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Thursday 14 November, 2013

Forecast for a Fine Dining Weekend at Taste of Auckland

A promising forecast of sunshine, irresistible delicacies and fine wine bodes well for Taste of Auckland’s fifth annual festival which starts tonight at Victoria Park and runs through to Sunday, 17 November.

Festival organiser Rob Eliott says the weekend is going to be a spectacular first taste of summer for Auckland foodies.

“Nothing says summer more than a fantastic festival on a warm, sunny day with a cold glass in your hand. We’re expecting record numbers through the gates over the four days, with a wider assortment of gourmet foods, drinks and personalities than we’ve had before,” he says.

Tonight kicks off with 2013’s chef of the year, Des Harris of Clooney, opening up the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen demonstrations. Harris will be followed by Mark Southon of the Food Store, and then celebrity chef Nadia Lim will end the evening with a demonstration of her favourite dish to a live audience.

Internationally renowned chef Peter Gordon, who opened his latest venture, The Sugar Club, on Level 53 of the Sky Tower in August this year, will be doing a one-off presentation at the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen on Saturday night at 7pm.

Other international chefs will be a highlight of the sunny weekend too. Robert Oliver, of best cook book in the world Me’a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific; eco-warrior Matt Stone of Greenhouse By Joost; and top chef Philip Davenport of Bali’s KU DE TA will all be demonstrating at the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen.

The four day long foodie festival is also set to be humming to the tune of jazz music, swing, Latin, pop and soul, all coming from the expertly curated Peroni Bandstand.

Josh Emett will be talking through the ‘butchering of a beast’ at the Ultimate BMW Experience, while wine expert Matt Skinner will be sharing his knowledge at the Plumm Wine Theatre.

Eleven of Auckland’s top restaurants will be offering up tastes of their up-coming summer menus over the weekend. Baduzzi and The Grove by Michael Dearth and Ben Bayly; Metro Italian restaurant of the Year Toto’ with head chef Sergio Maglione; Non Solo Pizza with Antonio Crisci; Nick Honeyman with Everybody’s Izakaya and The Commons; iVillage at Victoria Park; Mandarin Dumpling and Bar; Shane Yardley from the Hilton’s Fish Restaurant and Kyle Street of the popular Depot Eatery & Oyster Bar will all be there.

Eliott says the small producers market and artisan food and drink producers are also not to be missed.

“There are so many amazing things on offer at this year’s festival, from custom-made furniture to rare wines and craft beers. It’s the arrival of summer and a celebration all things culinary,” he says.

ENDS

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