Page 79 - 101+ Tips for Solo Women Travelers

16 Look for the Qualmark seal.

The silver fern symbol is like New Zealand’s Good
Housekeeping Seal of Approval for all things tourism-related—
hotels, car rental agencies, restaurants and more. It is given to
establishments that meet or exceed quality standards for sustainability, safety,
hospitality, professionalism and more.

What to Eat

Australia and New Zealand share many of the same national dishes, and also
have a rivalry over some of them, such as pavlova—a meringue and cream
dessert. Both nations claim to have invented it in honor of the visiting ballerina,
Anna Pavlova. Kiwi is the traditional topping, but Australians may use passion-
fruit instead (just to make a point). Lamingtons are squares of sponge cake
covered in chocolate or raspberry sauce, then covered in coconut.

Both nations also love meat pies, flaky pastries filled with minced beef,
lamb, or chicken. In New Zealand, bacon and egg pie is a picnic staple.

Australians love green chicken curry pie. Meat pies are o en served with
ketchup (which the locals call “sauce”).

For breakfast, have an Anzac biscuit with your co ee or tea. It’s a crunchy

cookie (named a er the WWI-era Australian and New Zealand Army Corps or
ANZAC) that’s made of sugar, flour, butter, rolled oats, syrup, and coconut.
Seafood is terrific here. Grilled barramundi (a type of sea bass) is popular
in Australia. Try also Tasmanian Atlantic salmon. It’s an introduced
species that is now farmed and known for its superior taste and texture.
Another Aussie favorite is crisply fried salt and pepper calamari. Yabbies
are freshwater crayfish, prized for their sweet meat. In New Zealand try
the Queen scallops, green-lipped mussels, and the whitebait fritter—
a gourmet version of fish and chips in which the small, translucent fish are
deep-fried in a light egg white batter. Both countries have superb oysters,
and the Balmain bug—a slipper lobster with no claws and a sweet tail.
You will see emu and kangaroo on some Australian menus. Both are low in
fat and flavorful. Be sure to try roasted New Zealand lamb, considered the
best in the world.

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