|
Note:
links in archived stories may have expired due to the removal of the stories
from, or changes to, the websites from which they were derived.


Pub weirdo finds his voice
South London-based NZ writer Paul
Ewen has released his first book, London
Pub Reviews. Ewen set up his own publishing company, Shoes With Rockets, to
make sure the collection of humorous fictional reviews of real pubs made it to
the shelves. It is now being sold at the Tate Britain and numerous independent
book shops around the city, as well as on Amazon. "I first got to know my
way around London by using a pub guide and by visiting the best pubs in
different areas," says Ewen. "Because I was using it so much, I sort
of got into the vernacular of the pub guide, and when I started writing in these
pubs I was visiting, the pub reviews became a kind of scaffolding for my
stories." According to fellow author Tom McCarthy, Ewen has "given
voice to that perennial figure who haunts the margins of all our lives: the pub
weirdo", while author and editor Toby Litt hails Ewen as "the funniest
new writer I have read in years".
(23 May 2007)


Food to match the location
Wellington restaurant Martin Bosley's features
in a guide to the Pacific region by the New York Times. Research for the guide
was conducted by leading US travel authority Frommers. "Previously reserved
as the exclusive dining domain of members of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht
Club, this bright and classy spot has opened its doors to the wider public - and
for that we can be truly thankful. You'll get some of the best dishes in
Wellington here - luscious seafoods served in myriad ways from an all-round
creative menu," states the five-star review. Martin Bosley's overlooks
Clyde Quay Marina on Wellington's waterfront.
(March 2007)


Renaissance master
The Honolulu Star Bulletin has recognised NZ-born restaurateur Dave Stewart as
one of ten people who "changed Hawaii" for the better in 2006. Stewart
has been a leading figure in the renaissance of Honolulu's Chinatown, which is
gradually shedding its seedy image for a reputation as a night-life hub. Stewart
opened his first restaurant - Indigo - in 1994, and has since opened Bar 35 in
2005 and French restaurant Du Vin in October last year. Stewart eschews market
research in favour of gut instinct. "Everything I do is for me," he
says, "I wanted a bar that serves pizza and really cold beer, hence Bar 35.
And my other thing is I love French food and good wine, so Du Vin was a
no-brainer." Next in Stewart's sights is nearby Waikiki, which is also in
the midst of a major redevelopment.
(28 December 2006)

Culinary invasion
An Independent feature
nominates the ten best places to “eat Australasian” in London. These include The
Zetter (NZ chef Megan Jones), The Providores and Tapa Room (Peter Gordon’s mini
empire with fellow Kiwi's Anna Hansen and Michael McGrath), Gourmet Burger Kitchen
(NZ concept with Peter Gordon as consulting chef), The Grocer (co-founded by
Peter Gordon), and the Square Pie Company (best known for its uber-Kiwi steak &
cheese).
(26 March 2005)

A field trip worth taking
For aspiring cooks looking to learn Down
Under, the Independent recommends Te Horo’s Ruth Pretty Cooking School
and Catherine Bell’s Epicurean Workshop in Auckland.
(26 March 2005)


The Taste of Success
42 Below Manuka Honey Vodka is the main
ingredient in star bartender Loren “Lola” Dunsworth’s current favourite cocktail
– The Taste of Honey – which gets an impressive plug, complete with recipe, in
the LA Times.
(26 January 2005)


Go get ‘em, Tiger
Former NZ tennis No.1, Tracey King, is the brains behind successful
Cardiff-based smoothie company, Tiger Bay Beverages. With the help of
Entrepreneur Action and the Welsh Development Agency, Tiger Bay is poised to
break into the relatively untapped European market, with an emphasis on Belgium,
France, and the Netherlands. “The smoothie market in Europe does not exist and
with tough competition in the UK we see it as potentially a huge market,” said
King, who predicts that up to 70% of future sales could be derived from outside
of Britain.
(9 November 2004)


Raw power
Adoptive Canterbrian, Leslie Kenton, has
published her 35th book: The Powerhouse Diet. The comprehensive guide to
eating raw foods is the award-winning author's latest contribution to the field
of health and well-being.
(June 2004)


South Seas style in Costa Meca
Noel Turner's epoynmous LA eatery
continues to raise the flag for antipodean cuisine and produce along the US West
Coast. "The climate produces some of the world's cleanest foods, most
notably from Noel Turner, a world-renowned food purveyor of Turner New Zealand
fine foods. Now, there's the first Turner's New Zealand Restaurant in Costa
Mesa". High-quality foods are expertly prepared with a vast style of
culinary tastes, all of course sourced from exceptional NZ produce, including
the essential "exceptional" lamb.
(12 December 2003)

42 Below NZSX-y
Award-winning NZ vodka label,
42 Below – has
enlisted the help of Kiwi supermodel Kylie Bax and San Antonio Spurs basketball
player Sean Marks to promote his product in the lucrative US market. 42 Below
(named for NZ's latitude - a world benchmark for air purity) is
already sold in bars from London to LA. Class Magazine rated it the No.2
vodka in the world, Wine Enthsiast: 95/100, US Spirits Journal: "Highly
Commended". Founder Geoff Ross has decided to step up 42 Below’s
export profile by listing the company on the NZSX. “Thanks to The Lord of the
Rings and the America's Cup, our profile has probably never been better. The
gate has never been open wider for NZ brands.”
(30 September 2003)

