The Plate of Origin competition has returned to the Manawatū, pairing up chefs from around the country to create dishes using “hero export products” from each region. Little Savanna and Brew Union are two new faces joining the competition for its 2019 iteration, joining Nero Restaurant, Amayjen, The Fat Farmer, Nosh, La Patio Café and Aberdeen.
Chefs from the Manawatū region will each be paired with chefs from Auckland-Northland, Bay of Plenty, Otago-Southland, Wellington-Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay-Gisborne, Waikato, Canterbury-West Cost and Malborough-Nelson. The duo will have to select ingredients that best represent each region to create a dish of local culinary fusion.
“Feedback from local chefs is that they find real value in partnering with chefs from other regions, where they share ideas, knowledge and techniques, and build relationships with their partner chefs,” said Central Economic Development Agency conventions and events executive Phil Hildred. The 2018 event went across two weeks for the first time, and Hildred said the move was so popular that they are repeating it again.
PAST WINNERS
2016 – Aberdeen/The Grove (Auckland)
2017 – Amayjen/Arbour (Marlborough)
2018 – Nero Restaurant/Cibo (Auckland)
