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Portage Hotel is what vacation is all about
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The Marlborough Sounds area of New Zealand is a haven for locals and tourists to relax, enjoy nature, and partake in local food and wine while soaking in the sun and views. This beautiful region consists of inlets, bays, and hidden coves best explored at a leisurely pace on foot, bike, or boat. With so many activities to experience and opportunities to relax an entire trip could be spent tucked away here. Even if you are traveling around the rest of the county you will want to stick around for at least a few days. Portage Hotel provides visitors a comfortable and unique place to call home during their visit.
Recently, my husband and I were lucky enough to spend a few days relaxing at the Portage Hotel and enjoying the Marlborough Sounds. Located on Kenepuru Sound The Portage has been welcoming overnight guests for over 100 years. All that experience translates into a peaceful and stress-free experience for guests. A former farmhouse, the hotel has been refurnished to fit the needs of modern travelers while leaving the beautiful views of the surrounding bush covered hills and the calm waters of Kenepuru Sound unchanged. As lovers of the outdoors (and who wouldn’t be with the breathtaking views of this area) we spent our days hiking the Queen Charlotte Track. The staff can also arrange a variety of other activities including winery tours, water activities, bike rentals, and fishing.
Our evenings were spent enjoying the waterfront garden and the hotel lounge and two restaurants. After a full day of hiking or other activities we looked forward to sitting back with a glass of local wine and a relaxing intimate meal prepared by the talented and passionate staff. In an area known for their wine and food you won’t leave hungry or disappointed.
The sunny weather, beautiful views, and calm environment made this one of the most memorable stops of our trip. While I can’t bring the beautiful scenery home with me I can enjoy the flavors of our stay at Portage with the following recipe. Until you can make it there yourself enjoy this dish and find out more about my New Zealand getaway by finding Indigo Journeys Too on Facebook.
This will be my last post as Minneapolis International Travel Examiner, but I hope you will all join me for future posts as the St. Paul Cooking Examiner!
Individual Pavlovas
3 egg whites, room temperature
1 cup caster sugar (aka superfine sugar)
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon cornflour
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
10 oz cream, whipped
1 can mandarin segments, drained
1-2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
2-3 Tablespoons passionfruit syrup
-Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line two baking trays with baking paper.
-Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly add the caster sugar and continue to beat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is thick and glossy, about 8-10 minutes.
-Use a large metal spoon to gently fold in the vinegar, cornflour, and vanilla.
-Place large spoonfuls of the pavlova mixture onto the prepared baking trays, making 8 mounds about 3.5 inches in diameter. Make a slight indent in the top of each one with the back of a spoon.
-Bake for 45-50 minutes until crisp, but not colored. Turn the oven off and leave to cool completely.
-When ready to serve, top the pavlovas with freshly whipped cream, mandarins, kiwifruit, and a drizzle of passionfruit syrup.
Makes 8 servings.
Recipe adapted from Foodtown Magazine Oct/Nov 2009.
For more information: Ashley is an Independent Travel Consultant with specializations in New Zealand and culinary tourism. She can be reached at ashley@indigojourneys.com or www.indigojourneys.com for all of your travel planning needs.
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