The people behind the recipes.
We are a family of 5, living in New Zealand, we love food and travel. Food is such a big part of our daily lives and conversation. We love fresh seasonal produce, new dish ideas, travel and tasting local cuisines.
Shane Avant
A Kiwi-born, international award-winning chef. Chef Shane has spent the last 25+ years developing his trade in some of the world's most exotic locations and luxury kitchens. His work has taken him from New Zealand to Australia, Fiji, France, Maldives, UK, and Japan, cooking in high-end kitchens, a Michelin-star restaurant and luxury resorts. He has cooked for several celebrities including British royalty.
Career highlights
After 4 years at culinary college, Shane cut his teeth at some of New Zealand's most iconic restaurants, under some of the greatest chef mentors. He began as a Commis Chef at Christchurch landmark restaurant Le Bon Bolli, 1996. Excelling at competitions, he quickly put himself on the international culinary scene winning awards with Chaine des Rotisseurs. Representing his country, the Asia-Pacific region and on to the international finals in Paris. During his time on the competition circuit, Shane become know as the master of the mystery box challenge, attributed to his outstanding knowledge of food, flavours and well-developed palate.
To build on his culinary skills, Shane knew he had to travel, exploring kitchens and cuisines. He left Kiwi shores for Sydney's award-winning GPO Grand fine dining restaurant. Then worked as Chef de Partie at the exclusive Sails Restaurant in the breathtaking Whitsundays, Australia.
With time spent as Executive chef at the exclusive 5-star Vomo Island Resort in Fiji and 5-star Cocoa Island by COMO in the rich-lister preferred destination, the Maldives. As well as Executive Chef at the 5-star Fiji Beach Resort & Spa Hilton and the beautiful Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki on the West Coast, NZ.
With his traditional training, natural understanding of flavours and travel, Shane's food is classic yet heavily influenced by Asian and South Pacific cuisine and ingredients. His experience in building kitchen brigades and training up-and-coming chefs has made him a great teacher.
He is passionate about sharing his love for food and cooking.
Sara-Jane
Is a home cook, who loves creating recipes, planning weekly meals and trying out new things in the kitchen. Over the years she has built a collection of go-to recipes, perfected through the honesty of her taste-testing family (lol)!
Sara has had the absolute luxury of being able to ask a professional chef, all her food queries and questions. Whether it's a new cooking method she wants to understand, a recipe that's not quite right or what substitute ingredients can be used. The abundance of shared knowledge has helped her learn and grow in the kitchen.
Cooking for a family of five every day can definitely start to feel like a chore and Sara completely understands how some parents fall out of love with cooking. She is passionate about sharing good family dinners, that are healthy, tasty and easy to cook at the end of a busy weekday.
Why we created A Tasty Kitchen.
A Tasty Kitchen was created to share our passion for great food.
Cooking is a life skill. We want to keep the skill alive and pass it on to the next generation. A quick weekday meal really doesn't have to come from a jar or packet. We encourage you to ditch the processed jars and packets and to start filling up your cupboards with fresh, local and seasonal produce.
With every recipe we share step by step instructions, pro tips and advice to simplify the process. And most importantly to help you gain confidence and have fun in the kitchen!
So join us on a culinary journey. Ask questions, watch, learn, try something new and let's get cooking!
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