21st Hokitika Wildfoods Festival all set to go

Media Release

21st Hokitika Wildfoods Festival all set to go – now ranked in World’s top 300 events – plus Hokitika linked English Baron to judge best food

The festivities, unique blend of wild delicacies and “fear factor” on offer at this year’s Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is now ranked in the world’s top 300 unmissable festivals by a major travel publisher.

Travel publishers Frommers UK have included Wildfoods in their recent 300 Unmissable Festivals and Events Around the World, something of a surprise but pleasant 21st birthday present for the event.

Organiser Mike Keenan said global recognition of the attraction of good mates and good keen gastronomes to have fun while they experience some of the world’s most unique flavours is “pretty good”.

The 21st Hokitika Wildfoods Festival begins on Friday 12 March.

Keenan said this acknowledgement by one of the largest international travel publishers adds to their reputation – “our event is based on the Coast’s rugged individualism which we know from experience, brings a unique approach to wild delicacies that cannot be obtained anywhere else in the world.

“Over the years, the Festival has shown there’s a whole lot more to wild food than the traditional delicacies like whitebait and venison and we’ve become famous for delights including huhu bugs, crouching grasshoppers, mountain oysters and wasp larvae ice cream,” Mike says.

“This year will be no exception with flavours to tempt most palates, from spare ribs to ostrich pies and the ever popular moonshine in a drench gun to wash it all down.”

The 21st Festival features 66 stalls, offering beverages and foodstyles that reflect our cultural and other not-so-publicised traditions. Kava and kokada (raw fish) from Fiji, will appear alongside westcargots – snails in garlic butter – and meaty vegan gonads – vegetarian battered balls to match its sheep’s’ counterpart.

Mr Keenan said the growing stature of the Wildfoods Festival is reflected in the number of international visitors registering, including a delegation from Korea and an Australian food channel.

“Even Te Hiku TV from Kaitaia will be here,” Mr Keenan says.

English Baron, Lord Francis Stafford, whose family name adorns a Hokitika street and nearby old goldtown, and wife Katie, will judge the Festival’s New Foods section. He will also join local MP for West Coast/Nelson, Chris Auchinvole in welcoming Festival-goers and open the event on the main stage.

Lord Stafford’s family is linked to the English gentry family of Fitzherbert (another Hokitika street) and is heir of a line of baronies dating back to 1299. The most famous offspring of this line was Maria Fitzherbert, the first wife of King George IV.

This year there will be eleven new foods on offer with some, such as Wild Thai and Wild Curry House, reflecting Asian influences. As always, they are explorative and tempting , such as Gorse, It’s Berry Nice, New Generation Liquorice, and Unique Hangi Kai.

“Expect your taste buds to be thrilled, possibly numbed and certainly challenged,” Mr Keenan says. He says the weather forecast for the Festival weekend is ideal.

Festival markets open at 5pm on Friday 12 March and close at 2pm on Sunday. Among the many festivities, there will be a concert on Friday night and the Wildfoods Festival Dance on the Saturday night.

Tickets available from www.wildfoods.co.nz.

Ends

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