New executive chef at Edgewater Resort

Wanaka’s premier all-suite hotel, Edgewater Resort has appointed a new Executive Chef, Damon McGinniss, who commences his position today.

Chef McGinniss will be responsible for the delivery of the finest foods in Sargood’s Restaurant, Wineglass Cafe, The Pavilion and for the Resort’s many functions & meetings.

According to Edgewater Resort General Manager, Mr Leigh Stock, “Damon brings a fresh style of cooking encompassing local produce with a distinctive Kiwi flair”. Damon, together with Sous Chef Renee Trudeau, are planning some exciting changes to the summer menus of both the restaurant and cafe, comments Leigh.

Damon is a New Zealand Beef & Lamb Ambassador who has represented the New Zealand Beef & Lamb Marketing Bureau at various promotional events internationally. Each year the Bureau selects award winning chefs who display exceptional culinary skill during the Hallmark assessment period. Damon has been selected twice as an Ambassador.

Most recently Damon was an ‘Ambassador’ in Seoul, Korea where he undertook demonstrations, seminars, embassy dinners and running a hotel restaurant.

Damon brings a mix of experience in both individual restaurants and international hotels. He was head chef and owner of Bistro 1284 in Rotorua. It achieved seven NZ Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence awards, was the overall Montana Food and Wine Challenge and judged Rotorua’s Best Restaurant for seven years. Damon was also a senior chef at the Royal Lakeside Novotel in Rotorua.

Damon completed his initial chef training in 1994 and has worked throughout New Zealand in locations such as Wellington, Tauranga and Rotorua.