Kiwi Chef Peter Gordon is a staple of New Zealand’s hospitality industry – but he’s had a bit of a change in focus recently.

Hawke’s Bay is set to host New Zealand’s first ever Meatball Festival, with up to 25 vendors filling the city’s CBD on March 14th.

Gordon will share his years of experience with students at the newly reopened Eastern Institute of Technology Culinary School, rolling out a special recipe he’s created and perfected for the occasion.

His meatball offering consists of First Light Farms wagyu beef meatballs with kawakawa salsa verde – a slightly more creative choice than the standard recipe most would be familiar with.

Gordon told Mike Hosking that there’s going to be a real variety of things at the festival, with seafood to pork and everything in between.

“I thought it’s just got to look really pretty, be tasty, and sort of, y’know, do a good service, not a disservice.”

He told Mike Hosking the numbers of students enrolled in culinary schools around New Zealand have dropped off, which is a shame.

“Hospitality is one of our big earners here, and y’know, we export really good kitchen people around the world,” Gordon said.

“It should be a really appealing job.”

Although the hospitality industry is currently struggling, Gordon says there’s always a give and take when it comes to opportunities and new ventures.

“Every day there’s something, y’know, you read in the paper an institution or something is shut down, but at the same time, there are lots of new places opening.”

“There’s always lots going on.”

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