Ready Steady Taste! Taste of New Zealand Begins Today.

It’s so close you can almost Taste it, as New Zealand’s biggest and best festival of food and wine, Taste of New Zealand transforms Victoria Park, Auckland into a vibrant village of delicious sights, sounds and flavours!

Starting today and running through to Saturday the 22nd of October, Taste of New Zealand is four days of foodie heaven with more than 20,000 people expected to attend.

Featuring a line-up of some of the very best New Zealand chefs, 13 top restaurants, 140 artisan producers, and a cluster of boutique wineries, Taste of New Zealand is a unique demonstration of the quality and gastronomic innovation our nation has to offer.

And from the moment gates open at 5:30pm, there are events and features to turn the head of any food-lover.

Highlights include demonstrations by British food superstar, Chef Rick Stein on how to fuse Malaysian cuisine with New Zealand produce. His compatriot, celebrity chef Gary Rhodes will show off the skills that won him six Michelin Stars. And a VIP launch hosted by our own Annabel Langbein also doubles as the launch of her book, Free Range in the City.

Local food stars are too numerous to list but include the likes of Nici Wickes, Nadia Lim, Anne Thorp and the Food Truck’s Michael van de Elzen, all making appearances throughout the festival.

Visitors to Taste of New Zealand will be able to sample outstanding dishes from top restaurants including winner of the highly coveted Metro/Audi Restaurant of the Year, The Grove, plus Cocoro, Cru at Sale St, Marvel Grill, Monsoon Poon and The Wharf.

Award winning expat chef Chef Warren Turnbull returns home for Taste of New Zealand bringing his Sydney concept, District Dining recently launched in Auckland and will be helped out in the kitchen by good mates Justin North and MasterChef Judge Josh Emett.

TONZA (the Taste of New Zealand Awards) is an initiative that recognizes restaurants that champion regional produce. Hosted by Chef Phil Neverman, the TONZA Kitchen features Te Whau Vineyard, voted "Best Rural Restaurant” for the past three years in the Metro/Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, True South Dining Room at The Rees Hotel and Restaurant Schwass, reopening at the event for the 4 days of the festival after being demolished in the Christchurch earthquake.

The Fisher & Paykel Chefs Kitchen is an opportunity for visitors to see cooking demonstrations by some of the best local and international chefs sharing their cooking secrets. Hosted by Kelly Young, the fantastic lineup of chefs includes: Gary Rhodes, Annabel Langbein, Josh Emett (Masterchef), Michael van de Elzen (The Food Truck), Nici Wickes (World Kitchen & Viva), Paul Jobin (Executive Chef Sky City), Sergio Maglione (Toto Resturant) and Ben Bayly (The Grove) as they share their informative and delicious culinary journey.

Or visitors can get even closer to their food heroes at the Waiwera Chefs Table, a unique opportunity to sit down and pick the minds of those that make the culinary world tick in an intimate environment.

The Audi VIP Lounge is the place to meet, with Nautilus Estate Cuvee on arrival and exotic cocktails by David Hawk and his team from Suite Bar. More along the drinks theme, visitors can partake in Whiskey Masterclasses with the inimitable Bart Burgers of the Whisky Shop.

And that’s not all, with more than 140 boutique artisan producers hand-picked from around the country to showcase the very best of New Zealand food and drink. Visitors can discover single estate olive oil, gourmet chili products and artisan preserves, brewers, coffee roasters, winemakers and butchers, all of absolute premium quality.

And the festival atmosphere is all set to a fantastic live soundtrack on the Peroni Bandstand, created by the very talented Peter Urlich. Nathan Haines takes top billing on an entertainment schedule that includes performances by Caitlin Smith, The Nukes, The Reputations, Josh Leys and the Peter Urlich Sextet.

Says Festival Director Rob Eliott, “Taste of New Zealand is the biggest and most exciting celebration of New Zealand cuisine – ever.

“Taste of New Zealand is an absolute must-see for any visitor to New Zealand and any New Zealander who loves their food and wine,” he said.

For all media enquiries and opportunities:
Paul Blomfield; Paul Blomfield PR; 021 970 871; paul@paulblomfield.com
For all other information: Rob Eliott; Brand Events & Festivals; 021 677 739; RobEliott@befestivals.co.nz

Taste of New Zealand:
Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 October 2011
Victoria Park, Auckland
12pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 9.30pm daily (evening only session on Wednesday)
www.tastefestivals.co.nz

(Ends)

Ticket prices
• General Admission - $25 in advance, $30 on the day
• Premium Tickets - $60 (value $70) limited and only available in advance
• Audi VIP experience - $95 very limited
• The Official Chefs After Party - $47.50 strictly limited to the public

Taste of New Zealand tickets are available through www.tasteofnewzealand.co.nz

Brand Events Festivals Ltd
Brand Events Festivals Ltd is a subsidiary of the UK based Brand Events Ltd and are the organisers of Top Gear Live, the Restaurant & Bar Show and Taste Festivals.
More information at www.befestivals.co.nz or contact Robert Eliott on 021677739.

Additional Attractions.

Ladies who Lunch in Auckland's BIG little City (Thursday 20th October between 12-4pm)
An exclusive event with only 20 tables available, guests will taste signature dishes from award winning chefs Warren Turnbull, Justin North from the award winning restaurant Becasse in Sydney and Ben Bayly from The Grove, all matched with fine New Zealand wines.

Guests will also be treated to a very special Style Session hosted by stylist Angela Stone showcasing the best of our BIG little City's premium fashion labels and to top it off, there will be a special performance by jazz vocalist Caitlin Smith. And if that isn’t enough, Annabel Langbein will also be there to talk to guests about her new book 'Free Range in The City' – and all who attend the luncheon will receive a signed copy to take home.

A Dinner With Gary Rhodes (Thursday 20th October, 5.30pm - 9.30pm)
Gary Rhodes is more than a celebrity chef, he is the chef that almost single-handedly restored the reputation of British cuisine and took it to the world.

Guests at a special dinner in his honour will be treated to three stunning wine-matched dishes and a Q & A session by Gary Rhodes himself (limited to 200 guests). The menu includes dishes by Jamie of James Restaurant, Chef Tim Pickering from The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, and an Iced Lemon Chiboust designed by Gary Rhodes, and prepared by Olliver Drayton of Bracu.

The Next Crew World Cup (Saturday 22nd October from 12:00pm – 4:00pm)
Led by exciting young talent Nick Honeyman (Head Chef of Cru, Sale Street), Hayden McMillan (Head chef TriBeCa, Parnell) and Mark Southon (Head chef, Foodstore, The Viaduct), the Next Crew is all about celebrating our most adventurous young chefs as they push boundaries, take diners outside their comfort zones and draw international attention to the talent in the restaurant kitchens of New Zealand.

The Next Crew events are always a sell-out and Taste of New Zealand festival organisers expect this special event to be no different.

The Official Taste of New Zealand Chef’s Party (Friday 21st October, 10:00pm – 12:00am)
This is a unique opportunity to party with all the chefs and crew of Taste of New Zealand in the Audi VIP Lounge. Tickets are $47.50 including drinks. See the website for details.