A Dinner Fit for Captain Cook: MBAS Tuia Encounters Dinner

Note: There are still tickets!

Mercury Bay Area School and Gecko Press invite you to a themed dinner in celebration of the Tuia 250 events commemorating Captain Cook’s visit to Mercury Bay.

Food, nutrition and hospitality teacher at Mercury Bay Area School, Joanna Mannington, is organising the event at the Flaxmill Bay campground during September this year, in celebration of the Tuia 250 events commemorating Captain Cook’s visit to Mercury Bay.

The menu will consist of three courses, presenting a contemporary interpretation of indigenous and introduced foods served on the flatware of the period. Beer, rum, punch and canapes will also be on offer.

Children’s author, Gavin Bishop, who has recently written and illustrated the picture book “Cook’s Cook: The Cook Who Cooked for Captain Cook” will be in attendance. His book follows the 1768 journey of Captain James Cook’s H.M. Endeavour with his ship’s cook, the one-handed John Thompson as story teller, and even includes recipes that were used on the ship.

Joanna worked as the cook on board the Endeavour replica ship for five years, where she circumnavigated the world twice, so is keen to offer her experiences to Mercury Bay, with Gavin’s book tying in well with the Tuia 250 theme. The event will also give the MBAS hospitality students the opportunity to experience event management.

96 tickets will be on sale as there were 96 men on board the Endeavour, with three different price levels to choose from. You can opt to sit at the gentleman’s table, officers table or the able bodied seaman tables which replicate the hierarchy of the British Navy.

Guests will be given a voyager name and are welcome to dress to the theme if they wish.

There will be a brief talk from students regarding the menu choice and the Captain Cook Society will address the guests. Gavin Bishop will also speak, with signed, limited edition copies of his book going to auction.

24 Captains Table tickets @ $100 each – SOLD OUT
70 Able bodied seaman mess tickets @ $70 each – STILL AVAILABLE
Contact Jo Maddington for tickets or further info:
Ph 021 033 2608
manningtonj@mbas.ac.nz