Te Anau’s inaugural Long Lunch is set to kick off in the sun this Saturday.

The foodie event, which is also held in Queenstown, Arrowtown and Christchurch, will involve local restaurants serving guests at a banquet table on Te Anau’s main street. 

The Te Anau Long Lunch is part of Savour the South, a month-long campaign led by Hospitality New Zealand designed to lure visitors to Southland, to try the region’s iconic cuisine. 

Ryan Murray, co-owner of popular Te Anau food truck Bao Now, says it is great to see the event come to town.

“It’s a great thing for the town, and another opportunity to show something a little bit different in terms of what we can do.” 

“We’re hoping that it will bring people from out of town, as well as being a good day out for locals. It’s looking like a really positive thing.”

Murray says the Savour the South campaign is a great initiative, and opportunity to showcase Southern food.

“It would be great to see this as an annual thing, something for the town to look forward to,” he says. 

To celebrate, his food truck is bringing back their famous Bambi Bao made with locally sourced venison, for the month of April. 

Te Anau chef Cameron Davies, co-owner of the Fat Duck Gastropub and recent winner of a Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chef title, says he is excited and grateful that Te Anau has been chosen as a venue. 

“I think it’s awesome for Te Anau. It’s a very well set up event and we haven’t had to do a lot except come up with great menu.” 

“It’s an opportunity to work along some great people, and it’s got some great regional pull. It’s something really different to bring to town.”

Davies says he is excited to showcase Southland farmers, producers and growers on the menu he has created for the event.  

Event organiser Rebecca Laycock says Long Lunches offer an excellent way to experience local food, and the talent of local chefs.

“Why not come on down? It’s just a fabulous day out and a good showcase of the town’s food.” 

Laycock says the day will also include a charity auction, with all proceeds going to local community group Fiordland Trails Trust.

“We usually hold a raffle, but we’ve just been inundated with offers of prizes, so this time we’ve turned it into a silent auction.”

“With every town we visit we raise money for a local charity, and we let the town decide who that is.” 

Other restaurants involved in the event are Redcliff Café, Ranch Bar & Grill, Radhas Indian Restaurant and Thai Anau. 

The event will begin at 12 and run until 4pm on Saturday 2nd April. 

Parts of Te Anau’s Town Centre and The Lane will be closed to traffic for the day. 

For more information and ticket sales, visit: https://www.longlunchnz.co.nz/te-anau