Festival of Cultures 2012 - A Taste of Culture Cusine Show

Special guests Ray McVinnie, Peta Mathias & Charles Royal.

Come and experience for the first time in The Square “A Taste of Culture” at the Festival of Cultures World Food, Craft and Music Fair. The show features food demonstrations from New Zealand's most talented chefs and cooks in the Southern Hospitality Kitchen.

On the podium will be Ray McVinnie, MasterChef NZ judge, Peta Mathias, one of New Zealand’s greatest raconteurs and food travellers, Charles Royal award winning Maori Chef, our very own Hester Guy owner and operator of HG Catering, and Rueben Leung Wai owner & Executive Chef of Bethany’s restaurant. They will all be preparing their latest recipes while offering expert tips - and sampling - along the way. Prizes to be won – come on down to The Square for the inaugural Taste of Culture.

In addition to these demonstrations there will be a fun “Corporate Cook off” which will see some of the Manawatu’s CEOs put to the test in the kitchen. The challenge will be to create a winning one course dish in a limited time for the judges, sounds easy doesn’t it?!

- Ray McVinnie – MasterChef NZ Judge 2012, Cuisine Magazine Food Editor, and column writer for the Sunday Star Times, Sunday Magazine

Ray has always had a passion for food and was a professional chef for many years at some of Auckland’s best restaurants. He does what all good Kiwi chefs do these days and gathers inspiration from the cuisines of other cultures to cook with New Zealand ingredients in the New Zealand kitchen. Ray will show you two no-fuss dishes, which epitomises the eclectic nature of modern Kiwi food.

- Peta Mathias – gastronomad, author, agony aunt, raconteur and traveller

Peta Mathias is a respected and prolific New Zealand chef, author and broadcaster, who now builds on the culinary travel experience with her gastronomic tours in the South of France, Morocco, the Basque Country and India. Having started off her culinary love affair in Paris with her restaurant 'Rose Blues' in the 5th arrondissement, she returned to New Zealand ten years later to teach, cook and write and make television. Her most recent book is 'Beat Till Stiff'. Peta will teach a pintxos (Basque tapas) class at 3pm in the Taste of Culture tent.

- Charles Royal – Owner/operator of Kinaki Wild Herbs

Charles is an award-winning New Zealand chef who cooks with indigenous New Zealand herbs, spices and flavours. He brings his passion for his land, his people and his culture into his food, cooking from the land with natural ingredients.

- Rueben Leung Wai – Executive Head Chef of Bethany’s Restaurant, Palmerston North

Rueben grew up in Samoa and is a chef who loves food cooked simply but presented well, especially Mediterranean and Samoan style food. Most of his learning was in the UK in central London - Rules Restaurant in Covent Garden and Browns Restaurant & Bar in Covent Garden.

- Hester Guy – Owner/Operator of HG Catering – Palmerston North

HG Catering aims to offer a food experience that is second to none in the Manawatu and greater region. Specialising in corporate catering, weddings and private functions, Hester Guy is the region's leading cuisine expert and heads a team committed to delivering quality and enjoyable food experiences.