Certificate in Front of House Operations (Advanced) student Naomi Hunt competing in the Master Front of House.

EIT adopted red and white,the colours of Hawke’s Bay wines, as the theme for Food Art Wine 2011 – a celebration of student work over the past year. Held annually, the event is an opportunity for supporters and sponsors from Hawke’s Bay’s hospitality, art and wine industries to experience first-hand activities and presentations that demonstrate the talents and achievements of students attending EIT.

Food Art Wine showcased student wines, wine labels designed by art students and food and beverages prepared and served by students enrolled in hospitality programmes.

The various wine styles entered by wine science and viticulture students in the EIT Wine Awards were made using grapes provided by local wineries and growers.

These were judged as a single class in the days leading into Food Art Wine. The trophy was awarded for a 2010 Viognier made by Mike Poutawa, who works for Dartmoor Valley contract grapegrower Neal Cave and is studying part-time for EIT’s Level 4 National Certificate in Horticulture (Viticulture).

Hospitality students took part in master chef and master front of house competitions – each comprising three fun events. The Best Cookery Award went to Emma Druitt, Richard Howell was Top Front of House Student and the overall top Hospitality student was John Goldie.

First-year graphic design students enrolled in the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design programme worked to wine industry specifications in designing wine labels for judging. Daniel Clements won the label design while Emma Nevard was the people’s choice.

In projects that will be included in academic assessment, students also pitched creative ideas to Head of School Suzette Major to transform the EIT quad into a venue for exhibiting red and white al fresco art.

EIT hosted Food Art Wine at the School of Arts & Design in November.