Maybe she should have read some blogs ;)
Lisa Welbourne from Britian is a recent immigrant to New Zealand who is (like many of us) shocked at the price of food.
The problem is that while most sources of information like forums don’t actually hammer on about this (and crap over the people that try and talk about it), there are indeed places that do warn people of the cost of living. This blog is not the only place.
Gobsmacked at the price of basic foods, she has visited a lot of Auckland supermarkets and greengrocers in pursuit of lower prices, in pursuit of food she can afford. She finds it cheaper to buy at smaller fruit and vegetable shops – but that means more fuel costs.
Her friends back home can’t believe it when she tells them the price of food in New Zealand.
“Nice bread is four times the price,” she says. “I told them a loaf of bread was £1 [$1.90] and they said, ‘You’re joking’ … They can’t understand. When I see the average wage in New Zealand I wonder how some people are surviving.”
Lisa and her husband Max moved here with their 2-year-old son just six months ago and they were immediately scandalised by the prices.
“I always compare prices online and you can get things for half the price or a third of the price overseas that you get here.”
Yep, more and money of the money we spend (especially as the exchange rate is in our favour), is being spent abroad via the Internet. Interestingly – last month, Anchor butter was on offer at the supermarket and was the cheapest available. It is the first time in 7 years I have bought the stuff, compared to in the UK where I would never buy anything but Anchor.
But it does depress me that many people are still moving here expecting the costs of the basics to be cheap.
Clearwater’s Dairy Clotted Cream
It looks like New Zealand food producers are listening to the comments from people wanted clotted cream. 7 years ago when we first came here – it was not available. Anywhere.
In fact 3 years ago when I first wrote about the issue of clotted cream with the recipe (still one of the most visited pages on this blog), it still was not available for sale anywhere.
So I was dead chuffed when Fran told me that there was now another brand available!
Clearwater Dairy – who usually make yogurts have joined Country Fayre Cafe in commercially producing and selling Clotted Cream. At 59.6% fat content – its the real deal. And at $4.95 for 175g its actually pretty well priced.(Moore Wilsons Prices)
So this one works out considerably cheaper than the country fayre option, which is currently $25 for 180g. I’m guessing the price difference is merely a matter of production scale – Clearwater being an already set-up commercial dairy operation.
Its actually softer as well – in fact actually softer than you may be used to – a bit more like Extra Thick Double cream – but with a soft golden top typical with Clotted Cream. And the taste? Devine!
I couldn’t be bothered to make scones, so I decided on Low Carb Warm Chocolate Muffins – which it turns out is actually a perfect pudding to have with a dollop of the cream.
A sign up in Moore Wilsons suggests that this can also be used in coffee – but I actually don’t recommend that. While it tastes fine – it separates and leaves a film of fat on the top. I always drink my coffee with cream instead of milk, but for that I recommend sticking with the bog-standard cream, and use the Clotted Cream with warm muffins, berries or of course scones.
Either way – Clotted Cream has made a comeback to New Zealand. Long may it continue. If your supermarket doesn’t stock this, but has other Clearwater products – ask for it. It will be worth the wait I promise.
Let’s talk sausages :)
The annual NZ Sausage competition has just finished. Three days of sausage consumption & judging. Where do we apply for these amazing jobs? – beats me!
The problem for a lot of expats (especially me and my lo-carb proud-to-be-a-carnivore where’s-the-bacon diet) is that New Zealand sausages are actually very different from UK sausages. Ie they are crap. I was actually reduced to tears one breakfast in our first year here as we tried the umpteenth type of pork sausage in an attempt to find one that was edible. Most pork sausages here seem to contain (for some inexplicable reason) ginger. Tastes like crap.
There’s also the ridiculous amount of crap you can get off other expats who feel you are being entirely unreasonable if you don’t dissolve in waves of rapture at having to eat such garbage.
“It’s a Kiwi sausage – of course its perfect! You don’t like it – go home and shut up!”
