Local produce from award-winning area’s chefs, cafes and restaurants
This year’s Horowhenua Taste Trail will feature award winning chefs, cafes and restaurants serving up the finest produce the Horowhenua has to offer.
The event is Horowhenua’s own live paddock to plate experience, and takes place on Saturday November 24.
“This year we have partnered with top establishments to deliver a food experience that showcases the freshest, finest prepared Horowhenua produce, right on site. After you’ve wandered through the market gardens and factories, you’ll be able to tuck into dishes prepared by some of the best chefs in the country,” says Kristy McGregor, Taste Trail Culinary and Partnerships Manager.
Establishments include Palmerston North’s Yatai Japanese Restaurant and Cafe´ Royale, Foxton Beach’s Ocean Beach Eatery, Manawatu’s Artisan Kitchen and Wellington’s Capitol Restaurant, taking residence at five of the eight Taste Trail sites.
“At the heart of the food experience this year are our Horowhenua Taster Plates, presented by each of the establishments. These are entreesized plates with local produce as heroes — from fresh handmade pasta with Genoese pesto, which will be made and cooked right in front of you, to a traditional Japanese chicken curry that takes two days to prepare.
“By partnering with these wellknown and loved restaurants and cafes we are able to provide a menu that would be seen in a top restaurants. Exactly the quality that our local producers deliver every day, but not what you’d expect to taste at a farm or packhouse!” says Kristy.
The event was first established in 2016 to showcase the excellence of produce from the Horowhenua District.
“This year our produce is being showcased by award-winning chefs. Two of our food partners were recently awarded a coveted hat at the 2018 Cuisine Good Food Awards for their outstanding food. As we continue to grow we will look to work with chefs who demonstrate excellence and those with a connection to the Horowhenua. We would love to have an internationally known chef one year,” says Kristy.
Jude Messenger is owner of The Bistro in Taupo¯ , the first Bay of Plenty restaurant to achieve a hat. Hailing from Foxton, Jude will be hosting a ticketed masterclass as part of the Taste Trail, showcasing dairy products at the Bagrie Dairy Farm.
Wellington’s Capitol Restaurant is excited to prepare and cook a menu focusing on local produce at the Horowhenua Long Table Dinner on the Friday night of the Taste Trail. Owner and Head Chef Tom Hutchison was awarded Outstanding Chef of the Year Award at the Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards last week and Capitol also received a hat in the 2018 Cuisine Good Food Guide.
“We’re pleased to be presenting a menu that showcases the best of the Horowhenua,” Tom says. “We use much of the local produce in our restaurant on a day to day basis and so it is exciting to have this opportunity to present a menu as part of the Trail.”
Along with the Taster Plates, the establishments will be serving a series of Treats on the Trail that participants can choose from and enjoy on the day.
“From teriyaki chicken at Turk’s, to smoked Levin Eel and Woody’s Free Range Farm bacon croquettes with Genoese Pesto, there’s a range of Treats to suit all taste buds. There’s even a couple of sweet treats for those with a sweet tooth, with Cafe´ Royale doing a spin on the humble vegetable — a Woodhaven beetroot and chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache and beetroot cream cheese,” says Kristy.
For those who want the full food experience participants can prepurchase a ticket which includes the five Taster Plates and entry to all eight sites.
“Our Mains Tickets have been flying off the shelf and there are only a small number left, so we are encouraging people wanting the complete food experience not to put off grabbing their ticket,” says Kristy.
■ Tickets are now on sale and numbers are strictly limited. Anyone wishing to join in the Trail can find out more information at the Taste Trail website www.tastetrail.co.nz or on their Facebook Page @horowhenuatastetrail