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Okay, Happy New Year and, just let me say
it, thank God it’s over. I can hardly wait for next year.
New Zealand partying – Pisto style. After
about 7 days of touring the South Island I was getting a big urge to do
some cooking. I brought my knife and some other equipment plus a good
supply of my Sensational Seasonings. We had decided to stay in the
lovely small town of TeAnau, and had a girl make some reservations at
what we thought was a bed and breakfast with a two bedroom cottage (me,
Cheryle and daughter Gia). We found the driveway and drove up expecting
to see a cabin. Hmm, didn’t see a cabin, no big deal so we drove into
the carport. I said, “I don’t see a cabin, maybe we should leave”.
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Too late, a lady named Jan came out the
front door. So, I got out to meet her and before I could say anything
she invited me in and said, “Let me show you your rooms. Once in the
house she showed me two very cozy rooms and a
bathroom and another private room that was occupied by some English
folks and, thank God, they had their own bathroom. She was so nice I
didn’t have the heart to say no. So I walked back to the car and told
the girls it was time to meet some nice Kiwis on their home turf.
“What’s that mean?”, asked the wife. “Just smile get your bags and
follow me.” We dropped off the bags and our hostess Jan showed us around
and told us to feel at home. I noticed a big, well-equipped kitchen too.
After the introductions we went to our rooms and we all looked at each
other and said, “Oh what the hell, |
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let’s make it work!” It was time to check
out the village and make arrangements for some helicopter tours and
whatever. While driving around exploring I noticed a butcher shop. I
told Gia to pull over so I could check it out. In I went and started
looking around. First thing I spotted were some New York steaks that
were prime to super prime grade and they were the least expensive. So I
asked, “What gives?” The nice lady told me that these steaks were a
little too fatty for the locals’ tastes. “Oh yeah? How many you got?”
“About six”, she said. “I’ll take them all”. Then I spotted some
beautiful lamb loin chops with the tail on - beautiful white fat
finely-grained meat. “Give me eight of those”. Then I spotted some
pin-bone shoulder chops, also beautiful. “Give me six of those”. Man I
was in heaven. |
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“What else do you have that’s of the same
quality?” She said, “How about some fresh spiny lobsters?” “I’ll take
four.” Oh boy, prime beef, fresh lobster and lamb for appetizers - what
else? She said she had only a pound of white bait (While bait is a
famous tiny translucent fish, the size of a toothpick that is very
expensive and they make chowder and patties with it.) “I’ll take it!” So
as I was returning to the car I was thinking - what am I going to do
with all of this stuff! I know, I’ll ask Jan and her husband Jeff if I
could cook dinner at their house (pretty ballsy). So while I’m in the
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car, I phoned our host. “Hi Jeff, this is
your house-guest John Pisto and I have a favor to ask of you. I just
found some incredible steaks, lamb and lobster and was wondering if by
chance you would allow my wife, daughter Gia and I to
cook dinner for you.” Jeff said, “No problem.” I
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assured him that I know my way around the
kitchen and the girls would set up and act as prep cooks.
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Bingo – we’ve got a Pisto party going! We
picked up some New Zealand wines, salad greens, potatoes, bread, butter,
garlic and beer. We arrived with bags and bags of stuff and I asked Jeff
if he has a barbecue pit. He said he did and then looked at all what we
brought and said, “Who is going to eat all of this?!” “We are, of
course.” And away we went. Lovely wife Cheryle and Gia got to cleaning,
chopping and sautéing. A glass of wine or two and, you know what they
say – you can take the boy out of his kitchen but you can’t take the
kitchen out of the boy – I was in my element. The menu: chop-chop salad
(finely chopped green tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, parsley, chiles,
bacon, cabbage and zucchini); whole loaves of bread sliced down the
middle and |
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covered with butter, olive oil, grated
cheese, chopped garlic, sliced tomato and oregano; spiny lobster halved
and covered with butter, garlic, salt, pepper and my Sensational
Seasoning™. Jeff commented, “You folks use a lot of garlic.” Ah, if you
only knew. Steaks and chops all got a good rub down with olive oil, salt
and pepper and my seasoning. Potatoes cubed and fried with lots of
onions and bell peppers. The girls set the table – what a team! Food was
on the table – steaks like butter, lamb crusty with seasoning and sweet
fat. Tangy salad, luscious lobster and local wines – pure pleasure. We
ended up staying two days with our great new friends. Folks, once again,
food as the universal bonding agent. I sure love what I do. If you are
planning a trip to New Zealand contact
fami@airfiordland.co.nz |
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