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Eat.Taste.Central celebrates Central Otago's food, wine & beverage pioneers with a month-long event where you can take your palate to somewhere it hasn't been before.

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2023 Entry - 'The CBB - Cherry Bunny Burger' - to celebrate Central Otago's history and present day challenges with locally found produce to tell a story like no other through the food we love to share and eat:

Central Otago Rabbit Smash Burger with sneaky double patties that are laced with Otago Kawakawa, topped with creamy Danish Havarti cheese, beautiful home-made Asian cherry chutney and local tart cherry compote, taking it to the next level with a house-made kawakawa and spruce mayo and crunchy lettuce. The burger is presented in a stunning flavourful low-gluten Scottish Bap Bun laced with Lindis tussock.

Drinks match - Recharge Bar's fresh cold-pressed Vit C Orange, Carrot and Ginger Juice
 

“Now we’ve got our burger designed, taste tested and snapped, we can’t wait to share it with you.”

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Bon Appetite!

 

NOTE : Unfortunately, in 2023 the organisers decided not to run a competition.

 

 

2022 Winners of the Burger category

2022 Judge's Award for Sustainability & Innovation in Food & Beverage Tourism

2022 Entry - ‘Cardrona Baa Burger’ – a smashed lamb burger (in case you hadn’t guessed...) with a Central Otago difference. It is made up of two decadent smashed Lamb & Sage patties with Smoked Slab Bacon, Gibbston Valley Kawarau Blue Cheese, Pinot Pickled Onions & Homemade Central Otago Plum Relish. (Some say, in memory of the rogue ram that terrorised a section of the trail last autumn!)

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The produce is as local as it gets –

• the lamb is from Cardrona sourced through The Fridge Butcher in Cromwell

• the Sage from Basil, Parsley & Partners in Ripponvale

• the Kawarau Blue Cheese is from the team at Gibbston Valley Cheesery

• Because it was so incredibly popular last year, the Pinot Pickled onions from Glenda at Gertz Larder are back

• ...this time accompanied by a homemade Central Otago Plum relish from Gabi at The Kitchen Garden, right here in Cromwell.

 

2021 Winners of People's Choice Award for the Food On The Move category

2021 Judge's Award for Sustainability & Innovation in Food & Beverage Tourism

 

2021 Entry -  "It's Burger (Afloat) Thyme" - a decadent venison & thyme burger to celebrate everything our region is famous for as well as personal influences:

 

• Central Otago venison that roam the tussock-clad hills

• Local thyme to represent the valley we are located in (it's covered in aromatic thyme plants that have been left behind by gold miners of days gone past)

• Texas BBQ Smoked bacon from Taranaki, where Richard and Jolanda lived before moving to Central (you'll have to come for a yarn to find out what the Texas connection is!)

• Swiss Cheese - Jolanda's heritage

• Pinot pickled onions to represent the local viticulture industry

• Central Otago apricot relish to represent the local fruit growers (and specially made following Jolanda's aunt's old family recipe)

• An individually branded brioche bun to give it the finishing touch and attention to detail that this burger deserves

• And a crispy cos lettuce leave to keep your mum happy that you're eating your greens!

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P.S. Did you know it's been termed a 'zero calorie meal' as you need to bike or walk to us to enjoy one? Sssshhhh - don't tell the boaties! Check out this article if you don't believe us: NZ's First Floating Burger Bar

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