Hastings boutique boutique takes top pork prizes
A Hawke’s Bay butchery has won the Supreme Winner title in both bacon and ham categories of the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards. Wild Game in Hastings has taken out New Zealand’s top bacon award with their middle eye/loin entry and New Zealand’s best ham award for their boneless ham. Wild Game owners Jordan and Varnnah Hamilton-Bicknell run a boutique butchery in Camberley, Hastings where they create quality products which are sold both in-store and online. Jordan, who has a passion for hunting and the outdoors, started his butchery trade at the age of 15 in a butcher…
B&B association elects new board
Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand is entering the post-pandemic era with a refreshed board line-up and a new president. board member Ann-Marie Johnson has been named incoming President at the association’s recent AGM. Ms Johnson was formerly communications manager with Tourism Industry Aotearoa and joined the BBANZ Board in 2021, to provide a wider tourism industry perspective to the board’s discussions. “The hosted bed and breakfast sector plays an important role in Aotearoa New Zealand. It offers our international visitors the opportunity to meet genuine, friendly Kiwis, and to experience our lifestyle in New Zealand’s most beautiful locations,” Ms…
NZ restaurants embrace food waste minimization ideas –
Forward-thinking chefs and hospitality owners are dealing with the environmental impact of food waste by minimizing it in their kitchens. At Vic Road Kitchen in Auckland’s Devonport, chef-owner Ian Shields changes his menu every few days to limit spoilable inventory. “We only buy in enough to do a couple of portions for the night,” explains Shields, the British-born chef, who opened his restaurant in 2018. “I’m not afraid to run out of a dish; I’d rather run out than have waste. We try to utilize everything we’ve paid for so at the end of the week there is very little…
Gareth Stewart to lead new InterContinental Hotel Auckland culinary journey –
InterContinental Auckland has announced internationally renowned chef, Gareth Stewart is officially on board as its partner chef. Gareth plans to elevate the culinary direction for the new luxury hotel’s signature restaurant, which is expected to launch in late 2023. His culinary influence will also extend to the hotel’s hallmark Club InterContinental lounge, and the in-room dining experience. Details of the restaurant are still under development with Gareth taking the lead on creating the restaurant concept, name, food and beverage menus, to the finer elements of tableware, crockery and glassware. He will set the tone and style for the venue and…
Michael Meredith to join SkyCity with new restaurant –
SkyCity has announced award-winning chef Michael Meredith will be joining the Auckland dining precinct with a new Pacific inspired restaurant, Metita, opening in October 2023. The much-anticipated restaurant will draw inspiration from Michael’s upbringing in Samoa. Its menu has been crafted to highlight sustainably caught seafood and fresh, locally sourced ingredients. “Metita is a coming together of my Pacific heritage, my food journey and passion for fresh and seasonal flavors,” says Michael. Metita will hold a special place in Michael’s heart, having been named after his late mother. Michael says, “I always wanted to name a restaurant after my mum.…
Millennium hotel colab provides safe crèche for Kiwis to thrive –
A new kiwi conservation partnership allows guests of the hotel group, Millennium Hotels and Resorts New Zealand, an opportunity to donate a meal or a ‘room’ for a night to Save the Kiwi. This innovative approach sees the guest simply reducing their own room servicing needs and ensures a kiwi gets fed in a safe environment to grow. Save the Kiwi, a conservation charity dedicated to the preservation of New Zealand’s national icon has entered this partnership with the Millennium hospitality group with 18 hotels throughout New Zealand. From 1 July, every time a guest has choosen the daily ‘no…
Macdonald family open store to champion high country farming –
The Kaikōura based Macdonald family has announced the opening of Middlehurst Station Farm Store, a thoughtfully curated farm store and boutique butchery located in the heart of the Kāikoura township. This farm store will serve as a haven for residents and visitors seeking fresh meat, locally sourced produce, and a diverse selection of seasonal products. “Kaikōura is renowned for its remarkable food and artisan producers, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to contribute to this thriving community,” says Lucy Macdonald, one of the sisters behind the visionary Middlehurst Station Farm Store. “We’ve always dreamed of creating a space where we…