An Evening of Taste with MUMSreview

August 17th 2013, we put our baby food and baby bottles aside and had the privilege of being able to offer some of the tastiest treats around, to the Mums (and Dads) who came along.
Food and Drink can be taken for granted when you’re a parent and we find ourselves choosing simple foods that offer us a quick fix when we’re preparing a meal and often forget about what other possibilities can be incorporated into the meal to enhance it’s flavour, it’s texture, it’s visual look, and of course the delicious aroma that can fill the house and have everyone looking forward to what the next family meal is going to bring.
Food is something we need to survive but with a little time, it can also be an ‘experience’.
So thank you to those that came along, and for the companies who enabled us to offer such tasty treats.

Wine was provided by the AMAZING Brown Brothers

I think by now everyone knows my love affair with the amazing Brown Brothers wines.
For me, a glass of wine is about enjoying a ‘moment’ and Brown Brothers never fails to provide that moment. Their wines taste amazing and just so easy to drink that the only problem you might find is when you suddenly discover the bottle is completely finished. My advice – always make sure their’s a spare 😉

 

Some of our cheese was provided by the AMAZING Whitestone Cheese

This was such an amazing cheese to have onhand for our Mums & Dads to try, but we decided that not only would we have it on our cheeseboard, but we would also use a small portion to create a Blue Cheese Dip with to show how else it can be used. Plus the dip would match famously with the chicken nibbles we had available. We will have more to come on this (including the dip recipe as requested )

 

Kapiti Kitchen provided us with some beautiful natural syrups that we were able to make up on the night and that were a HUGE hit with everyone.
Flavours we were lucky enough to try were Rhubarb & Ginger, Elderflower, and Lemon Lime & Bitters.
Find out what our Mums favourites were shortly

 

Another new company was the awesome Passionberry Cocktails.
I was lucky enough to try these at the Food Show in Auckland and totally fell in love. Unfortunately we didn’t get to do them in slushy form on the night but we plan on rectifying that so our Mums can get a full sense of how amazing these products really are.

 

 

Taking time out of their busy schedule was the absolutely amazing LASco.

Jeff & Trudi came along and showcased some of the most amazing Salami’s you will ever taste AND the healthiest. 90% fat free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free & Soy Free among other things – you really can’t go wrong.
And flavour ? All I’ll say for now is O.M.G !!!

 

 

Another new bunch of goodies came courtesy of the awesome Tomette and our equally awesome admin Loretta.

We had 2 flavours on offer on the night
Butternut & Truffle Oil and French Onion and both were so much more than you’re average soup

 

 

Everyone knows about the amazing Arano and their absolutely gorgeous juices

We were lucky enough to be able to offer samples of lots of different flavours which was great because there really was something for everyone
Orange, Grapefruit, Peach, Apricot, Pear and Plum
Stay tuned to hear more about these amazing products.

 

Last (for this post) but not least is Vitizmo

With 3 different flavours, NZ’s first first naturally stevia-sweetened, 99.9% sugar-free nutrient drink for kids. Vitizmo is Full of Goodness, Not Sugar!

Princess Day

Recently we held a Princess Day here in Hamilton and we had several ‘Princesses’ that were invited along with their parents.
There were several companies that helped make Princess Day come to fruition and without them it wouldn’t have been possible.

Our ‘Princesses’ had the opportunity to have a play with some Geleez which are distributed by one of our favourite companies, Planet Fun. These provided a lot of fun and gave the princesses something to take home.

If you’re looking for something to do with your own princesses over these cold winter months, then I can totally recommend these. They’re fun, easy to use and you get to stay  nice and warm while you do them.

 

 

 

Pixie Party Supplies provided cupcake wrappers, straws, table mat and a few other bits and pieces which meant our tasty treats looked like they were fit for a princess to eat. Nothing says princess like pink, pink and more pink.

Next time you’re looking at organising a party, check out their website because they really do have something for everyone and they can make planning your party just so much easier.

