Tourism Central Otago’s premium spring event - a celebration of the region’s wine, food, and beverage options - returns to venues across the region for its seventh year later this month.

Menu entries have closed for the Eat.Taste.Central food and beverage celebration, which runs from October 20 to November 12 this year, with special dishes submitted across three categories. Participants were asked to use Central Otago produce as “hero” ingredients in their dishes, a challenge they have risen to and surpassed in previous years. 

Those categories are:

• Pie-ology – a fulfilling inside story;
• Sense-ational Burger – burgers that deliver A World of Flavour through multiple senses: taste, sight and smell; and 
• A World of Flavour on a Plate – main meals and shared plates.

Joland and Richard Foale of Burger Afloat with their Eat.Taste.Central 2022 burger entry. PC: James Jubb, Tourism Central Otago.

Menu entries include Wild Cairnmuir Rabbit Terrine, the Central Otago Scapegrace Whiskey BBQ Bliss Burger, the Cherry Bunny Burger, and Orangapai Pie. 

The menu will be released in the week of October 16 online only, Tourism Central Otago head of destination Anthony (Antz) Longman said.

“We’ve adapted the programme to bring our menu 100% online this year, enabling locals and visitors to read about the dishes, get quick directions to venues, and check opening hours,” he said.  

“There are some creative and mouthwatering dishes to be enjoyed around the region whether you want to sit down with friends in a stunning vineyard setting or enjoy a Sens-ational Burger after experiencing some of our amazing local trails.”

Many previous participants are embracing the campaign against this year, and a range of special experiences and events would take place throughout. These include the Alexandra Basin New Release Wine Tasting event on October 22.