The Taste Trails
Trail 1 - SOLD OUT
Omata/Oakura/Okato
Saturday 9 May / 10am - 4pm
MALVA CHOCOLATE
$190pp
MALVA Chocolate makes stone ground chocolate, handcrafted cacao and chocolate delicacies using ethically sourced, mostly organic natural ingredients. MALVA Chocolate Honey Caramels have been gold medal award winners in the NZ Chocolate Awards. Their new pineapple slices dipped in 70% organic chocolate are a decadent tropical treat.
TORET
After running Toret Cucina Italiana, an award winning restaurant in Ōākura, Nicolo now provides in house chef experiences and sells a range of delicious pasta and sauces made in his on-site kitchen at his home in Okato. Quality is his number one priority!
LWF DISTILLING - CRAFT NZ RUM
Born out of a passion for flavour Janet’s award winning rum distillery is based in Ōākura. It is a beautiful setting to learn about rum and taste some of the range.
MAISON AOTEAROA CHARCUTERIE
Bonjour lovers of fine food. After living in France for 14 years Mike and Julie have returned and are making French delicacies in Taranaki, learned from Mikes French degree in the age-old art of preserving meat called Charcuterie which he studied at at L'Université de Bayonne.
LUNCH - DAWN
Dawn is a welcoming coastal café in the village of Ōakura, set inside a beautifully restored church. Enjoy fresh seasonal food, house-made dishes, and great coffee in a relaxed space for locals and visitors alike.
Trail 2
New Plymouth
Saturday 9 May / 11am - 5pm
$190pp
THE CHEEKY BAGEL
Originally from Virginia in the U.S., Brian moved to New Plymouth after meeting and marrying a local Kiwi woman. With a lifelong love of food and a fondness for bagels, especially fresh bagels with cream cheese, he began developing a recipe through trial and error using New Zealand ingredients until he achieved his preferred flavour and texture. That work grew into The Cheeky Bagel, where Brian now hand-rolls, kettle-boils, and bakes his bagels in small batches, selling them on Sundays at the Taranaki Farmers Market alongside his wife and daughter, and supplying a small number of local cafés.
BLUE PETAL BOTANICALS
Martina of Blue Petal Botanicals is a modern alchemist with an engineer’s precision. Nearly 30 years ago, Martina emigrated from Croatia, eventually trading the Oil and Gas industry for a life rooted in the Taranaki soil. Alongside her husband, she has spent two decades transforming their farmlet into a thriving sanctuary of natives, orchards and the wellness Herb Field. Combining her technical background with a deep passion for organic horticulture and herbalism, Martina now distills the essence of the seasons into artisanal tonics, infused honey and culinary seasonings. The heart of her work is found in the "Hearth Room"—a beautifully restored milking shed where she hosts workshops on everything from herbal alchemy to wholesome kitchen crafts. During your visit, you’ll experience the warmth of the Hearth firsthand. Sip on her signature mulled wine—perfect for a winter’s day—and enjoy an exclusive tasting of her NZFA Finalist Oxymels. From these award-winning tonics to herb-infused honeys and specialty botanical drinks, you will discover the true taste of handcrafted wellness, born from the garden and shared at the table.
LITTLE LIBERTY CREAMERY
Embark on a journey of plant-based indulgence at Little Liberty Creamery, produced locally in the heart of Inglewood. Their handcrafted frozen desserts redefine the epitome of luxury, showcasing a sumptuous selection of their award winning flavours celebrated for their indulgent, velvety, and decadent profiles. Crafted with meticulous care and no compromise on quality, each spoonful offers a symphony of taste and texture that tantalise the senses. In alignment with her guiding principles, Peita’s creations are free of gluten, dairy, and soy, reflecting their unwavering commitment to quality ice cream.
NATURAL FARE HERBS
A staple brand in most supermarkets around the North Island, Russell grows Natural Fare Herbs in 11,000 square meters of glasshouses in New Plymouth. From the roadside, you would never know there was such an operation, but once you step inside the huge glasshouses, the sight and smell are just glorious! Russell has been doing this for 45 years, so he knows a thing or two! They grow 28 different types of herbs, 7 different salad greens and 6 types of lettuce. In the morning, their staff cut for the local cafés, restaurants and supermarkets and in the afternoon they focus on orders going out around the North Island, sometimes packing up to 200 different combinations of greens and herbs! Russell says his favourite herb in Marjoram for its smell. It’s the perfect place to be on an autumn day - warm and aromatic.
LUNCH - QUAILS NEST EATERY
Quails Nest, situated with a view of the Waiwhakaiho river valley, is a harmonious blend of contemporary cuisine and the serenity of nature. Here you can enjoy the freshest local produce while being captivated by the surrounding natural beauty.