Anyhow, beyond the award from the judges, there’s also the people’s choice award. Both of them this year went to Ashby’s Butchery in Christchurch; not to be confused with two other butchery’s of the same name in the UK.
Unfortunately the main competition website doesn’t give the 2011 results in full photo write up yet. So you’ll have to search google for the details, which can be found on NZ Pork & Retail Meat websites.
Our personal favourite is still Black Rock pork or BlackBall Cumberland. Available in large quantities if you happen to get to Moore Wilsons before us. Unavailable if we’ve beaten you. These actually taste as close to UK sausages as you are likely to get in New Zealand.
Olympic Butchery in Nae Nae is still a great option – again – english tasting sausages courtesy of the old owner being a scouser. He knew his sausages. Try the Superpork, Jubillee or Cumberland – you won’t be disappointed.
A new find is Freedom Farms Pork and Sage sausages. Hubby isn’t such a fan, but I really quite liked them.
mmm sausages – time for a snack I think.
Proper devonshire cream tea at Clear River Estate
Actually we had this last weekend for fathers day – I have just been too lazy to blog about it till now. We came across this new winery the weekend before at a “Made In The Wairarapa” expo. Clear View winery used to be the Solstone Estate which closed down three years ago. We do not have good memories of it – the one time we went there to use the cafe it smelled overpoweringly of cow dung. We didn’t stay for a coffee.
However it has now been taken over, the vines have been tamed and restored, wine is being produced and the cafe is now open on Sundays. And doing Devonshire teas. So bad experience with the previous owners notwithstanding – we decided to give it a go.
First of all – no cow dung!
Then we come to order the cream tea. Now for those not familiar with this – a cream tea should consist of scones (plain or sultana but in no way should this be a “kiwi” style scone shaped like a rock cake and savory) served with clotted cream and jam (sometimes butter).
Now the charge is $10, but there was an option of $8 for whipped cream. So we asked what the $10 version came with and were told “Clotted Cream”.
O.M.G.
Oddly enough we went with that version. 
Because I’m curious, and because I figured people would want to know -I asked where they were getting it from – I figured we could all do with knowing just how and where you could get the stuff. Turns out they got the recipe off the Internet. Now I don’t know if it was this website that they visited – but if it was – you are very welcome! They also have a recipe from a local cheese producer – hopefully they will at some point be providing the recipe for people.
So on with the yummy bits. We each got two scones – you can choose your flavour including cheese. (Cheese??? With Clotted cream and jam???). They were good size scones – definitely no skimping here but still rock cake shape rather than English style, and they tasted absolutely delicious. The clotted cream was heavenly – just the perfect taste and consistency – and just like mine comes out. And we got different jams – I had blackcurrant – the others had raspberry.
I think its also worth noting that the tea and coffee was really good too.
In fact the only niggle I really have is that there wasn’t enough of the cream and jam for 2 scones that size. We managed because my brother and dad actually didn’t want theirs.
That aside – it was delicious and a lovely treat. I really wish the new owners well with the business – they are providing something that is very rare in New Zealand – a cream tea with clotted cream instead of whipped cream. Even the nearby copthorne hotel which serves High Teas serve them with tiny scones and whipped cream. I hope they keep making their own clotted cream and keep selling cream teas – because if the amount of NZ visitors to this blog searching for it is any indication – it’s much sought after.
Lost in Westeros
This is one of those “just because I feel like it” posts that has nothing at all to do with New Zealand, Money or emigrating.
While waiting (impatiently) for my copy of Dance With Dragons to arrive from the UK, I have been reading all the previous books. Basically because its been so long since the last book, and the story is a bit complex so I cant remember all the twists and turns.
(Though oddly I always remember way more about the plot of a book read years ago than I ever remembered about stuff I has to sit three-hours exams on).
Via Twitter – im a very occasional user – I came across a website called The Inn At The Crossroads (In the Game of Food you win or you wash the dishes)*
Oh.My.God.
