Daintree Ice Cream Company

The Daintree Ice Cream Company has ice cream made from the exotic fruit they grow at their farm.  You get a cup with the 4 flavors that are available that day for $6.00.  The day we were the flavors were: passion fruit, sapote, pineapple and cherimoya.  It was hard to pick my favorite flavor.  I have to say this was some of the best ice cream I ever had.

The Jester Cafe

The Jester Cafe was a lovely spot to stop for tea on our way from Nelson.  After feeding the tame eels...we had tea and walked around the beautiful gardens.  They had a nice selection of baked goods and a nice choice of teas in addition to coffee.

Crepes in Nelson, NZ

The price of breakfast aka brekky, in both NZ and OZ is outrageous.  2 eggs, bacon and toast averages $16.  We were looking for brunch one morning and found a creperie, La Gourmandise that had fabulous galettes...savory buckwheat crepes.  For one with eggs, cheese and bacon we paid $8.00.  They were filling, reasonable and delicious.  We returned the next day.

Purangi

Went to the coolest winery in Cooks Beach, NZ.  Purangi Estate Winery.  One of the owners, Danny, does the pouring, the regaling of the history of New Zealand, makes the pizzas and is an all around great guy.  They grown their own organic produce and then make everything from liqueurs, rum, aperetifs, and wines.  Our favorite was the Feijoa Liqueur that he mixed with sparkling water (or with champagne.)  The feijoa is also known as the pineapple guava.

The Tasting

Some of the Selections

Danny making Pizza

After our wonderful tasting we enjoyed their wood oven pizza.  The experience was delicious, entertaining and educational!

New Zealand - Land of Awesome Yogurt

My Favorite Yogurt Flavor...Actually is Passion Cheesecake!

The yogurt in New Zealand is the bomb!  They have incredible flavors like Passion Fruit Cheesecake.(why don't we have more passion fruit in the states?) The markets are full of yogurt kits to make your own yogurt.  Best of all...no rBGH!

Top 10 Reasons to Love the Food in New Zealand

1.  No rBGH hormones in their dairy products.
2.  No High Fructose Corn Syrup
3.  Delicious Dairy
4.  LAMB
5.  Apples
6.  Awesome flavored Potato Chips (crisps)  Our favorite flavor "Sunday Roast" by Blue Bird.  It tastes like the drippings left in the roast pan.  YUMMY
7. Fush & Chups
8. McDonald's Burger has beets and an egg on it.
9. Donuts have whipped cream in them
10.  Tip Top Hokey Pokey Ice Cream

OK, I have to add another -

Whitakers Chocolate

Bora Bora

If you get into Bora Bora, get out of the harbor area.  There are markets outside of town with fresh baguettes for .50.  You can pick up some cheese and water.  You can add fresh pineapple and you have a nice lunch for 5 for $8.00.  That's less than any meal you can buy on the island for one person.

Papette Crepes

Crepe Master

You must try the Crepe Trucks that park by the harbor.  The same truck we tried 20 years before was still there.  It's owned by a French man with a Tahitian wife.

We started with the "Sunset" crepe. This was a fresh crepe made with bananas that had been flambe'd with Grand Marnier.  They added a scoop of vanilla and a scoop of chocolate ice cream, covered this with chocolate syrup.  Wrapped it up and covered it with whip cream.  TO DIE FOR!!!!

They also had many savory crepes but the sweet ones are the ones you have to try.

Food on the Cruise

We traveled on Royal Caribbean and although it was a great cruise and the staff was wonderful, the quality of the food was not as good as Princess and definitely no where near Holland America.  There was no mid-night buffet or seafood buffet.  The only fruit that was served was melon and pineapple...I was hoping for papaya and mango or other exotic tropical fruit.  Carey complained that the desserts were all mousse type things that he could have drank through a straw.

It could be the economy.  The food was good but I would not say excellent.

Rainbow Drive-In Honolulu, HI

One of our favorite dining experiences in Hawaii was going to Rainbow Drive-in in Honolulu.  This place was recommended by a local.  We went on Rainbow's 50th Anniversary.  The food was delicious and reasonably priced.  One of our favorite entrees was the Moco Loco.  A hamburger patty, with egg, rice and gravy.  It had macaroni salad and green salad for sides.  The roast pork was also delicious.  Very Casual, 50's style.  A great place at a good price.