Author Archives: Helen Jackson

NZ Ice Cream Awards Medal Winners 2020

Posted on by
Reply

 

NZ ICE CREAM AWARDS MEDALS ANNOUNCED
October 26th 2020
Gold and Silver Medal winners for the 2020 New Zealand Ice Cream Awards have been announced today.

Synergy Best of Fruit Category, Gold Medals
Gellicious Gelato, Black Doris Plum Sorbet
Little ‘Lato, Mango Lassi

Synergy Best of Fruit Category, Silver Medal
Carrello del Gelato, Mango Sorbetto
Emerald Foods, Chateau Apricot Ripple Ice Cream
Gellicious Gelato, Mango Sorbet
INDULGENZ, Black Doris Plum
Patagonia Chocolates, Mango
Talley’s Ice Cream, Motueka Creamery Apricot
Zany Zeus, Mango

Hawkins Watts Dairy-Free Category, Gold Medals
Little ‘Lato, Raspberry Dark Chocolate Smash
Little Liberty Creamery, Almond Mocha
Little Liberty Creamery, Double Espresso

Hawkins Watts Dairy-Free Category, Silver Medals
Frozen Bliss, Vanilla Bean
Frozen Bliss, Salted Caramel Ripple
Little ‘Lato, Vegan Banoffee
Little ‘Lato, Vegan Latte
Little ‘Lato, Vegan Roasted Hazelnut
Little Liberty Creamery, Hazelnut Chocolate
Little Liberty Creamery, Mint Choc Chip
Little Liberty Creamery, Mixed Berry
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Crave Chocolate Honeycomb
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Crave Mango & Coconut

New Zealand Food Safety Export Ice Cream Category, Gold Medal
Dairyworks, Newlait Choc Caramel Brownie Ice Cream

New Zealand Food Safety Export Ice Cream Category, Silver Medals
Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co, Vanilla Fresh Milk Ice Cream
Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co, Chocolate Fresh Milk Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Rum and Raisin Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, Killinchy Gold Affogato Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, Killinchy Gold Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Awesome Foursome Cravings Ice Cream
Talley’s Ice Cream, Meiraku Vanilla Beans

Sensient Technologies Gelato Category, Gold Medals
Charlies Gelato, Dark Chocolate Gelato
Emerald Foods, Killinchy Gold Passionfruit & Vanilla Ice Cream
Gelissimo Gelato, Caffe Bianca
Gellicious Gelato, Chocolate Gelato
GelatoMio, Pana Cotta Gelato
Left Coast Gelato, Chai Latte
Little ‘Lato, Speculoos
PURE New Zealand Ice Cream, Boysenberry

Sensient Technologies Gelato Category, Silver Medals
Carrello del Gelato, Salted Caramel with Chocolate Gelato
Carrello del Gelato, Chocolate Gelato
Gellicious Gelato, Vanilla Bean Gelato
Gellicious Gelato, Sea Salt Caramel Gelato
Gellicious Gelato, Indian Summer Gelato
Gellicious Gelato, Blueberry Gelato
Ginellis, Apple Pie Gelato
Ginellis, Rocher
Left Coast Gelato Banoffee Pie
Left Coast Gelato Caramel Ginger Crunch
Little ‘Lato, Espresso Gelato
Little ‘Lato, Salted Butterscotch
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Mochaccino

Pacific Flavours & Ingredients Kids’ Choice, Gold Medal
Talley’s Ice Cream, Blueberry Ice Cream

Pacific Flavours & Ingredients Kids’ Choice, Silver Medal
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Awesome Chocolate Cookies & Fudge Ice Cream

Pacific Flavours & Ingredients Kids’ Choice, Bronze Medal
Puhoi Valley Café, Choc Hokey

Kiwi Labels Low Fat or Frozen Yoghurt Category, Gold Medals
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Mango Lassi Frozen Yoghurt
Zany Zeus, Passionfruit

Kiwi Labels Low Fat or Frozen Yoghurt Category, Silver Medals
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Forestberry Frozen Yoghurt
Emerald Foods, Chateau Frozen Yoghurt
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Cool Bananas D’Lite Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, Zilch Vanilla Ice Cream
Talley’s Ice Cream, Guilt Free Honeycomb
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Light Vanilla
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Frozen Yoghurt
Zany Zeus, Raspberry
Zany Zeus, Feijoa
Zany Zeus, Mango

