Brad King, the highly regarded Head Chef at Falls Retreat in the Karangahake Gorge, will be leading the popular cooking demonstrations at the Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival this year.

Brad a passionate and creative chef, with over 10 years experience of international cuisine will be cooking up a storm in the Kitchen Marquee, demonstrating how to create four delicious avocado-inspired dishes.

“It is fantastic to be part of a great local event,” says Brad.

“I’m looking forward to creating and sharing recipes and dishes that showcase the humble avocado, a versatile super fruit packed with flavour and amazing nutritional benefits. It is a joy to utilise local seasonal produce and engage with the Katikati community and wider regions as we all celebrate local food and wine.”

The Falls Retreat has been home for Brad and his family since 2008, and in the restaurant they pride themselves in using produce from their organic veggie gardens and from local growers.

“We have a paddock to plate ethos where our menus change weekly and seasonally,” says Brad. “For the festival I will be creating rich smokey trevally dip with dollops of guacamole; a simple tomato salsa and a herby vinaigrette with capers and onions.

“Crisp iceberg wedges with smokey eggplant cream, avocado, asparagus crunchy nuts and seeds, home grown radishes, parmesan and drizzles of avocado oil. I’ll also showcase our organic garden green salad mix with fragrant herbs, avocado two ways, chicken skewers a lovely creamy cashew and white balsamic vinaigrette and lemon mayonaise, and our classic take on the humble chicken and avocado salad.

“This is followed by chocolate banana, avocado ripple cheese cake with raglan coconut yoghurt and avocado labneh and a chargrilled pineapple, kiwifruit and apple salsa.”

Cooking demonstrations happen on the hour, while festival attendees can enjoy live music from three bands, including the reggae-inspired headline act The Black Seeds.

A diverse range of food vendors will be offering up avocado-themed dishes with beverage vendors offering the best wines, beers and cocktails.

The 2024 event happens on Saturday, January 13, from 12noon to 6pm at the Uretara Domain, Katikati and marks the twentieth edition of the Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival.

Held in the Avocado Capital of New Zealand, the festival is an iconic summer family-friendly event, drawing crowds from the Bay of Plenty and beyond.

Early Bird tickets to the festival close on November 30.