NZ, we would love to see your photos or hear your comments. What did you love about visiting our neighbours. You can send them to us on Facebook or via email
Crumbed Fish and Kumara Chips
INGREDIENTS
500g fish fillets
• Flour for dusting
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 4 large kumara / sweet potato
• 2 teaspoon fresh herbs
• 2 tablespoon oil
METHOD
Preheat your oven to 180C.
Cut your fish fillets into strips, around 10cm and dust with flour. In a bowl whisk 2 eggs and season with salt and pepper. In a separate bowl mix breadcrumbs and sesame seeds.
Dip the fish in the egg mixture and then the breadcrumb mixture and place on a plate and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Cut kumara / sweet potato into chips and place on al lined oven tray. Drizzle with some oil and sprinkle with herbs. Roast in oven for 40 minutes until golden and brown. Sprinkle with salt before serving.
About 10 minutes before the chips are ready, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan. Cook your fish in batched for about 5 minutes each side. Serve hot with your kumara fries and a side of sauce and lemon.
Kiwi Cocktail
As American as apple pie, the iconic kiwifruit is a national symbol of New Zealand. Let’s toast to this weeks festivities with a refreshing and sweet crowd pleaser the Kiwi Cocktail.
What you’ll need
5 kiwifruit, peeled, finely chopped
3 limes, cut into wedges
1/3 cup mint leaves
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 cup vodka
1 1/2 cup crushed ice
3 cup soda water
How to make it
In a large bowl muddle kiwifruit, lime, mint and sugar.
Spoon the mixture evenly among 4 glasses before adding vodka and ice.
Top up with soda water and garnish with kiwifruit slices and mint.
Delicious!
Boy
The weeks film is the zany, New Zealand comedy from Taika Waititi, Boy. Set in 1984 on the east coast of NZ, Boy is an 11 year old, devout Michael Jackson fan who has finally gotten the chance to know his absentee father, a far cry from the heroic adventurer he's imagined the man to be.