NZ Life & Leisure Open Creative Category, Gold Medals
Kāpiti Ice Cream, Kāpiti Keep Korma and Curry On
Lewis Road Creamery, Lemon and Gin Botanicals
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Don’t Waffle On

NZ Life & Leisure Open Creative, Silver Medals
Carrello del Gelato, Cucumber, Mint & Lime Sorbetto
Kāpiti Ice Cream, Kāpiti Get Sticky with it
Kāpiti Ice Cream, Kāpiti Like a Persian
Little ‘Lato, Cream Cheese & Asparagus Roll
Little ‘Lato, Maple Roasted Parsnip

Chelsea Sugar Premium Ice Cream Category, Gold Medals
Appleby Farms, Boysenberry
Appleby Farms, Ginger Biscuit
Dairyworks, Deep South Choc Caramel Brownie Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Milk Chocolate Ice Cream
Kāpiti Ice Cream, Kāpiti Gingernut
Kāpiti Ice Cream, Kāpiti Affogato
Lewis Road Creamery, Chocolate Truffle with Chocolate Ganache
Lewis Road Creamery, Double Mint and Dark Chocolate
Duck Island Ice Cream, White Chocolate Pomegranate Macadamia
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Creations Maple Fudge Walnut Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Awesome Passionfruit Ripple Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Creations Half Baked Brownie Ice Cream
Patagonia Chocolates, Dulce de Leche
Zany Zeus, Rose Water and Coconut

Chelsea Sugar Premium Ice Cream Category, Silver Medals
Appleby Farms, Passionfruit
Appleby Farms, Coffee
Appleby Farms, Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Dairyworks, Deep South Butterscotch Caramel Walnut Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, Killinchy Gold Salted Caramel & Cashew Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural English Toffee Ice Cream
Ginellis, Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Ginellis, Chocolate Revenge Ice Cream
INDULGENZ, Liquorice
Kapiti Ice Cream, Kāpiti Fig & Manuka Honey
Lewis Road Creamery, Burnt Butter and Caramel Swirl
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Awesome Toffee Baked Churros Deluxe Ice Cream
Patagonia Chocolates, Dark Chocolate
Puhoi Valley Café, Matakana Rostered Coffee Affogato with Cashew Nuts
Puhoi Valley Café, Puhoi Hokey
PURE New Zealand Ice Cream, Salted Caramel
PURE New Zealand Ice Cream, Roasted White and Dark Chocolate
PURE New Zealand Ice Cream, Hokey Pokey
PURE New Zealand Ice Cream, Mascarpone, Date and Orange
Talley’s Ice Cream, Motueka Creamery Passionfruit
Talley’s Ice Cream, T’oBeray Cookies & Cream
Talley’s Ice Cream, TSF Chocolate
Zany Zeus, Greek Yoghurt and Raspberry
Zany Zeus, Liquorice
Zany Zeus, Ghana Chocolate

Givaudan/IMCD Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Category, Gold Medal
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Awesome Vanilla Ice Cream

Givaudan/IMCD Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Category, Silver Medals
Dairyworks, Deep South Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Classic Vanilla Ice Cream
INDULGENZ, Luxury Vanilla Bean
Patagonia Chocolates, Vanilla Bean
Zany Zeus, Vanilla

Infruit Sorbet Category, Gold Medals
Emerald Foods, Killinchy Gold Lemon Sorbet
Gellicious Gelato, Passionfruit Sorbet
Gellicious Gelato, Strawberry Sorbet
INDULGENZ, Mango Sorbet
Patagonia Chocolates, Chocolate Sorbet

Infruit Sorbet Category, Silver Medals
Carrello del Gelato, Feijoa Sorbetto
Carello del Gelato, Raspberry Sorbet
Carrello del Gelato, Rhubarb Sorbetto
Duck Island Ice Cream, Mango Passionfruit Sorbet
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Mango Sorbet
Emerald Foods, New Zealand Natural Berryfruit
Gellicious Gelato, Blackcurrant Sorbet
Gellicious Gelato, Lemon Sorbet
INDULGENZ, Raspberry Sorbet
Minoo Gelato, Feijoa Sorbet
Minoo Gelato, Lemon Sorbet
Puhoi Valley Café & Cheese Store, Strawberry Sorbet
Patagonia Chocolates, Raspberry Sorbet
Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store, Strawberry & Rosehip

