WELCOME
Top Tastes is designed to help you find the best food and beverage venues and products; whether you want delicious fish chips, beautiful café food in a winery setting, finely crafted formal dining, food ideas, wine reviews or cocktail recipes this is your guide to the best New Zealand has to offer.
Top Tastes was created by Neil Hodgson and managed by him, he has invited other writers to contribute to the site, this means more regional information will be added as time goes by. You will find a range of opinions, reviews and recipes from people who know their stuff when it comes to food and beverage.
Only reviews written by this select group will be published on the site (you are welcome to leave comments of course) so you will be able to trust the review – no fake reviews, no ranting, just good information to help you choose great things to eat and drink as well as the best places to eat out.
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE LATEST REVIEWS
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Neil Hodgson2020-07-22 13:28:232020-07-27 13:38:43Pulled Pork Croquettes
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Neil Hodgson2020-07-22 13:25:472020-07-27 13:39:20Beat Kitchen Food Truck and Function VenueFEATURED ARTICLES
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Neil Hodgson2020-07-22 13:25:472020-07-27 13:39:20Beat Kitchen Food Truck and Function Venue
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Neil Hodgson2020-07-15 17:09:102020-07-15 17:09:10Kismet Whiskey Tasting and Hopgood's Food Pairings
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Neil Hodgson2020-07-15 08:13:132020-07-15 08:13:13Roast Duck with Orange and Chilli
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Neil Hodgson2020-06-26 16:04:202020-07-08 16:05:33Fine Wines of NZ List
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Neil Hodgson2020-06-20 11:48:382020-06-20 11:48:38Fine Wines of New Zealand 2020 selection announced
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Neil Hodgson2020-06-10 14:06:422020-06-11 14:19:06Nelson Farmers MarketTOP WINES TASTINGS
Rockburn Pinot Noir 2019
Taste & Other Notes
This is a wonderfully well crafted Central Otago Pinot Noir, the winemaker has let the fruit shine while adding complexity with delicately judged use of oak. A delicious wine that delivers on all fronts – flavour, texture and simple drinkability.
St Pauli Pinot Noir 2019
Taste & Other Notes
Add a twist of sweet liquorice, delicious acidity and silky tannins and you have one very serious Pinot Noir.
St Pauli Vineyards Chardonnay 2019
Taste & Other Notes
I love this style of chardonnay, rich and packed with flavour but with delightfully fresh acidity and not a hint of overt sulfides in sight, they are just there for complexity.
We’ve put together a team of experts who have a passion for writing about Food and Beverage.
Pulled Pork Croquettes
/in Aaron Ballantyne, Nelson, Recipes /by Neil HodgsonThis week’s recipe from the top team at Hopgood’s & Co is for Pulled Pork Croquettes. Head chef Aaron Ballantyne says “this a fun dish to make with the kids and is perfect as an appetiser for a dinner party, the recipe is quite adaptable too, you could use roast ham or chicken instead of […]
Beat Kitchen Food Truck and Function Venue
/in Cafe's, Neil Hodgson, Nelson, Uncategorized /by Neil HodgsonYou will find Beat Kitchen’s food truck serving beautiful burgers, croquettes and other takeaway foods prepared from scratch (including making his own burger buns and the sodas he serves) by chef and owner Craig Sefton in Kirby Lane each Friday, and I can highly recommend the food. Friday’s at Kirby Lane has turned into our […]