Top UK food critic William Sitwell’s culinary tour of Auckland
Region’s eateries, cuisine and culture to be dished up over a day of gastronomic immersion for leading restaurant reviewer and writer
Renowned British restaurant critic and MasterChef UK judge, William Sitwell will experience a day-long culinary tour of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this week.
With a packed itinerary visiting fine dining treasures and local foodie haunts, a highlight of the private food tour includes a meal at Homeland, known as the food embassy of Aotearoa and the Pacific, sitting down with celebrated Kiwi chef Peter Gordon.
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Known as much for his love of authentic cuisine as his witty, sometimes provocative and occasionally controversial views, William Sitwell is one of the United Kingdom’s leading food writers and restaurant critic for The Telegraph. This month, he is visiting Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time to promote his latest book The Restaurant – A History of Eating Out, a gastronomic exploration covering the past 2000 years, at the Auckland Writers Festival.
The tour has been organised by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the region’s economic and cultural agency and The Big Foody, a well-known Auckland-based food tour operator.
Annie Dundas, Head of Visitor Economy at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said: “There are few better ways to learn about the culture of a destination than exploring its food story. Auckland’s hospitality industry is full of incredible eateries and bars serving the highest quality ingredients and is bursting with innovation. Naturally, there is a strong New Zealand and Pacific influence, but the eclectic mix of food and flavour on offer echoes our region’s vibrant and diverse population.”
Each year, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited develops Iconic Auckland Eats, a 100-long list of the region’s most beloved dishes. It highlights unique and well-loved dishes that can only be enjoyed in Tāmaki Makaurau, with nominators sharing stories of their favourite food experiences.
The third iteration of Iconic Auckland Eats launched at the end of 2022 — a testament to the region’s thriving hospitality industry.
Elle Armon Jones of the Big Foody said: “From timeless classics and authentic cuisine to epic fusion eateries, Auckland really has a brilliant food scene to showcase. We are thrilled to have the chance to let this esteemed writer and food expert take in some of the greatest that Auckland has to offer. We hope William feels inspired.”
William Sitwell’s culinary sojourn of Auckland kicks off by exploring the wonders of Karangahape, Dominion and Ponsonby Roads — three rich food areas in the heart of the city — canvassing some of Auckland’s greatest coffee, cheeses and baked goods through to site visits of favourite local eateries. This is followed by lunch with the celebrity chef at Homeland. The day ends with a curated Aotearoa fine wine tasting, topped off by dinner at Culprit dining room, known for its nostalgic Kiwi cuisine with a modern global edge.
As part of the Auckland Writers Festival lineup, William Sitwell will also be speaking on May 18 at a ticketed lunch at MoVida and on May 19 at the Aotea Centre, where he will share tales of his most memorable food experiences and the evolution of dining out.
The event is supported by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
About William Sitwell
William Sitwell is one of Britain’s leading food writers and restaurant critic for The Telegraph. He has written a number of books including A History of Food in 100 Recipes, The Restaurant; A History of Eating Out, and Eggs or Anarchy. William also runs the world’s smallest wine store, William’s House Wines, has a monthly newsletter, Eat Well, Sip Well, Live Well and runs his acclaimed Sitwell Supper Club at his home in West Somerset.
William Sitwell Events at Auckland Writers Festival
Adventures in Food: Lunch with William Sitwell
Dishing It Up: William Sitwell
The Sitwells: Behind the Facade
Festival Gala Night: True Stories Told Live: In Real Life
Evolution of New Zealand cuisine: Christall Lowe, David Cohen, Al Brown chaired by William Sitwell
About Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s economic and cultural agency committed to making our region a desirable place to live, work, visit, invest and do business.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.