 

Our drinks for the day were supplied by the AMAZING Elliots King of Kiwi.
Elliotts King of Kiwi is a healthy delicious range of premium kiwifruit based drinks with no preservatives and no added sugar – nothing but fruit and 100% natural.
Available in 3 incredible flavours – Green Kiwi, Gold Kiwi and Feijoa – they are a healthy option that taste devine.
These were loved by almost everyone on the day.  Princesses and their Mums enjoyed the taste of these yummy drinks and there were a lot of comments made about the different shape of the bottle. It’s just another thing that makes these drinks unique

 

Then it was time for nails – Princesses simply must have pretty nails and we were lucky to have an assortment of gorgeous pink nail polishes courtesy of the awesome Orly.

By the end of the day all nails were pink and/or sparkly and all little Princesses were extremely happy.

 

It was a fun day, enjoyed by all and I thank everyone who came along and simply had a great time with their Princesses. You’re all amazing Mum’s and I can understand why you’re so proud of your young ladies, they’re not only beautiful but they were all so beautifully behaved…..they really were Princesses
I would also like to add an extra thank you to Planet Fun who provided us with some gorgeous Cabbage Patch Dolls that we were able to give away on our Princess Day page that was on our website.
Planet Fun have been extremely generous since we’ve worked with them and they prove time and time again that Family really does come first.

A Night with Chelsea

Recently I was given the opportunity to attend a cooking demo with Chelsea Winter who for those who don’t know,  was the winner of the MasterChef New Zealand’s 3rd season.

My friend and I left Hamilton and made our way up to Auckland, full of excitement about being involved with this, but a little unsure on what to expect to be honest. The Demo was held at the Neat Meat Company’s site in Ponsonby and with a little bit of luck (and my phone’s GPS) we managed to find where we were looking for. Hamiltonian’s in Auckland is not always a good thing when they don’t know exactly where they are going.

We were greeted by the woman from NZ Beef and Lamb, that Marie had dealt with via email and introduced to everyone, while being handed a glass of wine (in my case) and a glass of juice (for Marie) and it was great to sit back and just watch the interaction between everyone. Chelsea eventually came over and introduced herself and she is just such a lovely person with a warm personality that you just couldn’t help but feel like you’ve known her a lot longer than the 5 minutes we actually had.

Then came some of the canapes that were the starter to the dining/demo experience.
These were devine although my favourite of the two was a bread like base with a little lamb topped with hollandaise sauce. I could have quite happily eaten a number of these, but I managed to show some restraint.

Picture of the canapes taken from the NZ Beef & Lamb Blog HERE

After everyone had tasted these yummy treats, we got down to the business at hand. Chelsea was cooking 2 recipes from the recent mEAT magazine
The first was an Italian Crumbed Beef Parmigiana – Recipe can be found HERE
Now while most of this looked amazing, I’m not a huge fan of Courgettes so I was curious about how this was going to taste. Let me just say that I need not have worried because it was one of  the nicest things I think I’ve ever tasted. So simple, but bursting with flavours and texture I think I fell in love on the spot. Unfortunately the two cheeses involved in creating it are not something normally found in our fridge, so it’s not a meal I can recreate to it’s full yumminess, but we are working on it.
The next recipe Chelsea created was a Herb & Caper Lamb Cutlets on Pea, Spinach & Lemon Crush. Recipe found HERE
I was looking forward to this one, but while it was nice, it didn’t wow me like the Parmigiana had, in fact I think I even left a little on the plate.
In saying that, we all have different tastes and what tastes amazing to me, may be missing in taste for someone else.

As well as the cooking demo, we were also treated to a lesson in the different lamb cuts and how to prepare some of them. It was actually quite fascinating and I have to admit that I have a much different outlook on why meat has so much variance in price. Some of the cuts have a lot of work in them compared to others. So a big thanks to the Neat Meat Company for that.

Anyhow, we had an amazing night filled with tasty food, great company and it was a learning experience for me which was great.
Big thank you to the companies involved in making this Demo available for us to attend

 

 

 

 

 

Auckland Food Show – Win Tickets

Auckland Food Show 2012

New Zealand’s national food and wine event 

New Zealand loves The Food Show. It’s where we go to stock up on the best food, drink, and kitchen equipment from all over and learn how to cook like a star at home

• 2nd – 5th  August
• ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, AUCKLAND
• Thurs – Sat  10am – 6pm
• Sunday 10am – 5pm

The Food Show

New Zealand’s premier culinary event is back and better than ever. Take your taste buds out for a day they won’t forget at The Food Show Auckland 2011.

