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NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Waihī Beach Surf Shack's winning Taniwha Toastie
For Surf Shack owner Pip Coombes, the win was not only a culinary achievement but a deeply personal celebration of place, people, and purpose. 'We're really stoked,' said Coombes. 'We've had people from all over the country come and try it over the six weeks.' Gerrard Ellmers from G's Cuisine enjoying a Taniwha Toastie. Photo / Supplied. She was surprised to find people arriving at 9am to eat the Taniwha Toastie for breakfast. 'It wouldn't be my 'go-to',' Coombes said. 'Even though we knew it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, seeing the absolute delight on people's faces when lifting the smoking cloche to reveal the toastie has been pure magic.' The Taniwha Toastie was more than a dish; it was a cultural and culinary homage. Inspired by Tūhua Island (also known as Mayor Island), just off the coast of Waihī Beach, Coombes created Parāoa Tūhua to reflect the island's obsidian origins. The striking dark bread, developed over 16 trial batches, was enriched with McClure's spicy pickle juice and influenced by both rēwena bread — a traditional Māori potato bread similar to sourdough — and focaccia techniques. 'For us, it's about more than flavour; it's about local ingredients and storytelling. We wanted to honour the whenua, celebrate our local kai, and bring people together over something delicious.' Kararaina Sydney, Horiana Wimutu, Maringirangi Pohatu, and Missy Wimutu who contributed to the Taniwha Toastie design. Photo / Supplied. Coombes worked closely with local hapū Te Whānau a Tauwhao, in collaboration with Whaea Kararaina Sydney, to forage for native herbs like kawakawa and horopito. Despite her early doubts — 'I said to the staff, 'It's eel. Who's going to eat that?'' — The Taniwha became a viral hit. During six weeks, Surf Shack sold an average of 20 toasties a day, culminating in 796 votes — comfortably ahead of Napier's The Boardwalk, which came second with 514 votes. 'It was the staff that made the People's Choice win happen,' Coombes said. 'Our head chef Brad Major was dedicated to making every single one. It was full on. The staff even ran their own in-house competition to see who could get the most votes.' Surf Shack Eatery's Taniwha Toastie which has won the People's Choice in the 2025 Great NZ Toastie Takeover competition. Photo / Supplied And the pickle? It featured eight different ways in the final dish — from dehydrated pickle shards to pickle-infused bread, pickle mayo, pickle salsa, pickle salt and more. 'It was literally born from my love of pickles, our coastline in our community and working with our hāpu,' Coombes said. The Surf Shack Eatery, located at 123 Emerton Road, Waihī Beach, has been a local favourite since Pip and partner Jo Coombes took it over 10 years ago. Jo runs the premises and 'does the hard yards' while Jo's son Brad is head chef. This was their first time entering the toastie competition, as it had previously clashed with annual leave. 'It started on the day we got back from America, so has been full on.' Looking ahead, Coombes plans to enter again next year — perhaps with a more crowd-pleasing option. 'With everything that's going on and our relationship here at Waihī Beach Beach with hāpu, I think the sandwich should be a celebration of culture.' For now, the Taniwha Toastie remains on the menu — but only while supplies last. With sustainably sourced eel running low and the complex 48-hour bread-making process taking its toll, it won't be around forever. Kararaina Sydney and Pip Coombes. Kararaina helped Pip with sourcing the native herbs and advising on ingredients. Photo / Supplied. ''We have loved the competition; our staff have been amazing,' Coombes said. 'It's been a labour of love. A huge shout-out to the people we have met and have travelled huge distances to try the toastie – and ultimately all the 796 voters.' The Supreme Winner of the 2025 Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover will be announced on August 20, with all 13 finalists' toasties available on menus until then. Last year's People's Choice went to Rotorua's Capers Café for its Brotha 'Mmmm hoisin pork belly toastie. This year, they were back in the finals with a Braised Birria Brotha. But for 2025, it's the Taniwha that captured the nation's taste buds — and hearts.
NZ Herald
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Great NZ Toastie Takeover 2023: Waihī Beach cafe aims for top prize
he Surf Shack in Waihī's Taniwha toastie - smoked eel, maasdam and mozzarella cheeses, McClure's pickle, horopito mayo, crispy kawakawa, kina butter, watercress and preserved lemon. Photo / Mabel Maguire If smoked eel, watercress, kina butter and kawakawa sound like your thing, then a cafe in Waihī Beach may have just the toastie for you. More than 200 eateries from all over New Zealand will compete in The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover this year, which is a celebration of
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police presence helps keep out the 'riffraff' in spring -break besieged New Smyrna Beach
Spring break was off to a busy yet relatively peaceful start as of Saturday afternoon in New Smyrna Beach, with a stepped-up police presence in the city along hotspots such as Flagler Avenue. Traffic was heavy, a decent-sized crowd of people walked along the busy street, and sunbathers and beachgoers enjoyed the warm temperatures and clear skies. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers were plentiful in the area, both on the beach and on the streets. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department had a mobile command center set up in a parking lot at the Flagler Avenue beach ramp. It wasn't the first time at spring break for Orlando residents Lucas Natali, 15, and Josh Rosenthal, who said he was "about 16." Rosenthal said he approached this year's events more cautiously after getting hit with traffic tickets last year. "Last year, I got over $700 worth of tickets," he said. "They're definitely heavy on the rules," Natali said. The two said they like to visit New Smyrna Beach to meet up with friends and enjoy the surroundings. "We're here for the whole weekend. We're just here to catch some vibes, catch some waves, get some tanning going," Rosenthal said. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department had made about 10 arrests and issued about 250 traffic citations over about 2 1/2 days of spring break through Saturday afternoon, according to Capt. Jason Reve. Reve said the arrests were relatively minor things such as drug possession, but no weapons violations. "Nothing involving any weapons or, you know, fighting, anything like that ― violence," Reve said. Last year, authorities arrested a 16-year-old after he pulled a gun out in a crowd of spring breakers on New Smyrna Beach. The city instituted a special event zone on Thursday in anticipation of "Senior Skip Day." It was only in effect that day, Reve said. Among other things, the law doubled the fine for noncriminal traffic infractions in the event zone. Anne Hamm, owner of the North Beach Surf Shack food truck, said she welcomes spring breakers who want to respectfully enjoy the city. She also said she welcomed the increased police presence, which seemed to be working. "I think, you know, the police presence is keeping some of the riffraff, so to speak, from ... showing up here, so I'm all for it," Hamm said. Reve said the police department has not changed its approach to the event this year compared to last year. The department is getting help from agencies across the county. Dozens of officers are in the Flagler Avenue area at any given time, not including the Volusia Sheriff's Office, he said. The goal is for people to enjoy themselves safely and respectfully. "We don't want the loud music and the revving engines and the peeling out of the tiers. Just come obey the laws and have a nice, safe trip and enjoy yourself," Reve said. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Spring break in New Smyrna Beach brings big police presence
