Smiling broadly and conversing happily as she signed cookbook after cookbook, Nigella Lawson charmed hundreds of fans during her visit to Invercargill.
The multimillionaire businesswoman and television personality was in New Zealand to attend two gala events in Auckland and Invercargill.
Lawson looked cool as a cucumber and sweet as chocolate during her hour in the H&J Smith department store yesterday.
She was apparently unfazed by a barrage of cameras and a long queue of people snaking almost the length of the shop waiting to see her.
She accepted gifts gracefully: a small red gift bag from one woman, and a boxed dozen home-made cupcakes from Invercargill chef Eli Pont, originally from Brazil.
"Isn't it exciting, She's so lovely - so gorgeous. She looked at you and really took notice of you,'' said Otatara resident Bronwyn Sadler, clutching her signed book.
She went to the store at noon, waited for two-and-a-half hours to ensure she was first in the queue, and declared the wait had been "worth it''.
Gerald Brandsen, of Invercargill, a "Southern bloke'' kind of guy, took a late lunch break to see Lawson.
Why?
"Have you looked at her? She's beautiful and she's amazing.''
Perhaps the prize for effort should go to Sammuel Kent, of Christchurch, who estimated he had spent $2000 on his trip to Invercargill especially to see Lawson in-store and attend her gala dinner at ILT Stadium last night.
The surgical theatre assistant said he had shelled out for transport, accommodation, a ticket to the gala evening cocktail party and four-course gourmet dinner, and a new dinner suit.
"But it is definitely worth it. It is an experience I didn't want to miss,'' he said.
His friend Ryan Moroney said he was not attending the dinner, with tickets starting at $344.
"I couldn't afford [that]. I just came for the ride.''
More than 500 people attended the gala evening.
While she was not to give a live cooking demonstration, Lawson was scheduled to speak for about 10 minutes and answer questions for 30 minutes.
