It’s my first time back in this stunning country since Covid. We originally came to train some halfpipe, but the abysmal snow conditions prevented the build, so we are here to get my ski legs back (eat food) and explore the picturesque mountains (burning calories so we can eat more food).
Cardrona Resort is where we usually ski, but these days it seems like we only go up there for their meat pies. Speaking of meat pies, TheDoughBin Bakery has amazing ones. Steak and cheese for the win (again). Ooey gooey, everything you want in a meat pie. Find yourself a man that looks at you the way I look at my meat pie. Or better yet, find yourself a meat pie that has you looking at it the way I look at mine.
A classic hike you must hit while here is Roy’s Peak. The top of this hike is arguably one of the best views I’ve ever seen. We started at 6 am with headlamps in the dark, and made it back around 11 am: the beautiful 360 degree views and a ham wrap the only respite from the struggle. We didn’t make sunrise at the peak, but we still got some pretty decent light (check the insta for the glow).
Do you want to know what hits after a long, cold hike? Indian food. And let me tell you where you can get it. Bombay palace. This place slaps. Lamb Korma??? Amazing. South Island lamb shank slow-cooked for 5 hours??? Don’t even get me started. Go there.
Ok here comes a REVIEW. Muttonbird was an experience. We all got the $77 specialty Muttonbird Mix, a 9-course meal that features their favorite dishes that they currently serve. Highlights include: a light carpaccio on a salad bed with flavorful aioli brightened with lemon juice, tender and juicy pork head fried ball (idk how to call this something more sophisticated) with beetroot ketchup (so sweet), and fall-off-the-bone lamb neck (!!!) served with fried cheesy potatoes, crispy chewy flatbread, and a tamarind fish sauce I would literally bathe in given the opportunity. The white chocolate mousse with a scoop of coconut sorbet was delicious, but an insufficient amount of sorbet left the dish too salty and flat. But if you couldn’t tell by my paragraph of writing, overall I liked this place.
We also took a day to head to Queenstown and hit a super lowkey, underground burger spot in Queenstown. Ok you don’t need me to tell you how good Fergburger is, everybody already knows. And this pic of me double fisting them speaks for itself. I went on a hike though so I totally deserved it. Food is fuel.
We also took a mini road trip, described by our local friend as “should be on everybody’s bucket list.” The road from Wānaka to Treblecone and further until the road dead-ends, is a beautiful drive. Highlight of the trip, of course, was the Patagonia chocolates we bought for the road: the green tea truffle was silky matcha flavor, the toffee bar was delectable with a light crunch with a smoky toffee flavor, and the alfador had amazing chocolate flavor, but not much caramel. Anyway, the drive was beautiful. And no I don’t have any scenery photos without me in them, sorry not sorry.
On our last night we had another fine dining experience at Kika. They offered another chef’s selection menu but we decided to try our luck with our own choices. And, well, we killed it. The roti mushroom waffle was so flavorfully crafted and unique, we cleaned the grapefruit ponzu market fish (this flavor combo!!!), and the crème brûlée was airy, perfectly crunchy, and served with a mouthwatering tart rhubarb gel. Joe literally licked the cacio e pepe clam plate clean- I’m embarrassed to be seen with him in public, anyone looking for a ski coach job?
Zoe's World 