The Marlborough Ocean Vine Hop proved a hit this year, and New Zealand King Salmon teamed up with celebrity chefs to help keep the crowds happy with delicious gourmet treats paired with Marlborough wine and beer.
NZKS community sponsorship and events coordinator Chelsea Yates says the seafood, wine and beer festival, held on Saturday 24 November at Pollard Park’s Churchill Glade in Blenheim, was a fun day with a great line-up of musical entertainment. There was also a selection of craft beer and local wine and of course mouth-watering seafood and other treats from around the Top of the South.
Chelsea spent the day at the busy New Zealand King Salmon stand and the adjacent Culinary Marquee, which featured salmon filleting demonstrations by Mark Preece, salmon tastings, wine and beer matching, and cooking with celebrity chefs Jax Hamilton and Karena and Kasey Bird.
“Jax whipped up a salmon, fennel and vermouth rilette with horseradish creme fraiche, which she paired beautifully with a Yealands wine,” Chelsea says.
“Karena and Kasey prepared a lamb shoulder hawker roll and paired it with Boom Town beer, before Jax came back to demonstrate a second dish to pair with Wairau River Wines.”
Chelsea says the day was a huge success and a great addition to Marlborough’s festival calendar to showcase the region’s amazing local produce.
“It’s always satisfying to be able to share our delicious, locally-grown salmon with people and see their eyes light up when they taste it.”
Best of all, proceeds from the NZKS stall went to Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary – based near Picton and one of our long-term community sponsorships.