My Holidays: Monique Fiso

Monique Fiso is doing cooking demonstrations at The Food Show in Auckland.

What was your greatest holiday? My trip to Hong Kong — the only reason I went in 2011 was to eat for two weeks.

And the worst? Great Barrier Island almost 10 years ago for about 10 days. It turned into some kind of weird version of Survivor between some locals and us. We were 18 or 19 and half the group was trying to relax and the other half was rowdy. Some people on the island decided to make it harder for us to get water, anything refrigerated or buy anything for a reasonable price. I tried to leave earlier but couldn't because of ferry times.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing? Either eating or napping.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? Probably somewhere along the Whanganui River in the middle of summer.

It's relaxing and beautiful and so calm, and because your phone won't work right in the middle of that national park, no one can bother you.

How about for a dream holiday internationally? If somebody could just drop me off in France with a million dollars to spend, just on eating, that would be pretty dope.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling? I was booked on a flight home from New York at four in the morning and I decided to stay out partying and go straight to my flight. I finished working, went out drinking, realised I needed to get my arse to JFK and didn't realise how drunk I was. A red flag should have been that I ordered myself a gangster SUV Uber for 12 people! I couldn't figure out how to self-check-in so I left the old luggage tags on my bags and they got lost for two months — I had all the cake decorating stuff for my sister's wedding so I had to go out and buy new clothes and cake stuff. Now I know better than to drink before a flight, costly mistake!

Aisle seat or window seat? Aisle seat so I can go to the bathroom easily.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ... My headphones.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given? A lot of my travelling is self-taught — I didn't come from a well-travelled family, so I worked stuff out for myself.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling? When I was in Hong Kong, I had a meal at a three Michelin star Chinese or Cantonese restaurant that changed my perception of what Chinese food is. You realise what you've been eating in New Zealand is not Chinese food.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip? Memories.

Favourite airport to land at? San Fran — clean, organised, efficient, lots of seating, good, free Wi-Fi.

What's the next trip you've got planned? In two weeks I'm heading to Napa Valley to speak at the Culinary Institute of America and doing a couple of demos and dinners there.

Monique Fiso is doing cooking demonstrations at The Food Show in Auckland from July 26-29.