Middle Aged and Living Well

My wife and I took a quick 10 day trip back to New Zealand.  Our purpose was to visit some friends, especially our friends with a 5 1/2 old month baby.  It was our first opportunity to play faux grandparents; playing with the kid, and handing him back for night time feedings or diaper changes.  We had a wonderful time.

Another fun time we had touring the north island (you can find my pictures on my Flickr site), was sampling the food in local shops, fast food places and local restaurants.  First thing you must understand is that New Zealand is an island (ok 2 islands) but this requires great bio care.  Any foreign plant or animal can have a dramatic effect on local vegetation or animal life. They are currently battling the affects of opossums and rabbits.  This self imposed semi blockade has one great gastronomic benefit.  Most if not all their proteins and vegetables and grains are locally grown.  With so many road side stands and permanent produce markets, its so easy to find good quality, locally grown produce for dinner or for many of the restaurants that making interesting entrees.  Another benefit of a limited land and low population is bakeries, butchers and other small food stores still dominate the larger grocery chains.  What great fun it is to walk into a small butcher shop and tell him you are making chili and need some stew meat and he goes in the back and cuts some up for you.  That is an experience that all foodies should have.

A great example of this philosophy is Burger Fuel, a local burger franchise on the North Island.  The key to this chain is that everything is made to order and the burger is served on a whole wheat bun.  Topped with local produce, and their own tomato relish and get this; homemade garlic aioli.  How many burger places can you name that use garlic aioli?  My studnut burger pictured is topped with lettuce, tomato relish, aioli, stilton cheese, and avocado.  In the past years, a franchise like this would fail in the United States as its costs structure will be much greater than its maga branch competition with a centralized food distribution system.  In today’s more green fiendly marketplace, I wonder if America will support a fresh food hamburger joint?  After my experience in New Zealand, I know I would.