Trail 3
New Plymouth - Walking Tour
Saturday 9 May / 12pm - 3.30pm
$95pp
LUNCH - FORK N KNIFE
Known for their top quality dishes packed with flavour, now offering Catering and Private Dining Experiences, the Fork N Knife team will provide an exquisite lunch coupled with wine or a non-alcoholic beverage. This will include a plated dish and shared sides using some of Taranaki’s best local produce.
GOLDEN AS
Alice is very proud to bring galettes and crêpes back to Taranaki. Having worked in hospitality for over 10 years, and growing up eating galettes, crêpes and salted butter caramel, it is after a home visit to Brittany, France, last August, that she brought back two crêpe makers and started the Golden As adventure with the help of her partner Matis. Crêperies and galettes are found in every corner of Brittany. It truly is an iconic dish. Cooked on a special cast iron crêpe maker called “billig” so it can be super thin and crispy, this buckwheat flour crêpe has a nutty taste like no other. Galettes are topped with a variety of fillings such as cheese, eggs and mushrooms. They make the perfect breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They are best enjoyed when followed by a sweet crêpe. They say there are as many crêpe recipes as crêpe makers, and Golden As uses family recipes while trying to source ingredients locally as much as possible. The classic combo would be the galette (egg, cheese and ham) followed by the salted butter caramel crêpe. Your one-way ticket to Brittany!
ESCAPE COFFEE
Escape Coffee was born in 2011. Since then their journey has been one of discovery of the art and science throughout the whole coffee chain including sourcing all kinds of coffee which feature different processing methods, roast profiles and brew methods. Tom bought into the business in 2019 and is continuing to evolve the coffee business in the most sustainable way possible including ensuring coffee is delivered efficiently and minimising the footprint and impact the business has. With a deep focus on the community it serves, Escape is focused on showing a business can have a positive impact for both the community and planet.
Trail 4
South Taranaki
Saturday 9 May / Time
$195pp
FENTON STREET COLLECTIVE: Where spirit meets soul
Discover an award-winning sanctuary in the heart of Stratford. Housed in the meticulously restored Egmont Chambers ; Fenton St Collective is more than a destination—it’s a lifestyle where art, coffee, and small-batch distilling converge under one historic roof. The Craft - Our distillery produces hand-crafted gin and whisky in intimate 48-litre batches. Each bottle tells a story, originally inspired by the passions of founders Jo and Stuart. From the lyrical notes of The Poet and The Artist to the bold character of The Pioneer and our signature Fenton St Whisky, every drop is made with flair. The Space - Experience the 'Best Addition and Alteration' (WIA Awards 2019). Bathed in the natural light that first captured Jo’s eye and offering breathtaking views of Mt Taranaki, our building serves as: The Gallery: Jo’s active art studio and an elegant exhibition space. The Café: An upmarket retreat for the perfect brew. The Distillery: The birthplace of Stuart's Award winning Gin and Whisky. The Story - Jo and Stuart have breathed new life into a forgotten warren of offices. Through earthquake strengthening and visionary design, they’ve created a vibrant apartment / Gallery and business that celebrates the creative spirit of Taranaki and New Zealand.
THE FINE LIME COMPANY
Gerard and Andrea Rowe have established a lime orchard on their family property in South Taranaki, growing what many now refer to as their Cannonball Limes. The idea began after attending Venture Taranaki’s Branching Out workshop. After considering crops such as kiwifruit and avocados, they settled on citrus — and it has proven to be a very good choice. Just seven years after planting, the orchard is producing an impressive harvest of limes. Both Gerard and Andrea share a strong interest in sustainable growing and thoughtful land stewardship. Gerard brings many years of experience as a horticultural landscaper, while Andrea’s background as a Planner, and working with Sustainable Taranaki contributes a sustainability lens to how the orchard is managed. Together they focus on careful growing practices and traceability, working towards identifying not only the batch of fruit, but even the group of trees the limes have come from. Alongside their fresh fruit, they craft a range of small-batch products including their refreshing apple and lime juice, artisan lime salts (including their NZ Artisan Award- winning Chilli and Lime Salt), and their new 1L pure lime juice pouch — an easy way to keep real lime juice on hand for cooking, drinks, and everyday use. They also produce bulk lime juice and are always exploring new ideas for what might come next. Do have a taste and see how these bright flavours can lift your food and drinks.
