I have just got back from the most incredible week in Australia where 80 VIP food influencers from around the world were brought together to celebrate Australian food, wine and good living. I visited Tasmania for the first time and realised my desire to visit
(the Museum of New Art). I also spent a few days in Melbourne dining at some hot new restaurants and some old favourites. Thank you
,
,
,
,
and
, you were all outstanding.
I love Australia and am always impressed at how good Australians are at celebrating their fine country. So we are celebrating a little of what our own fine country has to offer in our recipes this week. Strawberries are peaking now and Warren Elwin is
,
and
and a
for drinks.
If you're making the most of NZ's spring lamb, cook plenty so you can use the leftovers in Kyle Street's
.
Lamb kebab sandwich. Photo / Bite Magazine
The Air New Zealand Wine Awards were announced at a Hawke's Bay dinner on Saturday night and we asked Geoff Scott to create a special three-course meal matched with some of the gold award winning wines. He matched his
with the Terra Sancta Riverblock Chardonnay, a rack of lamb with the Murdoch James Blue Rock Pinot Noir and a
crumbled orange and raspberry cheesecake
with Marisco Vineyards A Sticky End Noble Sauvignon Blanc. You can see all of the medal
.
Photo / Bite Magazine
And to top of our celebration on New Zealand's finest, If you're lucky enough to have a catch of whitebait, you might want to read Peter Gordon's column this week.