Nelson Tasman - where foodies delight with every bite!

Nelson Tasman ...where foodies delight with every bite and  vines produce extraordinary wines!

The Nelson Tasman region has some serious competition as to what its major jewel in the crown is. Is it the National Parks, is it the glistening golden sands, is it the sparking turquoise waters along the coast, is it the raft of outdoor activities on offer or is it the creative centre of arts in New Zealand?

For serious foodies, there's only one answer. The food, the wine, and the beer. You'll be in a constant state of delectable delight. The region has an abundance of local flavours, sun-kissed fruit, farm-fresh and organic vegetables and succulent seafood. The great food is complemented with over twenty-five boutique aromatic wineries and craft breweries providing endless gastronomic inspiration and liquid delights. 

Don't leave home without your appetite or palate... you won't regret it. Come and enjoy the great food, wine and beer on offer for a short weekend, long weekend or slip away for a mid-week treat for a day or two.

LOCAL PRODUCE...where the local produce will get your senses salivating!

It's not hard to find the fresh produce from farmers, fruit growers and organic horticulturalists in the Nelson Tasman region. Just step into any local market or travel along the valleys and roads in the Waimea Valley, Upper and Lower Moutere Valleys or in Golden Bay to get your senses salivating with the tastes of local produce that has had love and care (and often song) injected into the growing cycle.

We're serious you know. The region takes pride in our approach to working in tandem with nature to produce delectable delights that not only provide for local markets but also our export markets. The unique selling proposition is all about creating a product that is the best it can be by capitalising on our wonderful mediterranean climate backed by smart and innovative food processing systems to get our produce to any market, as fast and in the best shape it can possible be.

For the Hamper

A secret that most locals know is that by travelling around the region’s country roads you'll discover many farmgate and roadside stalls selling delectable fresh and organic produce. Take advantage of these roadside delights that change with the seasons. Small specialty shops are also dotted across the region and offer perfectly packaged preserves to take home for the picnic hamper or pantry.

Berry Berry Nice

Nelson Tasman is the export centre for the New Zealand berryfruit industry, exporting 70-80% of fruit produced. Out in Tasman district you’ll find a number of berry farms where you can ‘pick your own’ in season. It doesn’t get much fresher than that! Many of the berry farms also sell delicious soft-serve berry icecream and frozen yoghurts – described in 2010 by the Sunday Star Times as the “taste of summer in Nelson”.

MARKETS

Several markets across the region also make shopping for your holiday necessities an experience in itself. Visit www.tson.co.nz to find a Farmers Market near you.

Nelson Market

Held every Saturday morning in the heart of the CBD, the Nelson Market has become a “destination” for both locals and visitors from throughout New Zealand and further afield. Prowl the lanes between the hundreds of stalls for Nelson’s best, you will find food galore from fresh fruit and vegetables - both organic and seasonal, to local honey, award winning olive oil, fresh flowers, smoked seafood, German sausages, salamis, and freshly roasted coffee beans. All this and many local crafts and art pieces from artisans and artists make the nelson Market a “not to be missed” whilst in the region. http://www.nelsonmarket.co.nz/

Farmers Market

Nelson'sweekly Farmers Market creates a marketplace for the sale of fresh, nutritious, locally grown produce that is sold directly to the consumer by local growers. This ensures fresh, high quality produce is brought to the consumer at a reasonable price. Set in the central city, with plenty of convenient parking, this attractive European-style ensures growers and shoppers can communicate directly with one another.                                        http://www.marketground.co.nz/ClubSite.asp?SiteID=11772&NoCache=101011114020UFSCQHDA

RESTAURANTS/CAFES

Fresh ingredients are transformed into mouthwatering fare you can enjoy in your pick of stunning locations across the regions. Dine in the heart of the CBD, among the vines, along the waterfront with fabulous views, or get out and about and discover one of our secret country cafés.

Nelson has three of the top 50 restaurants in the “Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards 2011” – namely Boutereys, Hopgoods and Boat Shed Café.

