Michael Dearth arrived in New Zealand with his wife Annette with a dream of opening his own restaurant, starting with Auckland fine dining restaurant, The Grove. His vision was to showcase high end artisan products, and the freshness and vibrancy of local, seasonal produce, paired with exceptional wines from around the world, all complemented by top-notch service.
The elegant spot on Wyndham Street in Auckland New Zealand quickly drew in customers and accolades. The Grove is continually named in the lists of Top 10 fine dining restaurants in the world. for its incredible degustation experiences, and has just celebrated 20 years in business.
A few years later, the Masterchef New Zealand judge and his wife Annette launched Baduzzi, a bustling, buzzy direct tribute to the Italian American culture he grew up with in Connecticut, USA. “Baduzzi was always meant to showcase the type of food I grew up enjoying,” Dearth explains.
“I’ve always felt that Italian cuisine, while widely loved, is often misunderstood. At Baduzzi, we aim to highlight its unique qualities and demonstrate that Italian food is more than just something you can cook at home – it’s worth going out for.”
Central to this mission are the carefully curated wine pairings at Baduzzi, a passion of Dearth’s that developed through his diverse roles in the hospitality industry, starting from washing dishes and progressing through bartender, chef, waiter, and eventually sommelier. “I developed a love for wine later in my career,” he reflects, “and discovered an array of outstanding Italian wines that deserve to be celebrated.”
Chapters for the fabulous chat between Michael Dearth and Renae Leith-Manos :
1:55 How does someone who’s not a chef become a successful restauranteur?
3:04 How did Michael end up on MasterChef New Zealand as a judge, and what does it feel like to be in a reality show?
6:16 Whats the secret to great food and a very successful restaurant?
7:34 How did michael end up in NZ?
13:27 A talk through the luxury hotel and restaurant scene
16:09 Michael’s insight on his children following his footsteps into the restaurant business
20:18 common nationalities that visit Michael’s restaurant
23:26 Michael’s favorite celebrity guest he had in his restaurant
25:21 Does michael travel a lot?
27:45 5 Must try food or beverage experience in Auckland
29:48 How does michael select his chefs
32:00 Where2FromHere, Michael?
32:46 outro
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Host & Executive Producer: Renae Leith-Manos
Editor: Morgan Yuen
Graphic & Design: Jimin Kim
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1 Comment
Great interview.