Hawke’s Bay a tasty treat
Hungry for great cuisine and gorgeous liquid refreshment, Alexia Santamaria sates her appetite in sunny Hawke’s Bay, which prides itself as food and wine country.
Everyone knows Hawke’s Bay is all about incredible culinary and beverage experiences, so it makes sense it was made official a few months ago with the launch of Hawke’s Bay Tourism’s foodandwinecountry.com.
The region is the largest grower of apples, squash and olives, and it’s responsible for 80 per cent of the country’s nectarines, peaches and plums, as well as being a leading producer of garlic, mushrooms, peas, corn, beans, onions, and pears.
And that’s without even starting on the exceptional wines, great markets, and highlyawarded restaurants that call this beautiful part of the country home.
Here are some Hawke’s Bay foodie experiences you really shouldn’t miss.
Market bacon
Holly Bacon at Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market is an iconic Hawke’s Bay eatery, as queues show. Soft fresh bread loaded with a generous serving of bacon straight off the grill is pretty hard to resist, even next to other incredible market options like pastries and masala dosa. hawkesbayfarmersmarket.co.nz
Mary’s banquet
Considering it only opened in November last year, the ‘‘banquet’’ at Mary’s in Havelock North has gained quite a following. It’s a selection of favourites such as smoked kahawai croquettes, lil’ crispy fried chicken tonkatsu sandwiches, shared scotch fillet steak served with pear and parmesan salad, hand-cut chips and more. It includes a dessert, but if you’ve already had dinner and are just looking for something sweet, you have to try their drool-worthy New York-style cheesecake bruleed with sugar and served with whatever luscious fruit is in season. marys.co.nz
An immersive experience
Obviously you want to get around the wineries if you’re heading to Hawke’s Bay, but did you know there’s a totally immersive experience right in Havelock North village too? At Smith & Sheth, you can have a casual drink and some light bites, check out the tasting room, or go for the whole two-anda-half-hour immersive tasting experience, including an audio-visual performance, pulling samples straight from the barrel along with indepth, fascinating conversations with a sommelier. It’s a state-of-the-art experience that is a must for any wine lover. smithandsheth.com