On My Plate: Palliser Bay

As summer arrives, everything feels fresher and lighter. You can immediately identify the moment when it’s time to do away with those sad comfort foods of hibernation season, and plan a slightly less sluggish menu.

Where: Wharekauhau, Palliser Bay, New Zealand

What: Fresher than fresh cucumber, crab, and greens from the garden. I have a weakness for french fries and gravy (hey, I’m from Quebec), but a dish like that always leaves me loagy. By contrast, a dish like this at lunch invariably puts a crisp kick of all-natural energy into an afternoon. Just look at it. So green, so healthy. While it’s true that classic Kiwi cuisine can be a meaty mouthful, they’ve become equally adept at dishes that are as light and lovely as the landscape.

Charlie Scott refuses to join us for roti at lunch, lest he require a long afternoon nap.