These wonderful nutcases have decided to re-create the food described in the books. Most food in fantasy books is based on Medieval Banquets – so I am already a huge fan – but never particularly felt the urge to jot down every meal listed in such a huge and epic story and try and cook it. Where they have really excelled themselves in in taking a description from the books and then providing not just one but two or three recipes for it. Modern, old and medieval versions – with comments about which turned out best and what the differences are as well as suggestions for substitutions when they couldn’t get some of the more “fantastical” ingredients.
Comments are then added by people who have gone on and tried the recipes, with some suggestions about sources for ingredients or other substitutions.
And then there’s the photos. Not only have they tested the recipes, but they have taken photos of the food so that it actually looks like you may in the world of Westeros. Like this Casual Dornish Dinner.
Once they get the book published – I will be adding that to my collection of Medieval (and film related) cookbooks. becasue officially – I really love this website.
Still no news on a release date for the TV series in New Zealand. But I have now seen it and not only is a really accurate telling of the story in the first book (allbeit with the usual HBO addition of an awful lot of sex) but it is a damd good tv show in its own right. It hasnt been ponced about with, its brutal and dark, and the casting is pretty inspired.
*In the Game Thrones you win or you die.
Cocktails
Filed under: Life in New Zealand, Property & General Investing, Things to do
While in New Plymouth we had dinner (recommended by a friend) at Andre’s. And well worth booking to make sure you get a table if you happen to be up in the area when there’s a concert on – because it was heavenly.
But best of all – I treated myself to a cocktail. Now I don’t drink a lot – though I am quite partial to a glass or two of Pinot Noir wine since moving here to New Zealand – on account of we make bloody good wine. But on average I would say I maybe drink a unit or two a week – some weeks.
But every now and then – about once every 18 months I will try a cocktail.
And this weekend was a bit of a celebration – you see we finally got to the AGM of the Body Corporate of teh Century City Apartments – which is where we own one of our rentals. Now the ins and outs really are not that important – but in essence the place was a mess, and the Body Corporate (a collective of all the owners) was broke because one person owned the majority of the apartments, and refused to pay their levies. I had been working for the past few months to get the other owners organised and voting – to try and get some changes made.
As it happened, by the time we got to the AGM, there was no longer a single majority owner – and we could get some decisions made that will hopefully turn the building round and make it a pleasant place to live – because the apartments themselves are really rather lovely are are a bloody bargain right now.
But after 6 months of hard (and sometimes very stressful) slog and having to read way more of the Unit Titles Act than any sane person should have to – I felt I deserved a bit of treat.
First was taking the offered holiday to New Plymouth and second – a cocktail to celebrate a really good outcome.
So I plumped for a Chocolate Martini:
(Apologies for the picture quality – it’s an iPhone special) This is Vodka, White Creme de Cocoa and a touch of Kaluha. Next time (and I assure you there will be a next time )- I’m having the After Eight Martini!
By the way – the food was just as wonderful as the cocktail.
Made it to Bettys
Way back in October I blogged about a wellington Cocktail bar that served something called a Velvet Snow.
Well, on Saturday, before dinner at The White House, we went and sampled said beverage. Which was as utterly delicious as it sounded.
In fact, I think I could take quite a liking to Bettys, lack of afternoon tea notwithstanding. Its a small bar, but that gives you something of the feeling of a cave, and the bar itself is topped with an eyewatering selection of alcohol, and some odds and sods containers filled with coloured water. It’s kind of an alcoholic apothecary.
We ordered some nibbles with our drinks – as someone who actually doesn’t drink very much, I didn’t fancy a cocktail of an empty stomach. And I have to say I was also impressed with the food. I wasn’t expecting great things because its primarily a bar – but I really think it would be a nice place for a light dinner as well.
