I first fell in love with Taste back in 2009. Mum and I decided to go on a whim. It was before I had a blog, but I took photos of the food anyway because I’m a weirdo.

Mum and I watched NeatMeat (who were design and print clients of mine at the time) wheel out and carve a side of beef and we saw FISHmart demonstrate seafood in simple and tasty ways. I was adventurous even back then and tried steak tartare, preserved lemon and smoked mushrooms for the first time (in separate dishes).

Taste of Auckland is my favourite, favourite, favourite foodie event. Taste is 6 years old this year and I realise I have been attending religiously every year, including the extracurricular Taste at The Cloud during RWC year. I can’t think of any other event that I’ve been to consecutively for that many years.

With special thanks to Lemongrass Productions, I’m giving away 2 x General Admission double passes to Taste of Auckland. To enter, fill in the entry form at the bottom of this post including the answer to a skill question.

There are 6 sessions from Thursday 13 November to Sunday 16 November 2014 and the winning passes are valid for all session times.

This year Taste of Auckland will be held at Western Springs instead of at Victoria Park. If you’ve never been to Western Springs, it’s a lovely spot beside the zoo. I’ve been to festivals here and you can hear the elephants trumpeting next door. If we can hear them, I wonder if they can smell our food?

Stunningly enthusiastic, cute on camera, super food blogger Delaney Mes from Heartbreak Pie will be hosting the Fisher and Paykel Chef’s Kitchen. Demonstrations from chefs Ben Bayly and Michael Dearth of The Grove and Baduzzi, Kyle Street of Depot, Masu’s Nic Watt, Geoff Scott from Vinnies, Ganesh Raj from The Tasting Shed and many more to be announced.

So far the restaurant line up includes:

• The Oyster Inn
• Cable Bay
• Poderi Crisci
• Farina
• iVillage
• Depot Eatery & Oyster Bar
• Sofitel’s Lava Dining
• Harbourside
• The Commons
• Bracu
  …more to be announced

…and with over 90 exhibitors including local food producers, wines and cookware, if you want to do a spot of gourmet shopping, Taste is a great time to do it.

Premium Early Bird Tickets are $55 each and include $40 in festival currency. Get them at www.tasteofauckland.co.nz

I’ll leave you with some gastroporn from past festivals to get your stomach horny.

Terms and conditions

• 1 entry per person.
• This competition is open to Auckland residents aged 18 years or over.
• Passes will be posted to winners and it is the responsibility of the prize winner to redeem their prize.
• Prize may not be exchanged for cash. Crowns (festival currency) are not included with the passes. Meals and travel expenses not included.
• Entries close Wednesday 15 October 2014. Two winners will be drawn via Random.org on Thursday 16 October 2014. Winner will be contacted by email, announced here and on Facebook.

Prize question: What did I enjoy for dessert at last year’s Taste? Hint

This competition is closed.