1 2 3

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.

THE LATEST REVIEWS

Lone Star

September 26, 2018/in Eats, Neil Hodgson, Nelson, New Zealand, Regions, Restaurants /by Neil Hodgson

Published in the Nelson Mail 26.09.18 The hospitality industry isn’t an easy one to be in but the good operators who manage their finances and menus well enjoy the ride through the ever-changing hospitality business environment, but it is unusual for a restaurant or restaurant chain to survive pretty much unchanged, on the outside anyway, […]

Pair your barbecue with the perfect drink

September 25, 2018/in Beer Articles, Cider Articles, New Zealand, Simon Wood /by Simon Wood

So we’ve survived another winter, we’ve packed the heaters away and started being able to mow our lawns without flippers on. It’s time to start thinking about barbecue drinks, or drinks that are perfect for sitting outside at the picnic table, doing as little as possible. Scoundrels and Rogues in North Canterbury’s Waipara are a […]

Lone Star

September 26, 2018

Published in the Nelson Mail 26.09.18 The hospitality industry…

Pair your barbecue with the perfect drink

September 25, 2018

So we've survived another winter, we've packed the heaters away…

The perfect spicy croquettes by Ben Smith

September 15, 2021

was great to be able to order click-and-collect or contactless delivery food when we were under level 3 conditions and I hope you supported your local restaurants and takeaway businesses, they worked hard to ensure we were able to enjoy their food in a safe manner.

Lockdown in Christchurch

September 10, 2021

We also know how much the hospitality sector hurts during Covid lockdowns so when Level 3 restrictions kicked in we decided to do what we would do at home, buy at least two or three click & collect meals each week from a restaurant, café or takeaway place in Christchurch to support the sector. I hope you’re doing the same in Nelson.