One of the biggest names in the food world is heading our way later this year for some very special Auckland appearances. The ‘godfather of modern cooking’, Marco Pierre White is set to appear at an exclusive white tie dinner and at New Zealand’s largest food festival, Taste of Auckland.
The British chef, restaurateur and his executive chef Andrew Bennett will work with top New Zealand chefs on an exclusive multi-course dinner for around 400 diners on Thursday October 31. The event will take place at Shed 10 on Queens Wharf and raise money for charity, with tickets starting at $350 a head.
On from 31 October to 3 November, visitors to this year’s Taste of Auckland will also be able to catch the famous chef – known for his acerbic wit as much as his signature wild mushroom risotto – at appearances over the course of the four-day festival.
Dubbed the ‘first celebrity chef’,’godfather of modern dining’ and ‘enfant terrible’ of the U.K. restaurant scene, White became the first British chef and the youngest chef in then Michelin history to be awarded three Michelin stars at age 32, before controversially handing them back. During his early career in the kitchen, the chef regularly ejected patrons from his restaurants if he took offence to their comments. Over the course of his 17 year career White trained many notable chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Curtis Stone and Shannon Bennett.
On retiring from the kitchen in 1999, White became a restaurateur,including the London Steakhouse Co, Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and Marco’s New York Italian by Marco Pierre White. He has published several books including the influential cookbook White Heat and autobiography White Slave.
The 57-year old’s extensive TV career includes presenting on British TV show Hell’s Kitchen for two series, Hell’s Kitchen Australia in 2017 and Marco Pierre’s Kitchen Wars in 2012. He has also appeared multiple times on Masterchef Australia and as mentor and head chef on Masterchef New Zealand in 2015.
Organiser of both Dine With Marco Pierre White and Taste of Auckland, Lemongrass Productions director Rob Eliott says: “We are extremely excited to be welcoming the iconic Marco Pierre White to New Zealand and this year’s Taste of Auckland Festival. It seems only fitting that we celebrate Marco’s arrival with a celebratory dinner and have him as guest of honour at the country’s largest food festival.”
Eliott says this year’s festival will feature a new layout, fresh aesthetic and innovative feature line-up which will be revealed when tickets go on sale in August. Taste of Auckland and event partner You Travel are offering special packages for those living outside of Auckland to attend the event.
‘Dine With Marco Pierre White’, Thursday 31 October 2019 This White Tie Dinner includes four course dinner, matching wines, entertainment, charity auction and tickets to Taste of Auckland. Tables and individual seats on sale from Monday 8 July from $350 pp via hospitality@lemongrassproductions.co.nz
Taste of Auckland is supported by Auckland Live, Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development (ATEED), You Travel, Kronenbourg and No 1 Family Estate.
