KELLI BRETT
EDITOR OF CUISINE
For years, I’ve had the privilege of indulging in some of New Zealand’s most exclusive food experiences. From private vineyard tastings to off-menu chef’s tables, I’ve been fortunate to witness the incredible talent, passion and provenance that shape Aotearoa’s culinary landscape.
But the best moments – the real magic – so often happens behind the scenes. They are the kind of moments that aren’t available on Google or YouTube; you had to know someone, be invited in and, even then, not everything could be shared.
Now, in partnership with Stacey Jones – a multi-award-winning food- experience and event designer with four New Zealand Event Awards under her belt – we’re changing that. We’re inviting you into the story with The Only Table, a new kind of culinary travel concept that blends wild New Zealand locations, world-class chefs and deeply personal storytelling.
STACEY JONES
THE ONLY TABLE
The Only Table is not just for people who like food. It’s for those who are obsessed with it, who fly across the world for a table and book two years out. It’s the kind of experience you might expect in an episode of Chef’s Table – but instead of watching it unfold on screen, you’re living it. And the chefs? They’re cooking just for you.
We know our guests have eaten everywhere and travelled the globe for unforgettable meals. At this point, they want more than just fine dining: it’s about surprise, intimacy and being invited to the table.
The inaugural experience, ‘The Only Table: An Italian Expedition’, will take place at the stunning Ātaahua Estate, The Villa. Designed for just eight diners, it’s for those who love Italian flavours.
At the helm of the kitchen will be Simon Gault, one of New Zealand’s most recognised chefs with a name synonymous with Italian-inspired cuisine. His passion for Italian food makes him the perfect choice to launch this series.
“As a chef, it’s rare to have the creative freedom, the setting and the intimacy to really push boundaries. The Only Table gives us the platform to do something extraordinary, not just for the guests, but for ourselves too.”
Unimaginable Culinary Expeditions
Black Gold Expedition
1 Day | Heli-Truffling x French Café
Forage rare wild truffles, then devour them in a lunch curated by one of New Zealand’s top chefs.
Italian Expedition
4 Day, 3 Nights | Simon Gault
Indulge in the finest Italian flavours, guided by MasterChef judge Simon Gault at Ataahua Estate, The Villa
Forage, Fire & Feast Expedition
1 Day | Forage & Hāngī
Forage native plants with Kasey and Karena Bird, and master hāngī with ex-Māori All Blacks captain.
AN ITALIAN EXPEDITION,
ĀTAAHUA ESTATE, BAY OF PLENTY,
4 DAYS, 3 NIGHTS
Set on the sun-drenched coastline of the Bay of Plenty, Ātaahua Estate, The Villa, is an ultra-luxurious private retreat and the setting for the inaugural edition of The Only Table.
Guests arrive by helicopter, sweeping over the Coromandel in an unforgettable descent that marks the beginning of something rare. Greeted by your hosts for the weekend – Cuisine editor Kelli Brett and founder of The Only Table, Stacey Jones – you step straight into a world of luxury.
It begins, as all good things do, with aperitivo. Negronis and canapés will be served al fresco, followed by an intimate storytelling session with Simon Gault in an expertly curated wine cellar and finishing with dinner by our private chef.
The next day, alongside Simon, it’s time for a helicopter truffle hunt, an experience of earth, aroma and anticipation. What you forage in the morning will return to your plate by afternoon as part of a pasta-making masterclass with our chef, then an extended truffle-laced long lunch, perfectly paired with Italian wines.
The following day shifts to the sea where you’ll have the opportunity to collect and shuck oysters. Then inland to a hidden distillery where you’ll craft your own saffron and truffle gin.
The final day blends restoration and relaxation. Enjoy a sauna, a swim, perhaps even a massage, before one final long lunch shared with a select few at The Only Table.
Unimaginable Culinary Expeditions
Black Gold Expedition
1 Day | Heli-Truffling x French Café
Forage rare wild truffles, then devour them in a lunch curated by one of New Zealand’s top chefs.
Italian Expedition
4 Day, 3 Nights | Simon Gault
Indulge in the finest Italian flavours, guided by MasterChef judge Simon Gault at Ataahua Estate, The Villa
Forage, Fire & Feast Expedition
1 Day | Forage & Hāngī
Forage native plants with Kasey and Karena Bird, and master hāngī with ex-Māori All Blacks captain.
Rare Access
The Only Table is the only way in.
These are experiences you can’t Google, unlocked through deep insider networks Cuisine has built over decades. Think hidden vineyards and deserted beach long lunches.
You don’t just get a seat at the table, you get to step into the kitchen.
Deep Connection
Each expedition is shaped by Cuisine’s collective of trusted insiders, winemakers, producers, chefs, and cultural storytellers, chosen not just for what they know, but how they share it. These are the best culinary experiences New Zealand has to offer.
You won’t just visit.
You’ll be part of it.
Raw & Immersive
The kind of story you have to live to tell.
The most memorable experiences aren’t served in cloches, they’re served on clifftops.
From secret truffières to hāngī still warm in the earth, from back-of-house kitchens to vineyard ridgelines, you’ll walk the whenua, taste the season, and connect with tastemakers shaping Aotearoa.
Restorative Luxury
Luxury that lets you unwind.
From door-to-door transfers to private charters and a Culinary Concierge considering and curating every detail.
There’s nothing to plan.
Only space to arrive, breathe, and be present.
This isn’t just luxury — it’s an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and feel truly nourished.
YOUR PRIVATE INVITATION TO JOIN US AT THE ONLY TABLE
An exclusive preview will take place in August for a select few. To join this exclusive culinary expedition, request your private invitation at theonlytable.com or contact our concierge at concierge@theonlytable.com. There are only eight seats around the table – will one be yours?