Cooking Theatre Line-Up

Learn how to create your favourite dishes in The Heathcotes Cooking Theatre. Jam-packed full of exciting entertainers our line-up profiles the incredible talent we have right here in our region.

Saturday

Vicki Ravlich-Horan

Nourish

Saturday 9.30am
Roman-style pizza
For 16 years, Nourish has inspired home cooks with seasonal ingredients and recipes. Join Vicki and her daughter Zoe to create their family-favourite Roman-style pizza – a fun, hands-on recipe that's perfect for getting kids involved in the kitchen and a delicious addition to any pizza night.

Eden Mcphillips

Garden of Eden

Saturday 10.30am
Baked Chocolate Cake
Join 2018 My Kitchen Rules New Zealand winner Eden as she demonstrates how to create her decadent baked triple layer chocolate mudcake with chocolate ganache! Made with wholesome ingredients (vegan/gluten free/soy free/refined sugar free) and packed with rich chocolate flavour.

Simon Gault

Forkin Good Leftovers

Saturday 11.30am
Mastering Risotto with leftovers
Learn how to turn everyday leftovers into a delicious, creamy risotto with Simon Gault. Discover simple techniques, reduce food waste, and create a flavour-packed meal using ingredients you already have at home.

Logan Murray

Chef & Owner Thyme Square

Saturday 12.30pm
Beef Wellington - sponsored by Greenlea
Join Logan from Thyme Square as he shares the secrets to crafting the ultimate Beef Wellington. Learn the techniques behind perfectly cooked beef, golden flaky pastry, and the flavour combinations that make this classic dish a showstopper for any occasion.

Cherie Metcalfe

Pepper & Me

Saturday 1.30pm
Slow-cooked lamb
Join Cherie Metcalf from Pepper & Me as she creates a flavour-packed slow-cooked lamb dish with white beans and delicious sauces from her latest cookbook. Discover clever cooking tips, bold flavours and simple techniques to elevate your next family meal with this comforting, crowd-pleasing recipe.

Lisa Quarrie & Dan Lawrence

Hayes Common

Saturday 2.30pm
Agria gnocchi with butternut pumpkin
Join Lisa and Head Chef Dan Lawrence from Hayes Common for a cooking demonstration showcasing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and low-waste cooking. Showcasing seasonal ingredients, they will cook Agria gnocchi with butternut pumpkin puree, ricotta, sage butter and 'nduja hazelnut crumb.

Sunday

Cherie Metcalfe

Peper & Me

Sunday 9.30am
Slow-cooked lamb
Join Cherie Metcalf from Pepper & Me as she creates a flavour-packed slow-cooked lamb dish with white beans and delicious sauces from her latest cookbook. Discover clever cooking tips, bold flavours and simple techniques to elevate your next family meal with this comforting, crowd-pleasing recipe.

Mat Mclean

Palate Restaurant

Sunday 10.30am
Gnocchi with winter truffles
Join one of New Zealand's leading chefs, Mat McLean of the award-winning Palate Restaurant, as he demonstrates how to make handmade potato gnocchi served with fragrant New Zealand winter truffle. Discover the techniques behind this elegant, restaurant-quality dish and be inspired to recreate it at home.

Ryan Simmons

Volare Owner & baker

Sunday 11.30am
No-Knead Bread
Volare specialises in handcrafted breads, so come and learn from owner Ryan and baker Satinder Singh, as they unlock the secrets behind crafting the perfect No-Knead Bread. From selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the techniques of kneading, they will guide you through each step.

Kia Kanuta

Chef / Content Creator

Sunday 12.30pm
Seasonal Fish parcels
Join Kia Kanuta for a fresh and flavourful cooking demonstration featuring seasonal fish wrapped in delicate parcels with nasturtium and finished with a kawakawa emulsion. Expect simple techniques, native ingredients, and inspiring ideas you can adapt to any fresh catch.

Allyson Gofton

Chef/Baker

Sunday 1.30pm
Join Kiwi food legend Allyson Gofton and be among the first to get a sneak peek at recipes and inspiration from her highly anticipated new book, GIVE, due for release later this year. Allyson will make three fabulous gifts of joy that reflect some of her favourite cuisines - French, Vietnamese and Moroccan.