Boutereys Restaurant

Owner Matt Bouterey is Michelin trained and Bouterey’s point of difference is his chefs are sent out to the local farms to source the produce for what they cook. By picking from the vines and digging from the ground, Bouterey’s chefs really get to know their produce. They also make our own pancetta and prosciutto, pickles and chutneys and bake their own breads. http://www.boutereys.co.nz/

Hopgoods Restaurant

Kevin Hopgood is beloved of Nelsonians, who keep his restaurant buzzing year round. His cuisine is labour-intensive, his technique excellent and his presentations aesthetically pleasing. The restaurant’s dramatic solid pillars, high ceilings and exposed wooden floorboards provide the perfect backdrop for what is very good food.              http://www.hopgoods.co.nz/

Boat Shed Café

Daniel Monopoli became chef-owner at this well-known Nelson waterside idyll in 2009, and in his capable hands the restaurant is thriving. His fresh, delicious food tastes the best when enjoyed on the large over-water deck on one of those perfect blue-sky Nelson days.                                                                                                         http://www.boatshedcafe.co.nz/

Mint Dining Room

Awarded the “Best Lamb Dish” at the national 2010 HANZ awards, Mint Dining Room as an intimate culinary experience set in an iconic 19th century cottage within the quiet city fringe of Nelson, with a maximum seating of just 24. http://www.mintdining.co.nz/

Refer to http://www.nelsonnz.com/things-to-do-see/food-beverage/cafés-restaurants or more great cafe and restaurants

FISHING AND SEAFOOD

Nelson has Australasia’s biggest fishing fleet and with that comes many great seafood experiences for the foodie

Anatoki Salmon

A unique salmon fishing experience, Anatoki Salmon is a small freshwater salmon farm, offering  salmon fishing in a beautiful environment. Located alongside the Anatoki River as it flows out of the valleys of the Kahurangi National Park in Golden Bay, against a backdrop of native bush, you can relax and enjoy this unique experience of catching a salmon & having your fish prepared ready to eat, with hot smoking available. http://www.anatokisalmon.co.nz/

Guytons Fresh Seafood

Located on Nelson’s waterfront, Guyton's supplies the freshest fish due to its superb access and daily purchase of a huge variety of species of fish. Super fresh fish is the lifeblood of Guyton's success, with over 20 species of fresh white fish in our shops on a daily basis. http://www.guytons.co.nz/about-us/

The Smokehouse

Located on theWaimea Estuary - the largest estuary in the South Island - The Smokehouse is nestled between three national parks, boutique wineries, fine artists and beautiful beaches. The Smokehouse experience is based on the concept of delicately hot smoking local products (seafood, poultry, NZ lamb, sausages and vegetables) using traditional brick kilns and natural manuka shavings. All products are locally sourced and caught and delivered directly to The Smokehouse.  The signature product 'Hot Smoked Salmon' is King Salmon fresh from the Marlborough Sounds.  http://www.smokehouse.co.nz/

FOOD ARTISANS

Pic's Peanut Butter

Locally produced and roasted peanut butter with no sugar and no additives, produced by local personality Pic Picot. Recently awarded in Cuisine Magazine’s Artisan Awards 2010. http://www.reallygood.co.nz/really-good-peanut-butter

Schnapp Dragon Distillery

Located in Golden Bay, Schnapp Dragon Village Distillery creates a boutique range of natural and organic products from the pristine environment of Golden Bay. Terry Knight produces fruit liqueurs, honey based wines, and spirits, using water from one of the purest artesian aquifers in the world, sourced from the Takaka Valley. Terry can also be found at the Nelson Market on Saturday mornings. http://www.schnappdragon.co.nz/

Proper Crisps

Made by hand in Nelson using only South Island potatoes with cholesterol-free sunflower oil and Marlborough Sea Salt, Proper Crisps are “sunshine” in a bag!. In a quest to find the perfect crisp, the Franklins travelled the world to learn as much about making really great crisps. Cuisine Magazine recently gave Proper Crisps as one of it's Artisan Award Winners for 2010. http://www.propercrisps.co.nz/

Neudorf Cheeses

Local producer of award winning sheeps milk cheeses, and now available cows milk cheeses too. The cheeserie is on a farm owned and managed by the Beuke family who have been on this land for many generations and on whichthey and their staff milk alarge herd of East Friesian Sheep. http://www.neudorfdairy.co.nz/

Mapua Country Trading

Located on scenic Mapua wharf, Mapua Country Trading offer cheese making and food preserving courses. http://www.mapuacountrytrading.co.nz/harvest/CheesemakingCourses1.html

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