Alto/PACT Group Standard Ice Cream Category, Gold Medals
Duck Island Ice Cream, Peppermint Slice
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Boysenberry Ripple
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Crave Peanut Butter Cup

Alto/PACT Group Standard Ice Cream Category, Silver Medals
Dairyworks, Deep South Double Chocolate Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, Chateau Churro Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Wonders Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Awesome Salted Caramel Seduction Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Awesome Toffee Baked Churros Ice Cream
Talley’s Ice Cream, Green Tea
Talley’s Ice Cream, Eiger GT
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Hokey Pokey
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Caramel Ripple

Fonterra New Zealand Standard Vanilla Ice Cream Category, Gold Medal
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top French Vanilla

Fonterra New Zealand Standard Vanilla Ice Cream Category, Silver Medals
Dairyworks, Deep South French Vanilla Ice Cream
Emerald Foods, Chateau Vanilla Ice Cream
Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Much Moore Wonders Vanilla Ice Cream
Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Tip Top Creamy Vanilla

A Taste of Sandringham

Posted on by
2

How good does this baji look?  Samrudh Akuthota (Sammy) tells me that he remembers eating baji as a child and picking off all the crisp bits and then leaving the spongier interior so therefore when he opened his own place (Satya Chai Lounge) he made the baji that the child Sammy would have liked.  I can vouch for them, they are so very crisp and flavoursome with the tamarind drizzle offering a delicious sour element.

On Thursday November 5th Sammy will host us at Satya Chai Lounge,  an experience that includes a little cooking class with tips and stories from Sammy, an amazing lunch that has made Satya (the original is owned by Sammy’s parents) a culinary institution and a look at the fabulous new Satya products that are sure to enhance your home cooking.

Prior to Satya we will walk the block, visiting local stores.  These are sure to stimulate the senses. You may also want to shop for ingredients as the prices are great and the range extraordinary.

With our ability to travel restricted it is wonderful to experience different cultures that are only minutes away from home!

A taste of Sandringham –  Thursday November 5th, 11am – 2.30pm (ish)
Price – $135 p/p – includes lunch, a little treat to take home, water, tea, coffee.  Other drinks available to purchase.
To secure your place emai:l [email protected]
Numbers are strictly limited.

Hokey Pokey Rocky Road

Posted on by
4

This is so simple to make, the only thing that can trip you up is the hokey pokey.  Make sure that you are not tempted to add any extra golden syrup and keep your spoon measures level.  Too much golden syrup can cause hokey pokey not to set.
Make sure you boil the sugar syrup until an amber colour – similar to maple syrup.
The rest is easy and the texture/flavour is so good!

A Taste Of Clevedon Day Tour

Posted on by
1

With our first Clevedon day selling out in 2 ours we now have a new date of Wednesday November 11th for a day of deliciousness with award winner artisan producers.

Our day will start at 8.30am with pick up at Countdown Greenlane carpark (unless otherwise arranged).
From there we head to Clevedon for a morning coffee and tasty treat.

Our day may vary a little to the below but be assured it will be a wonderful experience.

We will spend time with Helen Dorresteyn at Clevedon Buffalo (the farm not the cheese factory), where we will see the buffalo and taste her award winning cheese.

Kelli at Forage and Ferment will welcome us at her wee factory where she makes awesome kefir, sauerkraut and other fermented goodness.

Down the road from Kelli is the magnificent Kawa Kawa Bay and Clevedon Coast oysters. If you haven’t tasted one of Clevedon’s tempura oysters yet then you are in for a treat!

Curious Croppers are famous for their wonderful heirloom tomatoes and a visit to the gregarious Anthony and Angela is a must.

We will visit Josephine Elworthy at Hololio House and see her flower gardens and beautiful buildings.

There are a couple of other gems in the day as well.

We will have you back at Countdown carpark at around 3.30pm.

$195 p/p all inclusive.

For bookings email me [email protected]

Numbers are strictly limited. :)

 

 

 

Hell of a Sandwich wins Great NZ Toastie Takeover

Posted on by
Reply

Good old-fashioned comfort food has reigned supreme in this year’s Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover competition with a small Dunedin eatery and its supremely delicious meatloaf creation taking top honours.

