The Best of #55

Me: Happy Valentine's day!
B: Happy Valentine's day to you too! What did you get me?
Me: er....
B: What?! You didn't get me anything??
Me: Well, what did you get me??
B: You'll just have to wait and see!

So, here's my dedication and valentine's day present to my beloved ♥

Presenting, the best of #55!
(double click on a picture to start slideshow)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

~1 Corinthians 13:1-4

May everyday be Valentine's Day for us ♥

Chocolat!

A Mayan chief forbidding someone to touch the jar of chocolate!
(Taken from Wikipedia)

Mmmmm... Chocolate....

I think the Maya and Aztec peoples in older civilization definitely knew the idea! Well, it was so good back then that it was only used as offerings during religious rituals (I'm sure God wouldn't mind chocolate). It then gradually became a tax currency as civilization advanced. Somehow, it became a norm and a popular drink in Mexico, South and Central America. They call it "bitter water" (xocolātl) and is sometimes fermented to form chocolate liquor! The Mayas were also first to add chilli to their chocolate. Then the Europeans came along and added milk and sugar to it! 

I am so glad the rest of the world gets to share it now - used regularly as a daily de-stressor, and its use peaks during Christmas, Easter, Valentines, and as gifts. Especially, when you're told not to bring anything to a party/event!

New Zealand manufactures chocolates too. The two favourite brands of Cadbury and Whittakers.

Cadbury World, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Fun Facts from them:
Q: Which British explorer helped deprived England of Chocolate for 100 years?
A: Sir Francis Drake - He dumped sacks of cocoa beans from captured Spanish Ships
Q: How much chocolate is eaten around the world each year?
A: 1.5 Billion kilograms!

Nowadays, it is always a treat to have coffee/catch up/gossip sessions in chocolate specialty cafes! You will get the likes of these:

She Chocolat's Ginger Hot Chocolate

She Chocolat's Chocolate Lovers Platter
- of assorted chocolate, truffles, dips, ice cream and brownies!

She Chocolat's Chocochai with chocolate spoon and melted chocolate!

In Christchurch, New Zealand, my favourites are:

• She Chocolate, Governers Bay
• Theobroma Chocolate Lounge, Riccarton

In Wellington, New Zealand, they are:

• Butlers Chocolates, Willis Street
• Chocolate Fish Cafe, Miramar/Shelly Bay

I am sure there are lots more of it in the rest of New Zealand, and even in the world. I'd welcome suggestions from your town/city. Maybe as teamwork, we can make a "Best Chocolate Cafes in the World" blog ;)

At the meantime, Happy Valentines from me, and have some chocolate!

Wildfoods Fest of X-Factor Foods!

Every March since 1990, sleepy town Hokitika comes to life because of its increasingly popular Hokitika Wildfood Festival! A festivity of young people, families and X-Factor foods!

There is always something for everybody. It's food type ranges from wild boar sausages, scallops, tuna, paua patties, whitebait sandwiches to huhu grubs, beetles, pukeko, muttonbird and mountain oysters! Cooked in all manner - raw, barbecued, deep fried, boiled and even chocolate coated!

Of course, there are drinks too. Also ranges from nice sweet drinks like elderflower champagne, honey drinks, Rhubarb bubbly to X-Factor worm shots, fruit juice slug and stallion protein shots!

Nothing for the fainthearted, but only for the adventurous!

The festivity is made livelier with music and entertainment throughout the day. Yes, they have cooking shows too!

These are some of the pictures taken from our visit in 2010.

Worm shots

Beer Battered Beetles and Chocolate Beetles

wanting to escape?

*phew* Just eaten the chocolate bits!

It is seriously a lot of fun and must be tried at least once!

Tickets do go on sale every October the year prior. This year (2012), they are $39 per entry from www.ticketdirect.co.nz, plus additional costs for food and drinks purchased at the event.

Getting there

• Drive 
• 256km from Christchurch via Arthur's Pass, or 
• 50km from Greymouth, or 
• 151km from Westport.
• Fly - to Westport or Hokitita with Air New Zealand
• Train - from Christchurch to Greymouth on the TranzAlpine (*Most scenic)

Accommodation

• Stumper's Bar and Cafe (yup!) - clean, cheap and surprisingly quiet! Food is pretty good too.
• BeachFront Hotel - never stayed but looks good.

Do also check out the Hokitika Information website.