Whittaker's Buko Degustation

Overview

After launching his successful Buko dessert degustation in Auckland last year, William Mordido is bringing the pop-up to Newmarket's Kitchen Things showroom.

In celebration of New Zealand Chocolate Week, Mordido will present a dessert menu in association with Whittaker's Chocolate and Fresh As. The Willy Wonka-inspired degustation will see diners treated to four dishes inspired by either a character or an iconic scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Finer details of each dish are being kept under wraps as a surprise for guests, though Mordido says that his take on the Wonka Bar will make an appearance. It is a banquet-style event lead by the chefs, and each course will be paired with teas from Noble & Savage. Guests will also take home a goodie bag from the suppliers.

Meaning 'young coconut' in Tagalong, Buko is a pop-up restaurant that doesn't have a fixed premises. Mordido says that the aims is to utilise the very best of what the area has to offer, paying respects to traditional and modern techniques and flavour combinations, with a special nod to his upbringing and ongoing inspirations.

Just last year the Melbourne-based, Auckland-raised chef was named winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition for the Pacific region, beating out nine other top chefs with his reinterpretation of a traditional Filipino broth. He was also the first New Zealand chef in more than 20 years to achieve a winning place at the prestigious International Jeunes des Rotisseurs Competition and was named Restaurant Association NZ Chef of the Year in 2014.

Image: Michael Chen.