Sample the latest and best new products, meet the passionate people behind them, gather great ideas for entertaining at home, and take advantage of amazing show-only special offers.

Live cooking demos – local and international celebrity chefs will demonstrate their recipes live on stage in the Electrolux Cooking Theatre and dish out invaluable advice. Watch this space or check our website for details as we confirm the line-up closer to the show.

The Masterclasses will be presented by leading food experts and chefs – and include exclusive gifts from our wonderful sponsors. Classes are limited to only 50 tickets per class and at just $35 per ticket, we expect them to sell out fast. NOTE: Entry to The Food Show is not included in Masterclass tickets, which must be purchased separately

New baking feature – Baking is so hot right now! So we’re extra proud to present a brand-new attraction at this year’s show: The Loaf Weston Milling Baking Feature. There’ll be brilliant live baking demos throughout each day of the show plus scrumptious fresh bread will be continuously baked in hot stone ovens on-site.

Book now online and save – buy before midnight 28 July from Eventfinder and pay only $22.50 per ticket, rather than the gate price of $25. Preview Day tickets are only $38 before midnight 27 July from Eventfinder, compared with the gate price of $40.

Some of the Companies

Breville

• Website
• Facebook
• Professional appliances to deliver restaurant-quality food in the home
  We will be demonstrating and selling a wide range of Breville products during the Food Show, come and check out our newest products and pick up some amazing deals!.
• Espresso Machines, Kettles, Toasters, Cake Mixers, Blenders, Juicers, Food Processors, Snack Makers, Frypans, Woks, Rice Cookers, Slow Cookers, Pressure Cookers, Sandwich Presses, Breadmakers… the list goes on!

.

 Annies

• Website
• Facebook
• Annies -food you trust brings you 100% pure dried fruit snacks made only from natural ingredients.
  Their delicious range lets you snack without the guilt and is ideal for lunch boxes, an on-the-go hunger buster or guilt-free desk drawer treat.
  Check out Annies full range at the show:100% Pure Fruit Leathers including Extra Fibre and Veggie Leathers, the fun Wiggles range for kids, the deliciously addictive Apple Snaps and Apple Rings, and Natural Sweet sugar replacements and teeth-friendly Gums and Mints.
• Annies is a family-owned Kiwi business based in Marlborough since 1986 and uses New Zealand fruit from the fruit-friendly soils of Marlborough and Nelson

.

Equagold

• Website
• Facebook
• Equagold is a privately owned Company originally known as Vanilla Direct®, owned by Ross and Dianne Appleton based in Takanini, Auckland. Importing Vanilla and making a pure Vanilla extract formed the basis of what has become Equagold®, a specialty gourmet food company with its core business in Vanilla products.
• Products include Vanilla pods from PNG and Madagascar, Pure Vanilla Extract, all made by Equagold, as well as other Vanilla products, Dutch Cocoa, Drinking Chocolate, Couverture Chocolate and top quality spices and spice blends. The products are high end gourmet food items sold in selected supermarkets and gourmet delis throughout New Zealand and Australia
• The Company also supplies food service products to restaurants and caterers as well as the manufacturers

.

Frappe Vino

• Website
• Facebook
• Use all natural Frappe Vino mix with any white or red wine, Rose or fruit wine to make an endless variety of frozen wine cocktails, sorbets, slushies or deserts
• Frappe Vino is great for:
• BBQ’s or at the beach
• Your next cocktail or dinner party
• Birthday Parties, Hens Parties, Baby Showers or even Weddings
• Great for any time you get together with friends
• Keep some in the freezer just in case
  
• Simply add wine and water, place in your freezer and in 3-5 hours you will have a frozen wine drink!

Kato

• Website
• For years Kato has been creating chef-inspired foods known in restaurants everywhere as the perfect way to dress a meal.
• Famous for our delicious Aioli & Hollandaise products, Kato produces a delicious range of relishes, sauces & dressings that will add the perfect finishing touch to your meal

.

.

