We’re excited to announce the finalists in the prestigious Cuisine Artisan Awards 2021 and once again we have partnered with the New Zealand Food Awards to celebrate the makers of New Zealand’s best artisan products.

Cuisine editor Kelli Brett says New Zealand’s artisan producers truly deserve our support. “Their products are often made by hand and they don’t usually have access to mass-production methods. It’s a risk and a challenge to produce these products on such a small scale and this award category helps highlight and recognise their outstanding work.” 

More than ever, in the wake of Covid, consumers are expressing strong preferences for locally produced food and are seeking out natural, honest products and this year’s crop of finalists – from every corner of the country – won’t disappoint.

So, get online or visit your local farmers’ market to support these talented and innovative producers who work so hard to bring truly top-class products to market.  

While the popularity of farmers’ markets – fifty thousand New Zealanders shop at farmers’ markets every week – is a testament to our desire for authenticity and to feel closer to the source of our food, it’s no one-way street. Economic research by Dr Alan Cameron, formerly of Massey University, showed that farmers’ markets are a great launch pad for entrepreneurs who can start small and grow as their products grow in popularity. So while you enjoy filling your basket and dealing directly with the maker, they benefit from face-to-face contact with customers providing a priceless testing ground for new products. Win-win!

“Every year, the Cuisine Artisan Awards attract an outstanding range of products and this year was no different,” says lead judge, Fiona Smith. “A real focus on the best-quality primary produce has been especially noticeable this year along with some real innovation in the use of New Zealand ingredients.” 

Congratulations to all those innovative producers who invest their talents and passion to craft great New Zealand ingredients into such downright delicious speciality food and beverages. 

Here are the 12 finalists in the New Zealand Food Awards – Cuisine Artisan Awards 2021. 

Beard Brothers – Pork and Cress Sausages, Pork and Palusami Sausages, Pork and Puha Sausages
Bellefield Butter Co – Brown ‘Butter’ Ghee
Chatham Island Food Co. – Chatham Blue
Manaaki – Piripiri Plum Chutney
Moreish Organic Butchery – Pure Organic Beef Burger Patties
NewFish – Blackfoot Pāua Saucisson
Pacific Harvest – Power of Three Seaweed Flakes
Taste of the Alps – The Gardener, Beetroot & Date Chutney
The Hemp Butter Co. – Maple Almond Hemp Butter
The Wild Fermentary – Smoky Kāpeti
Well & Truly Artisan Pantry – Make-at-home Vitality Bars
Zaroa NZ – Pohutukawa Smoked Venison Savernaccio

View the full list of finalists in all categories of the New Zealand Food Awards 2021.

The winner will be announced at a gala dinner in Palmerston North on 14 October 2021 – tickets are on sale here.