New Zealand food writers honour Lois Daish

Media Release daish – 1
Tuesday 22 June 2010

New Zealand food writers honour Lois Daish

Wellington food author, journalist and restaurateur Lois Daish has been elected a Life Member of the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers.

She is the third life member to be elected after former Women’s Weekly Food Editor and author Tui Flower and a past Guild President and retired food writer Sue Wakelin.

Ms Daish is a founding member of the Guild which was established in 1987. Life membership includes recognition of length of membership, services to food communication and service to the Guild.

A former food columnist for 23 years at the NZ Listener, Lois Daish is also the author of four cook books, has worked in radio, and owned several cafes as well as a couple of restaurants in Wellington.

NZ Guild of Food Writers President Lauraine Jacobs, who will present the special award at a high tea celebration at the Museum Hotel in Wellington this Friday (25 June), regards Ms Daish as her New Zealand food hero.

“Lois is an inspiration to many other food writers. She has always cooked and written with sincerity and simplicity, and empowers people to cook well every day.

“I remember an outstanding meal she prepared at her restaurant for Guild members during a Wellington conference. It was the essence of spring with lovely fresh seasonal produce. I can still remember the tastes,” Ms Jacobs says.

“Her contribution to the New Zealand food scene has been outstanding and she is a most fitting candidate for life membership of the Guild.”

Ms Daish says her elevation to life membership was completely unexpected.

“I agree that it’s important for organisations such as the Guild to retain experienced advocates and I am delighted to have been honoured. Now that I’m winding down a bit it will certainly help keep me connected with the world of food and of writing.”

Ms Daish is an advocate of fresh, simple food and loves the clarity of flavour and the brightness of colour in the raw materials New Zealand cooks have available to work with.

Currently she has been writing endorsements for a number of new cook books and helping amateur cooks as well as working with several restaurant owners, including some she used to employ.

She has had an interest in cooking since she was a child and came to writing when she worked as a journalist in the 1970s.

Ms Daish’s first restaurant was Number 9 in Bowen Street and she also owned the Mount Cook Café and the Brooklyn Café – with which she is most closely associated.

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