"Hokitika Wildfood Festival in March" West Coast Local Custom Tip by Kakapo2

If you have ever wanted to know how crickets or grubs taste the Hokitika Wildfood Festival is the event for you to attend. In 2007 it took place on Saturday, 10 March.

The Wildfood Festival is not as crazy as it has already been, with goat testicles and similar unpalatable delicacies being taken from the menu of the nearly 80 food stalls, and instead offering venison, whitebait and octopus. The organisers had found out that the fear factor lately had rather deterred than attracted visitors. They also wanted to get a more mature audience by offering more appealing food and not selling alcoholic shooters anymore which attract teenagers and early twens.

But still there are many uncommon foods on offer, for example lambs' tails and cheeks, and the all-time bestsellers fried and roasted crickets and huhu - the latter are huge grubs and, apart from worms, the favourite food of the kiwis, and I speak of the kiwi birds... ;-)

And horror, horror: Pigs Eye set in Macaroni Cheese!

As the theme this year is France there are snails in garlic on offer. Not so sure about frog legs as the way to harvest them is animal torture and should not be supported.

Expect to meet 12,000 to 15,000 people, so getting last-minute accommodation is impossible. There are bus tours from several cities, including Christchurch, for example with:

www.railtoursnz.com
Tel. (03) 342 6450

Return fare incl. admission from $120.

Ticket prices are $30 on the day and $25 if bought in advance (you can purchase online and pick them up at the Hokitika i-site), children from 5 to 18 years pay $5.

(prices as March 2007)

othercontact: wildfoods@westlanddc.govt.nz
Phone: (03) 756 9049, (03) 756 9048
Website: http://www.wildfoods.co.nz