Danny’s

• Website
• Facebook
• Passion and Tradation – The way Pita Bread should be made.
• Authenticity has always been the primary focus for Danny’s Real Pita Bread Company. Based on a centuries-old recipe, the wide variety of bread produced by the company is free of preservatives, additives and chemicals. Danny’s Real Pita Bread Company takes considerable pride in traditional breads

.

Miss Melicious

• Website
• Facebook
• Miss Melicious…. Our Quirky Treats are Delicious!!!.
• We will have a pile of Flavours each day all for only $5 each (normally up to $6).
  We will also have 4, 6, 9 and 12 boxes available for take home packs!!!
• Missy Melicious has a NEW Miss Melicious Cupcakes recipe book coming out in OCT also, and we will be taking pre-orders for it, pay for it or leave a deposit at the show and go into the draw for some AMAZING prizes! (RRP $30). Min $10 deposit required

.

.

And MUMSreview has a double pass to give away to one lucky person.

ALL you have to do is leave a comment about what you (or who) you are most looking forward to at the AUCKLAND Food Show

Entries will close 10pm on 31st July 2012 and the winning entry will be emailed that night.
Once the winner has confirmed, the double pass will be emailed directly to them

The Wellington Food Show 2012

Wellington Food Show 2012

As written by Kelly-Lea Brown on behalf of MUMSreview

The Food Show Wellington 2012 was a must-see event.  With 170 exhibitors stretched right around the Westpac Trust Stadium, you only needed to wander in a circle to be able to catch a glimpse of all that was on offer – albeit a large circle.  There were many exhibits showcasing food; beverage – both with and without alcohol; magazine/media; Kitchenware and “other” exhibits – like the Body Shop, which I found was a bit baffling at a food show.

In addition to the exhibitors there were also Master classes available.  These Master Classes were run by a variety of guest chefs, who were teaching menus that included Duck and Pinot matching; High Tea; Champagne Breakfast and a class in Food Styling for the serious foodie host.  As these Master classes attracted a further cost I was unable to attend any this year, however I will strive to budget for at least one next year!

There were also the cooking demonstrations that did not incur an extra fee and these demonstrations could be seen at the Electrolux Theatre and the Kenwood Kitchen.  The Electrolux Theatre was a fairly large space with theatre seating where the demonstrators worked in the kitchen up front.  The demonstration I saw featured Brenton Thornton and Chelsea Winter from the current series of Masterchef NZ.  It was great to see them live and good to see how they interacted with the audience whist still cooking their dishes.  It was great fun and we got recipes to try at home as well.

The Kenwood Kitchen was located in the centre of Kenwood’s exhibit, and as such was fairly crowded when there was an active demonstration.  I do wish they had the space to accommodate more of an audience, but for all that I still managed to catch the end of Brett McGregor’s demonstration.   I’m not entirely sure what he cooked, but it smelled divine!  I also managed to see the ladies of Martha’s Pantry baking and decorating their lovely cupcakes – so pretty!

Also a big part of the Food show was the various competitions running over the weekend.  There were a number of categories that were contested, from Barista’s testing their skill in coffee making, to Chef’s producing a delicious 3 course meal, to pastry Chefs wowing the audience with their sugar and/or cake creations.  I spent a good few minutes getting a good eyeful of inspiration for my hobby (cake decorating) and could only wish I’d ever produce anything as cool as the cakes that were there, particularly the Cat in the Hat cake.

There were so many exhibits at the Show and a good majority of them commanded my attention.  I decided to forgo the alcoholic beverage vendors this year due to the cold medicine I had taken to enable my attendance.  That still left me with a huge selection of exhibits to visit.  The general theme I picked up from my travels around the Cake Tin was foods and beverages containing natural, preservative free ingredients, and also where possible the foods and beverages were allergy sensitive.  There was a great range of gluten free product available and promoted as well as dairy and sugar free items.  So without further ado I shall regal you with a few of the stand-out exhibits for me:

