Historical Roots

I’ve got a bit of a history with the hangi. It’s the product of our New Zealand culture and is the traditional cookery method of the Maori. Growing up, ‘laying’ a hangi was how we celebrated an event such as a 21st birthday or a death in the family. It’s a great way to feed a crowd, and the flavour is something totally unique and one that reminds me of my New Zealand home.

I ‘laid’ my first hangi by myself when I was about ten years old. It contained only potatoes and I was too impatient and dug it up after only two hours. The potatoes were half raw but I thought it was great. It was this experience that inspired my A Simple Dish of Potato Cooked in the Earth It Was Grown.