A Taste of Home; New Zealand

All the yummy foods I still miss 26 years later

One of the first things I can’t wait to do after arriving back home to New Zealand probably sounds a little cuckoo; it’s to go to the supermarket.

I read KL Simmons’s story about German bread, and she immediately reminded me of Vogel’s bread back home. Their sunflower and barley brand is so delicious! With a dollop of butter and some creamy honey, it’s the bomb. I’ve never found a replica of it here in Montréal, and it’s one of the things on a long list of foods that I miss dearly.

Side note: Speaking of bread, I miss having the option to choose very thin bread for sandwiches versus thicker slices for toast. I’ve been known to get out the rolling pin to flatten the huge slices that are only on offer here!

I could spend hours in the supermarket perusing the shelves. It’s like a trip back in time; I’ve often forgotten about some foods but am immediately wanting to divulge them when I see them. Admittedly most of it is crap food, so it’s always a good idea to ensure I arrive in NZ minus a few pounds so I can be guilt-free as I stuff my face!

I always return to Canada with an entire suitcase of anything non-perishable. My kids have also learned to appreciate some food from NZ, so there are always their requests to fulfill as well.

I’m sharing a list of my fave foods from down under. I’ve included a link for each one so you can see a picture and start those taste buds salivating. They’re mostly bad, as I said, but boy, are they ever good! Remember, food triggers memories, and all these are the ones that push my buttons the most.

Biscuits (the equivalent of cookies)

Griffins is a company that has been making biscuits in New Zealand since 1890. Their sampler box was a staple at Christmas time. My pseudo granny used to bring us either a packet of Toffee pops or Mallowpuffs every Saturday when she visited. Although my mum was an avid and excellent baker, we enjoyed the store-bought treats because she would never buy these particular ones for us. There are similar varieties here, but they don’t taste the same.

Their chocolate and sultana pasties and Jaffa Thins were also firm favourites, and a packet of each goes in the trolley. As their saying goes, “One is never enough.”

Gingernuts were a must with a cup of tea; they’re very hard and crunchy, but if you dipped them in the tea for a couple of seconds, they would moisten and become even tastier.

Their Superwine biscuits I used to eat after spreading butter on one side and wedging two together between a piece of nice Colby cheese. Sometimes, I’d nibble around the edges to meet the inner circle. The Krispie ones were coconut flavoured and were tasty just by themselves. I wasn’t as fond of their Malt biscuits, but they too were delicious with a slathering of butter on them and made the perfect base for a cheesecake.

These Golden fruit biscuits were packaged, so you had to eat four in one sitting, and their Fruit fingers were equally yummy.

I’d completely forgotten about Shrewsbury biscuits; I’d stick my finger in the middle to lick the jam or demolish them as-is. Mealmates crackers were a great snack when spread with vegemite and a piece of cheese. I’m not keen on anything poppyseed as they get stuck in your teeth, but these didn’t seem to for some reason.

Yes, honestly, it’s only now that I realize the same company made all these biscuits — and they made so many delectable varieties.

The perishable yummies

If you ever go to New Zealand, you must try the following foods and beverages:

Kumara and Yams: Both originally from South America, these are two New Zealand root veges that I miss terribly. The flesh of the kumara is a lighter colour than the sweet potatoes you get here. I have seen them once in a supermarket here but never again. Yams are called Oca in South America. Mum would roast the yams until they were tender. Delicious!

Hokey Pokey ice cream: Vanilla ice cream with tiny beads of crunchie bar — or honeycomb — dotted throughout. Some of them ooze a caramel toffee that melts in your mouth.

Boston cream bun: A sweet white loaf of sultana bread with a thick layer of white or pink icing and sprinkled with coconut.

Custard Squares: I’ve learned to make these so the need to eat a store-bought one is not so desperate when home. Also known as vanilla slice, and similar to a millefeuille, it is custard sandwiched between flakey pastry and smothered in white icing. My daughter requests these every birthday!

Jimmy’s Pies: These are made in the deep south and are a must-have treat whenever I’m home. You can buy them hot at most dairies (corner stores) or petrol (gas) stations as a great on-the-go meal. The lead pic says it all!

Lemon and Paeroa: Abbreviated to L&P, it’s a fizzy drink originating in Paeroa, a town on the North Island, but Coca-Cola now produces it. I can’t even explain the flavour, lemon-like mineral water but better. Try it!

Bluebird Chicken chips: These are my favourite chips to snack on. I know it sounds gross, but please take my word for it. I have learned to love Miss Vickies and Cape Cod’s, but I miss the chicken flavour. They’re even better if you dunk them in a traditional NZ dip: mix a packet of Maggi onion soup (coming up!) with reduced or sour cream and a dollop of malt vinegar, stir, refrigerate and enjoy.

Seafood; namely green-lip mussels, blue cod, oysters and crayfish (aka rock lobster). Our go-to takeout night meal was fish and chips and with NZ being surrounded by water, the fish is darn good. Heck, even the tradition shark-battered fish is.

I’m not mentioning meat as I have easy access to NZ and Aussie lamb here. Nor have I suggested any New Zealand wines, although there is a plentiful supply of great ones at every supermarket.

Essentials for the suitcase

I’m sure the cashier thinks I’ve gone bonkers when she’s processing my goods before returning to Canada. I have several staples that I have to bring home as I just can’t find a suitable replacement.

Maggi Onion Soup: I don’t know why, but I prefer this to any other soup mix. I use it for casseroles and dips ( see above) and mix it with cheese and reduced or sour cream to make a spread for cheese rolls. These are so tasty with soup on a cold winter’s day. Simply spread the cheese mix onto crustless bread, roll them up and grill until they’re a light brown colour and the cheese mixture is oozing out the ends.

I buy a couple of dozen packets of soup mix to bring home. I also load up with Maggi’s instant gravy packets. They are so much tastier than the ones here.

Edmonds Custard Powder: Bird’s one just doesn’t do it for me, sorry! This is essential for custard squares, and delicious served hot and runny, poured over vanilla ice cream.

Chelsea Golden Syrup: I use this in baking since most of my recipes are from New Zealand. I have found a suitable substitute here, but I’ll still throw this in my suitcase — wrapped in a plastic bag if it leaks!

Home is where the heart, memories and tastes are

Over the years, I have adapted my tastes to the Canadian way. I’m used to Weetabix instead of Weetbix and have replaced reduced cream with sour cream. I’m not a huge fan of milk, but I find it now tastes weird back home. Maybe it’s because their cows actually do eat grass?

I am now very fortunate to have a store in Montréal run by an Aussie and a Kiwi called TA Pies. They became famous when Hugh Jackman was in town and stated their pies were ‘the best in the world’. Their store is a bit out of my way, but I can buy some of these delicacies mentioned although at an astronomical price. (While compiling this story, I noticed several items were available on Amazon at over-inflated prices too.) Their pies are excellent and their flat whites and banana milkshakes are also damned good, and just like those in NZ.

Yes, I know most of the things I miss aren’t heart-healthy or remotely good for you, but we’re allowed to indulge — and dream — a little, right? I don’t eat many sweet things now, mainly because I can’t find something I like. I’ve been deprived for almost three years of any of these goodies, thanks to Covid.

I’ll need to bring two suitcases with me next time I travel home!

Authors note: I am not affiliated with any of the brands I mention. I simply love their stuff!