Taste of Auckland’s (5 - 8 November) focus on New Zealand cuisine is bigger than ever. The most exciting thing that food and wine aficionados can look forward to will be checking out how New Zealand’s top chefs have come together to create the country’s greatest gourmet hangi!
Some of the restaurant experiences at Taste of Auckland 2015 include:
Ponsonby favourite Farina was last year awarded Best Dish of the festival and are out to do it again with a menu including a ravioli with crab and mascarpone with fresh tomato and lemon butter. Chef and co-owner Sergio Maglione is freshly-inspired back from Napoli where he competed in the World Pizza Championships and ranked in the top 20 - something we’ve known for years.
Household name, Depot by culinary master Al Brown, will be back again in top form with their celebrated oyster bar to set the summer scene. Recently named Metro’s 2015 Restaurant of the Year, head chef Kyle Street is ready with thousands of oysters for his Virgin Oyster Shooter that took home second place at last year’s Best in Taste Awards.
Celebrating all things meat and fire, Miss Moonshine make their Taste of Auckland debut with food that comforts the soul and ignites your passion. Slow-cooked and wood-smoked Beef Short Rib, Whole Hog and Apple Slaw and welcoming service from owners Ryan and Annelise, are set to be a festival favourite.
Set your heart and taste buds on fire, as Maltido Mendez will be spicing things up at Taste of Auckland. Embracing authentic Latin American chillies, hot sauces, corn tortillas, masa arepa and dulce de membrillo, Maltido Mendez will be serving up dishes that won’t be for the faint hearted.
CULINARY MUST - DO’S AT TASTE OF AUCKLAND:
Dilmah Tea Garden - The ultimate green room to experience master classes with tea cocktails, mocktails or classic hot teas.
The Social Kitchen by Fisher & Paykel - Learn from the masters and indulge the senses as top chefs take you on a culinary journey of food innovation.
TSB Bank Producers Market - Explore gourmet treats and learn to become a passionate artisan.
Qantas VIP Lounge - Your haven to sit back, relax and experience the festival at
new heights.
100 Years of Wine Making - Opening Night Dinner with Babich Wines in the Carlton Hospitality Marquee.
Kenwood Cookie Extreme with Moustache - Every sweet tooth’s dream.
VIVA Ladies Lunch - Friday lunch in the Carlton Hospitality Marquee.
Taste of Auckland Music Bandstand with Peter Urlich.
Canon Food Photography Studio with Lottie Hedley - Discover the secret ingredient to capturing great food photographs from both a culinary and photographic perspective.
Brew Street - Good George, Hawkes Bay Independent Brewery, Paynters Cider, Croucher Brewing, Renaissance Brewing, Liberty Brewing, Sweat Shop Brew House.
Good Taste - Learn everything there is to know about leading healthier lifestyles/food trends to match.
TSB Best in Taste Awards
Also for the first time, Taste of Auckland will be launching a great new initiative to help young foodies in the making - The Pledge Me campaign. The aim is to raise funds to bring an international team of chefs across from KOTO in Vietnam.
They would run a dynamic kitchen at Taste and proceeds of the total funds would go towards the Koto Foundation. Koto is a not-for-profit social enterprise divided into two units: KOTO Foundation and KOTO Enterprise and the foundation provide young under privileged kids with a two-year training programme in hospitality at its training centres.
The training equips youth with professional capacity, to prepare them for opportunities to work in hotels and restaurants. They are taught a range of social and life-skills to complement the vocational education. It’s an amazing initiative and something Taste of Auckland is proud to be involved in! www.tasteofauckland.co.nz