Pictured: Fish and chips at Kiwi Style Fish and Chips. Photo Courtesy of Kiwi Style Fish and Chips.

On the other side of the world, New Zealand boasts culinary wonders influenced by England and the surrounding Polynesian countries. At Kiwi Style Fish and Chips on Holmes Beach, residents of the Gulf Coast can sample tasty New Zealand favorites in a laidback atmosphere representative of the nation’s welcoming spirit.

Husband and wife Wayne and Nicole Tagelagi own Kiwi Style, which has other locations in Nicole’s home country of Australia as well as Hawaii. The couple had intended to open up their next restaurant in New York but settled on the Sarasota area. According to Wayne, a New Zealander or “Kiwi,” a nickname given to citizens of the country, the restaurant’s name says it all. “The British brought fish and chips to New Zealand,” he says, adding that the food is as ubiquitous there as pizza is in the United States. Cod and haddock are used for the fish and chips, which are made with a secret recipe and are served beer battered, crumbed or grilled. “The batter isn’t a tempura batter, but it’s still crispy and not thick.” Sandwiches, or burgers, as Kiwis call them, are also a popular menu choice.

The fish burgers, made using cod, are topped with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and tartar sauce. While Kiwi Style uses frozen cod, the freezing process is different from traditional methods. “The cod is quick or snap frozen. On the boat, fishermen fillet the fish, then freeze it within a few seconds. This means that all the nutrients are still in there, and when you defrost the fish, it tastes like it’s just come out of the ocean.” Other crowd-pleasers include tacos, hamburgers with homemade meat patties and calamari, as well as a selection of desserts such as cheesecake.

The restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol, but patrons are invited to bring their own beverages. On the wall, a mural featuring Kiwi slang and people chowing down on a meal. Hawaiian and Polynesian music often play in the background. “We like the family vibe,” says Wayne, “and I love seeing a little kid enjoying a burger at the bar.”

Kiwi Style Fish and Chips, Anna Maria Island, 3608 East Bay Dr., Holmes Beach, https://www.kiwistylefishandchips.com/.

Pictured: Fish and chips at Kiwi Style Fish and Chips. Photo Courtesy of Kiwi Style Fish and Chips.