She Chocolat, Christchurch, New Zealand

Everyone told us that we must visit the Cadbury Chocolate factory if we were to visit Dunedin. We went! But, a little too late. In fact, i must say the employees are not friendly at all as they didn't even offer to let us stay in the store for even a bit or to do some purchase and told us immediately that they are closing sales already when there were still people in the store doing their shopping. Fine! You just got yourself a bad review from me.
Thank goodness, someone else introduced us "She Chocolat" in Christchurch. The people there were so cordial and approachable. A waitress there even volunteered to take a picture for us! How sweet~~
She Chocolat, located on Governor's Bay, is a MUST go place in Christchurch, forget Cadbury (though i still gave Cadbury chocolates to my friends as souvenirs)!

the view from where we were seated overlooks a beautiful scene of blue sea and green hills

their menu in debossed hardcover

programmes for both parents and the child...how interesting!

 spacious seating space

 

chocolate truffles in all shapes and sizes- $3.20/piece (buy more for discounts)

 

home-made chocolates and truffles for sale

 chocolate brownie which comes with vanilla bean ice cream, berry coulis and a chocolate-made spoon $11.90

She's Belgian hot chocolate - $8.80

homemade ice cream of 3 flavours - $11.50

I love the chocolate brownie BEST because it has all the things you would want to try on the dessert menu- brownie, chocolate and ice cream! They also have a separate menu for brunch and lunch, for those who want something more heavy or savoury and even children's menu. I also consider the prices rather affordable for a place with homemade chocolates. See She Chocolat's website for more information.

Where at?

79, Main Road, Governor's Bay

Road 1 Lyttelton

Christchurch 8971

Tel no: +643 3299825

Pepes' Pizza & Pasta, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

After a bad experience with pasta at Monsoon Restaurant & Bar, we were really hesitating to try yet another pizza/pasta meal. But Pepes' pizza and and pasta was recommended by Walter (our host at The Chalet Boutique Motel). So, we decided to try after surveying the whole stretch of shoplots in the town of Lake Tekapo only to find out that Pepes' was indeed the place packed with most patrons. There were many people waiting in line to be seated. Not wanting to waste our time to be seated, we decided to take away instead.

 a cozy feeling inside Pepes' Pizza with its very own fireplace

Their small pizza is priced at $21.50 while the large one is priced at $32.50. There is however another option for people who want to have the best of everything (like me!) with 2 different flavours on a large pizza by paying only $2.50 extra. So, that means, we pay $35  for a large pizza with 2 flavours.

carbonara (bacon and mushroom with special carbonara sauce) and macauley chicken (apricot capsicum,smoked chicken and cream cheese)

We were glad we listened to Walter and tried out this place. It was indeed one of the BEST pizzas i have ever had! :)

Where at?

Village Mall State Highway 8,

Lake Tekapo 8770, NZ

Tel no: +643 6806677

The Moose Bar & Restaurant, Te Anau, New Zealand

I really like the generosity of the hostess in the motels we stayed in in New Zealand. Take for example, this one in Te Anau, which we stayed for 2 nights named Arran Motel actually provides you with dining vouchers that come with free wine with any orders from the main menu in The Moose.

Unfortunately, we couldn't find anything which interest us from the main menu, so we had to forego the free wine. However, we will never forget the delicious pie and chicken fillet we had that night. It was like the BEST pie i have ever had in my entire life!

 best pie ever! it is called C.C.C Wellington $19.50

chicken schnitzel $21 (superbly cheesy and nicely fried)

If i ever go to Te Anau again, this is definitely the place to visit again, be it second/ third/forth time! ;)

Where at?

84, Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, NZ

Tel no: +643 2497100

Manila Grill, Dunedin, New Zealand

After a half day tour in the city of Dunedin under the cold and windy weather, we decided to have something warm.
The central city of Dunedin is very busy, perhaps busier than that of Christchurch, with lots of restaurants, cafes and pubs. We had our heads spinning before deciding to dine here at Manila Grill, a place which offers both Manila and Japanese cuisines. I could still remember the lady boss mistaken-ed me for a Filipino. :S

 miso soup - given free to every customers

 mixed seafod grill which comes with salad and a bowl of rice - $15

 tempura which comes with the grill chicken

 grill chicken and vegetable - $20

I actually kind of like the food there with the hostess being so friendly. However, i must comment that they have to change their style of food-serving. Knowing that miso soups are given free to each patrons, they should have served all at once instead of 1 bowl per customer (on the same table) in a 5-10 minutes interval and i absolutely have no idea why they are doing so. 