Social climbing at Wellington's Matterhorn
Wallpaper features newly refurbished Wellington bar The
Matterhorn in its global navigator. In a piece entitled 'The heart of the
matter' the bar is the hub of a cosmopolitan revivified Wellington. Surveying the reworkings
of architect Allistar Cox on the legendary Cuba Mall spot that’s been going
strong since the Lamington days of the early 60s, Wallpaper finds a
stylishly modern cavern hinting at Frank Lloyd Wright and 1920s cocktails. It's
the only place, of course, to drink Feijoa infused 42 Below vodka.
(September 2003)


Winning hearts through stomachs
Noel Turner's US eatery, Turner New
Zealand, continues to attract epicurean praise with it's gourmet cuisine
sourced with principled fidelity from the freshest NZ product. A "wide-waisted
wordsmith" reviews for Orange County Weekly. "I'd heard nothing but
raves about owner Noel Turner's elegant seven-month-old eatery … I was
determined to discover if reality lived up to the legend. Allow me to assure you
it does. Every aspect of my dining experience was worth the price paid, from the
obsessively attentive service to the meal itself." Turner is renowned for
providing edge product (hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and seafood) to chefs
at such venues as the Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons.
(28 March - 3 April 2003)


California dining - from the edge
Country style
cooking? "We're all familiar with
restaurants featuring cuisines from countries and subregions around the world.
[...] What if a restaurant opened that featured the food products of a certain
country rather than a cooking style? That question is answered in part by a
recent Costa Mesa newcomer, Turner New
Zealand. Turner is the brainchild of Noel
Turner, a New Zealander who founded the Turner New Zealand company in 1985 to
bring quality food products to the United States." The critcal view:
"Judging by the early success of his first offering, I think the future of
the chain looks promising."
(06 March 2003)


BBQ Kings in Sydney
Two Kiwis more than make the grade
in SMH's respected rating of Sydney's top young chefs. Jared Ingersoll
of Danks Street Depot is praised for his "simple yet fine food, cooked
with faultless technique," while Warren Turnbull is successfully
"wooing the food-savvy" as the "scarily talented right-hand
man" at the uber-fashionable Banc.
(21 January 2003)
I can't believe it is butter
A preservative-free spray-on butter invented in New Zealand won a top prize
at the Sial International Food Fair in Paris. The bi-annual event is renowned
for its trends and innovations section; other 'innovative' entries included olive
candies and an oven-ready, semi-boneless, pre-stuffed turkey.
(24 October 2002)

Mile High Grub
Air New Zealand rates highly in a survey of post-Sept 11 airline food. As opposed to
the "inedible" or nonexistent meals on many US carriers, Air NZ offers
"selections like grilled herb marinated venison with mushroom
tempura." What's more, service in both business and economy is described as
"out of this world."
(3 September 2002)


PG Tips
Peter Gordon's "new Marylebone showcase", The Providores,
wins the BMW Square Meal Award for Best New Restaurant in the United Kingdom.
Gordon is said to "demonstrate his intelligent mastery of flavours to
stunning & clean effect", with signatures such as "grilled quail
pepped with a cinnamon-based marinade & zapped with the multiple flavours of
a roast carrot, wattleseed, pomegranate & ginger salad" ... "If
you think you dont like fusion food, then its probably because you
havent tried Peter Gordons cooking."
(October 2001)

World food
What does an Irish pub in Miami serve to go with the Guinness? New Zealand lamb,
cooked Mediterranean style!
(22 June 2001)


Galloping gourmet still in the saddle
Graham Kerr cooks up a storm on his new programme, Swiftly Seasoned.
(April 2001)

Cold shoulder
Historic moment: the first shipment of frozen meat left New Zealand 119
years ago.
(15 February 2001)

Food fun
Hamish Brown, 1998's Chef of the Nation, creates amusaboushe - amusing bites -
featuring New Zealand regional specialties at top Christchurch eatery, Pescatore.
(28 January 2001)

Creamier, milkier, safer
New Zealand butter has much lower concentrations of dioxin than Australian,
European and American products.
(8 December 2000)


Unique urenika
Dark purple and delicious, urenika
(Maori potatoes), are on display at the
RHS London Flower Show.
(1 November 2000)

See You
Latte
Once you're safely at the cafe, you can order an extra frothy latte, courtesy of
a herd of cows deep in the heart of New Zealand. The milk of these cows has been
found to produce superior froth, no matter what the weather conditions or the
experience of the barista.
(1 October 2000)


Sweet Sugar
Peter Gordon is the man who launched a thousand experiments with
seaweed, noodles and kangaroo. His latest book, "Cook at Home with Peter
Gordon", applies the same eclectic principles, offering something for cooks
of every taste and level to enjoy.
(09 September 2000)


Crunchies for a flat stomach
Looking to get in shape for her acting career Kiwi supermodel Rachel Hunter
enlisted the help of SunWoman who came up with a brilliant eating plan which
included Hunter's favourite foods: Crunchie bars, Frosties, curries and oysters
washed down with a shot of vodka on the rocks.
(26 July 2000)


Cuizean
Kiwi super-chef Peter Gordon is one of the "illustrious visitors"
concocting culinary creations at Henrietta Green's Food
Lovers' Fair. The fair brings together specialist food producers and suppliers
hand-picked by the redoubtable Miss Green in her ceaseless quest for the best
food and drink in Britain.
(July 2000)

Big cheese #2
New Zealander Errol J. Baird runs a food importing business in Jamaica. "He offers to the discerning gourmet New Zealand cheese and
wine."
(2 July 2000)

