Fine dining personal chef experience with award winning chef

Meet Joe

Joe brings a diversity of culinary experiences unseen before in a local New Zealand chef – he was crowned Chef of the Year in 2013 specializing in Oriental cuisine in the UK, and awarded the privilege of overseeing the Relais and Chateaux Kitchen as sous chef. Joe is passionate about sharing his deep culinary knowledge to create fun and relaxing dining experiences for his guests. Joe's cooking focuses on gastronomic fusion delivered in a down-to-earth, socially interactive, and family friendly setting. Most of all, Joe loves creating memories with travelers from all over the world. He looks forward to being your personal chef and cooking instructor in the convenience of your own home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 6 guests) Please note that unlike typical Traveling Spoon experiences that happen in a host's home, this is a personal chef experience where Joe will host a meal in your home. Your host Joe will meet you at your Waipawa or Central Hawkes Bay residence and cook a meal for you. Indulge in the best of local cuisine as you both share stories and life experiences from around the world over a glass of local wine! Joe will cook in your kitchen, set up your dining table, serve your meal and clean up after. Your meal may include dishes such as Akaroa salmon or Patagna Station lamb with all the trimmings locally sourced. Other dishes might include a taste of the exotic using local produce, such as Sisig wonton and Asian broth dishes which are Joe’s specialty. Your meal will conclude with a delightful dessert of seasonal fruit cheesecake and ice cream made from the freshest fruit from the Hawkes Bay orchards.

Your meal includes a glass of wine. For an additional two glasses of wine that will be paired with your meal, please choose the optional alcohol add-on.

Cooking experience (1 - 6 guests) Learn to cook local gourmet dishes with style, all while having fun in the comfort of your own home or vacation residence. Joe offers a personal chef and instructor experience at your home. You will receive a recipe file of the dishes you make as well as your own apron for you to take home. You will gain valuable knowledge and tips that Joe honed during his professional cooking career which will be invaluable for you in the kitchen. Your hands-on local cooking class will involve learning how to cook three of Joe’s most famous dishes, step by step. The cooking lesson will last about an hour. At the end of your cooking experience, Joe will set the table, serve your meal and clean up after.

Market visit (1 - 6 guests) Meet your host Joe at the Central Napier port and walk together around the local produce market and organic stores before sipping on some fine coffee at Joe’s favorite spot in the Art Deco capital. You will visit both open and covered markets and shops as Joe provides lively insight into the daily diverse offerings of Central Hawkes Bay. Your market tour will last about an hour during which time you will also gather a few ingredients for your cooking class before driving back to your home to prepare the meal. En route home you will stop and taste wine at a couple of Joe’s favorite wineries!