About Appetite.

Food doesn’t just feed you. In the right hands, it tells you everything about a place.

For more than 15 years, Elle Armon-Jones has helped travellers discover New Zealand through its food, people and stories. As the founder of The Big Foody, she has welcomed thousands of guests into the country’s food culture - from bustling markets and neighbourhood favourites to acclaimed restaurants and hidden gems known mostly by locals.

Elle’s journey began with a love of cooking, a passion for travel and a deep curiosity about the people behind what we eat. She has always been interested in more than what appears on the plate: the hands that grew it, the season that shaped it and the place that gives it meaning.

Along the way, she has built trusted relationships with exceptional chefs, winemakers, growers and makers. These genuine connections give her guests the opportunity to experience places and meet people they might never discover on their own.

After years of leading acclaimed food tours, Elle wanted to create experiences with more time to explore, connect and savour. Appetite for New Zealand grew from that idea: thoughtfully curated, multi-day journeys that reveal a destination through its flavours and the people who bring them to life.