Give them a taste of Kiwi
"Sometimes expats crave a taste of the familiar - and now they can find
it on the net." A New Zealand writer yearns for Tim Tams and ponders
the number of dotcoms, such as Expat Express, created to cater for homesick
Brits abroad pining for the familiar tastes of home.
(14 June 2000)

Kiwi Chef to Star at
World Gourmet Summit, Singapore food festival
Little is known about New Zealand cusine here, but if chef Rick Rutledge-
Manning's cooking is
anything to go by, it's something to take note of: "...refined and light,
yet - most important of all - full of flavour".
(12 April 2000)

Hallertau hops give organic beer a bite
Bateman's a family owned organic brewery in Lincolnshire has joined the
swelling ranks of organic beers with Yella Betty Bitter, brewed with
organic chariot pale malt and Hallertau hops from New Zealand -
"wonderfully refreshing, with juicy malts balanced by aromatic hops
and citrus fruit."
(27 July 2000)

Fusion eating: Kiwi food produce makes for great Italian fare in Malaysia
"The start to original Italian food is to use all fresh
ingredients ... the juicy New Zealand mussels in Amatricana sauce are to
die for ... the imported New Zealand spring lamb grilled in herbs and
served in white sauce is a must for anyone who enjoys lamb."
(24 June 2000)


Vodka and herb, a très moderne kiwi potable
The Guardian blows away the myth that herbs are restrained by
the cooking pot and salad bowl and offers some herbal cocktails for the
urban sophisticate, including herb-based martinis from Dick Bardsell and vodka Anisette from Kiwi Gillian Painter, author of The Herb
Cookbook.
(24 June 2000)

Food unites through Kiwi chef's fusion menu
Tainted by the bad press of football violence and last August's earthquake, Times
writer Cath Urquhart found Istanbul to instead be beautiful and friendly,
helped in no small way by the diverse fusion menu at the hip Changa restaurant -
designed by renowned New Zealand chef, Peter Gordon, formerly at London's Sugar
Club.
(20 May 2000)

Cincinnati hearts warm to Kiwi Cockles
"If you're not in the mood for raw fish, or even for cold seafood,
there's always the New Zealand cockles appetizer, which I can't resist ordering
every time I visit Prime and Wine.
(4 May 2000)

Popeye favourite from down-under
Kiwi spinach gets green thumbs up, "It is the most delicious and abundant
spinach - although it is slow to germinate - and it can withstand drought".
(29 April 2000)
|
 |

Feasts in factories
New Zealander Margot Henderson, sought-after London gourmand and the other half
of Arnold & Henderson catering, does not like to use the word 'simple' when
describing their menus. "It's more like it has a sense of place," she
says. At a recent Parisian soirée in a metal factory, 240 guests, including the
French prime minister, sat down at long banquet tables while the cooks worked
out of a makeshift kitchen. Dishes were served family-style from large bowls and
platters; the entrée, veal shin on the bone, arrived with a knife sticking out
of it. Arnold & Henderson has an impressive client list including
Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs and Mulberry. Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson began
the catering business in 1995 when they worked together at London's The French
House Dining Room in Soho. They now run restaurant, Rochelle Canteen in
Shoreditch.
(23 March 2008)


Enlightened dining
NZ-owned restaurant Seamstress has
won over critics and diners just weeks after its opening Melbourne. The
four-storey modern Cantonese eatery is co-owned by Dunedin-born Jason Chan, who
runs the successful NZ-themed cafe Batch in Balaclava, and Anthony Herzog.
Executive chef Raymond Larkins is another New Zealander, who moved to Melbourne
from Wellington four years ago. The trio earned a glowing write-up from veteran Herald
Sun reviewer Bob Hart in their first week open for business.
"Seamstress is the enlightened product of the combined experience and
talents of two of Melbourne's better young operators," writes Hart.
"They had a clear, shared dream, and they have realised it
brilliantly." He goes on to describe Larkins' menu as
"outstanding", "inspired" and "brilliantly
executed".
(1 December 2007)


Speight's sails into London
The first Speight's Ale House outside of NZ has opened in London, after an epic
75-day boat journey. The pub set sail from Dunedin and passed through Samoa,
Panama, the Bahamas and New York before reaching London's Canary Wharf. After
two weeks of official functions, the pub was transported to its permanent
location above Temple tube station, between London's Blackfriars and Waterloo
bridges on the River Thames. "It is the first and only Speight's Ale House
outside of New Zealand and already it has a strong following of London-based
kiwis who've been watching its journey all the way here with keen
interest," said Speight's marketing manager, Sean O'Donnell. "We're
really excited to be bringing New Zealanders in London what they've asked for -
a cold Speight's!"
(5 November 2007)


Healthy competition
A NZ healthy fast food chain has opened its first European outlet in Glasgow,
Scotland. Owner Conrad van der Klundert believes that Reload,
a South Island-based juice, salad and sandwich bar, can take on established
chains such as Subway as well as existing juice bars in the UK and Ireland. He
eventually hopes to employ between 200 and 300 staff in more than 100 stores,
with each making £350,000 annually. "We are trying to change the eating
style in as many places as possible, from fast food to healthy food," says
van der Klundert, who already operates Reload stores in Australia, Singapore and
China, as well as across NZ. The UK and Ireland franchise has been bought by
Scottish businessman Keith Stark.
(22 April 2007)


Doctor vodka
42 Below ambassador and "vodka professor" Jacob Briars discusses dirty
drink names, Golden Globe shout outs and the social psychology of bars in an
interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. Formerly a bartender at Wellington's
Matterhorn, Briars now travels the world conducting a cocktail master class
called Vodka U. "I developed this concept with 42 Below," he explains.
"We conduct a tasting of as many as 25 different vodkas and explain how
they are made and what makes them unique. We also cover what vodkas suit which
cocktails and even taste a few cocktails, too." Briars' skills behind the
bar were famously mentioned in a Golden Globes acceptance speech by Lord of the
Rings star Elijah Wood.
(10 January 2007)
Love at first bite
The senior food editor at Gourmet magazine (USA) is a big fan of the
Blackcurrant and Apple Glaze produced by NZ company, Forage.
"I love this!" she wrote in the June issue. "I'd brush it over
duck or pork, or even mix it with seltzer for a summer drink!"


