Nelson entrepreneurs launch gourmet cuisine heli venture

Picture this. You’re perched atop a mountain 5000 feet above sea level. The stunning world that is New Zealand’s ‘Top of the South’ stretches out below. The views of lush vineyards and snow-capped mountains above them are seemingly endless.

Your Marlborough sauvignon blanc is perfectly chilled. The succulent, locally farmed Ōra King salmon is sizzling in the pan. And now relax as your private chef serves you the very best produce the region has to offer.

This is no dream. It is reality and simply one of several stunning scenarios offered by The Food Source, a partnership of Nelson personalities Matt Bouterey and Toby Reid.

The Food Source – launched under the mantra ‘fly, gather, dine’ – is a new luxury cuisine adventure that taps in to the pure, quality ingredients of the top of the south and its wonderful scenery.

It is what Matt and Toby call a “unique cuisine heli adventure”

Matt is a Michelin trained chef who created Nelson’s award-winning Bouterey’s Restaurant before recently selling to seek new challenges. Toby is owner-operator at Reid Helicopters Nelson and is as passionate about the beautiful region as he is about the company’s amazing helicopters.

Combined, the entrepreneurs have formed The Food Source to show off the region’s assets – many accessible only by chopper - to the luxury tourism market.

“This gourmet experience is a ‘foodies’ paradise combined with a scenic adventure offering the best of New Zealand,” says Matt. “The Food Source takes all the great things about the top of the south – food, wine, the stunning scenery – and packages them in to an exciting flying Kiwi adventure.”

With The Food Source, cooking is about pure, quality ingredient gathering. Guests travel in style to award winning vineyards and remote locations to collect Marlborough’s signature wines and Tasman’s freshest produce.

After sourcing the produce, guests head back to the ‘kitchen’ to cook up a culinary storm.

“Your ‘kitchen’ may be a table on a mountain top or a barbecue grill on the beach and your personal chef is none other than me,” Matt says. “This is the ultimate food adventure combined with stunning sightseeing and a real kiwi experience.”

Matt says he loves to cook with fresh seasonal produce and in the Top of the South “we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by amazing produce”.  He believes in keeping it simple and letting the flavours speak for themselves.

All breads, pickles, chutneys and garnishes are made fresh by The Food Source to complement the guests’ fresh catch.

A sample itinerary might include a private breath-taking scenic flight – personally piloted by the Reids - to Marlborough wine country to select wines and enjoy a vineyard tour.  Back aboard the flying machine, you take off over the tranquil Marlborough Sounds to a secret location to enjoy fresh, sashimi style Ōra King salmon prepared by Matt.

The Food Source has a number of set itineraries covering the mountains, the sea and a back country station. Matt and Toby can also plan a custom itinerary for those who want a truly unique experience.

As Matt says, “It’s a new and exciting luxury cuisine adventure where you can bask in the pristine surroundings of the Top of the South and enjoy some of the best that New Zealand has to offer from the land and the sea.”

Find out more at http://www.thefoodsourcenz.co.nz
Like The Food Source on www.facebook.com/#!/thefoodsourcenz.