About Peta
Peta Mathias MNZM is a respected and prolific New Zealand chef, author, entertainer and broadcaster, who writes about food and travel and hosts gastronomic tours in Morocco, the South of France, Spain, Italy and Portugal.
Author
Having started off her culinary love affair in 1980 in Paris with her restaurant 'Rose Blues' in the 5th arrondissement, Peta returned to New Zealand ten years later to teach, cook and write. 'Fête Accomplie', a book about life in Paris including recipes, was the first of Peta's award winning gastronomic travel books written about Morocco, France, New Zealand, Ireland, Vietnam and India.
'Can We Help It If We're Fabulous?', a book about women, came out in August 2008. It was an instant bestseller, is still being reprinted and has now been published in Great Britain, the USA, Canada and Germany. Then came 'A Matter of Taste' – a book of photographs of women's accessories made of food taken by Italian photographer Fulvio Bonavia, with text by Peta. This was followed by 'Just In Time To Be Too Late – why men are like buses' in 2009 and 'Beat Till Stiff' – stories of transformation, was published in November 2011.
In 2014 'Hot Pink Spice Saga - an Indian Culinary Travelogue With Recipes‘ won Best Culinary Travel Book from NZ in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Peta’s memoir of sorts, 'Never Put All Your Eggs in One Bastard', was released in October 2016 then in 2019 came ‘Eat Your Heart Out’, unusual love stories from around the world. Peta’s latest book 'Shed Couture' is about fashion and clothing, released by Penguin Random House September 2021.
Available from Mighty Ape
Available from Fishpond
Gastronomad
Behind Peta’s now legendary culinary tours are two simple ideas: first, the best way to experience a culture is through its cuisine; and second, the experience must be unique, powerful and moving. These tours are incredible human experiences where guests become part of Peta's life for a short time. Since 2005 she has been hosting her culinary tours to various exotic destinations around the world.
Television & Entertainment
For 12 years Peta presented the award winning prime time travel/food shows 'Taste New Zealand', 'Taste Takes off' and 'A Taste of Home'. Following that she set up her own production company 'Red Head Media' with colleagues, to make the food/travel television series 'Peta Unplugged in Marrakech', 'Ten Recipes For Fabulous Summer Entertaining' and 'Culinary Adventures in the South of France'.
More recently Peta has taken her one woman live show on the road – telling tall stories, ironing out the agonising problems of life, sautéing up a storm, singing of lost love and explaining how egg whites can transform your life. This show played to sell out audiences around New Zealand.
Peta in sunday magazine – october 2021
peta’s cover story – Australian woman’s weekly Aug 2022
Awards
Peta with the Governor-General, Lt General The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae at her investiture.
New Zealand Order of Merit medal
2015 - Best Culinary Travel Book from NZ in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for ‘Hot Pink Spice Saga’.
2012 – Peta was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit by the New Zealand Government in recognition for her work as an author and TV presenter.
2011 – Best book on France from NZ from the 2011 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris for 'French Toast - Eating and Laughing Your Way Around France'.
2010 – Best Mediterranean Cuisine Book from the 2010 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris for 'Culinary Adventures in Marrakech'.
2005 – May 2005 A Taste of Ireland wins Best Television Magazine/Lifestyle Programme 2004 at the QANTAS Media Awards.
Taste Takes Off to Mexico wins the Electronic Media Culinary Quill from the NZ Guild of Food Writers.
2003 – Peta and Taste NZ - Best food programme on television from the NZ Guild of Food Writers and The Culinary Quills and the Supreme Award for most outstanding entry overall.
2001 – Best Electronic Media Award for Taste New Zealand from NZ Guild of Food Writers.
2000 – Winner of the prize for Best Literary Foodwriting in English from the World Cookbook Fair in Perigueux for 'Burnt Barley'.
Recipe Book of the Year Award for 'Insatiable' from NZ Guild of Food Writers.
1997 – Silver Ladle for Best Food Presenter of a Food Segment for Taste New Zealand from the World Food Media Awards in Adelaide.