And the best bit – the view changes. The walls are covered in screens which show changing cityscapes. Which means as you oggle them you try and figure out where you are now. And should you visit – pop downstairs to have a look at the private dining room (assuming it’s not in use). Its really lovely – cosy and surrounded by what looks like a whole lot of expensive wines. Confirmed by then looking at the price list.
One kiwi oddity though: bread and dips comes with three dips: Oil and Balsamic vinegar; pumpkin puree and beetroot puree. The Brits at the table just did not understand that at all, and left them for the kiwi who was delighted. The Kiwi need to stick beetroot on everything and anything in a topic of frequent conversation often resulting in us Brits just gong “why????”. We still don’t get it.
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Pre-Easter humour from Hells Pizza
The obligatory complaints to the advertising standards authority have gone in of course – but I thought this was just brilliant.
If I am going to eat a very naughty high-carb sugar laden hot cross bun – i think it’s gonna be this one.
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British Food in New Zealand
I thought I really had better update this info, because since I last wrote about it, the places you can now get UK food from here has changed somewhat. I’m not sure if its just me, but we do seem to have a lot more choice just recently – which would probably be great, except I actually very rarely buy UK food.
Which would of course be different if we could import Walls Sausages.
So heres a rundown of the options I could find.
Based in Onehunga Auckland, they do mail order throughout the country, but you cant order direct off the website, you need to phone, fax or email with your order. Their stock list is apparently “live”, so if they list it they have it – with some additions that have arrival dates if its on the way. Not a bad selection from the looks of it.
They have a selection of frozen goods – including Quorn – but they say it can only be delivered to a business address?
4 shops in the Auckland area. Pretty extensive list, and you can order direct online.
Based in Hamilton, of the “Threatened by Sanitarium over selling Weetabix” fame – and thus probably the most likely to get my business as a 
to Sanitarium.
Probably the cutest of the websites, with a cartoon grey haired old lady answering the phone (have the sound on when you visit).
Based in Palmerston North (almost our local!).
Based in Petone .
Various Pak n Saves and New World’s around the country do stock UK foods. Some like Pak n Save in Masterton have separate sections, while places like New World Chaffers Dock in Welly have everything spread through the store, with little labels to mark that they are imported. Because the supermarkets tend to be individually owned and operated, its a bit hit and miss.
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Kiwi’s are sick of rip-off food prices too.
I came across a small article yesterday, in which it seems Sanitarium are complaining that people wont buy their stuff unless they discount it at the supermarkets with a “special”. For those of you not here yet – Sanitarium is the local equivalent of Kelloggs – they make cereals – except they look really naff next to Kelloggs. Sanitarium is also known to be a “charitable trust” which gives it’s money to the 7th Day Adventist church, and doesn’t pay tax on it’s profits.
Not only that by they apparently threatened Best Of British: a UK Food Supplier over here with legal action if they continued to sell UK Weetabix (instead of their own awful Weet-Bix). So I pretty much hold this company in contempt anyway.
It seems that rather a lot of Kiwis do as well. I have no sympathy.
Weet-Bix’s manufacturer, Sanitarium, has seen its promotional costs – in-store discounting, rather than advertising and sponsorship – almost double in the past 10 years.
Ah diddums. The article really doesn’t say much to be honest – as is often the case the meat is in the comments.
Researcher Tim Morris says “We’ve created a Frankenstein monster – a population of people who buy everything on special, and if it’s not on special they’re not buying it.”
Most of the comments have an overriding view that the reason for this is that food is always overpriced here, and the “discounts” bring the food down to the price it should be in the first place. Maybe if these companies stopped overcharging us, they wouldn’t have to keep discounting to get us to buy their stuff.
There are many people commenting who are so sick of this gouging and being ripped off that they have done the only thing they can to be able to afford food – grow it themselves.
Now, I’m not a fan of that – cos I hate gardening – but theres no doubt that food in New Zealand is horrifically overpriced, and a veggie & fruit garden could make a huge difference. Be aware of this – it has a huge impact on your cost-of-living, and it will pay not to underestimate the effect.
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