h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Your description seem to jibe true with my own memories of hangis personally attended. Though one important aspect of the banquet appears to be missing: Maori bread. I can't imagine a meal of hangi-cooked food without a huge chunk of the scone-like stuff to soak up all those lovely hangi juices.

And perhaps some description of the taste, which I recall as being a strong steamy flavour with a distinct smoky accent.

A few other things that might not be tremendously important but certainly bear mentioning.

1) Billy T James' shortlived hangi venture. It's a real pity this didn't catch on. One of the best lunches I've had was from a hangi fundraiser. For $5 you got your chicken, potato, bread and other bits and pieces, delivered piping hot in its own little foil dish. Fan-bloody-tastic.

2) Use of the hangi in survival training as recommended by the SAS Survival Guide, and no doubt other special armed forces training.

3) Pluriform of Maori words (ie no 's'). This is a sticking point for some people, I know, but.... Oddly, I have a bigger problem with 'kumeras' than with 'hangis'. Just saying kumera (pl.) would be enough, I think.

Thanks Mustapha. Points noted and changes will be made.

Re Maori plurals. The Guide is written in English so Maori words would take plurals.

I agree this is a contentious point.

The English argument is one that is periodically published by Wellington's Dominion newspaper. This is usually in response to correspondents pointing out the words are not pluralised in Maori.