A foodie's guide to Taste of Auckland in Partnership with Electrolux

Mark your calendars, Taste of Auckland is right around the corner. Here are the highlights no foodie can afford to miss.

When it comes to food festivals, few measure up to Taste of Auckland in Partnership with Electrolux.

From an all-star line-up of local and international food legends to masterclasses and global flavours, this November, the Dish team will be front and centre for four days of pure deliciousness.
In a bid to keep you in the loop and well-across this year's Taste of Auckland line-up, we've curated the ultimate foodie's guide.

Here's what you need to know come Thursday, November 16.

1. An Aussie MasterChef favourite will be on homesoil
This year the festival welcomes MasterChef Australia co-judge and celebrated restaurateur George Calombaris with a special opening night dinner. The Melbourne-based celebrity chef will be on-site during the Thursday and Saturday sessions, serving up delicious pro-tips and industry insight with hungry punters.

2. Our favourite local eateries will be on show
At the heart of Taste of Auckland is a selection of New Zealand’s best restaurants serving their signature dishes, with a smorgasbord of flavours. Travel around the world and discover a taste of Thailand from Saan, Italian inspired food from Baduzzi, authentic Indian from 1947 Eatery, China with Artwok, Asian fusion with Tok Tok, acclaimed French cuisine with Paris Butter, American inspired BBQ with Miss Moonshines, modern interpretations of traditional Russian fare with Vodka Room, a melting pot of modern classics from Euro, and a special Eat NZ collaborative kitchen headed up by the Cult Project.

3. Brush up on your culinary know-how with the Electrolux Chefs' Secrets
For a more intimate experience, secure your spot at the Electrolux Chefs’ Secrets event, where you can cook and dine with some of the country’s top names in food, including Nic Watt from True Food & Yoga, Clooney’s newly-appointed chef Jacob Kear and FISH chef Fraser Shenton. Please note, this event is restricted to guests on a first come, first served basis for only 15 crowns, so be quick to secure your seat.

4. Enjoy a taste of home with Gourmet Hāngi
For a contemporary take on traditional Māori cuisine, check out the Gourmet Hāngi. Hosted by hāngi masters Rewi Spraggon and Riki Bennett, guest chefs including newly announced food writers and former Masterchef winners Karena and Casey Bird, Sergio Maglione of Farina, Kyle Street of Culprit and Ben Bayly’s team at The Grove, will each offer festival goers their own unique contemporary gourmet take on a Māori hāngi in different sessions.

5. Soak it up at the Electrolux Taste Theatre
In keeping with previous years, the Taste Theatre will play host to a legendary line-up of culinary talent, serving up cooking demos throughout the four-day festival. 

There will be free live cooking demonstrations from Simon Gault of Giraffe, The Tasting Shed’s Ganesh Raj and Saan’s Lek Trirattanavatin. They join Cazador chef Dariush Lolaiy, Cameron Knox from Tok Tok and acclaimed Masterchef co-judge George Calombaris, who is scheduled to make appearances in the live demo theatre on the Saturday.

6. Get on the wellness wagon with Good Taste
A must-see for the wholefood fans, Good Taste sees Buffy Ellen from Be Good Organics, Megan May from Little Bird Organics, Lauren Glucina from Ascension Kitchen and Masterchef winner Aaron Brunet join previously announced Art Green, Matilda Rice and our very own Kelly Gibney in the Electrolux Taste Theatre for a deliciously nutritious series of foodie demonstrations, tips and tricks.

7. Eat and groove, groove and eat
Notorious for always doing one step better, Taste of Auckland’s exhilarating live music showcase is curated by the maestro of funk, Peter Urlich. In keeping with previous festivals, there will be plenty of entertainment on-site to soak up throughout the duration of the four-day event.

8. Taste the tipples
For the budding mixologist, there will be plenty of action to quench your thirst. This year, there will be a series of wine masterclasses, cocktail bars and Brew Street, with craft beer brewers Liberty, Cassels, Tuatara, Good George and Birkenhead Brewery all confirmed to take part.

9. Tune in to the Dish team's live stream
This year, we're upping the ante and live-streaming from the Electrolux Taste Theatre for those of you who don't want to miss a beat. Be sure to tune in to our Facebook Live coverage and keep an eye on our Instagram story for an exclusive taste of the action in real-time.

Taste of Auckland in partnership with Electrolux, Thursday November 16 – Sunday, November 19, Western Springs, Auckland.

To learn more about Taste of Auckland or to secure your tickets for this year's event, see their website right here.