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Taiao with Kārena and Kasey Bird | Tāmaki Makaurau


  • Taumata o Kupe at Te Mahurehure Marae 73 Premier Avenue Auckland (map)

Kitchen Takeover Presents: "Taiao with Kārena & Kasey"

Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland

16th - 26th May 2024

It's the ultimate culinary combination of award winners and master chefs. Now the team behind Taiao: Food of the Gods is hitting Tamaki Makaurau for the first time, after rave reviews and sold-out seasons in Bay of Plenty and Wellington.

Kārena and Kasey Bird and Kitchen Takeover have joined forces again with a six-course, multi-sensory journey of flavours, aromas and sound from Thursday 16th - Sunday 26th May.

Taiao: Food of the Gods won the New Zealand Event Awards ‘Best Arts and Culture Event’ and was a feature event at last year's Visa Wellington on a Plate.  

The immersive dining experience will take diners on a mouth-watering adventure, inspired by Atua Māori and the Taiao and will draw on Kārena and Kasey’s whakapapa and upbringing. They will take the envelope-pushing techniques they’ve learnt and combine them with strong family traditions using traditional Māori cooking techniques and flavours. Both the kai and cocktails will bring to the fore some Aotearoa most unique indigenous ingredients, supporting small scale producers that are passionate about their whenua.  

MasterChef winners Kārena and Kasey Bird have travelled to over 50 destinations across the globe learning about food and culture, whilst also being involved with a number of food events and activations throughout Aotearoa. Hosting two seasons of the award-winning series on TVNZ1 "Kārena and Kasey’s Kitchen Diplomacy”, saw them travel to a new overseas destination each episode. They’ve cooked for a number  of Aotearoa dignitaries and celebration events around the world, from world embassies, to worldwide ANZAC celebrations. Their accolades include having been the food editors for Mana magazine and also food contributors for the Herald on Sunday. They’ve also self-published two award winning cookbooks “For the Love of...” & “Hungry”.

Kitchen Takeover combines platefuls of creativity and innovation by offering ever-changing, unforgettable edible experiences. Diners come from around the country to experience their secret pop-up restaurants, featuring envelope pushing food in unique locations. The brand was recently awarded two NZ event Awards, for Best Lifestyle and Best Arts and Culture Awards beating events such as Cuba Dupa and Wanaka Food & Wine Festival.  

❓ What? Six course degustation + welcome cocktail + immersive dining experience 

📅 When? Thursday 16th May - Sunday 26th May 

📍 Where? Taumata o Kupe at Te Mahurehure Marae | 73 Premier Avenue, Point Chevalier, Auckland 1022 

💰 How much? $189pp 

Ready for a mouthwatering menu of Māori kai?

Tickets are ON SALE NOW! Remember, be quick and snag them while you can, or they will be gone faster than you can say “taste tangling Tangaroa”.

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25 May

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