WONDERFUL WANAKA

The ride from Franz Josef to Wanaka is most scenic and finally when I reach the town of Wanaka nestled lakeside, encircled by colossal mountain ranges and nature reserves, I fall in love with perhaps one of the most beautiful locales in New Zealand…. 

FARM TO FORK….LITERALLY!

I drive into Wanaka right in time for lunch and my first stop is Bistro Gentil where in a magical setting surrounding a pretty courtyard, Chef Mario Rodrigues garners the regional produce and sublimates them through his imaginative and refined cuisine, bursting with flavours and respectful of the product. 

He conceives dishes with intelligence and intuition, subtlety and creative spirit and I get to savour the essential delights of the table. House made chicken liver pate is served with the most artistic flair without compromising on the taste, a most original dish beyond creative but still ‘organic’ as opposed to science experiments  is a highlight for me. On offer are also Maude wines, from the nearby vineyard to reduce the environmental footprint of transporting this!

OF NATURE & LOCAL MAORI CULTURE

Wanaka is one of the most scenic places I have encountered. The majestic craggy mountains and the beautiful lake form a magnificent backdrop to this beautiful town. Wanaka has so much to offer that it is almost surreal I love their outdoors and the fabulous food, but no holiday to Wanaka is complete without a picture of the world famous Wanaka willow tree! Wanaka is also the preliminary point to discover nearby Mt. Aspiring and the National Park. I am staying at the Edgewater Resort and pulling away myself from the scenic beauty of the lake from my balcony is bit difficult, but a walking tour with my Maori guide Joe takes me closer to the lake and the tree and the local culture.  

With Joe, I get to experience an up close and personal Hongi and Haka at the Wanaka Tree which ended with a unique Maori bone carving necklace as a souvenir of my experience.

LAVENDER FARM & AERIEL VIEWS

I love lavender in its original state as it brings a sense of peace and calm and looking at beautiful lavender fields is something I truly enjoy. For an entrance fee of just about a 100 INR, I get to wander over the 10 acres lavender field and gardens. 

I see the fruit trees, alpacas and sheep. Of course, a lavender farm is inevitable to retail its products. Out here, there is a wide variety of products to choose from, including oils, lotions and the works. My favourite part is enjoying a scoop of lavender chocolate ice cream in their quaint little café. I am in love with the natural ambience, peaceful and oh so charming.

At 3030 metres high, Mount Aspiring is often called the ‘Matterhorn of the South’ I take a Southern Alps air flight over Lake Wanaka and Wanaka Township​ and am simply mesmerized by the views; Highlights include, Treble Cone ski field​, Matukituki Valley, Bonar and Voltar glaciers, Mount Aspiring​& the Southern Alps. I am back in town by the early evening to grab dinner and to get my fill of yet another sunset over the lake before heading for a movie at Ruby Cinema & Bar and calling it a day!

FAST FACTS

Best Place to Stay: Stay in one of Edgewater's studios, suites or apartment accommodations on the shores of Lake Wanaka.

Best Places to Dine: Bistro Gentil for a farm to table experience, Big Fig for slow food served fast & Francesca’s for super awesome Italian.
My story first published in Statesman

MASTER CLASS WITH CELEBRITY CHEF TANMOY SAVERDEKAR @COFFEE TREE BY CINEPOLIS

A great start to the weekend came in the form of a masterclass & a fun cook off at Coffee Tree, Cinepolis’s signature coffee shop

THE CHEF

Friday the 16th of February was indeed a special day!  A few of us were lucky to meet and cook along with Tanmoy Saverdekar, one of the most popular chefs in Bengaluru and for sure signifies a vital reference point for aspiring chefs. He comes with a 20 year experience in the food space and is best known for his aptitude to innovate and his novel creativity, with great attention to the presentation of dishes. He’s the owner of The Winking Macaron a premier boulangere and is also a consultant chef to many aspiring restaurateurs!

THE COFFEE TREE EXPERIENCE

I would say thanks to Cinepolis India for giving us this wonderful insight into what goes into the making of the Coffee Tree experience!

A well balanced ‘finger, fork and spoon’ menu is available for order at the well-stocked coffee shop, attached to the cinema or one can choose to order in at the seat as well, with dishes ranging from Penne Arrabiata, Grilled chicken double decker sandwich, chicken momos to brownies to a range of exciting beverages like the Strawberry frappe and Mint Mojito. The USP of the Coffee Tree lounge is that even the non-cinema goers can drop in for a sip and bite here!

THE MASTERCLASS

In this impressive culinary master class, Chef Tanmoy astoundingly stood out as an artist with the plate as a canvas and food as a medium. His objective over this exclusive master class was to showcase some of his favourite combos from the ‘Coffee Tree’ menu. We also learnt that inspite of the many restrictions of fire safety and equipment used in a Cinema Kitchen, Cinepolis ensures freshness and taste in all items on the menu. The excited chatter of the audience built up as Chef Tanmoy talks about the 3 combos he’s going to demonstrate! 

The star of the show at the masterclass was the Chilli Cheese toast …which tastes divine with Oreo Milk shake. The Chicken Burger with cold coffee, Veg pasta with Masala lemonade was equally stellar.

THE COOK OFF

Whether you are an ambitious chef or an open the packet and heat kind of a cook, there is something exhilarating about participating head-to-head in a fast and furious cook-off to determine who will create the most crowd pleasing dish in under 20 minutes! Ayesha Tabassum from Indian Express Indulge, Ravi & Akshay from EazyDiner & Deepa a food blogger competed fiercely! These winners from the Instagram competition announced in the beginning of the masterclass got luck to cook a double decker sandwich and a Mint Mojito using their creativity!

With grillers on, very quick hands chopping vegetables, the participants powered on as Chef Tanmoy engaged with each one and enlightened the audience on the his favourite foods, motivation for becoming a chef. Chef Tanmoy gave interesting tips like rubbing Mint on the palms before muddling it for extra flavour, using just the correct amount of filling for the perfect bite etc! The Culinary Cook Off also exhibited that Coffee Tree is a dining destination where fresh and choicest ingredients are vital to creating the menu!