A Feast For The Senses: Melissa Leong And Vaughan Mabee To Host TVNZ’s Taste Of Art

TVNZ is set to serve up a bold new culinary competition series that blurs the lines between food and fine art. Taste of Art invites viewers into a spectacular world where flavour meets form, and every dish tells a story when the seven-part series premieres on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ next year.

Hosted by culinary powerhouses Melissa Leong and Vaughan Mabee, the series brings together five talented teams of chefs from across Aotearoa, each challenged to transform everyday ingredients into jaw-dropping edible masterpieces.

An acclaimed food and travel writer and broadcaster, Melissa Leong brings sharp insight, cultural curiosity and a fearless palate to the judging panel. Beloved for her eloquence, wit and warmth, Melissa made history as the first female judge on MasterChef Australia, quickly becoming a fan favourite. Most recently, she brought her signature flair to the screen as host of the delectable Dessert Masters.

“Taste of Art is a bold and original concept. I’m thrilled to be part of the series and look forward to seeing what these incredible chefs bring to the table. The opportunity to be in New Zealand to help bring this to life is a real privilege, and I’m excited to experience Kiwi culture in full effect, both on and off the plate.” says Melissa Leong.

Joining her is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated culinary innovators, Vaughan Mabee, Executive Chef at Queenstown’s award-winning Amisfield restaurant. Renowned for his boundary-pushing dishes and globally recognised vision, Vaughan adds a deep expertise and artistic flair to the competition.

"I’m super excited about this show - it’s going to be incredible watching these talented chefs go head-to-head. I push everything I do to the limit, and Taste of Art will be no exception. Expect high energy, intense creativity, and total addiction - this is going to be an absolute riot.” added Vaughan Mabee.

Each episode of Taste of Art will feature a themed artistic brief, challenging the chefs to push the boundaries or creativity, technique, flavour and storytelling. The result? A visual and gastronomic spectacle like no other. At the end of the season, one team will rise above the rest to be crowned New Zealand’s first Taste of Art champions.

Produced by Screentime New Zealand, part of the Banijay Group, Taste of Art comes from the team behind hit series My Kitchen Rules NZ, Off the Grid with Colin and Manu, MasterChef NZ and Lego Masters NZ.

The series begins filming later this month.

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