19 dishes and wine tastings we can’t wait to try at Eat.Taste.Central
By MiNDFOOD
Eat.Taste.Central is finally underway, and we can’t wait to taste the best of Central Otago at the month-long event.
The food and wine festival will see cafes, restaurants and cellar doors collectively produce a Central Otago Regional Menu celebrating the local cuisine from September 24 through until 25 October 2021.
With Central Otago being one of the best food and wine destinations in the country, Eat.Taste.Central aims to encourage culinary-inspired travel to experience everything the local food scene has to offer.
There are so many delicious dishes and wines on our ‘to taste’ list – we’ve shared 19 of them that we can’t wait to try as we make our way around the region.
Dishes
Central Otago Goat Curry (GF, DF)
ASHOKA INDIAN RESTAURANT, ALEXANDRA
If you’re craving some Indian fare during Eat.Taste.Central, head to Ashoka Indian Restaurant for their goat curry main meal, slow cooked with aromatic spices to bring out the best flavours.
Local Products: Shingle Creek Chevon
Beverage Match: Clyde Village Pinot Noir
Red Wine Jus Braised Beef Cheek (GF)
FAIGANS KITCHEN & CAFÉ, MILLERS FLAT
Head to the newly reopened Faigan Kitchen & Cafe for a flavoursome meal of braised beef cheek with white truffle cream mash and local spring vegetables.
Local Products: Truffles, Ettrick Garden vegetables
Beverage Match: Cabernet Sauvignon
Prime Venison (GF, DF)
POST OFFICE CAFE & BAR, CLYDE
Clyde’s Post Office Cafe & Bar is serving up a stellar taste of the region at this year’s Eat.Taste.Central. The main meal is a Silver Fern Farms venison steak on duck fat roasted local potatoes, served with thyme-infused honey glazed carrots and Central Otago port jus.
Local Products: Silver Fern Farms, Biemond Market Gardens, Wild Central Otago honey
Beverage Match: Legacy Pinot Noir 2019
The Fallen Brothers
MOORINGS RESTAURANT, PISA MOORINGS
Enjoy the incredible flavours of Provenance Lamb with this main meal of seared, herb-crusted lamb cutlets with golden potatoes and sweet potato puree.
Local Products: Provenance Lamb, tomato, plums, orange sweet potato, potato
Beverage Match: Wakefield Pinot Noir
Buffalo Fried Chicken Burger
NICHOL’S CAFE, CROMWELL
After a day exploring Central Otago’s stunning sights, treat yourself to a buttermilk marinated fried chicken burger from Nichol’s Cafe in Cromwell – served in a brioche bun with coleslaw, avocado, spicy buffalo, ranch dressing and paired with fries.
Local Products: European Bakery Bread
Three Bites (GF, DF)
BANNOCKBURN HOTEL, BANNOCKBURN
Head to Bannockburn Hotel for a delicious tasting board of mackerel, pork belly and chicken terrine – the perfect start to a meal.
Local Products: Harbour Fish mackerel, Neat Meat pork belly, chicken & black pudding, Basil Parsley & Partners
Wild venison is on the menu at the historic Olivers Restaurant & Bar. The seared venison striploin is beautifully paired with a beetroot and goats cheese stack and balsamic roasted pears.
Local Products: Red Tussock Venison, Duntroon goats milk cheese
Beverage Match: Clyde Village Pinot Noir 2016
Caramelle Ripiene con Pasta Sfoglia
ARMANDO’S KITCHEN CAFÉ & RESTAURANT, CROMWELL
Transport your tastebuds to Italy with Armando’s fresh egg pasta with slow-braised duck. The flavoursome dish also features porcini mushroom, cavolo nero, pumpkin, mascarpone and walnuts and served with a sage and butter sauce.
Local Products: Basil Parsley & Partners, Cherry Tree Farm
Beverage Match: Te Kano Chardonnay
Pear and Walnut Empanadas
CARRICK WINERY & RESTAURANT, BANNOCKBURN
This dessert from Carrick Restaurant is a delightful sweet treat, with local pears, apply syrup and a honey parfait.
Local Products: Webb’s Fruit pears, Carrick eggs, Forage & Gold honey, Walnuts
Beverage Match: Carrick Bannockburn Pinot Blanc
Beef Wellington
BLACK RABBIT KITCHEN & BAR, BANNOCKBURN
A main dish that’s sure to impress, Black Rabbit Kitchen’s Beef Wellington is made with thyme grown in the restaurant garden and local pancetta.
Local Products: Restaurant grown thyme, Central Otago pancetta, Forage & Gold honey
Sample Venison served three ways at Alexandra’s Centennial Court Hotel, paired with a potato thyme croquette and beetroot relish.
Local Products: Locally grown herbs, Red Tussock Venison
Beverage Match: Pick & Shovel Pinot Noir Reserve
Taste of the Shed Platter (GFO)
THE CLOUDY BAY SHED, CROMWELL
This delicious platter for two with local products is the perfect match with Cloudy Bay wine and a gorgeous view.
Wine tastings
Misha’s Vineyard
Discover unique varieties, including the acclaimed new vintage rose at Misha’s Vineyard’s E.T.C Special tastings. Choose 6 tastings for $10, open daily from 10am – 4pm during the E.T.C month.
Judge Rock
Award-winning pinot noirs are a must-try at Judge Rock Vineyard, which hostels wine tastings every day from 11am – 5pm during E.T.C.
Thyme Hill
Thyme Hill Vineyard’s owner is hosting a special E.T.C tasting experience of merlot and rose, set in a stunning location with views of the Dunstan Mountains. The wine tastings are free of charge, bookings essential.
Domaine Thomson
Book a tasting at the stunning organic Domaine Thomson vineyard where you can sample wines from both Central Otago and Burgundy.
Legacy Vineyard
Running every Saturday and Sunday throughout E.T.C, Legacy Vineyard invites you to join them at their historic cellar door to sample their estate-grown pinot noir.
Quartz Reef Wines
A special wine tasting event on Saturday 9 October sees Quartz Reef Wines’ winemaker Rudi Bauer guide you through a journey of their pinot noir story and sample a selection of wonderful vintages. Bookings essential.
Scott Base – 4 Barrels Walking Wine Tour
The weekend of 1 – 4 October is the Feraud 140 – Weekend of Wine, featuring a host of events including the 4 Barrels Walking Wine Tour which stops by Cromwell’s Scott Base Vineyard.
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