This month’s On My Desk column, which covers the new and exciting product and press releases that come across my path, is dedicated to all things edible, and thus titled Foodie February…
This month’s On My Desk column, which covers the new and exciting product and press releases that come across my path, is dedicated to all things edible and thus titled Foodie February.
Pictured above left: Farmers served these pretty blue and pink cake-pops with bows and flowers at their AW13 preview this week.
The new season collections, held in the Gothic-looking Peace Chapel of St Mathews-in-the-City, showcased clothes that fitted in with the surroundings: leather and lace, dark silhouettes and baroque embellishments on garments.
See the Farmers Autumn and Winter collection instore and online at www.farmers.co.nz
Weleda also went with cake-pops (they are the new macarons, which were the new cupcakes!) with this citrus one arriving with Weleda Citus Hand and Nail Cream. Food is an apt soulmate for Weleda as so many of their products contain natural and edible components. This handcream is super refreshing and zingy and contains sweet almond oil, lemon peel oil, calendula, beeswax and rosemary. Buy it from health food stores and pharmacies for $19.90 and for more info see www.weleda.co.nz
This isn’t actually food to eat per se, but it contains fruit. Original Source Lime, Lemon & Tea tree, Shea Butter & Honey and Mint & Tea Tree shower gels will get you up in the morning and singing. They purportedly contain 10 lemons or 40 limes in each bottle and yet still only retail for $4.99 so I don’t know how they do it. Amazing. Smells absolutely zingy fresh. Available at supermarkets.
Now you’re up and washed in limes, how about breakfast? These belVita breakfast biscuits are super yum and not as sweet as I expected – in fact they had almost the same sugar (22%) as my Weight Watchers cereal (20%) did. The children happily ate them too. I could see these being popular on a convenience ticket; you put a wee plastic pack of 4 biscuits in your bag or drawer at work and off you go. Sportswoman-cum-radio jockey Hayley Holt is the face of belVita’s TVC campaigns. Available in supermarkets.
The Collective has two new flavours out: Tummy Love Kefir pourable yoghurt and Boy’snberry pourable yoghurt. Great for pouring over cereals or adding to smoothies. They retail for $5.99 for a large, one litre bottle, from supermarkets. For more info see www.thecollectivedairy.com
Ch’i arrived on that SCORCHER of a day and was very gratefully received and it now has a sugar-free option. Perfect.
The pretty little white Butter Bell Crock above arrived with scones and it is amazing. I have been using it everyday since it arrived. It keeps your butter at room temperature upside down in a crockery pot with tap water in the bottom. It’s an old French idea from the 16th century which predates even most ancient beer fridges. You don’t get hard butter in the fridge or melted butter going off in the heat. Butter Bell Crock retails for $30-$35 at www.butterbell.co.nz or phone Mary Massara on 09 417 0053.
The Aromatherapy Company is famous for using natural products in its formulations and the Naturals range is no different. It contains real honey, and so it arrived in a crate with Waiheke Island honey – and, to illustrate how it will make rough hands smooth – a piece of actual sandpaper. Clever. As well as honey, there are four essential oils blends: cocoa and vanilla, rose and patchouli, orange and jasmine, and lavender and chamomile. The Aromatherapy Company Naturals range is available from department stores. See www.thearomatherapycompany.co.nz for information.
And to have with scones and honey, how about a cup of coffee? Karajoz Coffee company is an organic Fair Trade coffee retailer that tags itself ‘coffee with a conscience.’ It has the great fez-wearing man on the foil bags and tastes and smells delicious. Founder Derek Townsend brought the flat white to NZ and created the fluffie. His company supports sustainable coffee growing practices, and is 100% chainsaw free, growing coffee bean trees under the jungle canopy. They have won 17 awards over the past six years. Karajoz Organic Coffee is available at supermarkets for $6.99 and for more info see www.karajoz.co.nz
I can create my own chocolate! Cadbury Marvellous Creations are those chocolate bars with the slightly unusual combinations of ingredients. And now, you can have the chance to make your own, with their Willy Wonka-style competition of golden tickets inside bars that let a winner make chocolate creations at the Cadbury factory in Dunedin and win $10,001 to boot.
Baileys is the original Irish Cream liquor. I did Baileys on ice but there’s a myriad of amazing recipes you can try. See www.baileys.com for recipe inspiration.
A beautiful box with a Petal cupcake and bottle of Gosset champagne arrived with a Natalie Chan hairclip – all ideal ingredients for the Races. Auckland Cup Week 2013 is about to hit town, with three days of fashion competitions and 30 horse races at Ellerslie. It all starts on TV3 Derby Day on Saturday 2nd March, followed with Auckland Cup Day on Wednesday 6th March and Diamond Day on Saturday 9th March, and Thread will be there with bells on. No, make that with hats on! For more information and fashion hints and tips on Auckland Cup Week, visit www.ellerslie.co.nz
Words and photos, Megan Robinson
18 February 2013
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