The latest concept from New Zealand’s most innovative travel company Mondo is the opening of its own pop-up restaurant headed up by MasterChef’s Brett McGregor, to give Kiwis a taste of cuisine from some of the world’s most popular destination experiences.
The Tasting Lounge, popping up at the Marvel Grill in Auckland’s newest dining precinct the Wynyard Quarter, will open the last Monday of every month between February and June this year. Each month will celebrate the best cuisine from a different destination or travel experience, with matched wines from exclusive Marlborough label Whitehaven.
Dishes for The Tasting Lounge will be created and cooked by New Zealand’s first Masterchef and author of Taste of a Traveller McGregor, along with guest celebrity chefs. Five destination experiences have been chosen for the culinary adventure – New South Wales, Tahiti, Western Australia, Thailand and cruising.
The Tasting Lounge’s February showcase will feature cuisine from Australia’s New South Wales with a range of delicious highlights from the region.
Each event will be MC’d by Kiwi performer Jackie Clarke and funds raised from the pop-up restaurant will go to the Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust, which trains mobility dogs to assist those with physical disabilities.
Mondo Travel marketing manager Gordon Bayne says the Tasting Lounge is just the latest in the company’s long history of innovative travel concepts. “Mondo prides itself on selling more than just plane tickets and hotel rooms,” Gordon says. “Travel with us is about really experiencing a destination – and guiding our clients towards sampling the amazing cuisine of a country is a perfect example of how we bring a destination to life.
“We believe the local fare is an intrinsic part of travel, and I am confident The Tasting Lounge will tickle more than just the tastebuds of diners – it will also tickle their fancy for trying new destinations, or remind them of why they might like to re-visit somewhere they’ve already been.
“One way to travellers’ hearts is through their stomachs and The Tasting Lounge gives travel enthusiasts a sneak preview of what they can expect on the foodie front before they book their next holiday.”
Mondo Travel has secured strong partners to support the event including Marvel Grill, Easy Mix, Grab One, and Qantas. For more information on The Tasting Lounge, menus, and purchasing tickets visit www.mondotravel.co.nz/tastinglounge.
