Chef Ganesh Raj from Auckland restaurant The Tasting Shed has created a very special dessert for this summer's North West Wine, Beer & Food Festival in North West Auckland – a trifle made with local fruit.
Photo: supplied
Alongside Whenuapai Trifle, The Tasting Shed's festival 'mini-menu' includes sausage made with Kaipara lamb, Taupaki chicken skewers and a Huapai potato sandwich.
- Recipe: Whenuapai Trifle
Ganesh tells Jesse Mulligan he came up with the idea for the trifle after a couple in Kumeu got in touch about offloading the fruit that will be hanging from their 1,500 fruit trees this January.
"They said 'Hey local business guy, want to do something?"
Whenuapai Trifle features stone fruit and apples from the orchard and also local strawberries, but when you're making it at home, you can use any three seasonal fruits, Ganesh says.
"It's celebratory, it feels fresh and it's cool and local."
He concedes it's quite an involved recipe because The Tasting Shed works on the principle "you don't leave home to eat stuff you can make at home", but it would be great for a special occasion like Christmas day.
For the base, you can use any sponge or brioche, he adds: "Celebrate Nana and make her sponge"
The North West Wine, Beer & Food Festival is in North West Auckland on 9 February 2019. You can find more details here.
