12 July 2012

ARE FOODIES PRETENTIOUS TOSSERS?

Last night the NZ Guild of Food Writers held a debate/dinner at the cosy Wintergarden reception centre near the Auckland Museum duck pond. Members and the public attended, feasted on superb tender spiced roast venison, a new cut of pork roast, roast chicken and roast leg of lamb. With all this meaty stuff on the menu, we needed a few veges too, including crushed roast potatoes and large dishes of garlicky roast pumpkin, carrot, and more. To accompany, Sean Armstrong provided his Loaf Volcano bread rolls, and a deliciously cute bread and butter with Dollop custard - yum! And with Selaks NZ Roast Day coming up on the 5 August, we enjoyed a selection of Selaks Reserve wines.

The debate was fun; Martin Bosley actually stole the show as the witty MC, but not before some one who will remain nameless said to him, "I love your restaurant, - Euro." Yikes!

The affirmative team, Sean Armstrong, Ali Leonard and ably led by the Cuddly Cook, Annabelle White put forward a good argument, with several quotes about pretentions in food. But the negative side, led by Metro editor Simon Wilson with the sassy Jude Tabron and the very clever Nici Wickes won the day, as voted by the audience.

Of course, with that audience of food writers, eaters, food-rock-star groupies and other assorted food lovers and cooks, it was always going to be that way. Of course we're not Foodie Pretentious Tossers, not anyone there, ever. But I have met some who could be!

Pic above: Ali Leonard, Fiona Nugent of Eat Your Books (google that) and Simon Wilson feast on the delicious venison at the Wintergarden.