Meet the Chef: Patrick Ikinofo
Patrick Ikinofo, Skycity Entertainment Group’s executive chef, is a local Aucklander from humble beginnings. He began washing dishes and sweeping floors, but his passion…
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TORSTEN GLASER – PEACH’S HOT CHICKEN
A chef by trade and a traveller by passion, that’s how chef Torsten Glaser of Peach’s Hot Chicken in Panmure described himself to Restaurant…
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JOSH HAZEL – ROTHKO, MATAKANA
Born in Australia, Joshua Hazel moved to New Zealand in 2014 after marrying a Kiwi girl. The father of two little girls has been…
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GIADA GRILLI – THE SUGAR CLUB
“At 13 years of age in Italy, you must decide what kind of high school you want to go to, so I decided to…
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FIONA RUANE – SKYCITY
Originally hailing from Ireland, Fiona Ruane, executive chef of SKYCITY’s main site has been in New Zealand just shy of six years. A travel-lover…
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MARK SYCAMORE – BLANKET BAY
From a young age, Mark Sycamore knew he wanted to be a chef. Growing up in England, and gaining his first exposure to cooking…
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PHIL CLARK – PHIL’S KITCHEN
At the age of 15, Phil Clark got a summer job as a chef while working on a marine biology scholarship. Years later, Clark…
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JONATHAN WILLIAMS – RĀTĀ
Jonathan Williams, head chef at Rātā in Queenstown, discovered his passion for cooking and food while working in restaurants to put himself through university….
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TINO PASSANO – TANTALUS ESTATE
Tino Passano of Tantalus Estate Vineyard hopped from island to island before settling down on Waiheke. Originally from South Africa, Passano has spent time…
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OLIVER XIE – THE GRILLE
Oliver Xie brings a taste of Beijing and a wealth of culinary knowledge to The Grille by Eichardt’s. Growing up in a culinary household…
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GARETH STEWART – NOURISH GROUP
Ever since he was young, Gareth Stewart, Nourish Group’s national executive chef, has loved being in the kitchen. “My love of cooking started early,…
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ALOK VASANTH – THE TASTING SHED
“My youngest memory of food is when I was three or four years old walking to the butchers with my dad and picking the…
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