Hospitality Business Magazine

Food experts meet to judge NZ’s finest produce

Michelin-star chef Pim Techamuanvivit is joining internationally renowned New Zealand chef Peter Gordon and 25 local food experts to judge the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards in Auckland this week.

More than 290 locally harvested, grown and made food and drink products are being assessed at Gordon’s restaurant, Homeland, known as The Food Embassy for Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands.

Born and raised in Bangkok, Pim (pictured above right), took a circuitous route through the world of food from blogging (her blog Chez Pim attracted more than 250,000 views a month), to making award winning jams.

In 2014 Pim opened her first restaurant, Kin Khao in San Francisco, receiving a Michelin star in 2015.

A few years later she opened Nari, her second San Francisco restaurant.

Nari quickly made it onto many Best Restaurants lists including those by the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and Esquire Magazine. In 2018, she took over Nahm at the Como Metropolitan in Bangkok as the executive chef. Nahm has retained a Michelin star every year since. 

With her Kiwi partner, she also enjoys spending time in Auckland and the organisers of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards are delighted she’s joining the judging panel to sniff, taste and assess food from Aotearoa this year.

Cumin Spiced Wild Tahr Pies, Wild Venison Bressola, fresh crayfish, Jalapeno Kombucha and Organwurst Sausages, locally made ice cream, cheese, drinks and gluten-free products are among the New Zealand foods being judged. 

Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners will be announced on Tuesday 21 March 2023 with category champions and special award winners announced at the Champions Party 2023 on Tuesday 18 April at the Glasshouse in Morningside, Auckland.