Introducing Timmy Smith

Admina December 17, 2022

Timmy says that while food provides the blood in our veins, our health is drawn from the land. She says that she has always known and felt the mauri of our whenua and have lived, and connected within the veneer that holds tūrangawaewae between the sea and our lands.

Understanding that the intricate tools of tea for connection, and creation of intimate times of reflection is why they hold center stage within my space and offerings.  Timmy believes they assist us to remove our rush, and connect in ways that very few foods can.  It is kai for the soul as well as a soother for our systems.

And as a wonderful way to share unspoken words and wisdom which is why we are really excited to have Timmy join us and lead our Tea Experience workshop where you will be guided through using the principles of Te Ao Māori to highlight the importance of tī.

You can read more here about Waiheke Island based Timmy Smith, where she has been “evoking memories since 1972”.

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Introducing Tom Hilton

Admina December 17, 2022

“Tom Hilton has probably achieved almost everything one could hope to in the culinary world. In fact, he had done most of it by the age of 23. But after a journey that took him to the highest of highs, and lowest of lows, Hilton has gone back to his roots – literally and figuratively – to reignite his love of chocolate. And he hopes to take many others along for the ride.”

We are very excited to have Tom leading the “chocolate workshop” in our 2023 Chatham Island Cooking Class. Tom is the founder of Ao Cacao which Tom says “is a timeless brand of chocolate that is high end from an indigenous lens and for the conscious consumer this means investing in a chocolate that has been loved, cared for and empowers a community – whilst bringing the mana back to what chocolate truly is.”

Tom is an internationally renowned chef creating patisseries in Paris and Michelin Star restaurants in the US.

Born in Surrey, England, Hilton’s dad is Māori, so he always felt a strong pull to New Zealand and we are soo fortunate to have Tom as part of our upcoming cooking classes – you can read more about Tom here.