Food and Drink

Vaibhav Vishen calls himself a progressive Indian chef because he uses the traditional recipes and methods of his Indian training but is not bound by them. For him, the methods, ingredients and presentation of traditional dishes should evolve with changing tastes, and permit new ingredients, substitutes and new influences. Born and raised in Kashmir to well-to-do parents … [Read more...] about Vaibhav Vishen – a progressive but truly Indian chef

Mark Hartstonge, executive chef at the prestigious Wellington Club, 49 years old gets up early to work the breakfast shift at the club on weekdays because after thirty years in the business he still gets a big buzz from providing service and having happy customers. “Many of the people who come to eat at the club have been customers for years,” he says, “following me around … [Read more...] about Mark Hartstonge – service driven and still learning

MacLean Fraser, the executive chef at Wellington’s Bolton Hotel and the 2018 Chef of the Year, is something of a Renaissance man. He has a degree in classical studies, hunts game, brews beer and plays cricket. At 38 years of age, he has advanced from being a commis chef at Wellington’s well regarded Bouquet Garni Restaurant in 2004 to take up the position of executive chef … [Read more...] about MacLean Fraser top class chef and Renaissance man

An old Edwardian building on Wellington’s eclectic Cuba Street, once a temperance hotel, has been revamped yet again to become the second Naumi Hotel in New Zealand. Most recently the CQ Hotel and Trekkers before that, the People’s Palace was built by the Salvation Army in 1902 to provide safe and alcohol-free lodgings for non-drinkers and temperance folk. Today the … [Read more...] about Naumi Hotel: revamped Wellington icon

Joshua Ross, the head chef of Bellamy’s by Logan Brown at Parliament, has won the Jeune Chef of the Year competition run by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society, and will compete in their international competition. The competition was held in conjunction with Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Wellington on Saturday, June 12. Five young … [Read more...] about Joshua Ross wins Jeune Chef