“The best way to know a city is to eat it.” Or country, if we’re talking New Caledonia, where flavourful meals are as much a part of the travel experience as the beaches, natural wonders, adventures, and culture. And with Aircalin’s new direct flight from Melbourne jetting off soon, it’s never been easier to start exploring New Caledonia, one dish at a time!
New Caledonia is a stand-out Pacific Island when it comes to cuisine. From exquisite morsels in Nouméa to farm-to-table meals on the West Coast to indigenous Kanak feasts, the food on the plate is as tasty as the country is stunning.
As a food lover’s paradise, including New Caledonia’s vibrant, unexpected flavours on client itineraries elevates their holiday beyond expectations. We’ve got the tastiest morsels to include on a dream gourmet-infused getaway.
“Travel is the spice of life”
It makes sense for Aircalin to add MEL-NOU to its schedule, connecting Melbourne’s gourmands with New Caledonia’s culinary haven.
With a flying time of only 3 hours and 35 minutes, your clients can be remarking ‘c’est délicieux’ at a New Cal restaurant in record time!
Commencing 8 December 2023, Aircalin’s new flights depart Melbourne every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. Passengers get 23kg of luggage, meals and drinks included in their fare.
Aircalin’s brand-new fuel-efficient Airbus offers fancy-as touch-screen TVs (to watch 90+ programmes on), plus USB ports.
Tickets are on sale now.
“Food brings people together; it’s nourishment of the soul and body”
Curious how New Caledonia’s culinary treats nourish the soul and body? Check these out:
- From the sea: With 140 islands and 2,254 kilometres of coastline, fish and seafood are abundant here. Mahi-mahi, king mackerel and snapper fill plates, along with platters plump with lobster, trochus, and delectable blue shrimp.
- Traditional Kanak cuisine: Visiting New Cal without sampling the iconic Kanak dish, bougna, is like visiting the islands in the dark! This hot stone slow-cooked fish and coconut milk is a famous delicacy. Other Kanak staples include yams, taro, papaya leaves, and wild cabbage.
- Fusion flavours: Caledonian cuisine reflects their diverse cultural landscape. Chefs masterfully combine Kanak ingredients, Asian spices, and spoils from the land and sea in fusion masterpieces.
- Cuisine française: Classic French cuisine has a Caledonia twist, thanks to the locally sourced ingredients. Try favourites like duck confit, foie gras, and quenelles.
- Bush barbeques: West Caledonia’s stockmen produce culinary surprises: exceptional quality beef and venison. Enjoy it best at a barbecue on the traditional ranches of the Broussard region.
- Fine dining: In Nouméa and across high-end hotels, 5-star dining awaits, with quality buffets, á la carte meals, and degustation menus on offer.
- Plant-based: Vegan and vegetarian diners eat amply in Nouméa and the Brousse region. Trendy cafés and restaurants present plant-based treats, plus guided organic farm and permaculture tours.
- By the glass: Tropical fruit juices and cocktails set the holiday mode to on. As do the fabulous craft breweries, the Distillerie du Soleil rum distillery, and a range of the best French wines on menus across the islands.
“You have to taste a culture to understand it”
So, besides bougna, what are the best dishes to experience New Caledonia’s culinary culture?
- Coconut crab
- Octopus salad
- Bulimes (snails from the Isle of Pines)
- Tahitian salad
- Marinated venison salad
- Shrimp and lobster
- Barbequed mahi-mahi
- Raw or semi-cooked tuna
- Igname (yam)
- Kanak-prepared sweet potato
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food”
It’s helpful to let your clients know the local dining norms. Lunch is generally eaten between 11:30 am and 1 pm, with dinner served between 7 pm and 9 pm.
For Kanak cuisine, like bougna, guesthouse dining and tribal stays offer the most authentic feasts, particularly on the islands and east coasts.
For self-catering meals in apartments and villas, shop at local markets (especially Nouméa’s fish market), at roadside stalls, and from local farmers and artisanal producers. With so many French products in the markets, it’s a New Caledonia must-do to make a least one meal in the kitchen or kitchenette!
For culinary inspiration, local recipe books have the goodies, like Saveurs du Lagon, Le Calédonie en 60 Recettes or Cuisine Faim Bonne. Alternatively, private cooking classes and food tours are available in Nouméa.
“If love is the food of life, travel is the dessert”
Add more spice to your life and become a New Caledonia specialist, visit trade.newcaledonia.travel.
You’ll discover itineraries, toolkits, and need-to-know intel to book the best New Cal vacay with ease.
“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate”
While it’s still a few weeks until Melbourne and Nouméa are a short hop away, you can book Aircalin flights in your GDS now (and nab their 5% BSP commission!).
For Aircalin questions, email reservations@aircalin.com.au or call 1300 655 737.
This article is brought to you by:
Quotes by:
- “The best way to know a city is to eat it.” Scott Westerfeld
- “Travel is the spice of life.” Charley Boorman
- “Food brings people together; it’s nourishment of the soul and body.” Giada De Laurentiis
- “You have to taste a culture to understand it” Deborah Cater
- “You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.” Paul Prudhomme
- “If love is the food of life, travel is the dessert.” Amanda Jane Sturges
- “Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” Alan D. Wolfelt
