Tipping is not essential in our country. New Zealand lamb is the most commonly found meat served on our dinner table and is usually prepared as a roast dish with herbs. New Zealand beef is not too expensive, chicken and duck are abundant sources of protein, while domestic venison, often served as a stew, is a tender specialty well worth tantalizing your taste buds with. Muttonbird is a Maori delicacy that can often be purchased ready cooked in fish shops during the winter season. It is relatively salty tasting meat.
Seafood is plentiful year round and all New Zealand shellfish varieties are fresh and delicious.
Whitebait, a tiny transparent fish, is a much-prized delicacy and is normally cooked in batter to resemble fritters. Restaurants are not permitted to serve trout, however some will cook and serve your own catch. Vegetables and fruit are in abundant supply throughout the year and can be purchased from supermarkets, green grocers and roadside stalls. The kiwifruit is a delicious fleshy fruit exported to numerous overseas markets, while the feijoa and tamarillo provide a different taste sensation. Our national desert is pavlova, a meringue treat boasting lashings of whipped cream and sliced fruit.