Record turnout for Wild Food Challenge

The man behind the Wild Food Challenge, Bill Manson, says great weather, good vibes and a record turnout ensured that his popular event was once again a huge success.

“We had 54 entries this year,” Bill says, “with lots of different styles of really quality food. A record crowd turned out and joined in the competition. That’s just how we like it, people really enjoying themselves.”

Music and entertainment was interspersed with rolling workshops and exhibitions, which included the carving up of a deer, a hangi and for the first time, a Samoan Umu, which is a similar process to a hangi but above ground. An Umu starts with a fire to heat rocks and once hot enough, they are stacked around the parcels of food, which are wrapped in banana leaves or aluminium foil.

“There were lots of points of interest,” said Bill, “and it makes the day when people get stuck in and involved. It takes a lot of time and money to put the Wild Food Challenge on and I am grateful for the support of local business. We can certainly build a festival around that.”

Unfortunately for Bill, the following weekend’s Challenge in Raetihi had to be cancelled owing to poor weather.

“It was the first cancellation in eleven years and in the over 70 events we have held in that time,” he said. “But in Days Bay, we keep jamming great days and long may that continue.” Right: challenge winners Peter and Briar De Punt won with locally foraged Crayfish with Kawakawa, farmed garlic emulsion, artisan dill & citrus handmade pasta, home ground garlic salt, fennel & foraged watercress.