NEWS >> FOOD SERVICE, HOSPITALITY
Rare chance to taste giant puffball delicacy
Date: 19 Dec 2011
A world-renowned delicacy found only in Rotorua and a handful of Northern Hemisphere countries will be added to Mokoia Restaurant’s menu in the New Year.
The giant puffball (Calvatia Gigantea) is found on Mokoia Island in the middle of Lake Rotorua and is said to rival the world’s best truffles.
It naturally fruits from January until March each year and is not found anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere. In fact, this large edible species of fungi is native to North America and some parts of Europe but Mokoia Island’s unique microclimate has seen it flourish.
Mokoia Restaurant chief executive Bryan Hughes says the giant puffball typically spans 30cm in diameter, is white in colour and has a marshmallow texture inside when it’s split open. Occasionally, they can grow as big as 150cm wide and weigh 20 kilograms.
“It has a distinct and delicate flavour similar to a truffle,” Hughes explains. “Local Maori call it the Pukerau, and our restaurant will be serving a wonderful array of Pukerau-inspired dishes over the coming months.”
Once harvested from beneath the plentiful native bush canopy found on Mokoia Island, these giant puffballs will be incorporated into Mokoia Restaurant’s award-winning beef and vegetarian dishes.
“All of our dishes also incorporate the unique flavours of other indigenous herbs and spices, which is what Mokoia Restaurant is famous for.”
Hughes says the puffball will only feature on the menu for a short period of time. “When the Pukerau is young, it’s white and fleshy and ready to be eaten. But once this large mushroom starts to mature, it creates spores and changes to a yellow / brown colour.
“Once it’s reached this stage of decomposition it is dangerous to eat. So this makes our exclusive menu over the next few months all the more special.”
In previous years, countries such as Germany have imported Mokoia Island’s giant puffballs to use in their top culinary creations.
Mokoia Restaurant offers a fine dining experience on the shores of Lake Rotorua at Holdens Bay. It specialises in Pacific Rim cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and high tea.
“We certainly hope people will take this opportunity to visit Mokoia Restaurant in early 2012 and enjoy a truly unique culinary experience,” Hughes says.
“Rotorua is certainly a short journey for all New Zealand food lovers who want to try these giant puffballs. The only other option is to travel to the other side of the world!”
