Eating our way through New Zealand

Day 3 Commissary Day January 9.

Kia ora!

 Today, Jeff and Clare were determined to make Lou and Joanne earn their keep. They were to take part in the Friday prep day for the 4 Pepe’s Restaurants. Six people were now squeezed into their small kitchen. “Moon landings” were not uncommon. Between the onions, jalapeños peppers and other various seasoning, we were all choking and crying like we were watching the movie Beaches. The assembly line hummed. Think Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory.  We were all clad in fashionable attire. Lou seemed to have a special talent for using the vacuum sealer. Only 1 out of 10 bags did not get sealed causing hot salsa to leek all over the ovens. So much for free labor. You get what you pay for.

When it was time to clean, the men were nowhere to be found. We caught a glimpse of a golf cart leaving the garage. Inspired by their commissary day, Lou and Jeff both shot in the 80’s.

And hold the phone, we ended the day by watching a little night shift.

                          

Day 4, January 10 Eating our way Across New Zealand

We set off today from Christchurch to Queenstown on our way to the Milford Trek, a 5 day hike. (Which we hope to get done in 3 weeks flat) It is a 500 km drive to Queenstown, which is a quaint alpine village. At the rate of our drive to Akaroa, this 5 hr. trip should take us no more than 30 hours. It’s a very scenic drive and the views include snow covered mountains, winding roads, and brilliant blue glacial filled lakes. We loved the views and stopped often to take pictures and take in the sights. And along the way we made sure to take the time to sample the local cuisine!

1.       We started our journey with 5 large bags of New Zealand’s finest black licorice. Nothing like the hard rubbery Twizzlers from back home!! Lou, a former Twizzler addict may have to move here just for the licorice. Normally a 5 hour drive. For us, 5 bags… hardly enough!!

2.       First toilet break. New Zealand is known for their meat pies.  Jeff’s experience with that pie bordered on orgasmic. The pie was followed by another NZ specialty, chocolate Lamington,

which is a chocolate sponge cake filled with chocolate cream and covered with coconut flakes. The ultimate twinkle.  Noises came out of Lou and Jeff’s mouths that we hadn’t heard in a while. We rounded that off with some NZ cashews, and threw in an American favorite just to ward off homesickness; Sour Patch Kids. We also snuck in 3 liters of Coke Zero to ensure further toilet breaks.

3.       Next stop was the town of Twizel. Lou thought the sign said “Twizzlers” and insisted we stop. He’s been eating way too much licorice!! While Lou was on a quest for the perfect Twizzler, we enjoyed the glacier lakes and beautiful Mount Cook.

We have never seen water that color before!! While we were in awe taking pictures, Jeff appeared with a big piece of smoked salmon stuck to his chin looking like a grizzly with his first salmon catch of the year.

We enjoyed it by the lake along with the views of the local men in their togs.

Clare wanted a pic of the 4 of us. Surrounded by Japanese tourist, Clare chose a Finnish couple who couldn’t work a camera to save their lives. We did have time to solve the tensions between Finland and Russia as we conversed with the militant Finn tourist. So much for peaceful Finns! The Miami “Dolfinns” would have made the playoffs if this guy was on the team!

4.       About 45 minutes down the road, Lou’s was wondering what we had to eat next so we stopped in the town of Cromwell. Home of the giant peach asses.

This ice cream made our mouths melt. They blend your choice of frozen fruit with vanilla ice cream when you order. Lou, joanne and Clare had mixed berry but Jeff had strawberry and refused to share as usual.

At the fruit market, we ran into a groom-to-be, whose friends locked him to an actual ball and chain preparing him for his future fate. Jeff took him under his wing and gave him a little advice. “Take my wife, please”.

 

5.       We made a short stop to watch some bungee jumping. This was the actual place that invented it and is the Yankee Stadium of bungee jumping! We found out a 93 year old man holds the record for the oldest jumper. And while chatting with (flirting in their minds) a cute young ticket taker, Lou and Jeff found out that anyone who breaks the record can jump for free. Much to their dismay, the girls asked if they would like to try to break the record while their young “granddaughters” watched. Taking it in stride and not willing to pass up a freebie, dates were calculated and reservations were made.  “We’ll be back in a year or two mate!” to their dismay, she did not get the joke and she booked the date. Lou thought he was funny, she thought he was 93. There was also a record for the heaviest jumper, weighing in at 250kg’s. At the rate we were eating, that record might be doable! We booked that for next year as well. Next year we go for both records-A daily double! As we watched, person after person jumped (or was pushed if they hesitated) off a bridge down to a lake below. The first woman we saw went head first into the water up to her waist. YIKES!! Unfortunately watching made our stomachs a bit queasy so no eats at this stop. Jeff did offer to pay for Joanne’s jump but she didn’t bite. Talk about spinal decompression!!

6.       Upon arriving in Queenstown, Lou’s stomach was rumbling so we visited one of Jeff’s favorite Thai restaurants. Once again, Joanne, Lou and Clare shared and Jeff had his own meal. (Although he did do some bartering for a prawn or two) We sat outside at a cute little table where cars whipped by, one taking out Joanne and her chair.  As joanne descended to middle earth, Lou sprang into action saving her plate and an argument ensued over who would get her last prawn.

7.       After eating we took a 10 minute walk around the hills of Queenstown. Clare and joanne looked at it as a beautiful 10 min walk while Jeff and Lou looked at it as a 10 min break in between courses. Almost faint with hunger Lou was very excited to see his first Starbucks where we enjoyed some lattes and biscotti. Back at the hotel, Jeff bragged about the great room rate he got however we immediately noticed that they locked the bathroom having discovered he was sneaking in two women. Sign on the bed, “Use the toilet down at the petrol station mate.” Not dismayed, we looked at it as an opportunity for more Laminations and possibly a meat pie. Later, Clare and Joanne sat on the balcony, enjoying the view but had a hard time conversing over the deafening sound of Lou and Jeff’s snoring, who fell asleep immediately upon arriving. More than likely in a food coma! Jeff and Lou, always looking for a deal, will switch hotels tonight. Booked a room for 1 at their sister hotel. Also planning a trip to the multiplex cinema.

Kia ora!!