Some of the Companies

Rush Munros
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
Rush Munros was the first exhibit I went to, after all who can resist the call of ice cream?   I had the pleasure of trying their boysenberry flavour, and it was amazing.  The ice cream itself was smooth, creamy and rich and the boysenberry flavour was obvious, with the sweet tanginess of the fruit evident.  There were also obvious bits of boysenberry strewn throughout the ice cream – none of this ripple business, just honest to goodness Hawkes Bay grown boysenberries.  It was divine.  The lady I spoke to was very forthcoming about the ice cream they make and told me some very interesting tidbits!  All fruit used in the ice creams is grown in the Hawkes Bay, this gives the ice cream a very fresh and full flavour.  All flavours of Rush Munros Ice Cream aside from the Mocha flavour and the chocolate flavour are gluten free.  Just quietly, the nice lady also told me that they were experimenting with dairy free frozen confection, so who knows maybe one day soon they will have sweet frozen treats for the dairy intolerant among us.  You can see their selection of ice cream at their website

.

Food and Wine Classic
WEBSITE
After Rush Munro’s I spent a minute just looking around, where I happened to bump into Vicki Rope who is the event co-ordinator for Food Hawkes bay.  She told me a little bit about several of the exhibitors from the Hawkes Bay, and was very proud that they had 18 exhibits from the Hawkes Bay attending the Food Show Wellington.  She was also promoting the Hawkes Bay Food and Wine classic, which will be held November the 2^nd-11^th 2012.  If the exhibits from the Hawkes Bay at the Food Show this year were any indication, then the Food and Wine Classic looks to be a fantastic event with many delectable delights to be had.  You can check out information on their website .  

.

European Gourmet
WEBSITE
Next stop was another Hawkes Bay based exhibit, European Gourmet.  They have an excellent range of soups, stocks and sauces – among other things, but the star of their show is the meatballs.  They are free-flow frozen meatballs that taste fantastic.  They are all natural with no preservatives and they are gluten free.  You can take them from freezer to pan to plate.  They don’t use any eggs in the meatballs either for those with egg allergies/intolerance.  Instead of egg to bind the meatballs they use mineral that have the same effect.   Wow, they just blew me away.  They have five different flavours for meatballs; chicken; beef; lamb; venison and pork, and they all come in four different pack sizes.  Check them out via our link to see who stocks them, as they are available in selected supermarkets, gourmet food shops and for Hawke Bay locals at the Farmer’s Market .  

.

West Indies Traders

WEBSITE

Something I had never tried before is Jamaican Jerk Chicken. I always assumed it was far too spicy for my delicate constitution, besides I had never really had an opportunity.  So when I saw Walkerswood Caribbean foods, I simply had to go and try, even though I was fairly sure it would be far too spicy.   I was wrong, well it was definitely spicy, and my first impression on trying their jerk chicken was definitely one of “Hot! Hothothothot…” But once I got past that initial burn (only to be expected when the scotch bonnet is the chilli of choice in the sauce) I was astounded to realise that the after taste was a lovely mellow warmth with hints of nutmeg in with the chilli heat.  I was surprised to feel the desire to have more, sometimes with spicy foods I just want to get it over with as all I can get from it is heat, but there is something very addictive about this Jerk Chicken seasoning that leaves you wanting more.   Again the emphasis was on all natural ingredients with no chemical preservatives in their sauces.  Walkerswood has imported these sauces and seasonings from the Caribbean so they are truly authentic.  Oh and if spicy is still not your thing, their BBQ sauces are milder, but still pack a lot of flavour in.  If you happen to reside in Wellington you are in luck as they also have a restaurant:  Cafe Caribe in Brooklyn.  You can find them online at www.cafecaribe.co.nz

Loaf Handcrafted Breads
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
I was starting to search for something to purchase for lunch when I came across Loaf Handcrafted Breads.  Now while I couldn’t quite justify cake for lunch, I did try the Lemon cake and it was gorgeous, it was moist, sharp, sweet and fluffy.  Their rocky road was also excellent.  Once again they placed emphasis on the preservative free angle, which means that the taste was not compromised at all by any chemical enhancer.  They had many flavours of cakes and slices on offer and those that I tasted beat any supermarket block cake hands down.  If you don’t have the time or inclination to bake, then you need to find a Loaf stockist you will not regret it!  Based in Auckland, Loaf cakes and slices can be found at produce pronto, and online ordering can be found at kai.co.nz.  If you want to check Loaf out online, please check out their Website or Facebook links  

.

