We could all do with some blue skies ahead after this annus horribilis and the F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic Summer Series is just the ticket. Held from November 6-15 in sunny Hawke’s Bay, this event is a glorious celebration of the good things in life. Here are our top picks from this year’s line-up.

Wallingford Homestead's Chris Stockdale


Flour and Stone 
Wallingford Homestead, Waipukurau, November 8, $75
Flour may be a humble ingredient, but it is the base of many a classic dish (come on, who doesn’t love pasta?) and this is your chance to learn from a master. Chris Stockdale, a former Sydney-based chef and now head honcho at the boutique Wallingford Homestead, will be running a workshop to get you whipping up sweet and savoury dishes like a boss, including his famous Danish pastries, which had Sydneysiders queuing around the block.

Wine tasting at Easthope Family Winegrowers


Secret Cellar Doors 
Wine tour with Cameron Douglas, November 9, $180
Led by Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas, this is a voyage of vinicultural discovery through some of Hawke’s Bay’s best wineries – even some that aren’t usually open to the public. Transport will be aboard a luxury coach, with guided tours of Easthope Family Winegrowers, Paritua Winery, Decibel Wines, Bilancia Wines and De La Terre Winery and tastings at each. There’ll also be stops for fresh-baked pastries, platters and picnics made using Hawke’s Bay’s finest local produce. Sounds like a big day out to us.

Cookbook author and broadcaster Nici Wickes


Nici Wickes – Come Travel with Me
Kiwiesque, Eskdale, November 10, $165
Cookbook author and all-round good sort Nici Wickes serves up a lively tasting tour of world cuisine inspired by her visits to Balinese and Vietnamese street-food stalls, Delhi’s hectic spice markets and the rich, traditional flavours of Italy – all from the serene and comfortable surrounds of the Kiwiesque Luxury Lodge and Winery.

James Honore, head chef at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers


Hawke's Bay BMW Presents Driving Exceptional Taste, with Josh Emett and James Honore 
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Te Awanga, November 11, $225
Brace for a showstopper when Michelin-star-winning chef Josh Emett collaborates with Cape Kidnappers head chef James Honore. The pair will serve a six-course degustation menu showcasing fresh, local and quality seasonal produce at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. Guests will ride in style to and from the venue in chauffeur-driven BMWs. Pre-dinner drinks and canapes, matching wines (optional – $105 extra) and petit fours are guaranteed to make for a decadent night of guilt-free over-indulging.

Master of cheese, Juliet Harbutt


A Horizontal & Vertical Cheese Tasting
Te Whare Kiwikiwi, Havelock North, November 11, $55
Wrap your mind and your taste buds around the complexities of cheese at the Horizontal & Vertical Cheese Tasting. Learn how to recognise the differences in a cheese at three different ages, and how a wine’s terroir changes the flavour of cheese when the two are paired. Join gastronomic-science lecturer and BusinessDesk cheese columnist Juliet Harbutt for a tasting of exceptional, lesser-known artisan New Zealand cheeses, paired with the best wines from Advintage.

 

Over 100 wines will be available for tasting at the Hawke's Bay Wine Car Boot Party


Hawke’s Bay Wine Car Boot Party 
Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay, Tomoana, November 13, $40 (general admission)
Who doesn’t love a car boot party, especially when the boots are packed with wine? More than 35 Hawke’s Bay wineries will line up in the Waikoko Gardens to offer a selection of over 100 of the region’s finest wines. Local producers, chef tasting stations and food trucks will be serving meals made from the province’s renowned produce while you enjoy a relaxed evening of wine, food and live entertainment.

 

Church Road Winery


A Vintage Odyssey
Church Road Winery, Taradale, November 13, $90
One of New Zealand’s oldest wineries, Church Road, will be reliving one of Hawkes Bay's most legendary vintages. Taste a selection of wines from their 2013 "Vintage of a Lifetime", including Church Road TOM – the pinnacle of vintages. Hosted by chief winemaker Chris Scott and catered by famed local platter creators Mitzi & Twinn.

Gochu executive chef Jason Kim


Gochu Got You Good
Bistronomy, Napier, November 13 & 14, $120
Jason Kim, executive chef of hot new Auckland eatery Gochu, brings his celebrated take on Korean cuisine to Napier for an evening of inspired fare. Formerly of Sidart, Kim was named one to watch in 2017, and has since established himself as one of the Super City’s most exciting chefs. He teams up with Bistronomy head chef James Beck to combine traditional Korean flavours with the very best Hawke’s Bay ingredients to create a modern six-course menu with drink pairings. Arrive hungry.

F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic Summer Series November 6-15
fawc.co.nz