Pavlova is named one of 1001 food to try before you die. File photo / Glenn Jeffrey
The humble pavlova and some of the New Zealand's finest wines have been chosen to sit alongside some of the best dishes and refreshments from around the world in two books about what to eat and drink before you die.
Green-shell mussels, golden kiwifruit, pavlova, manuka honey, beech
honeydew and whitebait are among the New Zealand foods included in 1001 Foods You Must Eat Before You Die, listed as worthy of sampling.
Twenty-two New Zealand wines were also selected among the 1001 wines in companion book 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die.
Both volumes were compiled by a team of international food and wine connoisseurs.
The books are the latest releases in a series of things to visit, see or hear before you die, including gardens, classical recordings and natural wonders and are aimed at an international audience.
The food entries tell readers not only what foods to try but where they come from and how they have been and are used in cooking. Detailed tasting notes are also provided to let people know what they should expect when trying each food.
Not surprisingly the ongoing debate between New Zealand and Australia about who invented the pavlova is featured.
New Zealand appears to get credit for the invention, with the book saying a recipe for pavlova appeared here as early as 1929.
Beech honeydew is cited as the country's largest honey export, particularly popular with Germans, while manuka honey is noted for its medicinal qualities as well as its taste.
Readers are advised to avoid misusing the golden kiwifruit in ice creams and sorbets where the seeds can produce a bitter taste if pulverised in a blender.
New Zealand's wine made more of an impact than its culinary cousins in the other volume.
Among the New Zealand wines to be listed are Central Otago's Mount Difficulty Pinot Noir, Goldwater Cabernet/Merlot from Waiheke Island and Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough.
The 22 New Zealand wines picked for the book sit alongside some of the most exclusive wines in the world as well as those chosen for their drinking and not thinking qualities.
* 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die and 1001 Foods You Must Eat Before You Die are available now.
- NZPA
