Cordis Auckland hosted an exclusive get-together to usher in the festive season last night, with a decadent feast laid out for all those in attendance.
An all-girls choir provided some musical accompaniment in the form of Christmas carols, and attendees were treated to a number of gastronomic creations by head chef Volker Marecek, including a seafood spread complete with breadcrumb 'sand', a cheese board showcasing a diverse range of cheeses, honey, and fruits, an oyster bar, and a selection of patisseries and desserts.
The food reached a true climax, though, with a theatrical sequence of culinary performance art in which Cordis chefs assembled a Jackson Pollock-esque festive dessert collage.
L-R: Executive pastry chef Romain Jeunet and executive chef Volker Marecek
As well as providing a retrospective commentary on the year gone by, managing director Franz Mascarenhas spoke of plans for the future, with a 17-storey expansion in the early stages of development.
"The new tower will add 250-odd rooms, so by August of 2021 we will be the largest hotel in the country," said Mascarenhas. "We'll have 650 rooms, and the tower will have one of the most intense hospitality offerings."
The development will feature balconies, a new feature for Cordis, and Mascarenhas described the view guests could expect from their rooms.
"We had a drone fly up to take pictures of what the views would be like from the eleventh floor upwards, and it's spectacular," he said. "We're already on a little bit of a hill, so the views will stretch from Mount Eden to Rangitoto."
L-R: Executive chef Volker Marecek, public relations executive Aia Jawad, director of sales and marketing Jayson Heron-Smith, managing director Franz Mascarenhas, marketing executive Eugenia Marquez, and director of marketing services Alex Blanco.