Springbrook Foods
WEBSITE
What drew me to the next exhibit was my nose.  The smells coming from Zing Sauces were impossible to resist.  They had five sauces out for tasting, so with a slice of beef sausage for each sauce I sampled some honest to goodness ambrosia for meat!  The sauces there were BBQ, Original Garlic, Smokey Garlic, Chunky Tomato and Red Wine.  All of them were fantastic, and I liked the red wine sauce so much I purchased a bottle.  I use it currently for my burger patties and it takes them to a whole other planet taste wise.  I literally can’t wait for BBQ season so that I can use it on all of my BBQ meats.  It is so good.  I am keen to purchase some of the other flavours as well.   

.

Te Horo Jams
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK

Still in search of lunch I wandered on to find Te Horo Jams and as I was starting to wonder if I’d find a proper lunch food stall I thought that I’d stop and indulge in a couple of pieces of bread with what turned out to be truly excellent jam!  The lady that makes these fine Jams was stocking Blackberry jam – my all time favourite jam flavour.  I did come away with a small jar of that which has since long gone despite me trying to hide it from the ravaging hordes also known as my husband and children.  I also tried the orange marmalade, and I have to say that even though I am usually not a marmalade person, I loved the Orange Marmalade.  It is sweet but not too sweet, with that slightly sharp undertone that is usually so prominent in marmalade more understated in the Orange Marmalade.  For someone like me it is the perfect marmalade, those who are marmalade purists would be better off thinking of it as orange jam so that they too may enjoy it!  As a food show special Te Horo had also made a limited supply of Jellies.  They had on offer Quince Jelly, (which were only a few jars away from sold out early Saturday afternoon such was it’s popularity) Fejoa Jelly and Grape Jelly.  They were all very tasty and smooth.  I preferred the Feijoa Jelly over the others much to my surprise as I am not the world’s biggest fan of Feijoa.  It was sweet and mellow, and tasted a little bit like honey but without the really sweet cloying aftertaste. (No I’m not a fan of honey either!)  It was definitely a first for me to enjoy that flavour so much.  There was so much interest in Te Horo’s Jellies that I hope they find a way to get it onto supermarket shelves – even though it is such a time consuming process to make.   Te Horo use 100% New Zealand grown fruit in their Jam – not that you needed another excuse to buy it!  

.

Sweete
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
Much to my surprise the next stall that caught my eye was the Sweete artificial sweetener stall.  It shouldn’t have surprised me as I was expecting my in-laws from Rotorua that afternoon and my Mother-In-Law is diabetic.  I was able to try a sample of this sugar substitute, and I was blown away.  It is granulated like regular sugar, and has the crunch of sugar granules, but it doesn’t have the really sickly sweet aftertaste of sugar.  Sweete is made from Stevia, which is a plant a little like sugar cane, so it is all natural.  At the moment it is available only in sachets at countdown supermarkets, but they are working on bringing the boxes for baking to the supermarket soon.  Sweete works on a ¼ cup of Sweete to replace 1 cup of sugar.  I look forward to using this in baking and seeing if it matches granulated sugar – the granule texture looks very promising. .  

.

Donovan’s Chocolate
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
Chocolate!  Yes it counts as a sentence, indeed I know many that would say that the single word chocolate invokes entire paragraphs, and therefore other words are seldom needed.  In this case I think I need to provide you with further information.  Donovan’s Chocolates have a fairly unique range of chocolates, and what is more they taste amazing.  The helpful man dishing out the samples made sure I couldn’t use my hands for the next 15 minutes enabling me to glean a great deal of information whilst my mouth and hands were otherwise occupied.  The first sample I tried was yoghurt covered cranberries which were then followed by the dark chocolate covered cranberries.  These two delightful morsels come in the same packet and wow do they taste great.  They also have milk and dark covered almonds (again in the same packet) which were really very good, I may never buy Nestle Scorched Almonds again.  The Russian Fudge and Chocolate Fudge each had a packet to themselves – quite rightly as they are both incredible.  It is safe to say I could have stayed at this exhibit forever and called it my homeland.  They also have blocks of chocolate:  Milk Chocolate, 80% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, Chilli and Lime Dark Chocolate and Feijoa Milk Chocolate.  Alas I was still eating the fudge, cranberries and almonds from my overflowing hand so I didn’t taste the blocks, but given the chocolate surrounding the almonds I feel it is safe to say that the blocks are just as sensational!  You can visit (and perhaps never leave) their online shop via our link above .  

