5 – 16 June 2019
In its second year, this vibrant annual event focuses on Taranaki’s high calibre restaurants and food scene and has lit up the region’s winter event calendar. Attendees can now enjoy two weeks to sample all that the Festival offers.
With over 25 participating restaurants, cafes and bars around the mountain– this year’s event is a true showcase of the local food movement with the introduction of growers, brewers, producers and distillers including the ever popular Juno Gin, Egmont Seafoods, Three Sisters Brewery, Texas BBQ, Forgotten 43 Brewery and Roebuck Farms.
Founder Rachel Church explains, “this is a festival devoted to the best of Taranaki’s world class restaurants, bars, cafes, food heroes, brewers, distillers, farmers and food enthusiasts. We have truly wonderful, quality restaurants for such a small region. Taranaki might be known for our natural beauty, our mountain, the walkway and surf, and our many museums and galleries – but our culinary scene is world class. It’s a true testament to our restauranteurs that we have so many unique, new and amazing food experiences, and it’s so fabulous that it sometimes surprises visitors! Our little secret is getting out!”
Social Kitchen will be offering a tapas menu from 12pm — 6pm daily during Feast Festival
Feast Festival has been included in Eat NZ’s first National Food Celebration – Feast Matariki, described as “our nation’s first (modern-day) national food celebration. Throughout the country people will be taking the time to come together and share food, no matter what their heritage or background. It’s a moment to reconnect with where our food comes from…and also a time to acknowledge the manaakitanga or hospitality that is an intrinsic part of who we are as kiwis.” www.eatnewzealand.nz/feast-matariki
In addition to this inclusion, this year there are new initiatives like Taranaki’s Best Steak competition where attendees can sample unique burger creations from our top chefs and the return of popular experiences from the inaugural year like the Best Juno Gin cocktail competition. A spirited competitive streak amongst the participating properties is building!
Make sure you try the wide variety of Juno Gin cocktails on offer throughout the Feast Festival this year
Feast Festival would not be possible without the support of not only the participating properties but growing support from local sponsors. Rachel explains, “our Sponsors, Partners and Suppliers give their full support to our hospitality sector and believe in the vision of this event to bring vibrancy to our region and residents, and grow to attract visitors to Taranaki.”
Roebuck Farm in Omata use innovative + sustainable systems to produce outstanding produce to the local market
The New Plymouth District Council is the Founding Sponsor with their See It in the City Initiative, which aims to bring vibrancy to the city centre. NZME is the media sponsor and Favour The Brave is on board as the design sponsor. “Events such as Feast Festival are critical to the future growth of Taranaki tourism, while also dishing out fantastic support for our community of fabulous bars, cafes and restaurants,” explains Creative Director, Jaron Mumby.
Local support also includes partnerships with VBW (VanBurWray Chartered Accountants,) and Ozone Coffee. “The support from Peter Darney and his team from VBW and Craig Macfarlane and the team from Ozone Coffee is critical to the success and growth of this event. They believe in supporting the local hospitality industry and the vision of the Festival. Together we are building a like-minded community and I am so very thankful for their partnership – this event simply could not go forward without it,” Rachel states.
This is a true FEAST Festival and diners will be able to try new tastes with unique menus offered just during the event. There will also be a daily event program consisting of events such as a children’s pizza making class at Ms White’s, A “Ladies who lunch for a Cause” and Degustation dinner at Table at the Nice Hotel to benefit the Taranaki Cathedral, Vegan Cooking classes at Lemonwood Eatery, Trust the Chef Degustation at Knife n Fork, Wine Tastings at Itch Wine Bar, Gin and Whiskey Tastings at Peggy Gordon’s, a community event co-hosted with NPDC’s See it in the City, collaborations with the producers such as Social Kitchen partnering with Egmont Seafoods, and Pop up Restaurants.
Lemonwood Benny with our Beetroot Latte only $20 during Feast Festival, available at Lemonwood Eatery. “A meal without wine is called breakfast!” says owner, Barbara Olsen-Henderon, who will also be hosting vegan cooking classes.
The FEAST is around-the-mountain, with properties throughout the region participating such as Someday Café and Tairoa Lodge in Hawera, Lemonwood Café in Oakura and Stony River in Okato to name a few and attendees can take advantage of the partnership with the Taranaki Arts Trail. Those enjoying the dozens of open local art studios can enjoy a bit of culinary arts to add to their experience!
Feast Festival Special Events & Tairoa Lodge Pop Up Restaurant dates available at www.tairoa-lodge.co.nz
The Festival provides so many reasons to come out and FEAST – enjoy a bit of local art, schedule a breakfast meeting with colleagues, take your Mom to lunch, enjoy a girl’s or guy’s night out at one of our events, or an intimate date night.
If you fancy yourself a true Foodie – you can join the Festival’s Foodie Patron programme. Foodies receive over $300 worth of benefits at participating properties for only $100. Benefits include complimentary coffees, appetizers, or drinks and are limited to the first 100 people.
In nod to the region’s art scene, New Zealand artist, Greg Straight was commissioned to create a commemorative, limited edition poster which represents the region and the festival. This rich image represents the spirit of the Festival and of Taranaki. Posters can be purchased at Kina in New Plymouth, and are limited!
Visit the website to plan your FEAST, book into events, and buy your Foodie tickets: