New venture celebrates unexpected food offerings
Launching with a refined New Zealand eel pâté, The Lost Larder is an opportunity to celebrate the rich food culture of Southland.
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A bold new venture, The Lost Larder, is attempting to rewrite the food story of Aotearoa by turning often-overlooked ingredients into culinary showstoppers.
Launching with a refined New Zealand eel pâté, The Lost Larder is an opportunity to celebrate the rich food culture of Southland.
The name The Lost Larder speaks of a mission to rediscover and reimagine forgotten or underappreciated corners of our food story.
At the heart of The Lost Larder’s journey is the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), a nationwide programme that empowers secondary school students to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and bring their business ideas to life.
The scheme has been instrumental in connecting Southland’s Millie McFadzien - the driving force behind The Lost Larder - with experienced mentors and local business leaders.
They have helped shape her vision.
The Young Enterprise CEO said she could not believe how much support we’ve had from local businesses.
“From helping us refine our brand to sharing advice on packaging, the generosity and belief in The Lost Larder has been incredible,” McFadzien said.
“I’m especially grateful to Calvin from SouthFish for his mentorship and for helping me understand the importance of using our exceptional produce in new ways and helping me understand the business landscape, the support has been incredible.”
Others who have offered up support include Naked Creative, Ocean Beach, Creation Signs, and Chef Ethan Flack.
“I have been so fortunate. It’s made me feel like anything is possible,” McFadzien said
Naked Creative’s Carla Forbes said she jumped at the chance to be involved when asked.
“This project is exactly what we stand for. It’s innovative and it’s celebrating Southland’s extraordinary food story.
“Southland has some of the best produce and people in the country, and The Lost Larder is a wonderful example of how we can showcase our region’s bounty to the world.”
Chef Ethan Flack - a champion of local produce and renowned for his creativity - lent his expertise to the project.
“Supporting Millie and The Lost Larder has been a privilege,” Flack said.
“Southland has always punched above its weight when it comes to producing food, and it’s inspiring to see a young entrepreneur so dedicated to telling our food story in a fresh, exciting way.
“The eel pâté is a testament to what can happen when passion meets purpose.”
Southland’s rich food heritage and exceptional produce from river and ocean delicacies to foraged finds and pasture-raised excellence – are the beating heart of The Lost Larder.
The belief is that even the most unexpected elements can become something extraordinary on the plate.
The Lost Larder is now taking orders for their inaugural eel pâté - a small-batch delicacy.
How can we order the pate please?