The Five Elemental AKL Culinary Events and Dining Experiences We're Most Excited For

Auckland's annual winter celebration of arts, eats and beats Elemental AKL makes its long-awaited return to the city next week, with over 30 free and ticketed events between eateries, bars, theatres, stadiums and public spaces across Tāmaki Makaurau.

While we've already done a wrap on the events we're most looking forward to, we had to call out some of the best foodie festivals still to come. After all, it's a tough couple of years for the city's hospitality industry and we're excited to see people out and about celebrating local vendors and fare again.

Here are five Elemental AKL culinary events and dining experiences foodies won't want to miss.

KAIPARA KAIMOANA FESTIVAL

If you're into seafood, you won't want to miss this one. Returning for its second year after a massively popular event last year, the team at Te Hana Te Ao Marama Marae are rolling out the welcome mat for 100 lucky guests, who'll be invited to experience a celebration of food and song, of kaimoana, kōrero, kapa haka and kaitiakitanga.

After being welcomed with a traditional pōwhiri, attendees will get to scoff a delicious range of kaimoana like kaipara oysters in the half shell, slow-baked Kaipara flounder, seafood chowder; scallops and king prawns in garlic butter, baked whole snapper; seafood fritters with sour cream and sweet chilli and fresh mussels done several different ways.There'll also be traditional fried bread — IYKYK.

FEASTS OF LEGENDS — FIRE FEAST

This cultural food experience gives guests a complete immersion into traditional dining, held at four different ethnic restaurants across Auckland. Attendees will get to experience the Torch Festival — a shared traditional festival of the Yi, Naxi, and Bai people in Sichuan and Southwestern China — learning about the Mongol origins of the hot pot and how it gained popularity across China and Asia. There will also be dance performances to make the experience come alive — and your ticket includes an open bar.

OYSTER AND WINE POP-UP

If you're a fan of the finer things, you'll want to take the hour's drive north to Matakana to experience this collab between two of the area's best. The team from Mahurangi Oysters are setting up their oyster bar at Matakana estate to offer fresh, plump and juicy oysters. Matakana Estate wine and Sawmill beers will be served at the bar — or pair your oysters with a wine-tasting paddle.

Live music will be pumping, gourmet platters will be circulating — basically, it's all the ingredients for a truly excellent winter's day out.

FRIED CHICKEN FESTIVAL

Auckland's finest food trucks and chicken restaurants will bring their best chicken-inspired menus to the upper and lower decks of Shed 10 this month, so fried chicken fans can get their greasy mitts on wings, chicken-topped waffles, burgers, baos and other delights. The best part? No dish will cost over $10. Live music will be pumping throughout the night, and there will be plenty of bevvy options to wash all that chicken down.

TAKURUA — NAFANUA WAR GODDESS

Bringing new meaning to the phrase 'dinner and a show', this moving cultural experience brings together hospitality, theatre, and dance. Attendees with enjoy a delicious five-course banquet while watching contemporary Pasifika dance theatre woven in between courses. Donning spectacular costumes, the performers will be conveying authentic cultural stories and comedy from the Samoan fale aitu tradition.

With six performances over two weeks, this neo-Pasifika feast will be served in the Aotea Centre's Hunua Rooms and is perfect for large groups, families and even corporate groups.

Top image: Fried Chicken Fest, @totallyfried