It’s here – our list of the Top 50 Women In Food & Drink for 2025. And it is magnificent. You’ll be inspired by the incredible contributions these wonderful women are making to our New Zealand food-and-drink story, then book a ticket to join us in Auckland for our awards lunch on 7 March to celebrate them all. A huge thank you to our partners at Massey University, Fine Foods New Zealand, Craggy Range, Park Hyatt Auckland and Corbin Rd for their support; without them we would not be able to make this magical event happen.

You’ll find so many talented women in this gorgeous issue. Fiona Smith is looking back at some of the clever women whose recipes have shaped her own food story, while Ginny Grant is dealing with a glut of end-of-summer vegetables, with outstanding results. Olivia Moore shares the recipes and ingredients she’s grown up with in her book That Green Olive and we welcome Beatrice Onions to Cuisine as she rounds up some Kiwi movers and shakers who love to eat in New York City. Mary-Thérèse Blair celebrates women who combine motherhood, family life and a career within our wine sector, and Elle Armon-Jones unearths secret tastes of Dunedin. We are thrilled to showcase chef Stefania Palermo as she steps up to take the lead as head chef at Kingi at Hotel Britomart, and we shine the light on Helen Turnbull who proves at her Kāpiti restaurant 50-50 that there’s so much more to running a restaurant than just food.

We’re also thrilled to share the news that Jess Murphy, chef/owner of Kai Galway – and the recipient of our Women In Food & Drink Aotearoa New Zealand Global Ambassador Award 2024 – has been awarded the 2025 Parabere Care Award. Go you good thing, Jess! Super proud!

In other news, although I am not the most talented baker you will ever meet, I have just added another cake to my repertoire (one that I love almost as much as Claudia Roden’s orange cake) and I urge you to make our cover star: Maxine Scheckter’s Russian honey cake. Maxine has shared some beauties from her stunning new book Pâtisserie Made Simple and I guarantee that this super-delicious cake will become your new party trick.

Read on, cook, eat and travel well, and remember that your dreams and ambitions are important.

Kel

PS: Find out more about Women In Food & Drink Aotearoa New Zealand at wifd.co.nz