In these covid times, it is heartening to discover that the Central Otago wine, food and beverage celebration Eat.Taste.Central (E.T.C) is still on the menu for the month 24 September until 25 October.
The abundance of culinary offerings is organised by Tourism Central Otago, with support from a range of local, regional and national businesses.
Alison Mason, Media and Marketing Manager for Central Otago District Council, is delighted that the expo, now in its fifth edition, is able to go ahead.
She wants people, both local and visiting, to celebrate the region’s taste pioneers, both past and present, as well as to enjoy the unique products of the area.
The hospitality sector is encouraged to use local producers in their food line-up.
The focus is to entice customers to visit multiple venues, increasing the profile of Central Otago as a food and beverage destination, with the challenge to, “Taste your way through the region with the Central Otago Regional Menu, then vote for your favourite overall experiences in the E.T.C People’s Choice Awards.”
In the Cromwell area, you can go on a mission to select the best of the ‘Pie, Burgers and Sandwiches’ category, with a lamb shank pie at the Black Rabbit, Bannockburn, a Boeuf a la Bourguignonne pie at Domaine Thomson Wines, a Burger Afloat to fuel you along the Lake Dunstan Trail, and a lamb and pear pie at the Highlands Cafe. Still hungry? A Buffalo Fried Chicken Burger at Nichol’s Cafe and a Shrek Lamb Burger at Southern Fare will see you ready to vote!
That’s only one of the categories though – there’s brunch, tapas, shared plates & boards, main meals, sweets and desserts and other events and experiences – all available for perusal on the brochure, ready to collect at any of the venues.
Worth mentioning for the Cromwell area are the Cloudy Bay Indulge Tasting, Mindfood Long Lunch at The Canyon, Vertical Pinot Tasting with Rudi Bauer of Quartz Reef Wines, and Journey through History & Wine, at Domaine Thomson Wines.
Further details on: www.eattastecentral.co.nz. While New Zealand is under Covid-19 restrictions, follow instructions at covid19.govt.nz