Where at?
8, Hanover Street, Dunedin City Central

Tel no: +643 4776335

La Porchetta, Christchurch, New Zealand

We have been looking forward to this meal in New Zealand after reading lots of positive comments about La Porchetta in online review websites. This restaurants holds a wide chain of outlets across Australia and New Zealand, with 2 being in Christchurch itself.

Pictures of posh cars were seen hanging on the wall. Seating area provided are comfortable with a children's play area in one corner. And the best part of all, the food is delicious and comes in very affordable price.

 

 superbly cheesy pizza - $7.50

 marinara pasta - $12.50 

alla matriciana - $12.50 

The pasta comes in both entre and main sizes main one priced at a little higher price.
I would say that this will be the place i will frequent if i were to live in Christchurch. Besides that, they also offer a wide variety of desserts from ice cream to brownies.

Where at?
Find your nearest location at http://www.laporchetta.com/index.php

The one i visited is at 484 Cranford St, Papanui SI, 8052


Tel no: +643 3523094

hot chocolate - be it white or dark

I definitely had more than 3 cups of hot chocolate drink in my entire trip in NZ. And all the hot chocolate drinks that i had came in similar manner; a sprinkle of coco powder on top and 2 marshmallows to be dipped.
Honestly speaking, i had to put up my white flag after these 3 drinks because i finally realise my crave for sweetness can never beat that of those in NZ! ;p *no offense* The chocolate drink is already very sweet, be it white or dark chocolate and to eat it with marshmallows? That is just not my cup of tea.

Knowing myself, a person who earns phobia easily over "scary-some" food, i will most probably stop drinking chocolate for the next few weeks and cut out marshmallows completely from my life...well perhaps...

Mitch's Cafe, Timaru, New Zealand

On our journey towards Christchurch from Dunedin, we stopped by Timaru to have late breakfast. It is a lovely little cafe, overlooking the streets and buildings of shoplots.

The host of this cafe is so sweet and always ever-ready to help. I could still remember her offering to help me open up the butter. She even allowed us to use the "staff-only" toilet.
There, i found the yummiest muffin i have ever eaten in my entire life!

 

 mac and chees $8

highly recommended mixed berry muffin $4

made in NZ butter to be eaten with the muffin for those of you who are not sweet-tooth

Where at?

48, Stafford Street, Timaru 7910 NZ

Tel no: +643 6844541

China City Restaurant, Te Anau, New Zealand

We stayed at Te Anau for 2 nights. There is only 1 road leading to Milford Sound and roads could be closed at times due to avalanche. Snow falls 24/7 a year in that area. We almost got to see an already-happening avalanche and because of this our journey was slowed down by 3 hours; they need to clear the avalanche in order to open the road for people.
Just after like 5 days away from home, i am already starting to miss my home country's local cuisine. I told my travel mates, i MUST, no matter how have Asian that night! Lucky for us, there was this Chinese restaurant in this remote town. Te Anau is indeed a very small town as people usually stopped over here to go to Milford Sound.

 such a familiar sight in restaurants :D

 roast pork fried rice $15

 so used to having chilli in every meal - this is my catalyst! ;p

 chicken fried noodle $16

i find the noodle a little too oily

If i were to stay long in Te Anau, this would be the place i will have my every day meals! :)

Where at?

6, The Lane, Te Anau 9600 NZ

Tel no: +643 249 8337

Burger King, New Zealand

I could still remember all the hoo-ha when Burger King (BK) opened its first franchise in Penang. Its business blooms everyday for almost a month before all the BK madness starts to tone down. However, BK in Australia and New Zealand is a norm among its people. So, as a tourist, i must try and blend in with the locals and experience their very own "have-to-have" basic meals.
Obviously, the BK in New Zealand has a wider varieties and especially for non-beef eaters like me, i am so thankful that they offer more chicken menu than that of Malaysia's outlets.

 Burger King entrance in Queenstown

 flaming great value starting from $2.70 for ala carte to $5 for set

 

frozen coke (something new to me) and for a person who dislikes carbonated drink, this is actually quite bland

my set at $5.60

If you don't do the conversion, the price you pay here is definitely much cheaper. No wonder fast food to them is like hawker's food to us! ;p