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Great Events Planned for Home and Lifestyle Expo

Tue 25 Mar 2008

Fancy tasting fine foods prepared by award-winning local chefs?

How about taking home some outdoor furniture made by celebrity builder John ‘Cocksy’ Cocks?

The public will have their chance at both at this year’s Taranaki Daily News Home and Lifestyle Expo at TSB Stadium from 11-13 April.

“We’ve got Cocksy back by popular demand,” says Manager Events Ron Murray.

“He will be making a five-piece outdoor furniture set which will be auctioned off at the expo.

“We’ve also got two award-winning local chefs, Simon Haughton from Okurukuru and Jamie Phillips from Delistar Catering having a Battle of the Chefs on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, with the lunches for four being auctioned off each day.”

Michael Radich will be matching wines to the meals that are made.

Also featuring at the expo is Charles Royal – the chef from the Pam’s TV ads – cooking with indigenous herbs, spices and flavours. “It is cooking from the land with natural ingredients, many of which are unprocessed and ready to eat,” says Mr Murray.

“So we’ve got a lot going on at the expo, and every person who attends will have the chance to enter the draw to win a 20-minute helicopter ride for four people and dinner for four at Okurukuru Restaurant.”

The proceeds from the auctions will go to the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter.

The Taranaki Daily News Home and Lifestyle Expo is one of the largest in the North Island – last year, about 8,000 people attended the show.

The event features more than 100 exhibitors of services and products that will interest home owners, renters and DIY renovators.

The expo runs from 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The expo programme is:

• Friday 1.30pm-3.00pm: Michael Radich – a study of food and wine matching with wine tastings.
• Saturday and Sunday 10.30am-noon: Battle of the Chefs – Simon Haughton (2007 Outstanding Chef Halamoana Hospitality Awards) and Jamie Phillips (2007 Outstanding Caterer Halamoana Hospitality Awards); with Michael Radich matching the wine.
• Saturday and Sunday noon-3.00pm: Cocksy – making a five-piece outdoor furniture set for auction.
• Saturday and Sunday 1.30pm-3.00pm: Charles Royal – fresh cooking ideas using local ingredients.