Knowing the whakapapa of your kai
Young Maori chefs Joshua Hunter and Mitchell Tierney have turned the capital's well known inner city eatery, Havana Bar and cafe into a wharekai as part of Wellington on a Plate. Josh, who is Ngati Tuwharetoa, and Mitchell who is Ngati Awa and Te Arawa are on a mission to show that there is more to traditional Maori cooking than hangi. They've brought a custom built barbeque to Havana's courtyard and while Josh cooks up delicacies like titi (mutton bird) , koura (crayfish) and urenika (purple potatoes), Mitchell tells the story of the kai and its whakapapa. Josh is a Chef at Milford Sound Lodge, where he also caters on tourist boats. Mitchell lives in Auckand where he's setting up a bar. Also Christchurch chef Maty Johns.