TOP TASTE, TOP VALUE

Amid a huge line up of chardonnays in the latest Cuisine tasting, the top thirteen alone covered the regions of Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, Wairarapa and Nelson. Which all goes to show that although the variety displays considerable regional variability, you don’t have to look far to find top quality. Church Road McDonald Series Chardonnay 2023 from Hawke’s Bay took top honours showing that it is possible to get a fantastic bottle of wine that doesn’t cost the earth (it’s only $27). See here for full details and tasting notes.

French cuisine has long been hailed as a significant influence on many food cultures – our extract of Classic French Recipes by Ginette Mathiot (see) shows us why with a selection of classic favourites. Simple seafood recipes are at the heart of The Fishmonger’s Son, a book by Melbourne fishmongers Anthony Yotis & Laura di Florio Yotis. Our extract (see) on has fishy family dinners covered.

Speak to anyone in New Zealand about foraging and within minutes Peter Langlands’ name will crop up. As a licensed professional forager he sources wild produce for restaurants around the country, including the innovative Amisfield, and runs foraging workshops to share his deep knowledge of nature. Now he’s packed years of expertise into a book Foraging New Zealand, in which he leads us through our land’s incredible, edible wild foods – fruit, fungi and seaweed, berries, herbs and more, and teaches us where to look and how to forage safely. Published by Penguin, $50.

UNIQUE WINE GOES UNDER THE HAMMER

It’s time for the 32nd Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction, giving you the chance to bid on unique lots of Hawke’s Bay’s finest wines and support Cranford Hospice. This year, for the first time, a private collection spanning an impressive 40 years of Te Mata Estate’s prestigious Coleraine will be offered at auction on 14 September 2024. This collection features a bottle from each vintage, from its very first in 1982, through to 2021 (with 1992, 1993 and 2012 being non-producing years). The 37-bottle lot, generously donated by local wine enthusiast Stuart Tustin, showcases four decades of arguably New Zealand’s most iconic red wine, and is most certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. hawkesbaywineauction.co.nz

Put on your finest dress and hat and get ready for an exhilarating Melbourne Cup celebration at Park Hyatt Auckland. Kick off the event with snacks and bubbles on arrival, then dive into an interactive kitchen experience serving premium-cut meats and wok-fried fish, followed by delectable fresh oysters and scampi from the BBQ. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the dessert station featuring an array of spring-carnival treats. Enjoy every moment with live race coverage on TV, door prizes and raffles and live entertainment throughout the event. $168pp onematarestaurant.co.nz

CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON AT SKYCITY

As the holiday season fast approaches and Christmas creeps ever closer, now is the time to lock in those all-important venues for end-of-year celebrations. In seeking a place that can cater to every kind of occasion, we find ourselves turning to SkyCity and its dazzling array of dining experiences and event-hosting facilities. Whether it’s for sumptuous Christmas Day dining or a lavish New Year’s Eve party, there’s a culinary delight for everyone. From tantalising Japanese at MASU by Nic Watt, to the Pacific hospitality at Metita, the best of Indian cuisine at Cassia, contemporary Chinese cuisine at Huami, or serving the best of New Zealand at The Grill, every restaurant promises an exquisite journey for the taste buds and a spectacular setting for a festive affair. Private dining rooms available at Metita, Cassia, MASU by Nic Watt, Huami and The Grill. skycityauckland.co.nz