Wairakei Resort Taupo have appointed renowned Executive Chef Jason Lewis to lead the team across the resort’s various food and beverage outlets.

Mr Lewis has a reputable name in the Taupo region having run the kitchen at Bistro Lago for Hilton Hotel and worked in various consulting positions within the region. For the previous five years Mr Lewis has been teaching culinary arts at Toi Ohomai institute of technology.

Wairakei Resort Marketing Manager Ash Palmer says the team are very fortunate to have landed such an exceptional talent.

“We are very excited to have Jason on board,” says Mr Palmer. “He’s got a fantastic reputation and there are a lot of local fans in Taupo who will be excited to learn that he will be curating our menus and delivering the exceptional food that he has become known for.”

“He has already created a concept summer menu that looks delicious and is in the process of enhancing our Friday and Saturday Night Market to ensure that it is even better than it was in previous years.”

Prior to moving to Taupo Mr Lewis was managing culinary television personality Simon Gault’s Pravda Restaurant in Wellington. It was Simon Gault who first asked if Mr Lewis would be interested in moving to Taupo as Executive Chef for the recently opened Bistro Lago.

“It was an absolute pleasure to spend seven years working under Simon Gault who is definitely one of New Zealand’s top chefs,” says Mr Lewis. “His innovative approach in the kitchen helped to shape me as a chef and I look forward to bringing new flavours and ideas to the plate here at Wairakei in one of Taupo’s top restaurants.”

With a passion for sustainability, mentoring and tapping into the talents of the team around him, Mr Lewis is the perfect candidate to take Wairakei Resort’s cuisine to the next level.

“As a Qualmark gold property Wairakei Resort is already on the right path when it comes to sustainable thinking, but I have a number of creative ideas about how the kitchen can further improve its environmental footprint,” says Mr Lewis.

As a leader and a family man Mr Lewis is passionate about putting people first which draws talent to his kitchens wherever he goes.

“I am also excited to mentor and work with the diverse team at Wairakei and encourage them to bring their own ideas and cuisine from their backgrounds to the guests of the resort and the people of Taupo.”

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Ash Palmer, Marketing Manager

Chateau Tongariro Hotel & Wairakei Resort Taupo

DDI: 07 374 9693 | M: 027 319 3299 | T: 07 374 9004