Taste of Auckland takes Centre Stage for 2010

Taste of Auckland, the most sophisticated and celebrated food festival in the local calendar returns with a new venue and new date set for 2010.

The four day festival will now occupy Victoria Park in Freemans Bay; in the heart of Auckland City, a stone’s throw away from the Restaurant districts of Ponsonby and Herne Bay.

Taste of Auckland 2010 also moves to a new later date; 18th – 21st November 2010 which will be an ideal warm up for the summer season and the introduction of new summer menus from Auckland’s finest restaurants and bars.

Singapore Airlines is Taste of Auckland’s principal partner. General Manager Looi Tein Po says that Taste of Auckland is a natural fit. “Fine food and wine coupled with outstanding service are hallmarks of the Singapore Airlines experience. We received tremendous feedback from our VIP customers who visited Taste last year and that’s why we’re delighted to support Taste of Auckland in its second year.”

Taste of Auckland visitors will have the opportunity to partake in four days of decadent delights; gather insider foodie knowledge with the Fisher & Paykel Chef’s Kitchen, perfect the wine swirl at Taste Wine and buy authentic local produce from authentic food and beverage exhibitors at the Arano Producers Market. The Gala Night is again presented by Regal Salmon and will be a major night out on the Auckland social calendar.

Daily tasting sessions feature a menu of three signature dishes in tasting-sized portions from some of Auckland’s top restaurants. Also on offer will be fine wines, champagnes and specialty beers available from a range of bars and purveyors of quality beverages.

The inaugural event in 2009 was very popular with both restaurants and exhibitors and the confirmed line-up for 2010 already includes such leading names as Clooney, Dine by Peter Gordon and Simon Gault’s Euro.

Gault says, “Taste of Auckland is a fantastic opportunity for people to taste the best of Auckland’s restaurants all in one place. I can’t wait.”

The Heart of Auckland City has also thrown its weight behind the event and is thrilled to have such a popular festival mark the debut of Victoria Park as a festival venue. Heart of Auckland City CEO Alex Swny says “It’s great to see another international event come to Auckland and to be presented in a quintessentially Auckland venue.”

Metro editor Bevan Rapson also congratulates organisers on the planned event. “The Metro team is excited by the new plans for Taste of Auckland in 2010. Victoria Park is a great, central location and we know from this year’s event that Taste of Auckland is a wonderful chance for Aucklanders and visitors to sample and compare dishes from some of the city’s very best chefs and restaurants,” he said.

Brand Events Festivals Limited has created the festival and the team are enthusiastic about the new venue and the access and visibility that it will offer. General Manager Rob Eliott said, “We’ve had tremendous support to create the fantastic city showcase in Victoria Park that will be Taste of Auckland 2010. For companies like Singapore Airlines and Fisher & Paykel to make such a commitment to promote our excellent restaurant, food & drink scene is exciting for our restaurants and exciting for Auckland.

Taste of Auckland is an international festival that began with Taste of London in 2004 and has since spread to other cities in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and Dubai. Taste of Auckland first came to New Zealand in 2009 and in 2010 Taste festivals will be held in 20 cities.

For more information on the Auckland show please visit: www.tasteofauckland.co.nz

ENDS

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