Murihiku Regeneration welcomes award winning French Chef - Sonia Bichet to New Zealand - A special experience in Bluff
Murihiku Regeneration welcomed Sonia Bichet, who was named France’s best craftsman (“Meilleure Ouvrière de France” – MOF) in 2023, to the region on Saturday 4 May, where she kicked off her New Zealand leg of her global tour. Sonia’s world tour project, entitled “20,000 places on the seas”, has a clear objective: to promote French craftsmanship around seafood products internationally.
Hosted by Murihiku Regeneration Portfolio Director and Hokonui Upoko – Terry Nicholas, Sonia is spending three days in the Southland region to better understand the people, followed by four days in Queenstown before heading to Nelson and Wellington.
Ngāi Tahu, the Southland region, and Murihiku Regeneration were seen as a ‘must visit’ destination because of the importance and connections of people, place, the sea, and also the value of strong future international partnerships.
Sonia is visiting New Zealand from 4-23 May, before heading to Japan for the final visit of her global adventure.
On Saturday, Sonia visited innovative aquaculture projects in Bluff and was hosted by Oyster Cove, where she was able to share her superb culinary skills with the assembled guests at a hosted event.
“We have been really happy to host Sonia on this part of her global tour. We want her to experience our hospitality, the strong connection our community and people have to the sea, and the ability to provide high quality seafood produce, and a place for culinary excellence. We hope she takes these experiences and memories back to France as she further develops her career as a world-class Chef.”
We would also like to thank Oyster Cove-Bluff, Ngai Tahu Seafood, and the community for supporting this visit, “ says Terry Nicholas.
“I had an amazing first day, thank you so much for this experience and opportunity,” confirmed Sonia Bichet on her first day in the region.
Sonia has already visited United Kingdom, Iceland, the United States, Canada, the French West Indies, Peru, Costa Rica, and Australia.
For those interested, you will find here attached a presentation of her world tour on her Instagram account. Sonia has made a very nice wrap up video (in French) and also from her Icelandic visit.
Hosted by Terry Nicholas, where Cyril Gilroy chairman of Waihōpai Runanga provided Sonia with a cultural experience, and Maria Pera MR cultural advisor arranged the visit to Oyster Cove restaurant, Stirling Pt at Bluff to provide distinguished guests with an international seafood experience.
Posted: 5 May 2024