A big appetite will serve you well at food fair
The Collingwood Summer Food
Fair, sponsored by Fresh Choice Takaka, returns on Monday, January 2, for its 11th year, and promises to be another great event.
Last year, the date was moved to accommodate the holiday season and that proved to be a spectacular success.
Tickets for the event, located at the Collingwood Recreation
Ground, are excellent value at $25 per adult and a gold coin donation for accompanied school children. Food is free and no-one seems to come away hungry. There is, of course, a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the pay bar - and a coffee cart for those who are aficionados of the bean. Locally supplied Takaka spring water will also be available.
A huge range of foods will be on offer, hopefully to suit every taste, and most of the edibles on the menu are not found on the everyday dinner table. Regular favourites are wild venison and wild pork, but there is also some more exotic fare for the meat lovers in the crowd. A taste of the pioneer’s diet can be found in tahr, goat, rabbit, hare and such like. There is also ostrich, wallaby, kangaroo and quail for those so inclined. For those whose palate inclines towards seafood there will be stingray, mussels, cockles, eel, and seasonal wet fish baked to perfection. Also available will be salads, crepes and cake.
No matter how full people are, the popular "theatre" events on the menu are the hangi, the spit roast and the huge paella dish. Regular food fair-goers form a queue quickly as soon as they get a scent of these delicious foods and just watching it all being served up is as much fun as the eating.
Although the day is very much about food, it’s also about a great day out with the family. In traditional country style most of the seating is straw bales and there are plenty of tents plus two very large marquees in which to hide from the sun if you need to. The NBS bouncy slide is always popular with children and there is also an old-fashioned water slide, too. Live music is provided by local performers, Phil and Julie Rogers.
So, if you fancy a great-value day out for all the family this summer, get along to the Collingwood Summer Food Fair. Noon to 6pm, Monday, January 2, 2017, at Collingwood Recreation Ground, Collingwood Golden Bay. For more information, check the Facebook page.