Auckland’s cravings to be TASTEfully satisfied

22 January 2009

Auckland’s cravings to be TASTEfully satisfied

Food and wine lovers prepare yourselves, now there is even greater temptation to go to the Taste of Auckland festival in March with three more of Auckland’s top restaurants signing up to the stellar line-up.

Just confirmed are the award winning The French Café, popular Ponsonby favourite Rocco and seafood specialists, Harbourside.

The new additions are an indication of the high regard in which the international Taste festivals are held by the restaurant and hospitality industry.

Despite what has been hard times for the New Zealand food and wine industry - popular event Savour New Zealand has been postponed till 2010 due to sponsorship cutbacks and a similar scenario has occurred with travel and lifestyle expo, Pure Luxury - Event Director Michele Harrod is confident that Taste of Auckland will be a success despite the current economic climate.

“People are still dining out and looking for great dining experiences and we are so very pleased to have this opportunity to present our country’s fantastically talented chefs to discerning food lovers”, she says.

With Metro as the presenting sponsor and Singapore Airlines as principal partner, the event has plenty of positive support.

“As the Principal Partner of the inaugural Taste of Auckland Festival in 2009, we are delighted to be bringing Auckland’s food lovers closer to the best restaurants our city has to offer. We also believe Taste will provide a great opportunity to further promote the food industry in these challenging times,” says Mr Looi Tein-Po, Singapore Airlines New Zealand General Manager.

Auckland’s finest culinary extravaganza is only two months away and preparations are in full swing to ensure that Taste of Auckland is an experience not to be forgotten.

Twelve of New Zealand’s top restaurants with chefs including Des Harris, Simon Gault and Sarah Conway gathered for an interactive experience to tease the taste buds of the media and selected foodies yesterday afternoon.

Auckland Mayor John Banks launched what is expected to be an unbelievably palatable experience.

“The ‘Taste of Auckland Festival’ will display the best of our city’s talent in the food and wine industry. I know it will live up to the festival’s high international standards” says the Auckland Mayor.

Taste of Auckland tickets are now available online through the Taste of Auckland website (www.tasteofauckland.co.nz) and at Ticketek online (www.ticketek.co.nz).

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Notes to editors

1. Taste of Auckland is the first New Zealand Taste festival. The 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. This year the festivals will be held in 20 cities.
Taste of Auckland, 19-22 March, is a celebration of the best cuisine that the city and the surrounding areas have to offer. Taking place over four days, a selection of the city’s finest restaurants will offer their exquisite signature dishes in sample size portions, in a festival atmosphere for visitors to enjoy. You can also discover the latest innovations at the Taste Master classes, get up close and personal at the Taste Magazine Chefs’ Table or discover your inner chef at the Fisher and Paykel Chefs’ theatre.

2. Confirmed restaurants for Taste of Auckland.
 Clooney
 The French Café
 Mudbrick restaurant
 Jervois Steakhouse
 Dine with Peter Gordon
 Prego
 Harbourside
 Q Restaurant
 Monsoon Poon
 Rocco
 Euro
 DineAid with Mark Gregory, featuring Restaurants including:
 Logan Brown
 Vinnies
 The Grove

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