Gourmet Burger Kitchen
London's Gourmet Burger Kitchen - the brainchild of three Kiwi entrepreneurs -
is credited with starting the trend for "fast food for the organic
generation" in a lengthy Guardian piece. Now boasting 8 restaurants, the
GBK chain was founded in 2001 by Greg Driscoll, Brandon Allen and Adam Wills.
"Food made with good quality, fresh ingredients is part of any New
Zealander's upbringing," says Driscoll. "It's that casual but quality
food experience you get in NZ we wanted to bring to London." GBK has
inspired a slew of imitators, but the original remains "the biggest, best
known and most successful." Driscoll, Allen and Wills recently sold their
business to Clapham House for ?25 million, but will stay on as company directors
(see previous Newzedge story).
(2 January 2006)


Spoiled for choice
Kiwi chef Rex Morgan takes Guardian food writer Jonathan Ray on a culinary tour
of Queenstown. The eating extravaganza takes place at Morgan's recently opened
boutique hotel, The Spire (competitors will be "hard-pressed to improve
upon Rex's celebrated dégustation menus, the 10-course version of which he puts
before me"), Joe's Garage ("the breakfasts are indeed amazing, great
hangover food, and the best coffee in town"), The Coronation Bathhouse
("[recommended] as much for its spectacular position as anything
else"), Wine Tastes ("Central Otago pinot noir just gets better and
better, and here you can taste wines from almost every producer"), and
Winnie's ("still feeling the effects of my Kiwi wine- fest earlier, I avoid
the fine-looking cocktail list and order myself an awesomely good
pizza.")
(24 December 2005)


Food for thought
A lengthy Independent feature examines Auckland's burgeoning food scene - and
NZ's as a whole. While NZ has embraced café culture ("probably the best
espresso experience outside Italy in about 13 years, skipping the Starbucks
phase altogether"), the Kiwi meat and two veg dinner mindset has been a
tougher nut to crack. "We are trying to educate our public by taking them
on a taste journey, rather than offering them a stomach-filler," says
Morgan. "We are getting there, slowly." Eateries leading the charge
towards gastronomic greatness include Citron (Wellington), The Spire
(Queenstown), Dizengoff, SPQR, Dine by Peter Gordon, Soul and The French Café
(all Auckland). Says the writer, "Personally, I came to scoff, but left
converted."
(15 October 2005)


Cook me some eggs
Kiwi Josh Emett is the chef responsible
for returning London institution The Savoy Grill to its former glory, picking up
a coveted Michelin star in the process. As Head Chef, Emett is working under the
formidable guidance of co-owners Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing. Emett was
also judged Best in Show in a celebrity chef egg boiling contest held by the
Guardian. “The white was just right and not too hard, while the yolk was
creamy,” said judge, Loyd Grossman. “To me, it was perfect.”
(July 2005)

Land of plenty
The Financial Times devotes a
sizeable spread to the “veritable culinary cornucopia” that is NZ. “’Used to be
that a big night out would be to Barry's Bistro for Steak Diane and a big cask
of Muller Thurgau,’ laughs Debbie Crompton, executive chef of the Millbrook
Resort in Queenstown.” How times have changed.
(21 May 2005)


Pass the Watties?
1988 NZ Chef of the Year and Elton
John’s former cook, Clive Hitchens, has returned to his roots, opening a meat
pie shop in Alameda, California. Hitchens and partner, Donna, had been
successfully selling gourmet pies at farmers markets since early 2003, before
deciding to open their own restaurant, The New Zealander, this year. “The pies
are dressed up for sure in his restaurant. Hitchens … uses gourmet quality
ingredients - imported and free-range meats and his own curries - and wraps the
meats in a pastry shell so delicate it defies the dish's reputation of being
hearty. But they are still meat pies he's serving, a food that's gobbled up with
grubby hands everywhere in NZ, at rugby matches, gas stations, corner stores,
you name it.”
(25 September 2004)


Kai a la Kiwi
A NZ themed restaurant – The Kiwi Grille
- is doing a roaring trade in Newburyport, Massachusetts. According to owner
Bruce deMustchine (ex-Hawkes Bay), the Grille served 10,000 happy customers
in its first 8 weeks of opening. All meat on the menu hails from NZ, as do 85%
of the wines on offer and numerous other ingredients. A day after the Grille’s
June 1 opening, the state of Massachusetts held its first annual New Zealand
Day.
(16 June 2004)


What's cooking good looking?
NZ-born Brad Farmerie – head chef at
Peter Gordon’s Public – was named one of the New York culinary scene’s rising
stars, in a Post piece entitled ‘Lord of the Ranges.’ As well as
“impressing diners and restaurant reviewers with dishes like kangaroo with
coriander falafel, grilled ox tongue and New Zealand snapper,” Farmerie is
reportedly turning the heads of female foodies with his “boyish good looks.”
(7 March 2004)


