Oscar nominations put pavlova on menu

Pavlova will be on the menu in one of Los Angeles' hottest restaurants to coincide with high interest in New Zealand in the run-up to the Oscars.

Grace is running a week-long New Zealand "Land & Sea" menu after its chef Neal Fraser came Downunder in November to check out the culinary scene.

Fraser and two other chefs who took part in the taste-testing experience have been signed up as ambassadors by the Government's trade and economic development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprises, to promote Kiwi products in the US.

The Los Angeles Trade Commissioner Rachel Roper-Taulelei said the timing for the debut menu at Grace could not be better "with New Zealand foremost in people's minds this month due to our amazing film talent".

Ms Roper-Taulelei said Josie Le Balch of Josie restaurant and Govind Armstrong of Table 8 restaurant would also be running New Zealand menus in coming months.