Five Minutes with Waipara Hills Chef Dylan Amyes

5th April 2016

Five Minutes with Waipara Hills Chef Dylan Amyes

Waipara Hills is thrilled once again to be the Official Wine Sponsor of The Whirlpool Cooking Theatre at The Food Show 2016 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The 2016 series kicks off with the Christchurch Food Show from 8-10 April at Horncastle Arena, providing a weekend of fabulous tasting experiences and inspirational kitchen ideas.

This includes The Whirlpool Cooking Theatre; featuring some of New Zealand’s top chefs demonstrating their flare in the kitchen, and showcasing our Waipara Hills wines which have been perfectly matched to each dish.

Waipara Hills’ very own cellar door Chef Dylan Amyes recently enjoyed re-creating some of the Whirlpool Cooking Theatre dishes so that our team could find their perfect wine match, balancing the texture and flavours in each dish with the characteristics of the wine.

Dylan has taken five minutes out from his morning kitchen prep to share a few of his own thoughts and his passion for food and wine.

What’s your favourite dish to eat?

I love a good steak, but sometimes you can't beat the simple things. Even home-grown tomatoes on freshly baked bread is pretty hard to beat. But my favourite thing would have to be slow roasted lamb shoulder.

What was your favourite food as a child? I think I would have had pancakes with golden syrup every night for dinner if I could have.

Ironically though, I do not have a sweet tooth at all any more.

What is your favourite time of the day at work?

I enjoy getting into the kitchen early before anyone else arrives, and having that time to plan how the day's going to go. It’s about enjoying the peace and quiet while you can!

What are your hobbies?

When I'm not working with food and wine, I love nothing more to relax with it; because when you have good wine, good food and good company, life's good. But there's always time for a beer and rugby! I also do enjoy a bit of quiet time in the garden, peaceful after a busy day in the kitchen.

What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever eaten?

Nothing too crazy… kangaroo and crocodile; and offal, which I think we should all embrace a little.

What was your original inspiration to cook?

I didn’t pick up cooking until a bit later in life, although I've always enjoyed it. In my younger years I always fancied my baking skills, and like most budding cooks I put it down to mum’s tuition and patience!

What is your favourite wine and food match?

I love a good Waipara Pinot Noir with a bit of our local duck or venison – you can't go wrong with that.

The beauty of being involved in the The Food Show is being able to share the passion our team at Waipara Hills has for food and wine, with like-minded people.

All of the wines featured during the Whirlpool Cooking Theatre at The Food Show can be sampled at the Waipara Hills stand (K10) alongside varietals from our three ranges Waipara Hills, Equinox and our cellar door exclusive, Soul by Waipara Hills.

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