Exciting F.A.W.C! promised

With just two weeks to go until F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic gets under way Linda Hall asks Hawke's Bay Tourism communications manager Vicky Roebuck five questions about what food and wine lovers can expect from this year's event.

1 What is different about this year's F.A.W.C!?

Well obviously the events themselves are different - new stars, new locations and new ideas - but what we have seen introduced into the programme this year are some family-friendly events such as The Mad Hatters Tea Party at Ormlie and Street Eats and Beats at Te Awa. We've even got a pooch-friendly party where wine lovers are encouraged to take their dogs along for "Yappie Hour" at Trinity Hill Winery. We've also increased the number of walk-up events and events under $50. For example, you can get along to the masterclasses at MTG on Saturday and see a host of stars share their tips and tricks and pick up a lovely F.A.W.C! tea-towel for just $10.

2 Can you tell us about some of the new events?

We have some brand-new venues entering F.A.W.C! for the first time this summer. Kiwiesque Luxury Lodge are offering up a Long Lazy Lunch which will showcase the best of Esk Valley bounty, Te Mata Estate will be celebrating the release of their 2015 Gamay Noir with a Beaujolais Brunch and Hastings eateries Opera Kitchen, Little Black Bird and The Common Room have teamed up to host the Roving Culinary Carnival a progressive party around the streets of Hastings, stopping in at each of their locations for dinner.

Also brand new for this year is the F.A.W.C! Pop Up Kitchen where we will host five chefs over five events in an intimate purpose-built F.A.W.C! restaurant set in a private room at Art Deco Masonic Hotel. Chefs include Nici Wickes, Paolo Pancotti, Alex Tylee from Pipi and Ray McVinnie with Jennifer Le Comte from F.G.Smiths and Albion fame.

3 What are you looking forward to the most?

I always get excited about the F.A.W.C! Launch Party. After months of anticipation, it's such a buzz to see people arriving on the red carpet, dressed up and smiling and then you know it's "game on". I'm really looking forward to this year as we are in a new venue, The Black Barn Market Round which isn't a venue commonly used for parties, and we have 12 great wineries pouring their best, four local craft brewers, funky music and, of course, great food and at $45 a ticket we hope everyone will come and enjoy the start of Summer F.A.W.C!

4 How do you keep it fresh each year?

We're very lucky we have such a creative, clever bunch of food and wine folk in Hawke's Bay who really get behind F.A.W.C! and come up with new and inventive events. Even the popular staple events such as the Secret Location Lunch and Locavore's Lunch are changed up every year with new chefs and new locations so people can be guaranteed a different experience every time.

5 Who are some of the "celebrities" coming along this year?

Well it goes without saying we have a long list of local food and wine celebs but visiting chefs and wine stars include Al Brown, Josh Emett, Ray McVinnie (he can't keep away), Nici Wickes, Brett McGregor, Peta Mathias, Martin Bosley, Meg Abbott-Walker from Masu Auckland, Eleanor Ozich from the world-famous Petite Kitchen Blog and Giulio Sturla who is head chef at Roots Lyttleton, crowned Cuisine New Zealand Restaurant of the Year 2015. Some are starring in their own events and others are collaborating with Hawke's Bay chefs so it's a great chance to see these stars.