.

Alpine Gold
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
Needless to say after all that delicious chocolate I was extremely thirsty, so luckily I came across the Alpine Gold exhibit.  They have a range of simply stunning fruit juices – of which the Nectarine Juice was my favourite – though the boysenberry was lovely, crisp and refreshing also.  I was not tempted by the Feijoa juice, as you know I’m not that keen on Feijoa and I felt I had pushed my luck with that flavour already, but for those who like Feijoa I have it on excellent authority that Alpine Gold Feijoa Juice is pretty amazing too.  Given what I did taste that is hardly surprising to me.  I bought a bottle of their water too, which was much needed and very refreshing.  I highly recommend you check them out as they are really very tasty 

.

Paneton Bakery
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
Finally I neared the end of the exhibits, and still no lunch to be found.  When right there at the end was where I found the Panetone Bakery exhibit.  I can’t say whether I actually drooled, but I came very close when I spied the French Bakery’s freshly baked – still hot from the oven – offerings.  Any previous thought I’d entertained about cake not being a lunch food were quickly forgotten in the face of the Almond Croissant.  Simply delicious.  They also had plain and chocolate Croissant available and though they had other things on offer, (I vaguely remember other displays there,) I only had eyes for the croissant!  Sadly for me they are based in Auckland, but they do have products available at Moore Wilsons, Nosh and selected New World supermarkets.  For their address and other stockist visit their website via our link above .

.

Overall the Food Show was an excellent day out.
I wouldn’t call it child friendly myself – but then I don’t think I personally would have enjoyed it as much as I did if I had my children with me.  There were bottlenecks in parts so that made it even more difficult for people with strollers.  If you do want to go next year and bring the children with you, bring lunch if you plan to be there most of the day, or snacks if only a half day.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Food Show experience this year, and I found such amazing products that I might have just walked past if they had been in the supermarket.  I already have plans for a babysitter to drag my husband and friends along next year – I fully intend to be able to sample the alcoholic beverages as well as the food next year.

 .  

.

Butterfly Creek

Website HERE

12 Tom Pearce Drive

Auckland Airport 2022
(09) 275 8880

.

Australasia`s Premier Butterfly House
The butterflies are imported as pupae from butterfly farms all around the word, but primarily from Asia and Central America. The Butterfly House is temperature controlled to approximately 28 degrees C and with a high humidity so as to replicate the conditions of the butterflies’ natural environment.
Inside the tropical butterfly house, as well as the butterflies, you’ll see various turtles, quails, finches, a blue tongue lizard and water dragons as well as a variety of fish in the ponds.

However, Butterfly Creek is not just about Butterflies

They also have a:

Junior Keeper Programme
“GreenFingers” Bugs About
Tarantula Encounter
PLUS – you could hold that special birthday party here

On the 9th of January 2012, we set off to Butterfly Creek, despite the weather, and I am soooooooo glad did.
We were met in the Cafe by the amazing Katy (really nice to meet you finally) and the doors were opened into a world of delicate beauty.

OMG – the butterflies were just so amazing. You will see various colours flying everywhere, not to mention the range of sizes of these beautiful creatures. They will land on you quite happily, something that my twin girls absolutely loved (although they got a little upset they couldn’t bring one home)

There are platforms around the room with fruit and painted flowers (with sugar on) where the butterflies can also land so you can get some great photos. Plus the plants and flowers offer numerous landing spots for you to also get photos.
At 1.30 we were able to see another amazing little creature….the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula. Now while I confess to being totally scared of spiders, they also hold a huge fascination for me. This guy was no different although I was pleased that it was Paul, the handler that was interacting with him, while I stood back and took photos. Paul was great and answered any questions the kids had, and was quite willing to show off this interesting tarantula.
After that, it was back to the butterflies. More colours, more photos as we continued the walk through the butterfly room.
Anyhow, next on the list to see were the Crocodiles. You walk through the doors (checking you have no butterfly visitors on your person) and you are taken to a totally different world. To step from a delicate world into one with monsterous crocodiles is quite a weird sensation, but none less amazing. To watch the handlers with the Crocs is great although we got to witness a tug of war that isn’t one I would particularly want to take part in. These creatures are huge, and when you see them snap at a piece of meat on a rope, you get a bit more of an idea of the pure brute strength these guys possess.
I think I’m quite happy to keep my distance !!!

