Gary Miller
Back to the beginning, how the humble spud lead to a life of culinary capers!
A festival favourite since 2012, Gary Miller returns with his signature humour, hearty storytelling, and decades of culinary wisdom. As head of food operations at Addington Raceway, he’s known for feeding crowds with flair and personality. This year, he’s taking us back to where it all began, the humble spud, and the tasty adventures it started. Expect laughs, tips, and plenty of flavour.
Nik Mavromatis
Sour Beer & Salmon
Christchurch chef and Akaroa Salmon’s marketing lead, Nicholas Mavromatis, knows a thing or two about great flavour and good times. With a background working hands-on with top Kiwi seafood, he brings a laid-back, creative style to the kitchen. This year at the Great Kiwi Beer Festival, he’s diving into the combo of sour beer and fresh Akaroa salmon – a fun, punchy pairing that shows just how tasty local ingredients can be.
Bruce Griffiths
Wild Foods
Wild food expert Bruce Griffiths brings the flavours of Aotearoa’s outdoors to the Cooking Theatre. With years of foraging, hunting, and cooking across the South Island, Bruce shares his knowledge with warmth and Kiwi authenticity. His session explores unique ingredients, sustainable cooking, and the bold flavours that make wild food so exciting.
Rychalo “Rick’s Rib’s” Thompson
BBQ leftovers
Rick Thompson is back with big energy and bigger flavours, transforming BBQ leftovers into beef cheek, jalapeño, and cheese croquets topped with horseradish cream. Expect humour, great tips, a few surprises, and a full walkthrough of texture, structure, rolling, frying, and tasting. Plus, he’ll showcase his own product range to help recreate the dish at home.
Clotilde Romano
Pasta Perfection
Italian-born and Christchurch-based, Clotilde Romano brings warmth, charm, and beautiful simplicity to the Cooking Theatre. She’ll be crafting handmade pumpkin ravioli with butter and sage, showcasing seasonal produce, traditional technique, and the magic of fresh pasta. A delicious, elegant session full of inspiration and Italian flair.
