A long weekend in the Wairarapa

I zipped down to the Wairarapa last Friday to give a cooking class at my brother Pat and partner Lynne’s place. HaHa. There’s no zipping down to the Wairarapa from Waiheke. It’s a day trip! Waiheke to Auckland, Auckland to Wellington, then over the hills to the Wairarapa. Once you get there, it is paradise. Such a foodie spot! Pat & Lynne have a prolific vegetable garden, and a chook run in their small orchard that I envied.

Wairararpa — Chook-chook-chook, and they come running!

I met up with Nalini and Colin from Lot 8 EVVO and used some of their gorgeous oils in my class. And called in to the Prodigal Daughter to grab some Sicilian pork sausages and coppa

. Everywhere I looked there was great food, and people enjoying it. Greytown is going off! What a buzz! I was there just 3 years ago but it seems as if the number of restaurants and cafés has doubled. There is fresh food, smoked food, fermented food, award-winning olive oils, award-winning pies, award-winning wines … I won’t be leaving it 3 years before I go back.

If you would like a private cooking class in your town, send me an email and let’s talk. [email protected]