From there we progressed to the Bug Room. From spiders to locusts, from cockroaches to wetas, there was something here for everyone (if you like bugs). Once again, even though I’m not a huge bug person, I do find it quite amazing at how these animals are literally put together, how they move etc
Holding around 5 (or was it 6) different types of tarantula along with all the other bugs my fascination was definately curbed for a while. But we did get some awesome photos and the kids found the bugs extremely interesting. Hmmmm what is it with kids and bugs ??

After we had finished with our fascination with the different creepy crawlies, we thought we would head off and see the Farm side of Butterfly Creek.
Once again, the rain wasn’t really a deterrent, everyone was just excited to see what was next…..and we weren’t disappointed.
With animals you can be hands on with, the kids were over the moon to be patting the likes of goats and donkeys but I think the real highlight for them was the bunnies. Small bunnies, big bunnies, fat bunnies, they had them all and the best thing of all was that (with supervision) the children could hold them, cuddle them, pat them and I know for my girls, who absolutely love animals, this was something that they thoroughly enjoyed. Ayla made a slight comment about the smell but let’s just say that she will never be a farmers wife…she likes things ‘just so’.  Personally we found the place lovely and clean (well clean for a farm environment) and I love that country smell.

From there, we made our way around to the  Red Admiral Express, in preparation for a ride around Butterfly Creek to see things from a different angle.
I think for Lucan, this was a TOTAL highlight. He’s a real boy and loves anything to do with trains so he loved being able to travel around, look out over everything and just generally enjoy himself. I loved watching him pointing at the different bits that we went past.

Then, it was time to think about heading home so we made our way to the Gift Shop to pick up a couple of souveniers (and find a couple that I plan on getting next time). I collect nice keyrings and found a lovely one there, whereas the kids all just wanted a little cup with Butterfly Creek on it.
Let me just say it was an amazing day that every member of our family enjoyed. I think the only negative I could come up with was that for Lucan (in the pushchair) he wasn’t able to see much in the butterflies…they were all just a bit high for him so all he was able to see was barriers and the odd butterfly that landed on one of the girls
Would I recommend Butterfly Creek to Mums ?
OH MY GOSH YES !!!
It’s not just an outing, it’s an experience. It’s a great family day out but the one advice I would have is make sure you have lots of space in your camera memory card…you’ll need it.

Thank you so much to Butterfly Creek for such a beautiful place to visit

2011 Auckland Food Show

2011 Auckland Food Show

2012 information:   Auckland Show 2-5th August  – Wellington Show 11-13th May – Christchurch Show 14-16th September.

Check out the online page: http://www.foodshow.co.nz/

I must admit, I was really looking forward to attending the Auckland Food Show, it was my first time and I had heard so many great things that I just couldn’t wait to get up there. A huge thanks goes out to Robert Harris Coffee  who provided us with tickets (and a friendly chat at the show) you guys ROCK and have AMAZING coffee. Another big thanks goes out to Andrea from So D’Lish  for providing insight on what to expect with her awesome blog that was done on the Thursday after attending the Preview Day. I had several agenda’s for the day. First of all, we are getting married on 11/11/11 so I was looking for ideas on products to serve at our wedding (a simple BBQ/Fingerfood event), and secondly, I wanted to catch up with the amazing list of companies that we have had the pleasure of dealing with over the last year.  It was shaping up to be a great day.

So Sunday morning arrived and off we set, armed with my  ’must do’   list

We arrived at the ASB showgrounds not too long after 10am and entered Hall 3 (which I thought was Hall 1 – see I was already lost). The first company we were greated by was The Fresh Grower. We were promptly handed a delicious green leaf which had a lovely filling of what I believe was sweet chilli chicken. Oh my gosh, if that was how the day was going to progress then I was already hooked. