The Food

Whoever said that New Zealanders knew their food was making an understatement. We've been eating (and drinking) like kings since we arrived.

Within minutes of arriving, Richard made us feel right at home. As we chatted in his kitchen, a delicious lunch platter appeared before we knew it, with many of the items harvested just minutes before in his backyard garden.


This was just the first act, however. Later that evening Richard spontaneously whipped upped a glorious dinner--a spectacular risotto topped with pancetta and greens paired with two delicious New Zealand wines.


Even the junk food we've tried, a snack of fried pineapple rings midday yesterday, was delicious!

Lunch the next day was at the Pegasus Winery, just 45 minutes north of Christchurch on the way back from a sightseeing drive along the west coast of the South Island.


First we tasted four or five wines, then we sat down for a glorious lunch on the grass.

We're still trying to get our minds wrapped out the fact that it's the height of the summer here. Part of us is still back in New Jersey, shivering in the cold winter. And when you see a peach tree growing in your friend's backyard, it's hard not to think you've arrived in Eden.


Some photos from yesterday's drive coming up shortly...