New Zealand's aphrodisiacal green lipped mussels. Photo: Kieran Scott
Be sure not to miss the great slide show and the hangi on video at the end of this story.
“Love is in the air,” the email in my inbox read. It went on to invite me to join “the world’s first Matchmaking Flight” and “an estimated 100 singles” flying today from Los Angeles to Auckland, “each with the hope of finding a match in air, or on the other side of the Pacific.”
I was invited to come along and “bear witness to the matchmaking, successes and disasters alike.” Not only that, but at 30,000 feet, I’d be there when ABC’s Jason “The Bachelor” Mesnick, along with his girlfriend, Molly Malaney, gave matchmaking advice to passengers.
We all leave today. There’s a huge Matchmaking Flight ball this coming Friday where North American bachelors will meet New Zealand bachelors who’ve been connecting on a Matchmaking Flight website. You can check it out.
Watch this space. For the next two weeks, I’ll be writing about New Zealand — sights, people and adventure travel — with a focus on the twin passions, love and food. The ultimate aphrodisiac coupling, if ever there was one.
As anyone who loves to eat and loves to travel knows you learn the most about a culture and a country through its culinary practices and traditions. I’ve eaten New Zealand green mussels and drunk New Zealand wines (photo, right, by Ian Trafford, shows a vineyard in the Nelson Wine Region) and have lots of culinary associations with New Zealand. But — you gotta travel there to really know.
Lucky me.
In preparation, I joined the foodies group on the Matchmaking Flight webite and asked for ideas on some typically New Zealand things to try. These came from Paula in New Zealand. A good place to start.
1) Definitely a must to try: Vogel’s original bread (for New Zealanders), available at all supermarkets. Most kiwis living overseas develop a craving for it, in particular toasted with butter and Marmite. Also very good toasted, with Marmite, avocado and rock salt.
2) For those traveling to Rotorua, try a hangi meal, a hangi being the Maori way of cooking meals in the ground over several hours. [Watch this space. I will eat a hangi meal in Rotorua and share it here on examiner. Meanwhile, I found a video on YouTube and attach it below.]
3) Other yummy things: A whitebait fritter, Pavlova with cream [for now, see some pictures here and drool], Anzac cookies, Afghan cookies, and try a Feijoa soda drink.
4) Wanda, I suggest you try going to the Avondale Market on the weekend in Auckland, a large Polynesian market where you can try all sorts of things.
Comments
How exciting!! Can't believe the day is here already! So looking forward to meeting you tonight!
Love is in the air: what a great adventure. I look forward to the ensuing chapters as they unfold both in the air and on the ground.
I just read about a team learning Haka from the New Zealand Maori guys, but I can't remember which team. Anyone know? I look forward to the stories about the food. The photos look wonderful.
Not sure if this has been suggested to you, but Aotearoa has some of the best coffee/cafe culture in the world. Seek some of the best ones out and try a flat white (a smaller, stronger and more velvety latte) I'll stress you have to find the good cafes though. Google New Zealand coffee review. Whilst there, you should come across some great food done in a casual setting. Enjoy!
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