SPIRITED AWAY
Entries are now open for the 2021 New Zealand Spirits Awards. Presented by Spirits New Zealand Inc. and Distilled Spirits Aotearoa (NZ) Inc., the awards are a celebration of Kiwi and international spirits available in New Zealand. The organisers’ aim is to acknowledge and reward the very best in local and international spirits and through this promote the brands and categories to consumers and trade. Last year’s judging for the NZ Spirits Awards took place under Alert Level 1 in July and winners were announced in a virtual ceremony in August due to Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions. 2020 Champion Trophy winners included The National Distillery Company for their Hemp Gin and Lunatic and
Lover’s Botanical Rum, Silver Batch No 1. There were 260 entries in total and despite the industry being fairly young in this country, the competition was rife with sophisticated spirits being produced right here. “Distilled Spirits Aotearoa and Spirits New Zealand have been working together to jointly raise the profile of spirits in New Zealand,” noted Robert Brewer, chief executive of Spirits NZ Inc. “Both industry bodies are working together, large and small, to ensure that everyone, including suppliers and support services such as glass and label makers, botanical and raw material suppliers, bars and restaurants benefits from the raised interest in these complex beverages.” For more information about the awards, visit www.spiritsawardsnz.nz
FEASTING ON THE WAIKATO REGION
Savethe Date Bidfood Tradeshows are back for 2021! Save the dates in your diaries now. Registrations open in March. QUEENSTOWN
WHANGAREI
Thursday 15th April
Tuesday 27th July
DUNEDIN
TIMARU
Tuesday 4th May
Tuesday 7th September
INVERCARGILL
CHRISTCHURCH
Wednesday 5th May
Wednesday 8th September
AUCKLAND SOUTH
GREYMOUTH
Tuesday 25th May
Tuesday 14th September
HAMILTON
NELSON
Monday 31st May
Wednesday 15th September
TAURANGA
WELLINGTON
Tuesday 1st June
Wednesday 22nd September
ROTORUA
HAWKE’S BAY
Wednesday 2nd June
Thursday 23rd September
PALMERSTON NORTH
AUCKLAND NORTH
Tuesday 22nd June
Thursday 30th September
NEW PLYMOUTH Wednesday 23rd June Feast Waikato (31st March – 5th April) will be celebrating the wonderful region with a selection of fabulous foodie events spread over the Easter long weekend. The line-up includes amazing dinners, lunches, cooking classes, workshops, gourmet tours, a massive cookbook sale, an Italian festival, family fun days, movies and more. One of the highlights of the festival is one of New Zealand’s leading chefs and proud Te Awamutu lad, Ben Bayly, joining forces with Megan Priscott from Red Kitchen in Te Awamutu for a special culinary night. Attendees will be treated to a taste of Ahi, Bayly’s restaurant in Auckland Commercial Bay with canapes and bubbles to start followed by a threecourse meal cooked by Bayly and Priscott with wine matches.
The making of Ahi featured in the television series New Zealand Food Stories. Ahi is a truly New Zealand restaurant and a concept straight from the heart. The name, Ahi, translates literally from Te Reo Māori to mean Fire. A nod to the kitchen and also to the passion that drives it. For a decade Red Kitchen has been at the heart of food in Te Awamutu, from amazing café fare to wholesome take home meals and exciting catering options. Good George brewing is hosting a Meet the Brewer dinner with a fourcourse degustation dinner matched with Good George beer and cider, along with many other local food and wine pairing dinners showcasing the brilliant talents of Waikato chefs. For more information visit, www.waikatofoodinc.com
bidshows.co.nz
Trade Shows 2021 Proudly sponsored by
March 2021
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