MARY SHANAHAN
Award-winning Hawke's Bay winery C J Pask has stepped in as principal sponsor of next year's Great Long Lunch. For the past five years - since the Napier event was established - advertising agency Adplus has been the main sponsor.
C J Pask managing director Kate Radburnd said her winery
was delighted to be involved with Napier Inner City Marketing in bringing the event to visitors and the people of Hawke's Bay.
"Great food, great wine and great company make for a Great Long Lunch," Mrs Radburnd said, "and we are immensely proud to offer our wines to the guests at this iconic event."
The March 5 luncheon will be catered by local company Dish, the brainchild of widely acclaimed chef Jenny Parton who has worked for some of the region's finest restaurants including Anatoles at Napier's County Hotel and Sileni Estates in Hastings.
Jenny also presented degustation meals for Sileni Estates overseas, including at the 2003 World Gourmet Summit in Singapore.
Associate sponsors who have committed to the event to date include Radio Network, Bluewater Hotel, Venables Willis Printing and the Napier Mail.
Seven hundred guests will share a table stretching for more than 200 metres in the Marine Parade gardens' picture-perfect setting.
The menu for the three-course meal will remain a closely guarded secret. Live music will include local band Once Bitten Twice Shy.
Napier Inner City Marketing manager Meg Rodel said the lunch would be a true celebration of Hawke's Bay food, wine and entertainment.
As in previous years, tickets are priced at $70 a person. They will go on sale in early January through TicketDirect in Hawke's Bay.
In the past, tickets have sold out weeks before the event.
