7th Year Success: Hawke’s Bay Regional Signature Dish 2013 Registrations Open
1 August 2013
Hawke’s Bay diners can look forward to the 7th Regional Signature Dish event taking place again this year from 12th
September through until 16th October. Registrations are now open and the region’s cafes and restaurants are busy
creating their menus, tasting beverage matches and getting ready to submit their entry.
With the success of the recent Winter F.A.W.C.! it is clear that Hawke’s Bay diners are keen to sample the clever and
tantalising dishes the region’s chefs can create. Although the start of Signature Dish is still several weeks off, taste
buds should be tingling at the thought of it!
This Regional Signature Dish event is about showcasing local food producers and the abundance of produce grown in the
Hawke’s Bay. Hawke’s Bay chefs are good at supporting ‘local’, however sometimes it takes this event to spark a few of
them into researching what there is on offer on their doorstep and what products may be new to the market.
Michael Whittaker, owner of one of the new sponsors of the event, The Te Mata Mushroom Company, said “We’re thrilled to
be involved with the Signature Dish. It’s a fantastic regional initiative and we see it as an ideal fit with our
mushrooms and our company’s strong local focus”.
Organisers, Food Hawke’s Bay have made a few changes to the criteria for restaurants and cafes, making it even more
enticing for them to ensure they are part of this year’s event and they are expecting a good entry response. Vicky Rope,
Food Hawke’s Bay Manager says “we have retained the three entry categories – cafe, casual or formal and each of the
participating establishments will enter in the category that best suits their usual style and standard of food and
service. With very supportive sponsors we are, for the first time, able to offer each of the three category winner’s
fantastic prize packages including radio advertising and store vouchers”.
The general public will get the opportunity to taste the regional dishes each matched with a Hawke’s Bay beverage from
12th September and once again be entitled to vote for their favourite dish. The ‘People’s Choice’ vote is an important
component to the event, allowing the public to have their say on each dish and beverage match, with the chance to win a
great prize package too!
As always, events such as this would not be possible without the support of a group of valued sponsors. Total Food
Equipment, The Breeze, Dish magazine, Hawke’s Bay Today, The Profit and Brebner Print are all back again and with four
new sponsors Vetro Mediterranean Foods, The Te Mata Mushroom Company, The Goodtime Food Company and Morley Design Group.
Once entries are finalised the participating cafes and restaurants will be announced early September, please check the
website for up to date details www.foodhawkesbay.co.nz
ENDS