Hawkes Bay: Feast at The Farm

Some of the stars of The Farm's Food and Wine Event Series for 2015 include Eleanor Ozich, Matt Moran and Rick Stein. Photos / Supplied

Head to Hawkes Bay for a weekend of culinary delights and top-notch drops, writes Shandelle Battersby.

Picture this: A round of golf on one of the best courses in the world on a crisp winter's day, with the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the dramatic towering cliffs of Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay, as your backdrop.

Or if golf's not your thing, then a day out exploring the region, perhaps visiting a few wineries or a spot of bird-watching. You'll head back to your luxurious, elegant suite to freshen up before gathering for bespoke cocktails and canapes in front of a roaring fire, after which you'll sit down to enjoy an evening of gourmet cuisine paired with rare whiskys.

Sound good? Well, set aside time now for the launch of The Farm at Cape Kidnappers' 2015 Food and Wine Event Series which will be hosted by spirit aficionado and TV personality Frankie Walker on Saturday June 6.

The Farm's head chef James Honore has paired up with Walker to design a five-course tasting menu around a range of exclusive, rare and aged spirits, including the likes of Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary Bourbon, Glenfiddich 15-year-old Distillery Edition (the last bottle in New Zealand), and Sazerac.

The next morning you'll revive with a buffet brunch and a couple of Walker's famous bloody marys, with a lesson on how to mix them.

The Englishman is something of a Big Name in the spirits world, having worked in the drinks business for over half his life. These days he's the Luxury Spirits Ambassador for Lion.

He also writes and presents The Mix which screens on TVNZ similar to the Food in a Minute series, sharing his knowledge of how to make cocktails at home or for an event.

Walker's High Spirits and Whisky Business Weekend is part of the Hawkes Bay FAWC! food and wine festival, and is one of six events the lodge is hosting, the biggest drawcard of which is celebrity chef Rick Stein who pairs recipes from his latest cookbook From Venice to Istanbul with Esk Valley Estate wines at the Magic of the Mediterranean Weekend on August 22.

Other highlights include a beef-themed dinner with Australian chef Matt Moran and beef supplier Anthony Puharich paired with Felton Road wines, a celebration of home cooking with Kiwi Petite Kitchen blogger Eleanor Ozich on November 8, and a lunch on December 5 with Australian fashion designer Collette Dinnigan as she celebrates her new book, Obsessive Creative.

• The High Spirits and Whisky Business with Frankie Walker event on Saturday, June 6 costs $800 + GST per person, per night, based on double or twin occupancy. It includes accommodation in a luxurious suite at the lodge, pre-dinner cocktails and canapes, the five-course tasting menu with matched spirits, a Bloody Mary Brunch, complimentary mini bar (excludes spirits and wine) and use of all lodge facilities including the choice of either a 50-minute massage or a day of green fees per person. To register for this or any of the Food and Wine Events, go to capekidnappers.com, phone (06) 875 1900, or email reservations@capekidnappers.com.