Trout lures U.K. palates

Press, 25 September 1989, Page 3

Trout lures U.K. palates

By

TONY VERDON

in London

New Zealand rainbow trout will be served for the first time in any quantity in London this week, at a function to promote Solitaire Lodge, near Rotorua.

Because rainbow trout is not allowed to be sold commercially, the Solitaire Lodge owner, Mr Reg Turner, and guests of the lodge donated :the 20kg of trout which was caught, frozen and airfreighted to London.

Mr Turner took the trout to London as part of his personal baggage. /Passing through British Customs Mr Turner was asked to declare

whether the trout was worth more than $B3. He replied: “They are priceless, but also worthless.” More than 100 guests, including British travel and fishing writers, keen anglers and representatives of New Zealand companies in Britain, will attend the function, at New Zealand House on Wednesday evening. The trout will be served smoked, baked, in pates and mousses, with other New Zealand specialties — lamb, venison and smoked mussels. The luxury lodge on the shore of Lake Tarawera has recently been improved with finance from a European property company. It aims to attract visitors at the

top end of the travel market, with prices beginning at $3OO a night, rising to $9OO night While in London Mr Turner is also gathering evidence to oppose the controversial plan to introduce trout farming to New Zealand. The Coalition Against Trout Farming, of which Mr Turner is a founding member, is fighting the plan. Mr Turner said farmed trout would “taste like weetbix stuffed with cardboard after you have thrown away the weetbix.” He said the main purpose of the function in London was to introduce the natural flavour of wild rainbow trout to travel agents, the newsmedia and fishermen.