EDITORS NOTE
This is an interim Newsletter as there have been no reports from Societies and is thus in the form of a reminder for the Stanley Harris Dinner. The Stanley Harris Dinner is being held in Wellingtonon Saturday 14 May 2011at The Wellesley Boutique Hotel, Maginnity Street. The chef Marc Soper has prepared an impressive menu and the wines are being carefully matched in conjunction with Peter Whittington from the Wellington Society. Details of these will be sent later.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT
The New Year is now in full swing and I hope everyone had a happy and restful break.
It is pleasing to see so many Societies embracing the new website and we are getting very good feedback from members who appreciate the up to date information that can now be easily viewed.
We have also had response to the site by a winery that wants to present its wines to members and several societies have taken up the offer. We hope more of this will occur as well as interaction between members in different towns.
Remember the address is www.nzwineandfood.org.nz
We hope Wellingtonand Christchurch Societies will join in shortly with their plans for the year.
The Stanley Harris dinner in memory of our New Zealand founder is being held in Wellington this year on May 14th so is very central for all societies to send at least a couple of members and partners. The details follow and there is plenty of accommodation available at the Wellesley Boutique Hotel or nearby.
It is a fabulous menu with matching wines and a jolly good time will be had by everyone who attends.
Ralph and I as well as Stuart and Kathleen Brooker are off to Sydneyin April to attend the Victor Gibson Dinner held by the Australian Federation of Wine and Food Societies and there we will be promoting our convention being held in HawkesBayApril next year.
We hope to attract a good contingent of Australians to our sunshine Wine Countryregion. We will have an Art Deco theme along with great wines and superb food..
We are nervously approaching vintage again this year and hoping the weather will stay fine and dry for a long autumn so that plenty of good quality wines will be produced for your drinking pleasure.
If any members wish to contact me directly with ideas for our Federation please don’t hesitate to email me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Philipa Harrison
President
Email: levels@beachhouse.co.nz
StanleyHarris Dinner Accommodation
The Wellesley Boutique Hotel has 13 double rooms all with ensuite bathrooms. The best rooms are usually $485 but for the Stanley Harris Dinner the Hotel is offering: $199 double including breakfasts ($179 single). There are 4 such rooms. While all rooms are spacious and luxurious some are slightly smaller. The 4 slightly smaller rooms are $189 double including breakfasts ($169 single). There are another 4 smaller rooms for $179 double including breakfasts ($159 single). There is one room that is a small double which would probably best suit a single for $159 including breakfast.
The rooms can be viewed on their web site
www.wellesleyboutiquehotel.co.nz
For further information and to book please contact the hotel direct at
reservations@wellesleyboutiquehotel.co.nz Mention the StanleyHarrisDinner to secure the discount.
Alternative accommodation
The nearest hotels to Maginnity Streetare both nearby in Featherston Street. They are The Ibis and The Holiday Inn
StanleyHarris Dinner 2011
1. Canapés on arrival:
- Maple roasted pear and blue cheese tart with baby rocket
- Rare beef on crostini with béarnaise
- Seared scallop on minted pea with potato skins
2. Roast chicken and manuka honey crème soup with white truffle oil and chives
3. Sumac and brown sugar scented fresh water salmon served with a crisp apple, fennel and grapefruit salad,chèvremousse and grapefruit ginger glaze
4. Orange sorbet with champagne
5. Szechwanspiced roasted duck breast on a sauté of Chinese cabbage and lapschong sausage, with oyster mushrooms in liquorice and roasted cherry sauce
6. Pan seared venison loin, spiced pumpkin puree, wild mushrooms and calovo nero with
pinot noir reduction
7. Passion fruit Bavarian crème, poached pear and white chocolate mousse with pistachio soil and passion fruit coulis
8. Assorted New Zealandcheese platter for the table to share, served with fig puree, walnuts, grapes and crackers
Tea and coffee
Where: The Wellesley Boutique Hotel
Maginnity Street
Wellington
Time: 7pm
COST: $110.00 pp
RSVP: by 4 May 2011to:
The Secretary
The Federation of Wine & Food Societies of New Zealand
PO Box1283
TAUPO
Or email maureen@sando.co.nz
Please post cheque made out to Federation of Wine & Food Societies to Maureen at the above P O Box or pay direct to BNZ 020100 0833982-00