Weather adds to success

Chefs Kent Baddeley and Masanori Takahashi, prepare some "hellishly good food" for the Winter F.A.W.C! event Heaven and Hell. Photo / Duncan Brown

Over the past two weeks people have been enjoying the best of Hawke's Bay food and wine for Winter F.A.W.C! 2016.

In its fourth year, food and wine events will be spread across four weekends in locations throughout Hawke's Bay.

Halfway through, Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said the event had been brilliant so far.

"It's been a really great couple of weeks.

"It's been a fantastic start to Winter F.A.W.C!"

This weekend had gone well, Ms Dundas said: "The weather has been exceptional, everyone seems to be having a really good time."

From the feedback Ms Dundas had received, she said people were loving the range of events. This weekend, participants travelled around Hawke's Bay from "The Secret World of Chocolate" in Ahuriri, "AFrench Twist" at Black Barn Bistro in Havelock North, to "Pork it Up" at Vidal Estate Winery in Hastings.

Saturday's Heaven and Hell, with Sacred Hill Winery and Ten Twenty Four restaurant, was an "amazing extravaganza", Ms Dundas said.

The winery's range of HALO wines were presented by "winemaking archangel" Tony Bish, as "hellishly amazing" food matches were created by chef Kent Baddeley.

"It was a beautiful example of everyone working together," Ms Dundas said.

The weekend ended on a high, with "For the Love of Opera II" at Sileni Estates. Ms Dundas said "everyone had smiles" as Soprano Anna Perard and the talented Junior Tenors gave three memorable performances, while participants enjoyed a late lunch from Orton Tailored Cuisine.

Despite there being two weekends packed with about 30 events remaining, tickets are only available for fewer than 10 events.

"We started with over 50 events and tickets have just been snapped up," Ms Dundas said. "It shows people need to get in quick."

However people still had the opportunity to experience 'F.A.W.C! by 5', she said, where "delectable dining deals" between $5 and $50 per person were available at renowned restaurants around the region- during June only.