Photo / Steven McNicholl
When you go travel the world each country appears to have a signature dish.
In France, you think of the snail. In Spain you think of Paella. When in England it has to be the Yorkshire pudding.
But when it comes to New Zealand we're lucky to have heaps of sweet-as options to share with our friendly tourists.
New Zealand cuisine is simple, but it's also comforting, delicious, and loved.
In light of World Food Day, let's celebrate New Zealand's classics.
From the humble bacon and egg pie to the pavlova, here are some of New Zealand's most iconic meals we should never let go of.
BACON AND EGG PIE:
World famous in New Zealand since ages ago, the bacon and egg pie is loved by many around the country.
The pie is often constructed with a shortcrust, with a beautiful fluffy pastry on top with a heavy inside of egg. A generous sprinkling of bacon bits is always welcomed!
Every bacon and egg pie should come with a side of tomato sauce because what's more Kiwi than that?
An honourable mention to pies in general, especially the mince and cheese!
CHEESE ROLLS:
No, not the bread rolls with cheese on top! Cheese rolls are popular down in the South Island. The good news is they're easy to make and yummy to eat!
The cheese roll is created by covering a slice of bread in a prepared filling consisting mainly of grated or sliced cheese, and then rolling it into a tube shape before toasting.
A choice snack especially during winter!
Early recipes for the dish date from the 1930s, with the earliest being in Kiwi newspaper New Zealand Truth from 1935.
LAMINGTONS:
A trip to the bakery always resulted in getting your hands on a lamington and coconut all over the floor!
The sponge cake covered in chocolate or raspberry and sprinkled with shaved coconut is one of New Zealand's most popular morning tea snacks.
If tourists have a sweet tooth then a trip to the bakery is on the bucket list.
MARMITE & CHIP SANDWICH:
Traditionalists would say you need Salt and Vinegar chips with this bad boy, but go with whatever feels good.
Using classic marmite (not vegemite), just spread it with butter, slam on the chips, push down to give it a crunch and stuff it in your mouth.
Most kids growing up in Aotearoa would have had a marmite and chip sandwich in their school lunchbox at least once!
MUSSELS:
Not everyone is a fan of shellfish, but mussels are a Kiwi classic. With an abundance of mussels in our oceans, the shellfish is available in almost any supermarket or fish and chip shop.
Mussels usually go well with a Thai Green Curry or Creamy Tomato-based sauce and a slice of toasted bread.
Even if you're not a fish fan, give it a go once just to say you're a hearty Kiwi!
FISH & CHIPS:
You ain't doing right if you haven't had fish caught from the ocean that morning and battered by afternoon.
Sitting next to the beach with your fish & chips wrapped in yesterday's newspaper paired with a bottle of tomato sauce - you can't get much more Kiwi than that.
HOKEY POKEY ICE CREAM:
You've greased up on fish and chips and need something sweet to finish the day off. What do you get? The answer is hokey pokey ice cream.
The Kiwi classic is rarely available overseas, so is a must-try for anyone visiting the country.
For locals, its a dessert made in heaven with everyone wishing their scoop contains an excess amount of delicious honeycomb balls.
PAVLOVA:
Along with Crowded House and Phar Lap, the Aussies tried to claim the Pavlova as their own.
The Kiwi desert appeals to all taste buds which contained meringue, whipped cream and fruit.
The pav is a Christmas classic and should remain.
SPAGHETTI ON TOAST:
Italians cringe at the sight of this but New Zealand has managed to blend the two foods together into a cheap yet flavoursome dinner meal for all occasions.
The Kiwi classic is perfect for those nights you can't be bothered cooking but you don't want to get takeaways.
Don't forget to sprinkle it with cheese!
FEIJOAS:
They might be native to South America but feijoas are commonly grown in many Kiwis' backyards.
Every summer at least one of your friends with feijoa tree will be swimming in the fruit and trying to get rid of the excess.
If you find yourself with too many feijoas then you can make a feijoa crumble or other fruity dessert alternatives.
LOLLY CAKE:
Fun fact - Lolly cake is the most searched recipe on lolly cake recipe on bite.co.nz
The reason for that? Lolly cake is delicious!
Lolly Cakes are known to have been consumed in the 1940s, but were not commonly available until the 1960s in grocery stores.
Traditionally Eskimo lollies are chopped up and thrown into the base mix before being rolled in coconut.
Every good bakery should have lolly cake ready to go to supply your fix.
PIE AND COKE COMBO:
Are you really a Kiwi if you haven't at least once had a coke and a pie for breakfast?
This delicacy was the go-to breakfast item for high school students while on the way to class.
Sometimes you'd buy a 1.5L bottle instead of a can and share it with your friends. Just remember, "no lips, gee!" as you pass it around the circle for everyone to have a sip.
KIWI ONION DIP:
Any social occasion could do with Kiwi onion dip.
All it takes is 250g of reduced cream, one packet of Maggi onion soup mix and one teaspoon of lemon juice and vinegar and you have yourself the best chip dig going around.
Take it to a party and you'll be the most popular person there!
HANGI:
While many Kiwis will admit they have never had Hangi before, the traditional Māori Hangi is iconic to New Zealand.
It involves cooking meat and vegetables slow-cooked in an underground oven.
It's been around for thousands of years but is now saved for more special occasions.
Hangis take hours to prepare but be prepared to be satisfied and overfed!
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
ANZAC BISCUITS
L&P
KIWI BURGER
WHITEBAIT FRITTERS
FAIRY BREAD