A slice of heaven at the South Canterbury Wine and Food Festival
March 3rd 2010 00:25
There is little to disturb the Saturday morning serenity on the main street of Timaru, New Zealand. It's Waitangi day, the national holiday. Most of the shops are closed. A few cars sit patiently at the lights. A familiy browses quietly in a shop window. A young couples strolls into a side-street.
Today, we are told, most Timaruvians are at Hospice South Canterbury’s 2010 Wine and Food Festival.
Indeed here we find them, in a dell ringed by tall native trees, between two ponds in the stunning Timaru Botanic Gardens; Grans, Grand-dads, Mums, Dans and kids, the whole community is here, at picnic tables, under sun umbrellas, sprawled on the grass in front of the stage, browsing, tippling or nibbling at the stalls.
Run by the Hospice South Canterbury, the festival is one of the region's premier events. It attracts producers from all over South Canterbury, foodies and wine buffs from all over New Zealand and even a few international wine and food and writers. (Watch for it in the next Gourmet Traveller!)
Nostalgic Kiwi fare, like whitebait sandwiches in paper serviettes, is served up alongside 100% pure NZ organics, like strawberries and cream in biodegradable bowls. Mums sizzle sausages for St Joseph’s School, while rising Michelin stars show off their skills for Aoraki Polytech’s chef school. There is international cuisine; crepes and curries, panini and pad Thai, souvlaki and sushi. There are world class wines from local vineyards. Places once synonymous with sheep and stone fruits, like Opihi and Kurow, now speak of Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
Exquisite local crafts are on display and up for sale - jewellery, ceramics and clothes. Local musicians entertain, like stunning new voice Kate Stevenson, runner up in the local Caroline Bay Talent Quest. The Gazebo is a gallery of local art and poetry.
Great wine, good food, sweet song and fine art, in a lush indigenous garden – at two in the afternoon, it’s an idyll of modern civilisation. It's a slice of Kiwi heaven.
Stafford Street Timaru
Today, we are told, most Timaruvians are at Hospice South Canterbury’s 2010 Wine and Food Festival.
The South Canterbury wine and food festival
Indeed here we find them, in a dell ringed by tall native trees, between two ponds in the stunning Timaru Botanic Gardens; Grans, Grand-dads, Mums, Dans and kids, the whole community is here, at picnic tables, under sun umbrellas, sprawled on the grass in front of the stage, browsing, tippling or nibbling at the stalls.
The Whitebait Wagon at the South Canterbury wine and food festival
Run by the Hospice South Canterbury, the festival is one of the region's premier events. It attracts producers from all over South Canterbury, foodies and wine buffs from all over New Zealand and even a few international wine and food and writers. (Watch for it in the next Gourmet Traveller!)
Organic strawberries and cream at the South Canterbury wine and food festival.
Nostalgic Kiwi fare, like whitebait sandwiches in paper serviettes, is served up alongside 100% pure NZ organics, like strawberries and cream in biodegradable bowls. Mums sizzle sausages for St Joseph’s School, while rising Michelin stars show off their skills for Aoraki Polytech’s chef school. There is international cuisine; crepes and curries, panini and pad Thai, souvlaki and sushi. There are world class wines from local vineyards. Places once synonymous with sheep and stone fruits, like Opihi and Kurow, now speak of Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
Opihi Vineyard, at the South Canterbury Wine and food Festival
Exquisite local crafts are on display and up for sale - jewellery, ceramics and clothes. Local musicians entertain, like stunning new voice Kate Stevenson, runner up in the local Caroline Bay Talent Quest. The Gazebo is a gallery of local art and poetry.
Great wine, good food, sweet song and fine art, in a lush indigenous garden – at two in the afternoon, it’s an idyll of modern civilisation. It's a slice of Kiwi heaven.
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