Sid brings fresh approach to winter fine dining –
The iconic Sid at the French Café in Symonds Street, Auckland is heading into winter with new menu offerings and options to bring more fun to fine dining. As well as launching a new winter tasting menu, the celebrated restaurant is introducing a flexible à la carte menu and snack offerings, (pictured below), giving guests more relaxed options. The restaurant is also taking walk-ins for those wanting to pop in spontaneously for an after-work cocktail or glass of wine with snacks. Guests can enjoy these impromptu treats in the heated undercover area in the Mediterranean-inspired courtyard or around a brazier…
Stellar line up for ‘For Industry, By Industry’ HNZ conference 2023 –
One of the driving forces behind Australia’s biggest hospitality and accommodation empire will open Hospitality New Zealand’s conference and trade show in Auckland later this month. Sam Egerton is General Manager of New Projects for Merivale Group, which owns 104 restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels across Australia, most of them in Greater Sydney. He heads a program of speakers and sessions designed to inform, educate and entertain operators from across the hospitality sector. This year the theme is ‘For Industry, By Industry’, and will feature motivational and subject speakers, expert sessions and panels that cover consumer trends, compliance, Chat GPT,…
Disappointment at APTR decision –
The accommodation industry has expressed its disappointment with the Supreme Court ruling that the Auckland Council’s Accommodation Provider Targeted Rate (APTR) funding for tourism is valid. The contentious hotel bed tax was introduced in 2017 by the Auckland Council to boost tourism funding and has now been given the green light after being suspended in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality economy. Hospitality New Zealand’s Accommodation Association Lead & Sector Chair, Troy Clarry, says the decision to overturn the Court of Appeal ruling will have long-term implications for operators; not only for Auckland but…
Do you make the best pies in NZ? –
Entries are now open at pieawards.nz for the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards with plans underway for a huge celebration to mark their 25thth anniversary. NZ Bakels managing director, Brent Kersel says: “Yes, that’s right! We had to postpone the 25th anniversary a couple of times due to Covid, but now we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone.” “And for our 25th anniversary, we’ve asked Al Brown, one of New Zealand’s most recognized chefs, to help us judge the pies. We couldn’t have chosen a better person to be our celebrity chef judge. Al won’t hold back on any aspect…
7 Ways to Save on Summer Travel in 2023
Key points Travel credit cards can help you save in multiple ways, from redeeming rewards and travel credits to making use of valuable perks and benefits. The more flexible you are about your travels, the more affordable it will be. Pack less, travel together, and be creative about when, where, and how you travel. Check out our picks for the best credit cards Depending on your destination, the cost of a family summer vacation can easily get into the four digits. But you don’t necessarily need to drain your bank account just to have a good time this summer. There…
Jock Zonfrillo: 1976 – 2023 –
Love them or loathe them reality television programs and their social media lives have become part of this generation’s culinary experiences. Whether you believe they belittle or encourage the art of great cuisine, it is very hard to underestimate the impact of reality shows such as MasterChef, My Kitchen Rules and the plethora of other food related programs currently available to view. The sudden loss therefore of the brilliant Chef Jock Zonfrillo at just 46, to the world and the MasterChef Australia international community, brought a whole new meaning to the word reality. Reality means losing a talented individual whose…
GPO Wellington opens with a nod to Temuka and the Post Office –
InterContinental Wellington has announced the launch of GPO, its new restaurant that pays homage to the iconic General Post Office which once occupied the same site. The luxury hotel’s latest dining addition tells an exciting, culinary story of travel, discovery and culture. The restaurant is set to open on April 21, with bookings open now. Under the culinary leadership of acclaimed Executive Chef Carl Maunder, GPO offers a contemporary spin on classic cooking techniques, with a menu highlighting seasonal produce from New Zealand drawing influence from the rich cultures of Southern Europe, the Levant and the Mediterranean, served in a…