MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Wednesday 2 July, 2014
Restaurant Month 2014 serves up a feast of culinary experiences

An exciting line-up of local and international chefs headline a packed calendar of foodie events and special menus fit for every budget

The eagerly anticipated event calendar and participating restaurants for Restaurant Month 2014 have been announced today.

The mouth-watering schedule of over 20 events includes the International Chef Dining Series, the hugely popular Street Eats and the country’s biggest wine tasting event Wine AKL, plus more than 100 special menus from the central city’s best restaurants.

The month-long celebration, delivered by Heart of the City with Lemongrass Productions in partnership with American Express® and Viva, will kick off with its annual launch party on July 31, with events and restaurant menu offers running through to August 31.

Heart of the City Sponsorship and Events Manager, Jane Stewart, says “This year’s calendar of events has an even larger breadth and depth than previous years which has come about as a result of the event’s growing popularity and support from the central city restaurant community.”

“We have developed the programme with every food-loving Aucklander in mind. Whether you simply like to eat out with friends in the ambience of a restaurant setting, you prefer the excitement and energy of a large event, or you wish to experience the true joy and indulgence of a fine wine dinner, there’s something this year for everyone who enjoys fun and good food.”

The Restaurant Month Official Launch Party will be held at the renovated Shed 10 on Queens Wharf and will feature the expert skills of leading Auckland chefs Nic Watt (Masu), Des Harris (Clooney), Nick Honeyman (Lava Dining – Sofitel Viaduct Harbour) and Shane Yardley (FISH) with host Sachie Nomura (Sachie’s Kitchen). The event, sponsored by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in celebration of their 20th year in operation, will see the chefs serving four dishes accompanied with drinks that showcase the fusion of Asian and Kiwi cuisine.

The ‘Taste Of’ chef dining series also returns with a visiting international chef partnering with a local eatery each Wednesday of the month. First up is A Taste of MoVida on August 6 with Melbourne’s legendary Frank Camorra bringing his modern Spanish cuisine to Ostro to cook alongside Josh Emett. Next is A Taste of Federal Street; a New Zealand first with Al Brown, Sean Connolly, Nic Watt and Peter Gordon cooking together to celebrate the newly revamped Federal Street dining precinct at Masu on August 13. A Taste of Coda with the masterful Australian chef Adam D’Sylva will take place at Soul Bar on August 20, showcasing his not-to-be-missed fusion of French and Vietnamese flavours. The dinner series finishes onAugust 27 with A Taste of Salt - Australia’s original celebrity chef Luke Mangan will bring his contemporary, Asian-inspired cuisine to the sophisticated surrounds of Ebisu where he will cook with head chef Murray Wiblin and sushi master Yukio Ozekei.

Another not-to-be-missed event on this year’s calendar is Wine AKL – presented by Peugeot on August 16 - 17 at the Viaduct Events Centre. This new event is the largest of its kind to be hosted in Auckland - with hundreds of wines from over 60 New Zealand wineries. Guests will be able to taste and buy rare and exclusive vintages and increase their wine knowledge with crash courses and master classes from local and international experts including Nick Stock (AU), Shelley Lindgren (USA), Rebecca Gibb (UK) and our own Master of Wine, Bob Campbell.

This year also sees the return of the hugely popular street food event “Street Eats”on August 23 on Queens Wharf. This free, family friendly and colourful event showcases the diversity of central city restaurants as chefs leave their kitchens for the day to serve up their favourite street food. Event goers will be able to try a selection of ethnic and popular dishes – from Spanish and Italian to Asian, Mexican and American. With kids’ entertainment, live music and street theatre it’s the perfect event for brunch right through to dinner.

Alongside the month’s headline events, a jam-packed line up of special dining events and food-inspired activities will keep the city’s gourmands well-fed and entertained. Take a look at New Zealand’s food culture and history with Auckland Museum’s LATE: The Cult of Food, taste some truly special vintages at theClooney Fine Wine Dinner or go behind the scenes of the now-closed, five time world’s best restaurant, El Bulli, with a free documentary screening at the Auckland Art Gallery.

Topping off this month of food heaven, all diners who dine at a participating restaurant during Restaurant Month can go into a draw to win an amazing ‘$10,000 South East Asia Food Journey,’ including flights, accommodation, guided tours, cooking classes and street markets.

The Restaurant Month menus, a full list of events and tickets are available athttp://www.heartofthecity.co.nz/restaurant-month

For further details and a calendar of events click here.

Note to editors:
Heart of the City Inc. is the central city Business Members Association responsible for fostering the economic success of the CBD, both as a place to do business and a place to visit. Heart of the City is a non-profit Incorporated Society set up in 1996. Heart of the City represents the area between the Waterfront and Mayoral Drive, and from Victoria Park to Albert Park, delivering destination marketing, events and sponsorship activity to promote the central city as the vibrant, diverse and exciting destination that it is.

Lemongrass Productions Limited design innovative hospitality experiences, consumer events and festivals. Lemongrass Productions are passionate about food and are the event managers of the Taste of Auckland Festival and Restaurant Month in the Heart of the City.

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