Local cooking demos to showcase "real" NZ food to the world

Outstanding in their Fields presents New Zealand’s first live and free chef and producer cooking shows at 18 Farmers’ Markets around the country, starting Sept 4th in Marlborough and finishing Oct 23rd in Grey Lynn. MasterChef Brett McGregor, Jonny Schwass, Julie Biuso and Chef of the Year David Schofield are some of the top kiwi chefs who will be showing how top kiwi cooking is done. Farmers’ Markets NZ is steering the shows as part of the REAL New Zealand Festival 2011, which runs in conjunction which compliments the Rugby World Cup 2011 to maximise our exposure to both local and international audiences. The demonstrations are committed to promoting New Zealand food excellence during this period of high international media attention, and as project manager Kylie March states, “showing the world just how great genuine Kiwi cooking is.” Each market will feature a “Market VIP” who will get preferential tastings and great prizes; attendees can enter the draw and view the full schedule at www.outstandingintheirfields.org.nz

Farmers’ Markets are environmentally friendly and sustainable community movements, which have shown economic benefits including increased employment, income and business opportunities. Farmers’ Markets NZ Chairperson and Marlborough chef Chris Fortune believes that “supporting Farmers’ Markets means supporting local producers and communities, and interactively developing relationships between both producers and consumers.”

Outstanding in their Fields is a fun and novel way to get involved in the Farmers’ Market movement, supporting the growth and development of local communities on a national scale. Various businesses have jumped up to support the cause, including Interislander, Taste Magazine, FMG Insurance, and The Breeze, which will also be broadcasting the shows and offering prizes to listeners. Kiwi food bloggers have also caught wind of the grass roots cooking events, with Two Spoons blogger Zo Zhou stating she is “really excited about where these shows will take New Zealand’s food image, especially overseas.”