Food, wine and friendship provides the recipe for success

A fabulous lunch was enjoyed by over 400 people at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom on June 20, at Mercy Hospice Auckland's annual degustation event, 10 - A Celebration of Tastes.

The day, by all accounts, was a great success with close to $170,000 profit being made on the day. In conjunction with funding from the Auckland District Health Board, the money raised is sufficient to keep all hospice services running for FIVE weeks! A sincere thank you everyone who supported 10 by attending the event and bidding on auction items.

10 is all about celebrating life through the enjoyment of excellent food and wine, provided and served by 10 of Auckland's top restaurants- matched with top New Zealand wineries.

The restaurant and wine pairings were Andiamo with Saint Clair, Bowmans with Elephant Hill, Bracu with Coopers Creek, Dawsons with Obsidian, Hammerheads with Pernod Ricard, Hyatt with Mount Riley, Mikano with Villa Maria, Poderi Crisci matched with their own wine, Prime Bistro with Ransom Wines and TriBeCa matched with Coalpit.

Master of Ceremonies Lauraine Jacobs and John Hawkesby, along with MasterChef winner Brett McGregor, had the difficult decision of judging the best pairing which they awarded to Prime Bistro and Ransom Wines for their creation of Beef Osso Bucco, Truffle Potato Tortellini and Gremolata matched with Ransom Dark Summit 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.

A special thank you to principle sponsors Manson (TCLM) Limited, Barfoot and Thompson and Pascoes the Jewellers for their support of 10 and the many generous individuals and businesses who supplied silent and main auction items.

For more information regarding '10' or if you are a leading Auckland Restaurant or New Zealand winery wanting to register your interest for '10' 2011 please contact Lesley Dawson on 09 3767571 or email lesley.dawson@mercyhospice.org.nz.

View and purchase photos from the recent '10 event here.