Barry gets tips from top cook

Foodie and photos group find friends and fun in our town

Jo Seagar— television personality, celebrity cook and food and travel writer— arrived in Katikati on Sunday and it wasn’t long before she met a few of the locals.

The firstwas our iconic Kiwi bloke, Barry, then Tony Hall, who was quick to park himself between the ladies seated outside the Talisman Hotel. Tony was at the Classic CarShow there and came by to say hello.

Jo wasin Katikati with her first “Girls on the Road Again” New Zealand tour escorting 14women from all over the country exploring Tauranga to Waihi, eating, meeting newpeople and taking photographs.

“We’re foodie people and were supposed to be in Italy or Morocco on tour. Covid is not stopping us we’re looking at the treasures in ourown country,” says Jo.

Girls on the Road Again is a fourday fully escorted foodie and photography tour initiative founded by Jo Seagar and photographer Lesley Whyte, and organised by House of Travel’s -PamYoung.

Thiswas the first New Zealand tour, the next tour starts tomorrow to Unforgettable McKenzie Country and Tekapo, and is sold out.

Jo lives with her husband, Ross, in the small town of Oxford in North Canterbury. She wasinvited to Katikati through close friend Kate Williams who joined hero none of her tours to Italy last September.

“Jo is such adown-to-earth person whohas an amazing sense of humour, great empathy— not to mention a fabulous cook,” says Kate.

The pair became firm friends and keep in contact via Messenger with the occasional long chat on the phone. During Covid they discussed howsad it wasthat Jo’s overseas tours would not be proceeding and started talking at length about doing short bursts aroundNewZealand.

“Together with her travel agent, areas of interest throughoutNew

Zealand were discussed. I said you mustcometo the Bay and have a Katikati day.”

Hence amural tour in Katikati was organised plus morning tea at Western BayMuseumwhere “the

girls were just enchanted with the activities”.

Themuseumhosted thewomen for tea and fresh scones baked in a coal range and served by “maids”. Museummanager Paula Gaelic says Jo has cooked on a coal range a lot andwas pretty impressed with Iona’s scones. “The ladies were delightful, happy, and said they thought Katikati wasfabulous.”

The tour joined Kate and husband Mike in their garden for refreshments and enjoyed lunch in their “old henhouse”.

“It wassuch a relaxed afternoon full of laughter, nice food and friendship. Local produce wassought where possible for the day’s fare and the ladies all left saying they will be

back to Katikati.”

Jo Seagarwas impressed with our town. “It’s so fabulous . . . I can’t rave and thank you enough.”

Another local, Tony Hall, parked himself between Noelene Topia (left), Jo Seagar and Paula Jowers outside the Talisman Hotel.

Celebrity cook Jo Seagar gets up close and personal with our famous Kiwi bloke, Barry.

Left, museum manager Paula Gaelic shares the history of race car champion Denny Hulme.

Above, the women were intrigued by the sculpture, The Future Laid in the Past 2 by John Ferguson, outside Western Bay Museum.

Right, the mural of Katikati’s founder, George Vesey Stewart, drew a few questions.

Below, taking a peak at one of the vehicles at the Classic Car and Hot Rod Club event.

Left, Paula Gaelic welcomes Jo Seagar to Katikati.

It didn’t take long to find our Barry and his mate Jack.

Katikati’s mural guide Anne Henry (far right) starts the tour with Jo Seager and the team.