Some of them have fresh impression for the country from the Rugby World Cup 2011 . How about cooking and food? I could not imagine what "New Zealand cuisine" is like, apart from lamb meat and kiwi fruit. Many other people do as well maybe.
One day, a friend from New Zealand invited us to the restaurant called "Arossa" which is specialized in New Zealand cuisine. The restaurant is on the 8th floor of Ginza Velvia building behind Printemps department. The sic and modern space was far from our image of the southern country "sheeps on farm". Maybe it was too stereotyped, like Japan and samurai or kimono.
There, we discovered that New Zealand has not only lamb and kiwi but also other nice food ingredients and interesting way of cooking.
Here I can show you what we had, as the examples...
Arossa recipe Salad - eggs, bacon, walnuts etc, as starter
pasta with "scampi from NZ"
No doubt it has fresh seafood from the sea around the islands.
Oyster is also its specialty, though we did not try it.
Pork sparerib caramelized by "Manuka" honey
Honey is also one of the most known product of New Zealand.
"Manuka" honey is the one taken from a specific species of tree, "tea-tree".
"Hangi"!! is traditional cusine of Maori tribe.
On their original version, meat, seafood and vegetables are put in a hole made on the ground to cook. The hole is to be covered by wet cloth and leaves for steaming.
After leaving it for several hours, it is ready to eat.
At the restaurant Arossa, which is located in the center of luxury shopping district Ginza, Tokyo, French traditional pot "Le Creuset" is used, instead of a hole on the ground.
Lamb meat, mussels, potato and vegetables are in the pot.
The meal is associated, for us, with the traditional dish of French Alsace region, "Baeckoff".
It is quite interesting to find similar types of local food but originated in different places that are far from each other
We cannot miss the dessert plates that are also New Zealand's specialty.
Pavlova - merengue cake made from egg white, with berry sauce and ice cream
Other dessert in NZ style
"Hokey Pokey" ice cream and Pannacotta with NZ honey sauce
Its specialty honey is, as we can imagine, the best for sweets ingredients.
The restaurant proudly offers the wide selections of New Zealand wine.
Probably it is the best NZ wine collection in Japan.
We tasted some nice white wine with the help of local's knowledge.
Many plates we enjoyed at the dinner 
Restaurant name: Arossa
Address: Ginza Velvia building 8F, 2-4-6, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
I eating place is on the ground of Ginza Velvia developing behind Printemps office. The sic and contemporary place was far from our southeast part of nation sheeps on farm.
Posted by: טיול מאורגן לאיסלנד | 21 March 2012 at 22:23
Thank you for your comment. We will keep posting interesting and variety of dining choices in Japan.
Posted by: About food in Japan site owner | 19 January 2012 at 07:05
I like testy and healthy foods. This is New Zealand food which is like most. I feel fairly strong about this and would like to eat more. Thanks for sharing this testy one.
Posted by: טיולים מאורגנים לחו"ל | 16 January 2012 at 12:38
This blog post was submitted to J-Festa blog carnival November 2011 issue as lined below.
http://japingu.com/2011/11/j-festa-november-2011-theme/
Posted by: About food in Japan site owner | 17 November 2011 at 22:21