November 17th, 2009

Heavenly Hawkes Bay

 My asparagus and mushroom entree at Pacifica in Napier. (see below)

The earth moved for me in Hawkes Bay last month and it had nothing to do with meeting Dan Carter in the lift (though it was the same day!) There was actually a small earthquake (my first experience) which I felt because I was on the 6th floor of the Te Pania Scenic Circle. I was there for the NZ Guild of Foodwriters conference (my last as President). The team at Food Hawkes Bay certainly turned it on for us with a selection of tours to choose from that had us all dithering and wishing we could do them all. Oddly enough we all thought our own tours must have been the best, as we compared notes.

 Despite having been to the area numerous times, it is such a dynamic place that there is always something new happening. Who knew we had a snail farm there?

Maggie Beer from South Australia was our guest writer in residence and she impressed everyone with her approachable,modest  brilliance!

My personal highlights (aside from meeting Dan!) were many and varied, from the tour of the Opera House and the visit to Glen Aros lodge through to the lunch at Te Awa, tasting my first Kiwi snail, discovering the caring environment of Hohepa www.hohepa.com

and hanging out with all the conference attendees.I think I will have to post separate blogs for each one at this rate.

This was the entree of Crayfish Ravioli with a pea puree and salmon at Te Awa www.teawa.com

 where we also tasted the Reserve Chadonnay 2007 which just won a gold at the Air New Zealand wine awards.

As well as all the conference activities, I managed to get to Pacifica which is a restaurant on  Marine Parade, an area not known for its classy food.My meal was definitely classy though some of the food writers I was with that night were a bit underwhelmed with their choices. Guess I got lucky.

More on Hawkes Bay very soon.

Posted by Sue Story  //  Filed in Gourmet travel