This year the Central Districts Field Days has found a new way to engage with people - through their taste buds.
Event organiser Cheryl Riddell said this year from March 15 to 17, there will be a large marquee presenting a Taste of the Central Districts.
“This year, we thought it was time to bring out the foodies in our visitors with a selection of our district’s finest offerings.
“We wanted products that are up-market and that people are either already familiar with or will find once tasted, they will want more of.”
Part of the experience will be many fine food producers including Hi I.Q. Liquor Merchants Ltd, and Shotz.
Amongst the line-up are Damon Pratt and Alisha Phelps’ Ruahine Wines and Port.
These products start out as spray free, and in some cases, organic, fruits which are then transformed into wine or port. Their port is sulphite and preservative free.
Ruahine’s Red Paradise Port – Saint Andrew won an award for the best fruit port at the New Zealand Fruit Winemakers’ Awards in 2011 along with their Roaring Red Port of Saint Bruce which took second place in the port competition.
Greytown Fine Distillates’ apprentice distiller Andrew Wright said they are bringing Light House Gin which was a hit at the 2011 National Field Days and won a Silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011.
Manufactured by hand, the Kapiti Coast based Soprano Limoncello producer Corrado Ronchetti and Annemarie Tiffen, owners of Soprano Ristorante in Paraparaumu will be introducing their new Limoncello crème and a pre-mix cocktail to marquee visitors.
“We love coming to Central Districts Field Days,” Annemarie said. “We have been twice before and enjoy meeting a fresh new lot of people.”
Hoping to introduce visitors to the Central Districts Field Days to another kind of cocktail is Steve Nathan of Winerax’s Frappe Vino which was launched in July 2011.
“This makes frozen cocktails and instead of using spirits uses wine,” Steve said.
He will be taking two slushy machines to make and dispense the product from.
Coming from Taranaki is Ron Trigg with Mike’s Organic Brewery. He and his team from the oldest craft brewery will be selling glasses of beer, along with four-packs so people can take it away.
Ron said Mike’s Organic Brewery is the oldest craft brewery in New Zealand at 23 years and he bought it in 2007.
While the line up looks like it is all about beverages, it is not. Yummy Mummy’s Cheesecakes of Woodville will be there with Trish and Alastair Rodwell setting out samples of their cheesecakes.
“This is our first time exhibiting at the Central Districts Field Days,” Trish said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
One of their top selling cheesecakes is the Gorge Slip Cheesecake, a chocolate cheesecake that is decorated with rubble consisting of crumbled hokey pokey, crushed lollies and chocolate peanuts, plus white and dark chocolate.
“We will take the opportunity to talk with people about how the Manawatu Gorge slip is affecting Woodville,” she said.
Also attending is Prenzels Distilling Company with all their infused oils and vinaigrettes and much more along with Nuttz Gourmet with roasted and raw nuts like almonds, cashews, macadamias, alone or mixed, coated or not.
Part of the fun, is a draw for a hamper filled with products from each of the stall holders in the Taste of Central Districts marquee. Coupons will be available in the Central Districts Field Days publication and also at our information booths and the winner’s coupon will be drawn on Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm.
Also, an extra treat is that on Friday and Saturday, the Navy Dixie Band will provide musical entertainment.
Getting to the Central Districts Field Days is easy. The main entrance to Central Districts Field Days is through the South Street at Manfeild Park. Anyone travelling north is encouraged to use the car park accessed from Awahuri turn-off into Kawakawa Road.
Gates open at 8.30am each day until 4.30pm on Thursday and Friday. Gates will close at 4pm on Saturday. Admission is $12 per adult. Seniors can get in for $9 on Thursday and Friday only. Children under 16 years, accompanied by an adult get in for free.
For more information, contact Ms Riddell on 06 354 0000.
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