Quality tucker
Significant New York Times feature ‘The Other Down Under’ chronicles NZ’s
culinary revolution - from land of the long boiled mutton to world-class
gastronomic player. The new breed of Kiwi chefs are seasoned travellers who
weave international flavours with local produce to create an entirely unique
cuisine. Says interviewee Alistair Brown – of Wellington’s Logan Brown
Restaurant – “What we see and taste, we want to emulate or improve on when we
come back home. We are a very young country, not stuck in tradition.” The
Times’
tour encompassed the eateries and vineyards of Martinborough, Wellington, the
Hawkes Bay, and Auckland, with highlights including Logan Brown (where “quality
is as dependable as the tides”), Martinborough’s Wharekauhau Inn (“under pink
clouds at dusk it made an unforgettable impression”), the Te Whau vineyard and
restaurant on Waiheke Island (“an award-winning restaurant of Corbusier-inspired
design … [which] offers more than 600 wines, including every big NZ name), and
Auckland’s O’Connell Street Bistro (“if we could have stuffed [it] into our
luggage and brought it back to the States, we would have”). A
Toronto Star feature attributes a swell of interest in NZ produce in
Canada to - what else - the Lord of the Rings. "Never
has a country's public profile been raised so high, so fast. Its food exports
capitalize on the pristine environment, the lush pastures and clean waters, the
fresh air, the reverse seasons."
(14 January 2004)
Deep south delights
The Australian finds the
university city of Dunedin a "hearty mix of charm and character – with
plenty of wee surprises". In the 'Scotch Broth' Stephen Brook includes
culture and characters during a visit to the rugby ground known as the 'house of
pain', Carisbrook; takes in the the "thrilling wildlife" of the Otago
Penninsula, (including majestic Royal Albatross: "its massive wingspan
makes it the 747-400 of the bird world"); heritage and history at Olveston
House and Larnach Castle; a strenuous stroll up the world's steepest street;
beds (Corstorphine), bars (Di
Lusso) and eats (Home); and, of course, a visit to the scarfie fuel
manufacturer, Speights Brewery
(above).
(04 October 2003)


Wild West Coast food in Hokitika
Hokitika's Wildfoods Festival
rates a mention in a New York Daily News feature on icky eating.
"More than 20,000 adventurous eaters gather to sample such delights as
bulls' penises and sphagnum moss," states the incredulous writer, who goes
on to detail the Middle Eastern penchant for sheep's eyes and the insect treats
available on the Iowa State University's etymology department website.
(6 July 2003)


Tastefully turning heads
Turner NZ restaurant - serving up an all-Kiwi array of food and wine - stands
out in the sea of Italian, Asian and American cuisines on offer in Southern
California. Says an enthusiastic reviewer for Coast Magazine;
"Prepare to leave with more than just a satisfied appetite. You'll likely
have the urge to pack your bags and take that long-awaited trip to New
Zealand."
(May 2003)

Round one...
"The food is sooooo good -- we want to lick our plates. And the
breathtaking views - islands, harbours, volcanoes." Edmonton Journal
travel writer is so impressed by his whirlwind North Island tour he's already
planning a southern sequel.
(8 February 2003)


Readable eatables
Business Day gives
Ray McVinnie's latest cook book a review good enough to eat. The Modern Cook
is more than "a series of mouth-watering recipes," it also builds one
recipe upon the next in a step-by-step guide to culinary genius. The reviewer's
only qualm is McVinnie's suspiciously thin physique: "Must be the stress of
writing such and appetising cook book."
(6 December 2002)
Holy lamb of Godzone
Two of the culinary world’s US icons, Julia Childs & Emeril Lagasse, dined
on the finest lamb in the world, courtesy of Newport Beach, California-based Noel "King of New Zealand
gourmet food" Turner in a
two-day fund raiser to benefit the James
Beard Foundation hosted by chef and restaurateur Zov Karamardian.
(December 2001)

Stella food in New York
Stella, a dark, candlelit bistro garnering acclaim in New
York, is owned by Anna Weinberg and Paul Masters, a husband-and-wife team from
New Zealand. "It has a comforting niceness about it," writes food
critic Moira Hodgson, "more like the sort of restaurant you used to find in
the Village in the 70s than a slick Soho bistro".
(15 October 2001)

Tui Flower and ANZAC biscuits
Tui Flower, the "Julia Child of New Zealand" shares
her ANZAC biscuits recipe with readers of the Los Angeles Times.
(2001)
Have mint-sauce, will travel
New Zealand lamb, herb-crusted and juicy, makes the menu at Bangalore's
"Globetrotter's culinary festival".
(20 April 2001)
Try the venison, deer
New Zealand venison is among the top choices at Atlanta's Buckhead Brewery
and Grille. Also, New Zealand venison fills the red
meat gap in Europe.
PDF Copy
(5 April 2001)

Gourmet high
"Air New Zealand announces a culinary partnership with Chef Katsuo "Suki"
Sugiura of the legendary Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel."
(13 March 2001)
Suckler
New Zealand suckler cows may be the key to enhancing upland beef production
in Scotland.
(24 January 2001)
Beery good
"Beer makes people more sociable in an increasingly unsociable world. Beer,
particularly for the Aussies, is something of an icon, so Im very well aware
of the responsibility," says Scot Gordon Cairns, the man taking New Zealand's
Lion beer to the world.
(10 December 2000)

