Family favourite top festival fare | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A good old kiwi icon ? steak and kidney pie ? proved the golden favourite of four expert judges at this year's Toast Martinborough Festival.

All the restaurants at the festival participated in the first-ever Best Beef or Lamb Dish Award, which was won by veteran chef and Toast Martinborough caterer Ruth Pretty.

Her traditional kiwi dish won top marks from judges Lauraine Jacobs, of Cuisine magazine, David Burton, wine and food writer from Wellington, Judith Tabron, owner of Soul Bar and Bistro in Auckland, and Rex Morgan, from Citron Restaurant in Wellington and Ambassador Chef of the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Marketing Bureau.

Those who picked the award-winning dish, as decided by the judges, were entered in a draw to win a luxury weekend in Martinborough and a dinner at any New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence restaurant.