Hi guys!
I'm looking to create some articles on genuine Christchurch Foods, but I'm having a hard time figuring it out. For me, eating is the best way to get to know a place. I visited NZ once (can't wait to return!) and I savored some interesting dishes while there, although I'm not sure what exactly passes as "traditional" with the locals. If a visitor is curious about Christchurch, what popular dishes should one necessarily try? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

This would be a good topic for the expats who have moved to NZ - just exchange Christchurch for NZ - what traditional foods have you found/liked? Are there any?

As an NZer from one of the rural provinces I would sadly admit the first 20 years of my life were, cuisine-wise, not very interesting. Potatoes, meat, over-cooked vegetables. Maybe apple pie, or apple/blackberry pie in season, icecream, for dessert. In those days, Friday night was fish and chips night, eaten at the beach when weather allowed.

My first trip to Australia - Adelaide and then Sydney with its diverse population - was the first time I had any foreign/ethnic foods.

I'm struggling to think of a genuine NZ traditional meal that I miss - apart from a good meal of crayfish (red rock lobster). NZ lamb is popular with some but never appealed to me personally.

Over to the experts!


Crayfish!

Oysters! Bluff and Clevedon come to mind....

And how about Whitebait fritters from the north-west coast of South Island?

Oh - and talking about that particular part of our wonderful country - how about the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival? Roasted Huhu grubs and entertainment from the 'Vague As' brothers and the vast majority of the festivals visitors. Priceless!

Wildfoods Festival Site - Westland District Council

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Thanks for the suggestions! They are really helpful! Issue is that I want to compile a dish list of local NZ Foods for the Food Wiki, Mycitycuisine - A Traveler's Guide to Local Cuisine. (I've already started creating a dish list for Christchurch!) I was searching for some interesting volunteer work to do this summer and stumbled upon this Wikipedia Project. I hope you guys will let me use your ideas and develop them in distinct articles for each dish.
If you have ideas left, I'm all ears! Thanks again!

Hi

My crayfish contribution not precisely Christchurch, they are eaten nationwide but the best known area for catching them is just north of Christchurch, in the small coastal town of Kaikoura (Maori name translates to 'meal of crayfish' Kai - food, koura - crayfish)

Search out the US chef Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations tv show series that was filmed in NZ. Available on Youtube in 5 parts, may give you some ideas.


"New Zealand: Down Under the Down Under"
November 7, 2005
Tony is invited to New Zealand to lecture at a gourmet food convention. But after receiving a lukewarm reception from the crowd, he decides to search for real Kiwi culture outside the city of Christchurch.

Wow, thanks, this is lovely! I've already started creating a dish list for Christchurch, you can see it if you search for Christchurch on MyCityCuisine.org. There are some locals who got interested in the project and might take it from here. I wasn't completely aware NZ has such interesting foods, you guys are lucky to live there. (And I'm not thinking with my stomach when I say this, I swear! )