The Langham, Auckland Pushes NZ's Green Image With 'Organic Encounters'

The Langham Hotel, Auckland's signature restaurant, Partingtons, is to run a two week 'Organic Encounters' menu using 100% certified organic New Zealand ingredients from 14 - 25 August 2007.

The Organic Encounters menu will include an eight course degustation for $130. Diners can also choose to have their own personalised encounter by selecting individual items from the degustation which are available from $16.

Highlights from the menu include a wild mushroom tart entrée with mascarpone and truffle essence, and a Blush China White iced tea jelly dessert with kiwifruit and ginger spring rolls.

Accompanying the Organic Encounters menu will be a selection of 24 organic wines.

Executive chef Ofir Yudilevich said he always uses organic ingredients wherever he can on all his menus but he sympathises with smaller restaurants who struggle to find the time to source certified organic ingredients, "There are a lot of organic suppliers but far fewer who are certified. I have counted over 50 ingredients in the Organic Encounters degustation alone and had to go to over a dozen suppliers just for one person's dinner."

"I love that New Zealand has such a diverse range of organic providers and look forward to the time where they are able to operate their businesses at more sustainable levels so organic can become the norm," Ofir added.

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