Slow potato
New Zealand researcher Graham Harris's potato digging made him a finalist in the "Slow Food" 2000 awards.
(25 November 2000)

Enjoy: Lattes and colas not as dangerous as thought
A study by the Australian and New Zealand Food authority has found that the
caffeine pick-me-ups effect in tea, coffee, and soft drinks did less harm than
previously thought. "We have been drinking tea, coffee and soft drinks for hundreds of
years and the report confirms what history tells us, caffeine containing
beverages have a long history of safe use.
(2 July 2000)

Golden Kiwi
Zespri gives the
Kiwifruit the golden touch, hoping to strike it lucky in
the lucrative American market. The new yellow cultivar is, "much like the
green variety on the outside, but its mustard-hued flesh has a custardy texture
and almost melonlike taste."
(12 July 2000)

Vital Ingredient in Hong Kong Gourmet Kebab
"The doner kebabs - with pure New Zealand lamb, insists marketing director
Mongoa Jabeur - are $59
"
(14 April 2000)


Expensive as gold, rare as diamonds - dying delicacy revived in New Zealand
"The truffle's true future may lie in balmy New Zealand ... Do New
Zealand truffles taste like Lalbenque truffles? The Kiwis say yes. How can I afford to join the controversy?".
(29 April 2000)

Sweet and Sour at the Sugar Club
The Sugar Club and its sister restaurant Bali Sugar, epitomise the radical,
cosmopolitan and mainly beneficial changes that have transformed London's
restaurants over the last decade.
(8 April 2000)

On the menu: Hoki Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No, it's a fish. By hokey, it's not, is it?
(11 February 2000)
|
|


Tastebuds will travel
Guardian reporter Emma Johns and friend spent a two-week culinary tour of New
Zealand "exploring the local flavours before attempting to recreate them
ourselves." From fine-dining in Wellington to cooking lamb fillet off a
cliff in Arthur's Pass: "One great incentive to roam, on any New Zealand
road trip, is the extraordinary proximity of its different landscapes. A few
hours' drive can take you almost anywhere, from the coastline to the snowline;
you can eat prawns for breakfast on the beach, lunch on farmed venison on the
plains, and drink your sundowner atop a 3,000ft mountain."
(10 February 2008)

Michelin man
Waikato-born chef de cuisine Josh
Emett has won two Michelin stars for his menu at Gordon Ramsay at The
London, the celebrity chef's new venture in New York. Emett oversees the
menu design for Ramsay's eponymous restaurant at The London as well as two other
venues within the same hotel, and won special praise from Michelin reviewers for
his seven-course Menu Prestige tasting option. "Getting three stars after
four, five, six years is an achievement... so this is really amazing," said
Emett in a NZ Herald interview. Gordon Ramsay at The London has also been
named Top Newcomer and fourth-best restaurant in the Hotel Dining category of
the Zagat survey, which is voted for by members of the public. "We're
getting fantastic feedback from diners," Emett admitted, "We're having
a great week."
(12 October 2007)


China wine and dine
Aotearoa wine and cuisine has gained a significant foothold in China with the
opening of the first restaurant and bar dedicated to premium NZ produce. Located
in Guangzhou, China's third largest city, Back Street 19 Matakana Estate
restaurant and bar is a joint venture between Matakana Estate and Goldridge
Estate Wines, and Chinese business magnate Mr Yifei Li. "[Guangzhou's]
financial elite, like many other affluent Chinese, are rapidly developing a
sophisticated appreciation of premium Western wines and cuisines," says
Matakana and Goldridge Estates Managing Director, Peter Vegar. Back Street 19 is
located in Guangzhou's exclusive residential area of Ersha Island.
(1 September 2007)


Potential World Heritage sites in NZ
UNESCO is considering three NZ locations as potential World Heritage Sites at
the request of PM Helen Clark, who is also NZ's Minister of Culture and
Heritage. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Kerikeri Basin and Napier's Art Deco
historic precinct have all been suggested as worthy of World Heritage
protection. Known as "the birthplace of the nation", the Waitangi
Treaty Grounds at Russell were the location for the first signing of the Treaty
of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown in 1840. The Kerikeri Basin in
Northland saw the birth of Christianity and bi-cultural society in NZ, with the
arrival of European missionaries in 1819. Napier's Art Deco historic precinct
was built following the town's near complete destruction from a massive
earthquake in 1931.
(16 July 2007)


Burger boom
A restaurant chain founded by three New
Zealanders has become one of the most successful businesses in the booming
UK "posh burger" market. Gourmet Burger Kitchen was established six
years ago by school friends Greg Driscoll, Brandon Allen and Adam Wills. The
trio sold the business to restaurant investment company Clapham House Group for
NZ $25.7 million in 2004, staying on for 18 months as directors before cashing
out. Since the start of the 2006 financial year, Clapham House has added 13 GBK
outlets to the chain, and is currently looking for a further 100 sites across
the UK.
(10 June 2007)


Piece of cake LA
Times food writer Amy Scattergood introduces Americans to the humble pavlova:
"a dessert with an unexpected, rustic elegance." As well as providing
a step-by-step recipe, Scattergood details the historical and cultural
background of the iconic Australasian pudding. "Now the national dessert of
both [New Zealand and Australia], the Pavlova has come down to us as a kind of
edible symbol, not only of balletic art, but of colonial ingenuity. Unlike its
ornate meringue cousin the vacherin, a beautiful if rather fussy dessert, the
Pavlova is composed of a free-form meringue upon which whipped cream and fresh
fruit are piled with lovely abandon. That's it."
(23 May 2007)