Romeo Dowling-Mitchell of Hungry Hobos can now officially lay claim to the best toasted sandwich in the land with his “Bat out of Hell” entry, featuring homemade meatloaf (made to Grandma’s recipe), creamy mashed potato, gravy, aged cheddar and McClure’s Sweet & Spicy Pickles slathered between herb-buttered ciabatta.

The win will come as no surprise to Dunedin locals. Romeo has been doling out mouth-watering, American-style toasted sandwiches and soups from his George Street eatery for the past two and a half years after a career that spanned cooking for Team New Zealand at the America’s Cup in San Francisco and cheffing on super yachts in Spain.

His “Bat out of Hell” sandwich beat 80 other entries from around the country in the annual Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, impressing judges with its combination of simple ingredients served with confidence.

Head Judge Kerry Tyack says the “Bat out of Hell” combination is at once wholly expected and a total surprise.

“After all, who would put meatloaf, mash and gravy in a toastie? Answer: Romeo, and in that it fits!” Kerry says.

“The assessment team felt this ate like a toastie that hasn’t tried to be anything other than wholly unapologetically itself – simple, unctuous, familiar, comforting and delicious every bite of the way.

“The judge’s notes said the eating of this sandwich was joyous. There’s a familiarity that’s bordering on nostalgic in the savoury perfectly seasoned meatloaf with light buttery mash and gravy, melted cheese and McClure’s pickles. It’s real comfort food! It’s also bold and brilliantly executed with every element prepared perfectly.”

Romeo says his toasted sandwich entry was never going to be about pretentious ingredients.

“I wanted to do something that was a bit different but still inside the realms of what you’d get at home. Something you’d throw together ambitiously with the leftovers from the night before. One of my strengths as a chef has always been seasoning and balancing flavours and textures really well so I was confident I could give the sandwich the x-factor that way, rather than going too adventurous.

“I am stoked to bring the trophy to Dunedin and do my part for the thriving food scene emerging here. Can’t wait to show off my trophy to all my regulars who have been so supportive.”

Hungry Hobos now has a bespoke Toastie Takeover trophy to proudly display, as well as a year’s supply of McClure’s pickles and vouchers to give away via social media. The trophy, which resembles a toasted sandwich, was designed by Rikki Berger in Christchurch and is made of Pohutukawa (the bread), Puri Puri (pickles) and Ash (cheese).

Co-owner and founder of McClure’s Pickles, Joe McClure, says the overall standard of sandwiches sampled in this year’s Toastie Takeover was exceptional and while he wasn’t able to judge in person this year due to border restrictions, he was involved in the panel moderator process.

“Determining an overall winner was a real challenge with so many very different toasties vying for the title,” he says.

“We had peanut butter and pickle toasties (Fix & Fogg, Wellington), smashed burger toasties (Jemima’s Kitchen and Cheese on Toast, Auckland) and crispy fried chicken with mac ‘n’ cheese (Love Chicken, Queenstown) amongst the dozen finalists.

“We’d like to congratulate all of them for making this such a great competition. It’s clear the art of creating the perfect toastie is very much alive. We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with next year!”

The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover competition criteria required sandwiches to be toasted between two slices of bread and able to be eaten by hand. The toasties also needed to contain cheese and McClure’s pickles, with all the other ingredients entirely up to the entrant’s imagination.

12 finalists were selected from the 80 entrants and were all judged on the same criteria, including presentation, effectiveness of preparation technique, eatability, taste, innovation and originality. This is the second year the South Island has taken the title with Joseph Walker and the Hokitika Sandwich Company taking top honours in 2019.

 

August 2020

Posted on by
Reply

I am currently finding joy in simple things such as planting my All in One Almond trees just before the rain came to water them in.  The addition of these trees takes our fruit (and nut) tree tally up to 20, not bad for our inner city garden.
Our Yen Ben lemon tree has so much fruit that even though I am trying not to add to my Covid kilos I am going to make a lovely moist Lemon Syrup Loaf this afternoon.  We will share it with our elderly neighbours.
For those looking for something fun in November then how about coming along on the Alps to Ocean Cycle (e-bikes) with me?  It will be delicious, scenic, good fun and of course exercise.  Currently there are 3 spots left (numbers are capped at 14).
Happy Cooking!