Press Release

Thursday 24 October

International Talent Spices Up Line-up for Taste of Auckland

Taste of Auckland will again be the focus for the food cognoscenti this November 14 – 17 in Victoria Park, with a group of international chefs adding zest to the already stellar local line-up.

Four top names will be bringing their own international flavour to the event and in some cases, challenging visitors to think in new ways about the food they make.

The big stage to head for is the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen, hosted by Nadia Lim, which will showcase our great local talent alongside these international stars.

First up is Robert Oliver, well known for his passion about taking Pacific Cuisine to the world stage, most recently through his popular TV show Real Pasifik.

A New Zealand chef raised in Fiji and Samoa, Robert speaks passionately about his mission to dramatically reduce the amount of western food imported for the Pacific Islands tourism market – food that should be being produced, supplied and used locally.

His cooking features flavours and high quality niche products in Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, which include spices such as vanilla and turmeric, condiments including honey and hot chilli sauce, juices, coffee and beer.

Robert certainly knows his produce, having developed restaurants in New York, Miami, Las Vegas and Sydney, ‘farm to table’ resorts in the Caribbean, food programs feeding homeless people and African immigrants with AIDS in New York City.

His book Me’a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific, won ‘Best Cookbook in the World 2010’ at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris. He holds ambassador positions for Le Cordon Bleu and True Pacific and was a speaker at TedX Auckland 2013.

Robert Oliver will appear with cooking demonstrations in the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen at Taste of Auckland at 1:30pm on Saturday 16 November.

Matt Stone, executive chef at Greenhouse, By Joost, is one who likes to

challenge conventional thinking and has gained international recognition for his sustainable approach to cuisine.

Appointed sous chef at the famed Perth restaurant, Star Anise at the tender age of 20, Matt is a classic high achiever. He joined Greenhouse Perth as Head Chef, where he embraced Joost Bakker’s philosophies of preparing fresh, sustainable, locally-sourced, whole-foods, making a name for himself as a progressive cook and serious innovator.

Matt has put Greenhouse at the front of Perth's dining culture and has been awarded numerous accolades including Gourmet Traveller's Best New Talent Award 2011, West Australia's Good Food Guide's Best Young Chef 2011 and 2012, with Greenhouse Perth also awarded the Good Food Guide's Best New Restaurant for 2011.

Matt will appear at Taste of Auckland with cooking demonstrations in the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen on Friday and Saturday.

New Zealand trained Phillip Davenport, ex KU DE TA, Bali, began his career in Sydney, Australia, at the Sheraton Hotel, working his way up to head chef of ‘Hugo’s’, one of the city's most popular restaurants, for three and a half years. His passion for culinary excellence then took him to London, to open 'Aura', an exclusive private members' supper club in Mayfair, followed by a post in the Caribbean, where Phillip consulted in the setting up of a new resort, 'Hermitage Bay Hotel' in Antigua.

For the last seven years Phillip has been at the helm of the famous ocean side restaurant and bar KU DE TA in Bali, winning awards and cooking for stars of music and film. His most recent restaurant Mejekawi by KU DE TA is a fine dining and degustation experience with subtle Indonesian flavours.

Phillip Davenport’s global success has been backed up by the release of his television series “The Toque 12” and Phillip will open both his signature restaurant in Los Angeles and a small restaurant-bar concept in Indonesia in 2014.

Phillip Davenport can be seen at Taste of Auckland on Friday 15 November at 7pm.

Matt Skinner is an Australian wine author, writer, consultant, and educator well known to both local and international audiences for his refreshing take on wine and knack for making it simple.

He will attend Taste of Auckland in his role as ambassador for Plumm - a producer of an Australian-designed and European-made range of glassware.

Matt was recently named Best Young International Wine Writer 2012 by the Grande Cru d’Italia, and has three times been short-listed for the IWSC International Wine Communicator of the Year Award.

His also author of international bestsellers Thirsty Work, Heard It Through The Grapevine, The Juice, and Matt Skinner’s Wine Guide 2011.

A co-founder of Fifteen Restaurant with Jamie Oliver and Tobie Puttock in the UK, Matt consulted to Melbourne’s renowned Van Haandel Group (Stokehouse, Cutler & Co, Comme, Ladro & Mr Tulk) and The Gazebo Group in Sydney.

Today he continues his association with Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Group, and consults to Coles Group, Jetstar and Plumm Glassware.

Matt and the Plumm team will be running one fun and educational tasting per session at Taste of Auckland: “Five glasses is all you need”. At the completion of the class, each participant will take home a Plumm glassware tasting pack, valued at $135. Tickets for the Plumm Wine Glass Experience with Matt Skinner are $70 and can be purchased in advance at iticket.co.nz

Rob Eliott, festival director of Taste of Auckland, says that the line-up of international guests adds interest and education to the Taste experience.

“Taste of Auckland is a fabulous day of food, wine and music in the sunshine, but is also a festival where you can learn exciting new ways to cook with exciting new ingredients, flavours and techniques to try,” he says.

“These exclusive sessions will sell out, so get in early to book your place,” says Eliott.

Tickets are on sale at www.iticket.co.nz

ENDS

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