This month, the Warkworth Hotel is launching a new culinary venture, transporting diners to Southeast Asia even though we are unable to leave New Zealand. 

Every Sunday night in the Dining Room, the Hotel will bring you HOTEL VIETNAM, Launching on Sunday 21st March 2021, you can indulge in a unique two-hour dining experience with modern Vietnamese cuisine hosted by chefs and restaurateurs Jason van Dorsten & Woody Richards. Over the next few months, they will take you on a tasting journey through the regions of Vietnam.

All food is served over four courses and designed to be shared with friends and family. Each menu is carefully crafted to represent some of the most acclaimed, exotic and unknown dishes from six distinctive regions starting from north and working down to the south of Vietnam. The menu representing each region will only be available for two Sundays before they continue the journey down the country one bite at a time.

Chef Jason’s knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine comes from frequenting Vietnam over the last 16 years and his passion and respect for Vietnamese culture is reflected in his food.

Restaurateur Woody Richards lived in Thailand for four years travelling the country, owning restaurants and immersing himself in the culture. 

Jason van Dorsten started his career in Auckland working for well-known restaurants, including Prego, La Zeppa and Vivace. He later moved to the UK to gain fine dining experience with Thomas Cubbitt in Belgravia. A holiday in Southeast Asia sparked a passion for the fresh, delicate flavours of Vietnamese cuisine and was the genesis of the creation of Café Hanoi. 

Jason spent time living and working in Vietnam, building a repertoire of recipes and he frequently returns for further inspiration. Jason developed his menus in close collaboration with his largely Vietnamese team of chefs as they searched for the best way to present traditional Vietnamese food to a discerning cosmopolitan audience.

The HOTEL VIETNAM concept is a continuation of their love of Southeast Asian cuisine and celebrated alongside music and entertainment. It will showcase Vietnamese cuisine accompanied by live piano in an elegant environment. Expect to be entertained with jazz, classical, tangos and ragtime.

For $75.00 per person, you will be taken on a Vietnamese cuisine adventure for two hours. The food will be a culinary journey of taste and texture to delight your taste buds. Also available are five delicious and unique Asian inspired cocktails to match if you wish. Come early for a pre-drink in the lobby to set the mood before being taken to your table for a complimentary glass of Deutz Prestige and you begin your dining experience.

Reservations only for these events, either at 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. every Sunday.