Dorothy – 21/12/01
Have you read Kiwi Tucka – Maria Hand’s entertaining article in NZine about the Kiwi foods that ex-pats miss most? Many readers have enjoyed that story and a number have entered their views in the Backchat at the end.
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| Maria (left) on the night of the Awards Dinner Photo source Maria Hand |
That article won Maria recognition from the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers – the NZ Tamarillo Growers Association Young Food Writer Award.
Maria who has been a student this year in the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism course at the University of Canterbury heard from the lecturer, Jim Tully, about the competition open to people under twenty five. She decided to write an article based on the comments about food made by the ex-pats with whom she had been in regular email contact. In August she sent away copies of her article to the Guild.
In September she received a phone call from the Guild asking her to go to Auckland for the awards. She was not told that she had won an award – just that it was important for her to be there. When Maria hesitated about going she was assured that she would not have to pay her own airfare.
Trip to Auckland On the morning of Saturday, 23 September, she flew to Auckland and stayed the night with one of the Guild members, Geraldine McManus.
"It was lovely to have someone who hosted me that night and over the weekend,” Maria commented, "as apart from Jim Tully I didn’t know anyone. Geraldine looked after me and introduced me to people.
The Awards Presentation "The evening function for the presentations was very grand. There was a five course dinner, and awards were presented between the courses. Each course was given a set time on the programme and everyone kept up to time.
"I was rather nervous beforehand because I knew I would be among a group of food experts, but all went smoothly. The meals looked like works of art – too good to eat.
"There was wine served with each course, but I was very cautious about drinking it. I just sipped mine as I knew my award was to be presented at 8.50 after the main course and I would have to make a short speech of thanks."
Maria received her award and made her speech before the dessert which she was then able to eat with a free mind. Maybe that is why she remembers especially enjoying it!
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Zespri gold charlotte Passionfruit sorbet Strawberry and capsicum compote
A delicious serving!
The keynote address The keynote speaker for the evening, Emily Green, entitled her address, "Honouring the human element: in praise of the classicism of the New Zealand born food photographer, Frances Lang.” Emily Green’s view was that Lang’s excellent photographs did not receive the recognition she deserved in her lifetime.
Mystery Food Tour The Awards Presentation dinner was part of the conference of the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers. The following day Maria was invited to join members on a mystery food tour north of Auckland. This included a delicious lunch at the Sandpiper Lodge at Warkworth and wine tasting at the Matakana Estate.
What was Maria’s prize? The sponsors of the award, the NZ Tamarillo Growers Association, presented her with a cheque for $500.00. Add to this the free trip to Auckland, meeting food writers, the interesting programme and the delicious meals and it is little wonder that she looks back on it as a memorable weekend!
Congratulations, Maria!
Read Maria’s article in this week’s issue – “The Boomerang Man”.
