This year's F.A.W.C! Electrolux Masterclass Series had a record 600-700 people at the MTG in Napier throughout Saturday, she said.
Guests were able to watch experts Nadia Lim, Ray McVinnie, Casey McDonald and Nici Wickes make dishes from scratch.
"That was pretty cool, it's an inexpensive way to get involved in F.A.W.C!
"People get to learn something by taking away lovely recipes," she said.
A new event this year was the F.A.W.C! Talks, which had 150 people listen to seven speakers for seven minutes tell their favourite food story.
"We will look at doing it again, the feedback was great.
"It was really interesting, every chat was different. Some funny, some serious ... all about food."
Other popular events were Day of the Dead at Trinity Hill Wines, Nadia Lim's appearances and The Little Locavores Lunch at the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market with Ray McVinnie and Paolo Pancotti.
The events have drawn crowds from around the country and overseas, with two couples coming to The Little Locavores Lunch from France and Colorado.
Ms Dundas said one of the Colorado pair was a chef and his travel agent in the US had told him about F.A.W.C!
The visiting chef had told her that they wished they were going to more F.A.W.C! events.
"If only he'd known what it was like, he would have spent more time here."
There was also a couple from Martinborough who were in Hawke's Bay for 10 days and going to five F.A.W.C! events.
This week people can look forward to more great events including City of Gold at Globe Theatre, Be More Pacific at Deliciosa and Paying Homage to a Legendary Wine at Trinity Hill Winery, she said.
The festival runs from November 3-12 with 75 events featuring local talent and special guests.
