Best of Queenstown Eats: gourmet burgers part 2 and free internet
I've learned that gourmet burgers isn't just an Auckland phenomenon - it's a New Zealand thing. And Queenstown has its own gourmet burger shop, Fergburger. It has the requisite pun-ny names like (Little Lamby - lamb, Sweet Bambi - deer). I had tried the Cockadoodle Oink (chicken, avocado, bacon) - really good, but had an odd sweet sauce. The Ferburger (regular hamburger) - again, that odd sweet sauce. And the Little Lamby, which was nice and peppery, but then there was this sweet goo coming out. Uh oh, I guess it's the tomato relish again.
Just for kicks, I tried the Kiwiburger from McDonald's, coming in this cool box with NZ references on it. And yes, the tray liner has a french fry in the shape of the country. The Kiwiburger has beetroot and egg (hmm, like the special burger that's been sold in Australia...). It was refreshing to have some honest to goodness processed American cheese to provide that savory kick, rather than sweet goo. But after having all of those gourmet burgers, I now realize how tasteless the actual hamburger patty is.
The real treat in Queenstown's dining scene is Patagonia Chocolates. Actually run by folks from Brazil and Argentina, a lot of the desserts are from Argentina like dulce de leche ice cream, and even their own version of mil hojas. I came here at first just to use their free wifi since the connection at my hotel was extremely expensive. I would just buy a NZ$6 hot chocolate (sometimes with ginger in it), or two scoops of gelato for NZ$7 and just sit down and use the internet for an hour or two.
But their food is truly excellent! The hot chocolate rich with clear flavors, and the gelato balancing different flavors like dulce de leche or fig and pistachio well. So I couldn't tell in the end, was I getting a hot chocolate for free with internet, or internet for free with hot chocolate?
