Grubs and EQC jokes shake blues
DEIDRE MUSSEN Last updated 05:00 12/03/2012

Martin Hunter/FAIRFAX NZ READY TO PARTY: Wild times and wild costumes could be seen at Hokitika's Wildfoods Festival on Saturday. Martin Hunter

An earthquake-theme infiltrated this year's Hokitika Wildfoods Festival with many donning quake costumes while sampling weird and wonderful wild food.

Last year's event was marred by the February 22 quake, with a smaller turnout and sombre vibe at the festival less than three weeks later.

On Saturday, the mood was more upbeat as more than 10,000 people flocked to the small West Coast town to challenge their tastebuds, including many Cantabrians seeking a fun day out on stable terrain.

The Earthquake Commission was mocked by many clever costumes, including an "EQC crack inspection team", while others were less tastefully dressed as quake victims.

Boozy festival-goers posed for photos with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, who formally opened the 23rd festival and tolerated their EQC garb despite some offensive slogans.

"Don't get too close to the barbecue or you won't be going home," Brownlee quipped when Hokitika local Tony Fitzgerald strode on to the dance floor dressed as one of the three little pigs.

The public's appetite for fresh rams' testicles and live huhu grubs, chocolate-coated beetles, fried duck necks, sheep brains, stallion semen shots and other gastronomic delights, was alive and well.

A hardy handful ate fresh rams' testicles, also known as mountain oysters, offered by the Roddy Nugget Fishing Club of Ross.

Wanda Luinenburg, of the Netherlands, was stunned to discover what mountain oysters were and resisted her friends' efforts to persuade her to taste them raw.

However, the 22-year-old, who has lived in Christchurch for six months, agreed to tuck into the cooked version on bread. "It's not too bad," she said as she gamely chomped away.

Live huhu grubs were as popular as ever.

"I've spent $25 on huhu grubs today," Dunedin PhD student Rebecca Van Amber, 28, confessed after chewing on a second plump grub.

"They don't taste like anything. I think that one bit me on the tongue."

Fish and Game's free samples of barbecued pukeko and paradise duck, both protected species that can only be culled a few months each year, were snapped up.

In a festival first, Christchurch couple Liz Brewin and Eli Shaw chose to tie the knot at the event where they met, marrying on stage.

British food columnist Xanthe Clay also attended to write about the event for the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Event manager Mike Keenan was thrilled with the turnout. He said it should be on everyone's "bucket list", noting international travel guide Frommers had listed it as one of 300 not-to-be-missed festivals worldwide.

Despite the West Coast's reputation, he said rain had not fallen during the festival since its inception 23 years ago. However, rain began falling on Saturday night.

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