NZ Guild of Food Writers hit Hawke’s Bay

Media Release – 14th October 2009

NZ Guild of Food Writers hit Hawke’s Bay

Issued by Food Hawke’s Bay

60 Food Writers are descending upon Hawke’s Bay today (Thursday 15th Oct) for 4 days as part of their bi-annual NZ Guild of Food Writers conference. Usually, held in a main centre, this is the first year the conference has come to a region like Hawke’s Bay. Food Hawke’s Bay is event managing the conference on behalf of the guild.

Food Hawke’s Bay have been busy putting together a programme including over 80 food Hawke’s Bay producers, wineries and suppliers for the writers to visit, taste and enjoy over 4 days.

Starting with a Hidden Treasures cocktail party this evening (Thursday) at the Hawke’s Bay Club, where some of the smaller unknown producers are showcasing their wares, into a packed Friday morning with Guest speaker from Australia Maggie Beer (of Food TV fame “The Cook and the Chef”) who will be joining Cuisine magazine’s Food Editor, Lauraine Jacobs in a conversation about Maggie’s life with food.

Food writers will then all take to small buses and tour wineries, food producers and have lunch at some of the top restaurants in Hawke’s Bay. Some of the places visited along the way are Hohepa Cheeses, Telegraph Hill Olivery, Te Mata Mushrooms, Arataki Honey, Epicurean Supplies and Orcona Chillis ‘N Peppers.

Saturday sees a full day of touring around again talking to our producers, sampling and taking away with them a real sense of what we have on offer as a leading food and wine region of New Zealand.

Jane Libby, General Manager of Food Hawke’s Bay says “ this is such a fantastic opportunity for our local producers to really showcase their products and operations in the region, we are so lucky having such an array of products produced in one region and any exposure for these companies is great. We have planned an informative, varied and interesting 4 days for the Food Writers ending with a trip to the Farmers’ Market on Sunday morning”

For further information on the details of the conference please contact Vicky Rope on 021545159 or for comment from the NZ Guild of Food Writers please contact President Sue Story on 027 222 2846.

Photo opportunities:

Maggie Beer and Lauraine Jacobs 8.45am – 9.45am War Memorial Conference Centre

Panel of speakers – 10.45am – 12pm
Topic – ‘Provenance is the future of food’ chaired by Kim Thorp,
speakers: Vicki Bolderson, Bolderson’s; Scott Lawson, Lawson Organics; Ian Mackay, Heinz Watties; Carolyn Lister, Plant and Food Research.

25 Writers will be having lunch at Opera Kitchen at 12.30pm OR 14 writers will be having lunch at Craggy Range at 12.30pm on Friday.

Ends.