NZs top restaurants take Kiwi’s on a 4-day culinary affair

NZs top restaurants take Kiwi’s on a 4-day culinary affair at Taste of Auckland

Taste of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest restaurant food festival, promises to heat things up leading into summer by bringing together some of the country’s top restaurants in a 4 day culinary affair from 5 – 8 November.

Guests are invited to indulge in some of the best food and drink experiences in the country with a bold line-up of chefs, restaurants and food and drink experiences to wow every palate.

PALATE TEASER

The line-up of restaurant experiences at Taste of Auckland 2015 includes: Ponsonby favourite Farina was last year awarded Best Dish of the festival and are out to do it again with a menu including a Ravioli with Crab and Mascarpone with fresh tomato and lemon butter. Chef and co-owner Sergio Maglione is freshly inspired back from Napoli where he competed in the World Pizza Championships and ranked in the top 20 – something we’ve known for years.

Household name, Depot by culinary master Al Brown, will be back again in top form with their celebrated oyster bar to set the summer scene. Recently named Metro’s 2015 Restaurant of the Year, head chef Kyle Street is ready with thousands of oysters for his Virgin Oyster Shooter that took home second place at last year’s Best in Taste Awards.

Celebrating all things meat and fire, Miss Moonshine make their Taste of Auckland debut with food that comforts the soul and ignites your passion. Slowcooked and wood-smoked Beef Short Rib, Whole Hog and Apple Slaw and welcoming service from owners Ryan and Annelise, are set to be a festival favourite.

A slice of Italy returns to Auckland City with Bracu’s contemporary fine dining experience. Paying heed to the Adriatic island of Brac where olive growing began, the talented Head Chef Mikey Newland’s curates the ultimate seasonal offerings from the estate’s own local produce and olive grove garden – some of which will be coming with him to the festival. Look out for his Roasted White Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich.

Throughout the years one Italian restaurateur has stood out in Auckland for consistently appearing at the top of the culinary game. A firm favourite at Taste of Auckland, this year Antonio Crisci brings his Parnell institution NSP to the festival, selecting signature dishes from the vast menu that has been described as “the bible of Italian cooking."

Set your heart and taste buds on fire, as Maltido Mendez will be spicing things up at Taste of Auckland. Embracing authentic Latin American chillies, hot sauces, corn tortillas, masa arepa and dulce de membrillo, Maltido Mendez will be serving up dishes that won’t be for the faint hearted.

Waterfront based FISH and acclaimed head chef Shane Yardley will inspire any foodie. 19 years as Simon Gault’s protégé, Yardley will tantalize taste buds with new food trends emerging from global kitchens and with his cutting edge culinary style.

At his last Taste of Auckland 2013 appearance, Shane held the reputation to produce the goods, and sustainable cooking is back on the menu this November.

Big, playful, with tons of attitude and that’s just the food. The team at Miss Clawdy will be serving up their full flavoured favourites inspired from the American South. Miss Clawdy has been bustling since its launch nearly two years ago in the North Wharf precinct, but this restaurant springs from a family of hospitality veterans with Tom and Jeff Wiley taking the reins with cult dishes including their Jambalaya and other American South favourites.

One of the most elite culinary institutions and awarded 3 hats, Kazuya will leave you with a gastronomic experience like no other. In a one day culinary show at the Carlton Corporate Marquee on Sunday, guests will witness true skill and expertise by Japanese native, Kazuya Yamauchi who brings dishes of Italian-influenced cuisine.

Also as a first for Taste of Auckland, New Zealand’s top chefs have come together to create the ultimate gourmet hangi. More details to be announced on this soon.

BRING KOTO TO TASTE

Inspired by a meeting with Jimmy Pham in 2014, a Pledge Me crowd funding campaign has been launched to bring a team of chefs out from KOTO in Vietnam.

KOTO is a not for profit organisation that runs hospitality training centres for homeless and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. A social enterprise consisting of two restaurants with adjoined training centres, across Hanoi and Saigon, KOTO aims to educate and empower impoverished Vietnamese youth. Together, these centres are educating 200 underprivileged students at a time.

Many were street kids before their time at KOTO.

If successful, this team of KOTO trainees and chefs will run a kitchen at Taste of Auckland with proceeds going towards the Koto Foundation and giving thousands of visitors the chance to try their celebrated, authentic Vietnamese Cuisine.

Taste Festival Organisers and KOTO are have pulled together some great rewards and are welcoming all support to Bring KOTO to Taste. To make a pledge, public can donate by clicking on the following link https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/4122-bring-koto-to-taste-of-auckland This year, Taste of Auckland will be serving no-fuss transport options - VIP and Hospitality Ticket holders will have access to onsite parking via a dedicated vehicle entrance off Old Mill Road.

Taste of Auckland will also have direct shuttles from Downtown to Western Springs to help get patrons to and from the festival with no fuss. Coaches will pick up from 32 Customs St East, near Shaky Isles, returning after each session and departing 30 minutes before each session. Coach tickets are available from the festival website.

Early Bird Festival Tickets are available now at www.tasteofauckland.co.nz until Friday 9 October

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