A taste of Nelson in New York
A NZ-themed
gastropub, Nelson
Blue, has opened in New York's burgeoning Seaport area. Owned by Pauli
Morgan, a Nelson-born veteran of New York's bar scene, the 100-seat restaurant
features a suspended waka, Steinlager on tap, a bar shaped like a ship and views
of the Brooklyn Bridge and East River. Kentucky-born Eric Lind, of Brooklyn's
feted Flatbush Farm restaurant, has signed on as head chef.
(2 May 2007)


Surfing the Menu in NZ
NZ chef Mark Gardner will co-present the fourth season of popular cooking
show Surfing the Menu, with London-based Australian Ben O'Donoghue. Gardner, 29,
replaces O'Donoghue's previous co-presenter, Australian Curtis Stone. The fourth
season comprises an eight-part tour of NZ, showcasing the country's food and
scenery in equal measures. "I have been watching a lot of the food channels
lately and checking out the other shows. And I just think we've just got a lot
more punch and excitement," said Gardner. The series will see O'Donoghue
and Gardner cooking innovative meals in between heli-skiing, surfing and
scuba-diving with sharks. Gardner will present his signature barbeque dish:
freshwater trout with fejoa wrapped in flax. The series premieres on Discovery
Travel & Living, May 8.
(1 May 2007)


Roast with the most
Edge establishment Batch Espresso is cutting it in Melbourne's razor-like café
scene, with more stellar reviews in the city's leading newspapers. Herald Sun:
"[Owner Jason Chan] works the coffee machine and the room, making beautiful
coffee and good conversation. He's the consummate host … The menu is choice.
In fact, it's choice bro, eh? Chan is proudly Kiwi and the menu features NZ
wines, smoked salmon and fruit juices." The Age: "Last year [the Age]
Cheap Eats again recognised a Carlisle Street cafe with its best barista prize,
describing Jason Chan's Batch Espresso as 'a coffee-themed retreat.' Café
lifestyle magazine Crema wrote: 'Move over Wall, Batch is in town.'"
(7 February 2006)


Te Rapa creams the opposition
Cream cheese from Fonterra's Te Rapa site won a silver medal at the World
Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin; its 97.55 out of 100 score less
than half a point behind the winner. Known as the Cheese Olympics, the WCCC is
the largest event of its kind, boasting 1,792 entries from 18 countries this
year alone. Te Rapa cream products process manager Dave Waterman was
particularly pleased to win such an award in the US, the undisputed home of
cream cheese.
(31 March 2006)

Flash Gordon
The Times profiles NZ’s most famous cooking export, the “arch-exponent of
fusion food” Peter Gordon. As well as owning the Sugar Club, Providores and Tapa
Room (all in London), Gordon is consultant chef to Changa (Istanbul), Public
(New York) and Dine (Auckland). His latest book, Salads: The New Main Course,
cleverly mixes the fundamentals with the exotic. “He seems to want, as ever, to
bring the whole world to our tables."
(9 July 2005)

Steaming in Seattle
Kiwi Carl Sara was a finalist in the
World Barista Championship in Seattle. The prestigious competition was won by
Denmark’s Troels Overdal Poulsen.
(19 April 2005)


NYC pie fix
NY Daily News profiles
Kiwi Gareth Hughes, the brains behind NYC’s Down Under Bakery. “In Australia and
NZ, meat pies are as central to the culture as pizza in New York,” says Hughes.
Popular flavours include steak and Portobello mushroom, steak and cheese, steak
curry and – of course – the “marvellous addictive mince.”
(29 March 2005)


Perky paradise
A Kiwi oasis in the midst of Melbourne is winning the hearts of critics and
customers alike. Batch Espresso, owned and operated by ex-Wellingtonian Jason
Chan, earned a rave write-up in Melbourne food bible Cheap Eats and Chan
himself was voted barista of the year by the Age. “Batch has a slightly
more organic but polished feel than some of its rivals on the strip,” says one
reviewer. “The service is young, sassy and sparky, while the menu boasts the
sort of honest, simple but slightly inspired combinations that make Melbourne
the goddamn cafe capital of the goddamn world … Typical. That's the last thing
we need. Yet another pack of New Zealanders over here stealing the limelight
from their Aussie rivals.” Batch serves solely NZ wines and beers, Supreme
coffee, and sells such Kiwi sweet essentials as Perky Nana’s and K-Bars.
(22 February 2005)


Adventure tourism for
the tastebuds
The Malaysian Star
interviews NZ born Wendy Hutton, an intrepid food and travel writer who is
“practically a household name in South-East Asia.” Hutton has published numerous
cook books, including Singapore Food and A Cook’s Guide to Asian
Vegetables, and helped edit the Charmaine Solomon classic, the Complete
Asian Cookbook. She recently planned and edited the first in a series of
eight World Food books for Singapore publishing house, Periplus Editions. “Food
is a universal language,” says Hutton. “I know from experience that if you show
genuine interest in the local food, whether it is in Moscow or Mexico,
Marseilles or Malacca, people really relate to you.”
(14 December 2004)

Global edge-sposure
Premier NZ vodka label, 42 Below, has
made further inroads to the global market, acquiring a key distributor in
Australia with Carlton and United Beverages (CUB) and purchasing the US direct
sales company Collinsville Securities Limited for US$1.296m. In other news, 42
Below was recently announced as
principal
sponsor of the Creative NZ commissioned exhibition, ‘The Fundamental
Practice’ by et al., for the 2005 Venice Biennale.
(13 September 2004)


