Sandringham ‘Best Biryani’ Competition

October 2015

We met with Lisa Loveday, the inspiration behind Sandringham’s first ever Best Biryani Competition, to find out her reason for launching this inaugural event.

‘The idea came about when we noticed how competitive the restaurants were, especially about Biryani - ‘everyone thinks theirs is the best!’ says Lisa, owner/operator of Eat Auckland and Sandringham Food and Spice Tour.

So over the month of October expert judges will be sampling the Biryani at seven Sri Lankan and Indian restaurants in Sandringham to decide whose is best.

The restaurants taking part will display a poster in their shop window with the Biryani/s they are entering. The judging is blind so every day the chefs will be making their best Biryani - making October a terrific month to visit Sandringham and try this traditional and delicious celebration dish!’ says Lisa.

Diners can also mention their favourite Sandringham Biryani in October on the facebook page www.facebook.com/bestbiryanicompetition and be in to win a meal for two at the winning restaurant.

The awards for the best meat Biryani and best vegetarian Biryani will be announced at the Sandringham Village Street Festival on 31 October.

Why Biryani?

‘Well Biryani is technically hard to make well and it can take up to 5 hours to make’ says Lisa. It has many components and each part needs to be executed well. It needs to have a good aroma and the basmati rice should be of good quality and have long grains. The meat or vegetables are marinated in a blend of spices mixed with yoghurt and the rice is cooked with whole spices. Each part is semi cooked separately and then combined in layers to finish the cooking served with a yoghurt riata. The many parts to the dish can influence the flavour. We also have 2 Sri Lankan entries and there are some differences but at the end of the day we are looking for great aroma, flavour and texture.’

For more information go to: www.facebook.com/bestbiryanicompetition

About the Sandringham Food and Spice Tours

Lisa says ‘We have been taking walking food tours in Sandringham for the last 3 years and are just about to launch into other neighborhoods. The restaurants here are providing food for their own ethnic communities so we can get the authentic tastes of India and Sri Lanka without leaving town!’

‘The tours mainly attract Aucklanders from neighbouring suburbs and beyond and has certainly put Sandringham on the gastronomic map and increased European clientele at the restaurants.’

Eat Auckland gives back to the community by donating $1 from every tour fee to a charity, which at present is the Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust.

For more information go to: www.eatauckland.co.nz

About the Sandringham Village Street Festival 31 October

Sandringham, just over 5 SW kms out of Auckland’s CBD, has in recent years become a hub of Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants and Asian supermarkets and attracts people from all over Auckland. Its shops and restaurants are open late most evenings, providing fabulous food and a family friendly atmosphere at a time when neighbouring suburbs are slumbering.

The vibrant annual Festival will feature fabulous food, music, street stalls and community performances. This year most restaurants participating will be offering $5 tastings.

For more information go to: http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2015/sandringham-village-street-festival/auckland

About Lisa Loveday

Lisa Loveday is a food writer, chef and food technologist and a loyal Sandringham resident. She is also the owner/operator of Eat Auckland walking food tours, the principal sponsor for the Sandringham Best Biryani Competition. Eat Auckland has grown from the success of the Sandringham Food and Spice Tour which was started by Lisa and her friend Anita Totha three years ago.

Eat Auckland is the primary sponsor of the Sandringham Best Biryani Competition

ENDS

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