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Back and buzzing with collaboration, Kai Franklin’s latest Eat Street was a total delight.
Run by The Kitchen Project, Eat Street traded its intimate Chef’s Table (last on in April) dynamic for a relaxed evening where 80 guests wandered between food stations, sampling dishes from local eateries.
The Kitchen Project aims to support the Franklin economy – especially growers and eateries – while bringing the community to the table, organiser Connie Clarkson says.
“It ticks the wealth-building box because it returns all the revenue back into the community [and] we’re putting people together to create an event for everybody to enjoy,” she says. “I loved it and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result.”
Once again, Pukekohe High School students tended to guests, gaining valuable, hands-on hospitality experience in the process. Their contributions were recognised at the end of the night with certificates.
“We’re particularly proud of our relationship with the school – we see these bright students gaining skills to go into hospitality if they choose,” Clarkson says.
With the success of Eat Street still fresh, planning is already underway for the next event, Moveable Feast. This progressive dining experience will begin at 1 Roulston Street (Kai Franklin’s Pukekohe home base) before guests set off on a culinary tour.
“They will trek around the town centre and visit some of the best restaurants in the region,” Clarkson says. “All going well, we will be working with six vendors that haven’t participated in Chef’s Table or Eat Street yet.”
Connecting diners with Franklin’s hospitality scene, Moveable Feast has already led guests to discover places they never knew existed.
Clarkson hopes to pencil the event onto the menu for September, although an exact date is yet to be confirmed.
