Waiheke Island Yacht Club in San Francisco

Anyone who thinks that the America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton Challenger Series is just yacht racing should think again. The World’s premier sailing competition wouldn’t be complete without an extravagant race village where sailing fanatics can soak up the action and drink champagne with the multimillionaires, WAGs and celebrity sailors.

With the VL Series kicking off in the weekend the Race Village down on the Embarcadero is in full swing and one of the hottest venues in the village is none other than the Waiheke Island Yacht club, a pop up restaurant from Tony Stewart, of highly regarded Auckland restaurant Clooney.

In true Kiwi style the restaurant came together in a staggering six weeks with the America’s Cup authorities giving Stewart the last minute chance to open a space at Pier 29.

Offering both a four-course prix fixe experience as well as a la carte dining, the food is contemporary and inspired such as the Pacific style fish ceviche with wasabi sorbet, cucumber with lime and coriander and the ‘Silere Merino’ lamb rack with charcoal, olive, parsley and feta. It’s especially impressive considering the chefs don’t have access to gas and rely on just induction burners, ovens, and sous-vide machines.

While the venue has a partnership with the Napa Valley preventing award-winning New Zealand wines being served, craft beer from Moa, artisan water by Antipodes and a full cocktail menu developed by Clooney’s bar manager Needham Woodward brings a taste of New Zealand to the beverage offering.

The open plan space feels like an up-market bach with a large raw wood deck, leather covered chairs and a grand communal table with views to the open kitchen.

While the sailing racing has just started, it’s safe to say if the competition included the hospitality offerings the Kiwis would be in the lead at this stage.

[via Eater]