PETER GORDON JOINS THE OUTSTANDING FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS AS HEAD JUDGE

Ten years on, the Outstanding Food Producer Awards welcomes a culinary Kiwi legend.

As proud media partner of the Outstanding Food Producer Awards, dish is thrilled to play a part in celebrating a decade of championing Aotearoa New Zealand’s most exceptional food and drink producers. And we’re especially excited to share that internationally celebrated chef, restaurateur, culinary consultant and writer Peter Gordon will take on the role of Head Judge for 2026, a perfectly plated appointment for the Awards’ 10th anniversary year.

Renowned for his pioneering approach to fusion cuisine, and his dedication and advocacy for localy grown ingredients, Gordon brings a wealth of knowledge to the judging panel. Across four decades, he has gathered ingredients, textures, and techniques from kitchens around the world, weaving them together in inventive and unexpected ways to create dishes that redefine culinary possibility.

With eight cookbooks to his name, a portfolio of award-winning restaurants, and career highlights that include cooking for Barack Obama and founding celebrated charity event Who’s Cooking Dinner?, Gordon’s influence has helped shape how we think about flavour, culture, and community through food in Aotearoa. 

Gordon shares: “I’m a huge fan of the Outstanding Food Producer Awards as it showcases the extraordinary, hard-working and top-of-their-game producers we have here in Aotearoa NZ. Every entry is from someone who really cares about New Zealand's food culture. They have all contributed to its evolution, and to have these awards recognising their efforts is essential. Over the last three years I’ve enjoyed seeing what’s happening in the food producer realm. It just gets better each year with innovation, refinement, dietary needs and so much more. It’s an honour to take over the mantle of Head Judge from Lauraine, and I look forward to working more closely with Nicola and Kathie and the other knowledgeable judges.”

Each year, the Awards celebrate excellence across the country’s artisan and primary food sectors, with products earning Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals, and one producer receiving the Supreme Champion title. Over nine years, the Outstanding Food Producer Awards medal stickers have become a trusted mark for consumers, signalling that the New Zealand-made product they’re taking home will indeed taste Outstanding. More than ten million of these medals have now appeared on shelves and market stalls nationwide, a testament to the awards’ impact and the producers who make Aotearoa’s food culture so special.

DISCOVER THE PREVIOUS OUTSTANDING FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS CHAMPIONS HERE