The Tauranga set will get the chance to feast in Blake Park come March 10 at the inaugural Flavours in the Bay festival.
Showcasing boutique wine and food from local suppliers, wineries and restaurants, the festival will also offer free entertainment for adults and children.
The event was cooked up by a Bay of Plenty Times team led by marketing maestro Samantha Dowling.
"The aim of the festival was to bring the community together in a relaxed setting to sample the best of what we have to offer in the Bay. It's a fun-filled addition to the festival calendar," Ms Dowling said.
The name "Flavours" was chosen to celebrate "flavours" in the widest sense of the word.
"Flavours of the food and wine of course, but also the great music and the free workshops and demonstrations," said Ms Dowling.
Four local bands will provide a perfect smorgasbord of sounds to the taste-fest. These bands - Five O' Clock Shadow, Sharmin, The Deeds and Hurricane Tilly - offer something for everyone from reggae and R&B;, to acoustic soul and rock, and a few spoonfuls of electronic and indie thrown in for good measure.
While the adults savour sav and pinot, the kids will be kept amused with free bouncy castles, face painting and $2 slides.
There will also be free workshops throughout the day, where festival goers will have the chance to taste, listen and learn from local foodie experts. These include a cooking demonstration by Jo and Jamie Blennerhassett from The Good Food Trading Company, who will be crafting fabulous meals using local produce.
If you want to impress with your very own version of mozzarella or the cheese du jour, halloumi, there's a cheese-making demonstration by the New Zealand Cheese School. And adding to the mix is a cocktail-making demonstration by the shakers at Phil's Place with Distillerie Deinlein.
Tobi Deinlein is excited about the cocktail guys from Phil's Place coming to the party, given it is ACDC drummer Phil Rudd's restaurant.
"Fun, drinks and rock'n' roll baby! The challenge we've set the team from Phil's Place is to give a taste of the magical, mystical art of cocktail-making."
Tobi says the demonstration will reflect the trend of local bars and restaurants to bring the craft of mixing back.
"Flavours in the Bay will give locals a real chance to discover what the Bay has to offer. I think many will be surprised by the quality and diversity that is produced on their own door steps."
Festival goers will also have the chance to participate in two fun competitions. The first, a fashion competition*, will be on the lookout for the best dressed on the day. It is being judged by Kelly Coe of Augustine International. There are prizes totalling $1600 of Augustine fashion vouchers.
"In race-wear fashion competitions, there are strict criteria for what you need to wear to get a placing. But at a wine and food festival, it's more fun and laid-back. In saying that, winners need to be on trend, relevant, co-ordinated and have a complete look. A look is not just about your outfit, it's also how you have done hair, make-up, your painted finger nails. We will be looking for casual glamour or what we like to call luxe daywear," said Kelly.
The other competition is Fine Flavours, being judged by Nourish magazine editor and local foodie Vicki Ravlich-Horan. Bay of Plenty Times readers have been submitting their tapas or appetisers recipes, and the best will be judged on the day.
"What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than enjoying wonderful local food, wine and music. I have the arduous job of judging some of the Bay's best home cooks. What a job I have," said Vicki.
Top local restaurants will showcase a selection from their menus.
The restaurants may all be local but their menus cover a diverse range of food that we can now sample in the Bay.
"Not only will there be your favourites - whether it's sushi or fried chicken, but the festival is also a chance to sample something different that you might not normally think of trying," said Samantha Dowling.
Try Japanese at Satori Lounge, Asian fusion at Rain, curries at India Today, Mexican at Flying Burritos, contemporary at The Drawing Room, tapas at Little Black Corner, Devonshire high teas at Chantilly Cream and a bit of New York at Wholly Bagels. For the kids and the traditional, there is Crazy Chicken, Tauranga Farmers market is providing lunch box ideas and caterers Classic Cuisine is roasting a pig on the spit.
Zak Lassey's new Mount restaurant, The Drawing Room, which since its opening last year has become a must-go Mount venue, will be showcasing some of his menu including his popular coconut prawns, which have become a cult in the region. Also at the festival are Megan and Warren Lippi Smith, who took over the Flying Burrito Brothers last year and have added an authentically Mexican wave to the menu.
"We are always looking for new ways to support local events and introduce Mexican food to people who haven't tried it yet. We are really looking forward to seeing local food and wine outlets all in one place, working together to showcase some of best the Bay has to offer," said Megan.
All this feasting needs washing down with something special. The day is a wine lover's heaven with a glorious selection from wineries including Mills Reef, Vidal Estate, Thornbury Wines, Morton Estate, Steve Bird Winery and Volcanic Wines.
Jo Beer of Volcanic Wines is excited to be part of such a local event.
"We love to support the local community we live in and communicate with the locals in a relaxed way."
Croucher Brewing Co will offer ales and shandy. There will be also plenty of water, soft drinks and coffee for kids and drivers.
When you end the day's festivities, you can sleep easy in the knowledge that you have also been helping local children's literacy.
Five dollars from each ticket sold goes back to the community via the Bay of Plenty Times not-for-profit programme, Newspapers in education, which provides free newspapers combined with a curriculum-based literacy programme to local schools.
*Entrants to the fashion competition may register by emailing their name, address, phone number and age to events@bayofplentytimes.co.nz or enter on the day.
The Fine Print
What: Flavours in the Bay, Boutique Food and Wine Festival.
When: Saturday, March 10, 12-6pm. For timetable of free entertainment, see page 12.
Where: Blake Park, Mount Maunganui (entrance via Kawaka Street).
BYO: No. Refreshments available from more than 19 food and wine stalls. For menus, refer to pages 12 & 13.
How: Tickets $35 from Ticket Direct. www.ticketdirect.co.nz or 0800 4 TICKET. Limited gate sales available.
Children: The whole family is invited to sample great local produce while enjoying free entertainment.
Getting there: FREE bus service, supplied by Bethlehem Coachlines. Bus 1: Wharf Street, Tauranga, to Flavours in the Bay. Departs 11.15am from Wharf Street, departs 5.30pm & 6.10pm from Blake Park. Bus 2: Papamoa Palm Beach Plaza to Flavours in the Bay. Departs 11.15am from Palm Beach Plaza, departs 5.30pm & 6.10pm from Blake Park.DINING OUT: The festival has community spirit at heart.