Food and wine festival has punters gulping down menue

Nici Wickes will be returning to Summer FAWC

Punters are busy gulping back what Hawke's Bay's Food and Wine has to offer.

The annual F.A.W.C! summer series, which runs from November 6-15, is proving too delectable to pass up - with 10 days of divine food and wine offerings selling like hot cakes.

Six weeks out and ticket sales are "booming along," says Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas.

"There are 26 sell-outs and about six that are really close to being sold out," she said.
"We are definitely well ahead and there are more tickets to sell, which is an even better scenario."

Those concerned they had missed out on Milk & Honey's Street Alley event will be pleased to hear 10 extra tickets have been released.

The event transforms a seaside alley into buzzing mini market, exploring the foods people buy and eat on the street.

Booths will be set up to peddle creations influenced by cultures throughout the globe - from Korea to American BBQ, Malaysia, Italian Pizza, India, the Philippines and Japan.

An Electrolux Culinary Theatre of Ideas brings together a host of talented chefs, including Ray McVinnie, Nici Wickes, Giulio Sturla, James Beck and Brett McGregor, for fun and affordable cooking classes at MTG Century Theatre - at a cost of just $10 each.

This week they announced their themes - Wickes will use local ingredients and international recipes, McGregor demonstrates "all the flair without the fuss" trying tuna two ways, then McVinnie and Wickes pair up for East Meets West.

Another highlight is the Long Lazy Lunch at Kiwiesque luxury vineyard lodge, melding local bounty with the talents of chef Terry Lowe - formerly of Black Barn Bistro fame.
"That's going to be a great one," Ms Dundas says.

A media contingent of up to 14 journalists from the UK, China, Australia and throughout New Zealand will spread the word about Hawke's Bay's growing success story.

To buy tickets and for more information visit fawc.co.nz.