On the previous evening in Auckland our New Year's Eve dinner completely collapsed as we arrived a the restaurant we booked months ago to find out that one of New Zealand's top dining spots had totally closed and they failed to notify us!
After an unexciting tapas bar meal in our hotel we knew good food was ahead on our journey through the country this month before boarding our 61-day voyage to Japan on the 12th.
Our first stop here an hour west of Queenstown near the end of Lake Wakatipu is the Relais et Chateaux BLANKET BAY and as the sun sets here at 930pm and yesterday's weather was gorgeous we were able to dine outside overlooking the lake, the mountains and the southern fiordlands. Dinner starts at the bar with cocktails and an amuse and then we moved to our table for Coromandel or Yellowfin Tuna Tataki with melon, cucumber, avocado puree and fabulous pickled radish. The amazing Kikorangi Focaccia came with Manuka Honey cultured butter that I could have kept on eating but decided I should save my appetite.
North Canterbury Duck Breast came a little to medium for us but the tamarind glaze, curry and peanut satay sauce with chilli was super. Southland Leelands Lamb with Black Garlic (and yummy crunchy crust) was cooked sous-vide and much rarer and came with a gorgeous potato "stick" (there are some photos on FB).
Will decided to have the sweet dessert called Cromwell which was a tomato stuffed with raspberry cream and a basil/lemon sorbet as well as a dark chocolate edible stem and a very odd microwave sponge.
The cheeses were delicious and all local with Sheep Camembert, Pecorino and a very mild Oamaru Blue.
While the meal was filling and totally enjoyable, we hope that there is some room for improvement in the coming two nights, especially with the cook on the meat!
