Fleur’s Place, Moeraki, New Zealand

Located in the small and sleepy fishing village of Moeraki on the South Island of New Zealand, this rustic and homely restaurant belongs to chef, restaurateur and foodie icon Fleur Sullivan and her locally-sourced and locally-inspired cuisine. The menu is straightforward and varies according to the local catch, brought in directly from the Moeraki fleet on Fleur’s doorstep, along with local produce and meats, plus there is a selection of 40 or so house wines, including local vintages from nearby Central Otago. We start with the Seafood Soup – tomato-based and made from Fleur’s own fish stock with fresh herbs, mussels, cockles and scallops. Plenty enough for two, the soup is delicious, hearty and served with both brown and white bread for sopping up the sauce. We continue on our seafood journey and take on the Tasting Plate for Two – five fillets of different types of fish lightly pan-fried, on a bed of steamed vegetables with a tartare and lemon sauce and a chilli-coconut-coriander sauce served in Paua (abalone) shells. It is easy to see how locals and travellers alike make their way here where local and available ingredients set the course of the menu, and Fleur’s cooking and passion for the area comes through in every bite. fleursplace.com