Savour this master class

New York chef Anthony Bourdain will chair a discussion on pet peeves at Savour New Zealand in Christchurch next month. Picture / Richard Robinson

It is one of the best culinary line-ups New Zealand has seen for some time.

Some of world's top chefs head to Christchurch in a couple of weeks for Savour New Zealand, a three-day celebration of food and wine.

Two of the headline names are New York chef Anthony Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential which lifted the lid on the seamy culinary underbelly. The book included blow-by-blow accounts of cocaine use, excessive alcohol consumption, sex and punch-ups as well as Bourdain's own drug addiction.

Patricia Wells, restaurant critic for the International Herald Tribune and the author of eight books will also be there.

Bourdain will give two one-hour classes and chair a discussion session during which industry professionals can expand upon what he calls their "pet peeves".

Wells, who has lived in Paris since 1980, will give a one-hour class on bistro cooking inspired by neighbourhood French restaurants.

As well, Australian food guru Stephanie Alexander and Australian chefs Greg Malouf and Cheong Liew will also take classes.

Local chefs include Simon Gault, Judith Tabron and Tony Astle.

Tickets are still available for most classes. For more information and tickets visit the website.