BAKED BY BLANCHE & THE GOOD SCORE FOOD STORE
This micro bakery was inspired from a simple sourdough starter kit, which reignited Andrew’s love of baking. His wife Jo is the creative driving force. They focus on making real bread by hand, the way it used to be. Andrew loves talking about his sourdough and will be sure to fill you in on the whole process. You'll also be wowed at how quickly he works with his dough and can churn out the delicious loaves, rolls and donuts! There is always a line at their farmers market stall which is of course the tell tale sign of how good the sourdough is. Andrew will give you a variety of his bread to try, including the popular Chilli 'n' Cheese. An added bonus is a stop at the Good Score General Store – Jo’s creation. Here there will be fresh bread to purchase as well as the donuts which are definitely recommended as well as a variety of speciality products. You will also get to hear some local history focussed on food production in South Taranaki from local identity Ross Dunlop. Ross and Jan Dunlop owners of the building have set up an area capturing some of the special local history of South Taranaki.
LUNCH - TAIROA LODGE
Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring a number of local sourced ingredients in the historic church on the property with a rural outlook and relaxed surroundings.
Trail 5
New Plymouth
Sunday 10 May / 11am - 5pm
Mother's Day
$190pp
BUMBLEBEE BAKERY
Have you ever tasted the full flavour profile of a traditional sourdough bread? Franziska from Bumblebee Bakery has German bread culture running through her veins and is passionate about reigniting the love story between humans and their daily bread. Come and visit her in her custom built bakery, where she bakes traditionally fermented sourdough bread and cookies and brews sparkling kombucha. Learn about the significance of sourdough bread, witness different steps of the bread making process and sample an array of oven fresh bread together with a refreshing glass of homemade kombucha. Seedy Rye Bread, sourdough bread rolls or Olive Oil Focaccia? Try them with fresh butter and find your favourite!
JUNO SPIRITS
Juno Spirits have been crafting exceptional, award-winning New Zealand spirits for nearly 10 years. Jo, Dave and their team have continually honed their craft, most notably through the release of their Goddess Collection, a range of beautifully balanced gins, vodkas and liqueurs that showcase both precision and creativity. Never content to stand still, they also reinvent their style each year through limited seasonal releases, pairing innovative flavour combinations with the character and energy of the moment. At the Juno Cellar Door, the experience comes to life. It’s a place to taste, explore and connect — where guests can enjoy beautifully crafted cocktails, discover new favourites, and experience the passion behind every bottle.
TARANAKI PRIME with NICOLO FROM TORET CUCINA ITALIANA
Join us during the afternoon for the stories, cooking and tasting featuring premium Taranaki Prime meat, recently seen on Country Calendar, alongside the distinctive Rose Gold Veal. Founded by Taranaki farmers Shane and Kylie McDonald, Taranaki Prime is built on a simple belief that exceptional meat begins with exceptional care. Their quality mark reflects a commitment to traceability, low-stress farming and low food miles, ensuring customers experience the very best of our region. LeAnne Blakelock from Rose Gold Veal will be there to share the story behind this unique, high-welfare veal, offering insight into its provenance and the farming values that shape its quality Partnering with this project is renowned private chef Nicolo, formerly of the award- winning and hatted restaurant Toret Cucina Italiana. Nicolo will demonstrate how to cook selected premium cuts from Shane and Kylie’s range, as well as Rose Gold Veal, before guiding guests through a tasting experience. For Nicolo, quality is at the heart of everything he does. His passion lies in working with outstanding ingredients and creating food he truly believes in, delivering memorable dining experiences built on authenticity and care. His reputation has been shaped by the success and recognition of Toret, along with the strong following he continues to enjoy today as a private chef. A special time celebrating provenance, craftsmanship and the farmers behind the food.
TREASURED MORNING
When granola guru Liz O'Callaghan, decided to move her business from Auckland, she knew Taranaki was the perfect place to dive deeper into growing her granola business, Treasured Morning. Originally branded High Protein Breakfast, her granola-style breakfast provides a tasty, crunchy blend of hemp protein and nuts to fuel a healthier, happier, more energetic you. There are five different flavours to enjoy; Apple Crumble, Peach & Nectarine, the Honey One, Carrot Cake, and Berry. Whether you mix Treasured Morning with yoghurt, sprinkle it over pancakes, or pour some right into a bit of milk - you're sure to find a favourite way to add this delicious, filling food to your brekkie routine! Liz will provide a generous taste of each product while talking to you about how she carefully selected all the ingredients to ensure that her customers have the best start.
LUNCH - WILD PEAR
A plant-based Cafe Kitchen offering fresh seasonally super-foods served up in salads, Wild Food Bowls and warm hearty plant based dishes, sprinkled with their famous toasted seeds and Green Goddess Dressing. You will enjoy a wellness lunch bowl designed seasonally by Head Chef Chere Bailey. Alongside a glass of wine, or Tropical non alcoholic Punch. This will be followed by a raw sweet treat, low refined sugar and plant based ingredients made by Wild Pear Kitchen.