Our meal included chorizo-crusted Shiitake Mushrooms

Prepared by Jeremy Rameka, head chef at the beach bungalow Pacifica Restaurant in Napier, our meal included chorizo-crusted egg, oyster mushrooms, pate, asparagus puree, oxtail-and-beef brisket rissoles, braised ox cheek, cauliflower. Dessert was smoked white chocolate.

-- At the Hastings Farmers' Market, Wayne Startup remembered me from a previous visit in 2012. We chatted about his visit to Toronto last spring to promote his 20-year-old Village Press Olive Oil brand, which is available in Canada and 11 other countries.