We are thrilled to have New Zealand’s much-loved celebrity chef, Michael Van de Elzen, bringing his energy and expertise to Garden Marlborough. With his irresistible grin and passion for cooking healthy and delicious food, Michael is offering two very diverse, entertaining opportunities for you to garner inspiration and knowledge from this New Zealand icon. 

Mike returned to New Zealand from Europe in the early 2000s and opened the multi award-winning restaurant Molten in Auckland’s Mt Eden. He became a household name and spent many hours in kiwis’ living rooms featuring in popular TV shows such as The Food Truck, Family Recipes, Food Rescue Kitchen and Eat Well for Less New Zealand.

Mike and his wife and co-chef, Belinda, dreamed of having their own slice of rural kiwi paradise, and this dream came to fruition in 2015 with the purchase of a 15-acre property in Muriwai on Auckland’s west coast. After years of planning and planting, Mike and Belinda opened the ‘Good From Scratch’ cookery school doors in January 2020, offering a range of cooking classes, corporate experiences and private events. 

For Mike and Belinda, picking and eating fresh ingredients from their kitchen gardens and orchard is not only satisfying, but they know they are harvesting food at its very best. Mike has a talent for teaching guests how to prepare and cook the ingredients to bring out the best flavours from them.

‘Good from Scratch’ Cooking Demonstration and Q&A Session

Thursday 7 Nov 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Seize the opportunity to experience Mike’s infectious enthusiasm in person and be a part of Thursday night’s culinary theatre. Mike will be preparing a selection of dishes, as well as delving into the world of food, sharing his journey as a chef, and the life events and lessons that have led him to where he is today. Expect insightful anecdotes, funny tales, and a peek into Mike’s culinary philosophy, all delivered with his signature wit and easy charm.

There will be the opportunity to try one of Mike’s creations during the evening and enjoy a welcoming glass of Rapaura Springs wine. Along with an interactive Q&A session, this promises to be a lively evening for all foodies that is not to be missed.

Making Sustainable Gardens and Lifestyle Blocks Work for You

Friday 8 Nov 9.00am – 10.30am

Do you aspire to be more self-sufficient and in control of your own food provenance? Or perhaps you’ve already made the move to a lifestyle block and are looking for some tips and tricks from someone who’s already been there, done the hard work and is now reaping the rewards?

Whether you’re working with a generously sized urban section, or a larger rural space, you will definitely want to be part of this engaging and enlightening Friday workshop on how to make it provide for you.

Mike will graciously share his experience and firsthand knowledge of turning his property into a thriving lifestyle block complete with orchard, animals and kitchen gardens. Learn from Mike’s journey as he passes on advice, insights and inspiration - and what to look out for to help avoid the pitfalls!

“I remind myself often that a small farm goes a long way when it comes to what you can produce for the family kitchen, and this is what I’ll be sharing with you at Garden Marlborough,” Mike explains. He looks forward to seeing you there.