Great New Zealand Food Show heads to Hamilton

The Wintec Cooking Classes at the The Great NZ Food Show. Photo / Supplied

Cook, food editor and author Nici Wickes will be at the The Great NZ Food Show in Hamilton this weekend.

The Wintec Cooking Classes will have scrumptious dishes for visitors to master. Social influencer, health fanatic and author Matilda Rice will be at the The Great NZ Food Show this weekend.

Prepping is well under way for The Great NZ Food Show, showcasing the best in food, drink, innovative products and "foodie-tainment" at Claudelands Events Centre on Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6.

Shop for innovations, indulge in mouth-watering tastings and experience a delectable range of products from an extensive range of exhibitors. From raw treats to sweet treats, there will be natural and organic, artisan and free range choices.

The Heathcote Appliances Cooking Theatre is jam packed full of exciting entertainers this year, including cook, food editor and author Nici Wickes, social influencer, health fanatic and author Matilda Rice, Masterchef 2014 winners, award-winning authors and TV hosts Karena and Kasey.

Visitors mayexperience the talents of local chefs Toby Elliotyson from Smith & McKenzie, Vicki Ravlich Horan from Greenlea Butcher Shop and more.

The Wintec Cooking Classes will have scrumptious dishes for visitors to master.

"These classes are always a popular part of the show," event manager Michele Connell says.

"This year you can learn to slowly smoke Akaroa Salmon, wow your friends with Thai Drunken Noodles or Vanilla Scented Snapper or get the kids cooking with their own dedicated class learning Spaghetti & Meatballs.

"The classes offer a guided step-by-step lesson taught by talented chefs and cooking teachers and tickets are selling fast.

"After the class sit down and enjoy what you've cooked with a matched wine from Black Ridge Vineyard."

Chefs will go head-to-head in the Greenlea Butcher Shop Mystery Cook off. Local chefs have only 20 minutes, three mystery ingredients, normal pantry items, limited equipment and their own creative flair to come up with the most delicious dish as voted by the show audience..

In the Great NZ Dining Room. four designers from the Waikato will create, design and set the most outrageously original dining room tables, displayed at the show.

Visitors to the show vote for their favourite, with one voter winning a $100 voucher from each participant.

A new feature at the show is the "How-to in 15".

Learn the best way to sharpen a knife, how to make a cocktail or how to create a pre-dinner platter; find out tips and tricks from the masters in 15 minutes.

Visitors can relax and indulge with lunch and a glass of something special in the Seat & Eat Zone, says Michele.

The Great NZ Food Show, Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton: Saturday May 5, 10am to 5pm; Sunday May 6, 10am, 4pm.