Forget your classic ham and cheese, an odd layer of ingredients has somehow impressed Kiwis so much that it’s become a favourite.
Surf Shack Eatery, located in Waihi Beach, has taken the title of ‘People’s Choice Award’ for The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover - and it might be the boldest toastie yet.
They describe the sandwich as “flavour-packed” and “uniquely Aotearoa.”
It’s called ‘The Taniwha’, a name that already sounds powerful on its own; however, packed inside is pan-fried smoked eel, McClure’s Pickle and preserved lemon salsa, NZ Maasdam and mozzarella, all tucked into Parāoa Tūhua (that’s lava bread made from laver seaweed), and slathered in kina butter.
All those ingredients are already a mouthful to just say out loud, let alone take a bite.
And if that wasn’t enough, it’s finished with kūmara, pickle juice, and horopito (native bush pepper) mayo, crispy kawakawa, and fresh watercress.
Rave reviews have been pouring in online for the feed. One Google review called it “a masterpiece of flavour” and said “every bite was a flavour explosion.”
Surf Shack admitted they knew it might not be to everyone's taste; however, “seeing the absolute delight on people's faces when lifting the smoking cloche to reveal the toastie has been pure magic.”
Explaining they had support from locals to make it happen, the eatery said: “Working alongside local hāpu, Te Whānau a Tauwhao, to enable us to forage for local herbs has been amazing!"
The verdict is still out on what is New Zealand’s best toastie - that’s still to come later this month.
But, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find something as unique as this Sammy.
