Avocado Smash

Smashing It

WORDS VICKI RAVLICH-HORAN

The Talisman

The Avocado Smash, the epitome of cafe cool. It’s a dish that delights around the world, can be tweaked to comply with food trends from Paleo to vegan. It has even been blamed for millennials not being able to afford their own homes! Between December and January each year, Katch Katikati put local cafes to the test to see who can make the best Avocado Smash in town. Out back in the garden bar at the Talisman is a 100-year-old avocado tree. The magnificent tree which provides shelter to customers over the hot summer months also connects them with the past and present.

Katikati claimed the title of the Avocado Capital of New Zealand in 2018, recognising that avocados were

pioneered in Katikati, the largest tree is in Katikati, the first commercial

orchard was established in Katikati and two thirds of the country's avocado growers are based in Katikati. Each year the Katikati Avocado Festival celebrates this and more with food, wine, music and the naming of the winner of the Annual Avocado Smash Cafe competition. It’s under their beautiful avocado tree that the Talisman team gathered to brainstorm their entry for this year’s

challenge. “We don’t like to play it safe,” says manager and part owner Danielle Reichmuth. Last year, their first entry in the annual competition, had them enter a cheesecake. “We knew it would be a dessert again this year,” says Danielle. What the team dreamed up was an Avocado Coffee Date—the perfect dish to enjoy under their avocado tree with a cup of coffee. And it turns out quite a few people did enjoy one, including the judges. The Talisman smashed out 297 of their avocado bavarois dome with raspberry gel, chocolate spray and almond sponge base which was accompanied with a dark chocolate and pistachio bark, caramel espresso parfait, salted caramel and lime jelly. As the judges noted this was a dish that required “a high level of culinary skill”. The harmonious combination of flavours and textures along with its visual appeal were sited by the judges as the reason the dish won the top accolade. Their win was reward for the team’s quest to constantly improve. “To be honest,” Danielle says, “I didn’t think we could have topped last year’s entry.” The Talisman is a country hotel with a difference. “Our motto is country hospitality,” explains Danielle who says attention to detail and a focus on the little things are all important. The food is generous and full of the classics like a seafood chowder and juicy lamb shank on a bed of mash yet the kitchen, Danielle says, is always working on evolving flavours and

Cafe @ the Balcony

presentation. This year’s People’s Choice winner was Cafe @ the Balcony with their seasoned rosti with smashed avocado, fetta, bacon and a poached egg. It’s not hard to see why this smash up of cafe favourites won over more than a few fans. Chef Jan Phen laughs as she says the secret is in the rosti seasoning, “and I just make a really good one!” This was the first time Cafe @ the Balcony had entered the competition, so they were more than happy to take out the People’s Choice Award.