New Zealand saw a small change to it’s lamb selection this year at Food & Wine. Instead of the Lamb Slider with Tomato Chutney that has been featured in recent years, it has emerged as a Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney.
The meatball is still served with a carb, so instead of the slider bun, it is featured in a bread bowl like the one that was used for South Africa’s Bunny Chow last year. The bread is soft and a bit chewy, and absorbs the juices from the sauce.
I was nervous that the sauce might be covering up a tiny meatball, but moving some of the sauce aside, that was not the case.
The meatball did in fact take up a fair amount of the bread bowl.
The lamb was very tender, and while the chutney is described as “spicy,” it seemed more of a nod to the seasonings as opposed to heat, of which was fairly mild. I think the dish overall was better than the previously offered slider.
Let us know what your favorite choice from New Zealand is, or which item you’re looking forward to trying! Also, be sure to check out our review of the Seared Sea Scallop with Kumara-Red Curry Puree and Apple Radish Salad from last year, which is offered once again this year!
Does the tomato chutney’s flavor seem significantly different from what accompanied last year’s slider? I disliked it because I thought the chutney tasted too sweet. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the bread bowl/vehicle for this year’s meatball; I didn’t like the bread that came with the bunny chow last year. I suppose that part can be easily ignored if needed, though.
I don’t believe I ordered the slider last year, but did in 2010. I’m having a bit of trouble recalling from back then, but I do think the sauce had some sweetness with the meatball, but the chutney didn’t seem to have as much of a reduction to it to concentrate the sweetness. However, it was cut a bit by the lamb. We did have to use a fork & knife for the dish, but we grabbed a seat outside of Tangierine to get out of the sun an enjoy. The bread bowl got a bit soggy from the chutney juice, but otherwise I liked the bread bowl. If you think the chutney was too sweet last year and didn’t care for the bread bowl, you could probably skip this and put the money toward something else you know you will enjoy without feeling like you missed out.
I think New Zealand might be a miss for me this year. I didn’t love the sea scallop last year, either. I may have to try some of their wine. My normal choice would be chardonnay, but I think the fact that it’s un-oaked is tragic.
I miss the old way the lamb sliders used to be (actual sliced lamb). Didn’t have the slider last year since I find the ground lamb basically tasted like hamburger the year before. Was going to skip it this year too but the pics make it look a little better so I’ll probably try it. I do love the scallop though.
Melissa – You won’t be missing out on the booth if you just stick to wine!
Cherry – I never had the slider with sliced lamb, but I agree how it can easily taste like you’re just eating a hamburger if it’s not prepared well!
I found it really hard to eat. Attacking the bread bowl was difficult and the chutney made it really messy once the bowl’s integrity was infiltrated. It wasn’t the worst thing I had, but not in my top 5 either.
It was definitely a knife and fork dish, and I agree – there are are many more items worth the money at the festival!