Apec Menu Takes In The Best Of New Zealand

29 August 1999

APEC MENU TAKES IN THE BEST OF NEW ZEALAND

Next month’s APEC Leaders’ Dinner will be held in Auckland, but its inspiration comes from across New Zealand.

The Leaders’ Dinner will be held at the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday, 13 September and attended by about 400 Leaders, Ministers, delegates and business people. APEC New Zealand 99 Catering Coordinator David Williams has been devising the menu for the dinner since the beginning of this year, and has searched the country in his quest for the perfect dinner.

“New Zealand has such an excellent range of produce that I never even thought of looking offshore for the main ingredients,” Mr Williams says.

His team of five chefs has selected lamb from Manawatu, salmon from Akaroa, kumara from Northland, cheese from Kikorangi and whitebait from the Haast River. The chefs have also discovered less obvious produce on the way, like sundried apricots from central Otago.

“This country has a world class selection of produce that many New Zealanders don’t know about,” says Mr Williams.

“We even found a saffron producer in the South Island.”

The focus of the last two months has been on transforming fresh New Zealand produce into a world class menu.

“We strongly believe in making this dinner a New Zealand affair. There are hints of European and Asian styles to reflect our cultural diversity, but everything will maintain its strong New Zealand flavour.

“A lot of effort has gone into baking the perfect pavlova tower. This will be enhanced on the night with sundried apricots, a touch of chocolate and a fine kikorangi blue cheese. The triangular plates we commissioned from an Invercargill glass sculptor help make the dessert perfect.”

The Leaders’ Lunch - at the Wintergarden Pavillion on 13 September - also comprises local ingredients. Kiwi icons such as Rush Munro ice cream from the Hawke’s Bay will feature on the lunch menu.

All the wine served at official APEC Leaders’ Meeting functions will also hail from the major producing regions of New Zealand.

For further enquiries contact:

Jocelyn Prasad
APEC Task Force
Phone 025 2324019

or

David Williams
Glorious Food
Phone 09 2757878

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