Chefs from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and NZ along with international food media toured South Island farms and visited premium restaurants as part of the Antipocurean Series organised by Alliance Group.
Michael Wignall, Renee Miller and Simon Hulstone of the UK and Jim Lofdahl and Silvio Armanni of Hong Kong were among the international chefs attending the tour.
One of the world’s leading food bloggers, Dubai-based Kiwi Zoe Bowker, who has 46,000 Instagram followers, and Wilson Fok, of Hong Kong’s Tatler Dining, also joined the delegation.
The chefs’ skills were put to the test at two public events at Chillingworth Road restaurant in Christchurch and at Jack’s Point restaurant near Queenstown, where they cooked Alliance products including Pure South handpicked 55-day aged beef, Silere alpine origin Merino, Te Mana lamb and Pure South handpicked venison.
The delegation also visited farms including Minaret Station, Wanaka, Godley Peaks Station, Lake Tekapo, and White Rock Station near the Rangitata Gorge.
Alliance marketing general manager Peter Russell said the Antipocurean Series aims to offer international chefs and media an insight into NZ’s produce and its unique provenance.
“We’re aiming to improve the awareness and understanding of NZ as a purveyor of premium fare.
“Although the country boasts a fine reputation, we can do much more to highlight the source of origin, environment and people behind our premium lamb, beef and venison.”
The Antipocurean Series is an important component of Alliance Group’s food service strategy, which aims to capture greater market value for the benefit of farmer shareholders.
“Alliance is committed to taking our premium fare to the world and building a cadre of international chefs or Antipocureans, who have actually experienced the land, people and environment,” Russell said.
“Alliance is now a food company and our products are enjoyed in more than 65 countries across the globe. This initiative reflects our commitment to producing a more sophisticated and differentiated offer for our customers.”
