A must-eat on your South Island road trip! $25 is simply heavenly!

A must-eat for a drive in the South Island of New Zealand! The alpine salmon along Mt Cook is the best for two days of hunger for $25! Many people come by car to the South Island of New Zealand for the magnificent scenery of Mt Cook, but for me, a “foodie”, the hidden delicacies along the way are the real surprise! This time I'm going to go crazy with the Amway "High Country Salmon" - this kind of salmon raised in the high mountains of the South Island. The couple started their own business and achieved high mountain delicacies High Country Salmon has a super heartwarming entrepreneurial story behind it. In 2000, Margaret and Richard Logan, a couple, an avid fishing fan (Richard) and a proficient aquaculture connoisseur, decided to start their own salmon farm on a high hill south of Twizel, at the junction of Waitaki and Mackenzie districts, to take advantage of the geography of their own salmon farm, on the high hill at the junction of Waitaki and Mackenzie districts, south of Twizel. At first, Richard focused on farming, intent on raising the tenderest salmon, while Margaret devoted her energy to setting up a small water shop to sell fresh salmon directly to passing travelers. As the reputation of their family salmon grew, more and more people came here, coffee shops came into being, and the farm's annual output climbed to 200 tons. Sadly, Richard passed away unexpectedly in 2019, but their daughter Jeni took over the baton as managing director, and her mother Margaret continued to run the family business. Popular science: The "little life experience" of South Island alpine salmon High Country Salmon is not a wild breed, but salmon artificially raised by New Zealanders using the pure alpine snow waters of the South Island (much from meltwater from glaciers near Mt Cook). As early as decades, local farms discovered that the low-temperature, clean alpine water flow is super suitable for salmon growth, raising tender and fresh fish without the smell of sea, slowly becoming a "must-take-in delicacy" for driving in the South Island. The most commonly eaten variety, mainly Atlantic Salmon - this salmon fat distribution evenly, whether sashimi, pan-fried or smoked, the taste is superb, not inferior to imported premium salmon! Must-see for self-driving: How to get there to find this "alpine fish shop"? The most convenient way to get fresh High Country Salmon is to drive yourself! From Mt Cook Village, drive along State Highway 80 (which leads to Christchurch/Queenstown) and you’ll see a sign in about 1 hour or so – usually the store will be on the roadside with a parking space, so you can go in and visit the breeding pond even if you don’t buy, super convenient! Reminder: Many rural sections of the South Island are single-lane, remember to drive slower and pay attention to roadside signs. Hong Kong girl's test: Hungry for two days and eating $25 salmon is simply a "life-saving delicacy"! Speaking of my experience this time - before hiking in Mt Cook, I ate instant noodles and sandwiches for two days in a row, and my stomach had already been in trouble! On the way out of Mt Cook, I saw the “High Country Salmon” sign and immediately braked in! Upon entering the store, we first rushed to the deli area and ordered a fresh salmon set (around $25 New Zealand dollars) – which contained a large piece of pan-fried salmon with vegetables and mashed potatoes. The first bite was really amazing! The fish is super tender, with a little juice when you bite it, the crust is slightly browned, no need for much seasoning at all, salt and black pepper are fresh enough! I ate this when I was so hungry that I felt like "life was complete". I even ate the mashed potatoes! Also shown! This time I also tried their salmon pie, I really regret not discovering it earlier! The pie crust is toasted super crispy, bite the "rustling" sound, the filling inside is full to leak - salmon meat is super much, mixed with cream and onion flavor, savory and not greasy, when eaten hot, the filling is still a little fluffy! I was already full after the set, but I couldn't help but take two more bites. I finally packed a cold one back, and it was just as delicious to eat hot the next day! In addition to hot food, this shop also has many "treasure delicacies", be sure to shop: • Salmon Cheese Sauce: Available in original, smoky and spicy flavors, buy it back with biscuits and make a snack on your drive! I bought the original flavor and later wiped the bread on the car and ate it, I couldn't stop eating it! • Frozen salmon: There are cooking packages of different difficulty levels - beginners can buy already marinated pan-fried fish fillets, those who know how to cook can buy whole fish fillets, back to make sashimi or oven dishes, the price is half cheaper than Hong Kong! • Smoked Salmon Sausage: Super special! It has a faint salmon flavor, not too salty, the kids like it, I bought a few packs as souvenirs, my family said they were good! A final summary: Whether you’re heading to Mt Cook to check in or driving around the South Island, this alpine salmon shop is a “must stop”! $25 for fresh hot food, crispy salmon pie and various souvenirs. Next time you go to the South Island, don't miss it!