Ilaria and I had a great trip down to Christchurch for The Great Kiwi Beer Festival last weekend. The weather was amazing, although stifling in the cooking marquee, and a huge crowd of 12,000 milled around peacefully enjoying different brews from more than 40 brewing companies, popping into seminars and demonstrations throughout the day. Hagley Park is an awesome setting (and a great place to find truffles in autumn by the way!).
Ilaria, though, was shocked at seeing the devastation from the earthquakes. Lot after empty lot turned over to grass or scoria or being utilised as a car park. Sometimes you have to see these things to actually feel them, to get some kind of an understanding of what has occurred and the impact it has had on the people of Christchurch. But Christchurch we loved!
Cooking in a tent presents its own challenges, but we thrive on this sort of thing, and love interacting with the crowds. Ilaria rocked Watermelon & Feta with Lemon-infused Oil and I did Sweet Corn with Lime & Tarragon Mayo, then we both worked on Holy Guacamole with Extras. Ilaria looked over longingly to the empty platters at the end of each dem, but the food was all scoffed … we had to go and buy tacos from one of the food trucks for our lunch! (They were pretty good though, so no grizzles there.)
Rolling corn in tarragon butter
Chop chop choppin’
Lots of peeps watching! (No one nodding off in the heat which is a good sign!)
Ilaria’s Holy Guacamole presentation – pretty damned good for cooking in a tent!
Ilaria with Elle from Epic Brewery
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