The New Zealand Diaries: No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

If you were to describe one of the delicacies from New Zealand, a food export which rivals all others, one would say lamb. New Zealand Lamb is world famous, there's no doubt about it. Tender, fresh and high quality.

So would it surprise you if I admitted the only bit of lamb I 'had' was a picture taken next to one? Because, wants you see the beautiful, gorgeous animals strolling across the fields, you find it very hard to contemplate eating one!

The New Zealand sheep are cute and cuddly, surrounding towns and villages across the South Island. Sheep are popular with farmers, despite the government drive to focus farming on dairy. From village to village, you'll find at least half a dozen or so farmers tending to their sheep.

Sheep are big business in New Zealand. Besides the meat which is found and highly regarded across the globe, their wool is world renown too. 'Merino wool' is luxurious and highly expensive, a favourite with tourists who visit the island.

Sheep have something of a high status in New Zealand too. Forget your television or radio presenters, the real celebrities are often New Zealand's animals. We recently had 'Happy Feet' the penguin, but before him, came 'Shrek' the Sheep. Shrek's story is known throughout the world; a sheep who, after 6 years in the wild yet never sheared, was found and became the nation's new hero. He met the New Zealand PM, and was even flown to an Iceberg in the Pacific Ocean. Crazy huh?

But it just goes to show how much New Zealand cherishes their fluffy friends, even if it does sound immature and barmy. Yet, it put me off lamb whilst I was there. There was something deeply unsettling about waking up to a field of sheep, and then anticipating a few lamb chops for lunch. No thank you!

Alas, I am not a born again vegetarian. I just appreciate sheep a little more than I used to. So Father Christmas, the only thing on my list this year is a few fluffy lambs for Christmas! BAAAAA.

The second to last photo is of Shrek, courtesy of the Otago Museum

Read more from The New Zealand Diaries:

No.8 - If you go down to Owaka today...you're sure of a big surprise!

No.7 - Golden Nuggets!

No.6 - Christmas down under

No.5 - The steepest street in the world

No.4 - Food, glorious food
No.3 - Brighton Beach, but not as you know it!
No.2 - The Good Life
No.1 - Don't Fly Qantas

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

The New Zealand Diaries: No.4 - Food, glorious food.

Wherever you go on holiday, whether it be the oriental paradise of China or the sunny palms of the Caribbean, you are bound to try the different foods each culture has to offer.

New Zealand is no different. The food may not be as exotic as the grub served in Brazil, but it is nevertheless imaginative and tantalisingly good.

 When I asked friends before I went out to New Zealand what food they might link with the country, nearly all said Lamb. New Zealand lamb is world famous, and having viewed one of the production lines at Silver Fern Farms during my visit (one of the biggest producers of Lamb products), it came as no surprise to see just how good the quality of the lamb is out there. Not only does it taste divine, but it is a damn sight cheaper than the price we pay in the UK.

But being surrounded by baby lambs and friendly sheep made me feel guilty about eating lamb, although not so much as to turn me vegetarian. I was therefore keen to try new things, and this is where the friendly spirit of the kiwis helped me taste some of the island's finest delicacies.

At a BBQ, I experienced the interesting combination of fish in a 'White-bait patty'. A pancake of sorts, the small white-bait patty is viewed in New Zealand in very much the same way as we view Marmite; you either love it or hate it. I quite enjoyed it. As a savoury pancake, it was different and not as 'fishy' as I was expecting. After lamb, fish takes pride of place on the kiwi dining room table, and with so much fresh fish on offer, you would be crazy not to sample the catch of the day.

For snacking, an arrange of flavoursome snacks are available. Yams, like a sweet potato, accompany any roast dinner with their sweet, soft centre. Boysenberries - yes, that is a real thing - is a healthy option, which tastes lovely when served with plenty of cream.

For dessert, Ice Cream is a must. The world-famous Hokey Pokey ice cream is an array of colours and flavours, all brought together in what soft scoop. For after dinner, chocolate is always a winner. Whittakers chocolate is tasty and comes in a wide range of flavours. Beware fellow Britons; the Cadbury chocolate, which is popular in NZ, tastes a lot sweeter and creamier than in the UK. It was too sickly for me.

To drink, New Zealand wine is your No.1 alcoholic beverage. From crisp Sauvignon Blanc to fragrant Pinot Noir, a glass (or even the whole bottle) is worth downing alongside your evening meal. This is where going on a tour of the local vineyard is well worth paying for. For a less formal occasion, the local beer is great. Often served in a bottle, makes such as Speights or Steinlager are popular with the locals. If you fancy something less alcoholic, the national lemonade - L&P - is as New Zealand as Crowded House or the All Blacks. You cannot buy it anywhere else.

Besides the food, the New Zealand dining experience is enjoyable and varying. Whether you like a traditional Steak House (I had some of the nicest steak's ever whilst dining in Dunedin), something oriental or just a legendary cheese-roll at one of the many bistro's, eating out may be expensive, but it is a luxury that is worth paying for, and will be remembered in years to come.

And as a special mention, if you are stuck on where to go in Queenstown, make sure you visit the world-famous Furgburger. This small, yet heaving establishment offers the tastiest and biggest burgers in the South Island, and has won numerous awards for its burgers. If you get one, see how quickly you can eat it. The classic burger and fries combo took me thirteen minutes to finish!