AWARD-WINNING CHEF NORKA MELLA MUNOZ JOINS PALLISER

Palliser Estate is thrilled that acclaimed chef Norka Mella Munoz is leading the Palliser Kitchen as Executive Chef.Her arrival marks an exciting new chapter for Palliser’s culinary offerings, as she brings her signature style, passion and luxury dining experience to the kitchen.

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Norka was previously the Executive Chef at Wharekauhau Lodge, where she was namedLuxury Lodge Chef of the Yearby theCuisine Good Food Guide 2024,and played a pivotal role in securing the lodge’s first-everCuisineHat. She developed her high-end style at other luxury venues Kinloch Manor and the Mangapapa Hotel in New Zealand, and around the globe. She has also been an ambassador for Ōra King Salmon, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

Mella Munoz says while she’s influenced by her South American roots and global travels, her cuisine now treads the line between fine dining and something more Kiwi and relaxed. She says “I call myself a ‘Chiwi’, having grown up in Chile, but spending half my life in New Zealand. And my food style mirrors these influences”. She practices ‘zero-waste cooking’ as much as possible, and with a focus on sustainably sourcing the best local, seasonal, artisanal ingredients alongside her burgeoning kitchen garden, Norka’s new menu complements the Palliser wine range perfectly. 

Palliser Chief Executive Pip Goodwin is delighted to have a Chef of this calibre lead the Palliser Kitchen. She says that “after four different pop-up foodies operating out of the Palliser Kitchen in recent years, having our own Executive Chef in-house will not only provide an elevated experience, but create consistency for visitors to our Cellar Door and Kitchen”.