Oil or nothing
NZ olive oil producers won 5 gold medals at the annual
LA Country Wines and Olive
Oils of the World competition in May. Serendipity Olive Company won a gold each
for its barnea and extra virgin Italian blends, and Seresin Estate won three
golds for its extra virgin, extra virgin lemon, and extra virgin lime oils
respectively.
(21 May 2004)


Export success
Lamb exporting to the UK is set to rise
even further following a favourable report by the British government on NZ’s
methods of slaughtering stock. According to the report, the standard technique
in NZ (stunning the animal prior to slitting its throat) meets both halal and
kosher requirements, as well as satisfying the concerns of the Farm Animal
Welfare Council. A third of all lamb eaten in the UK currently comes from NZ.
(2 April 2004)


Edge eatery hits NoLIta
Celebrated ex-pat chefs Peter Gordon and
Anna Hansen (the team behind London's The Providores and Tapa) have opened a new restaurant
in New York's trendy NoLIta district - Public. In a glowing review, the
New York Times describes Public as "an
extreme example of Antipodean fusion cuisine," one which transports diners to
"the far end of the known culinary universe." The
New York Daily News is similarly entranced: "Eating here requires a
sense of adventure; the chefs here find their pleasure in cockeyed
juxtapositions of atypical ingredients, often prepared in a strait-laced fashion
... To be sure, a place this fun won't stay hidden long."
(21 November 2003)


Out-standing
Ex-pat bar proprietor, Kim Lucas, shares her views on “pride and prejudice” in
an Observer feature on Britain’s 20 most outstanding homosexuals. Lucas
opened London’s first official lesbian hangout - the
Candy Bar - in Soho in 1996,
and established the alternative (to the more “corporate” Pride) gay summer
festival, Purple in the Park. She has since opened another Candy Bar in Brighton
and was voted 2003 Woman of the Year by Diva magazine. Lucas on
homosexuality: “My relationships for the past 20 years have been with women, but
I don't call myself a lesbian. I don't believe in labels. Labels are a useful
banner with which to fight for equality, but I think it's only when we don't
have them that we'll have equality.”
(26 October 2003)


An angel at his table
Actress Kerry Fox interviewed in the Observer
'favourite eateries' column and muses on fellow Kiwi, ex-flatmate and celebrity chef, Peter Gordon's
Tapa Room - as well as his influence on her
own culinary habits. "Peter is one of the forerunners of fusion cooking in
this country. He made a name for himself working at the Sugar Club by using a
mixture of Asian and European ingredients, common in our native New Zealand …
while we were living together, I never used a recipe book. Instead I'd decide
what I felt like eating, say fish, ring Peter, and he would make up these
fantastic dishes off the top of his head."
(8 June 2003)


A kiwifruit a day…
Sales of NZ kiwifruit to SARS zone Taiwan have escalated dramatically after two
academics proclaimed the fruit's resistance-building properties in a Chinese
daily. Kiwifruit contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges and a significantly
higher proportion of essential vitamins and minerals than any other commonly
eaten fruit.
(28 May 2003)


A winter's ale: Montieths
"This dark, brooding, Kiwi ale [Monteith's Richly Hopped Original Ale] with its deep nutty, malty flavours is
the perfect thing - served just chilled, of course, rather than cold - for old
fashioned roast beef, yorkshire pudding and a grey Sunday afternoon."
(26 - 27 April 2003)
High steaks
NZ beef takes centre stage at New York's latest
meat-lovers' paradise;
Sosa Borella. According to its reviewers - "a group of eager
carnivores" - the "grass-fed, free-range beef from New Zealand"
is the main draw-card for the grill-happy Argentinian/Italian restaurant.
(20 October 2002)
Cheers, Digger
A Kiwi beer has won at the Australian beer awards. Founders Brewery
from Nelson won the accolade
of Champion Small Brewery for its organic
range including Tall Blonde, Red Head and Long Black.
(June 2002)
Supermarket nirvana: Gisborne Woolworths
Street-Porter lauds fusion master Peter Gordon, bemoans some antipodean
executions of the theory, but finds solace in Woolworths: "I
purchased sun-dried tomatoes, olive and rosemary focaccia bread, and locally
made Camembert. Have you picked yourselves up off the floor? I'm not even going
to bore you with the 25 varieties of Chardonnay, the organic eggs or the 10
kinds of honey. Plus the fact that the check-out lady actually packed my
bags".
(5 February 2002)


Book
Now
Providores, the keenly awaited new restaurant from Peter Gordon, has opened
to acclaim. Says the Times: "Expect to queue once the reviews
start rolling in."
(1 September 2001)

Mussels and joints
Sore joints? Eat New Zealand green-lipped mussels, or take a pre-processed
extract.
(14 June 2001)


Sun-kissed pasta
Trials are underway to improve the colour of New Zealand pasta by creating
yellower strains of wheat.
(30 November 2000)
|
 |


"
Food miles" shredded by chef
NZ celebrity chef Peter
Gordon has made discrediting the "food miles myth" and promoting
quality NZ produce his mission in the UK. In recent months, the London-based
chef has appeared on British TV, met with industry officials and written an
article in The Independent in a bid to open up dialogue on the
increasingly contentious issue. "The term food miles just needs to be
dropped - that's the best thing we could do," he says in Wellington's Dominion
Post. "A lot of people think the carbon footprint is entirely in the
transport, but it's in the production, the [air-conditioned] buildings and the
peop |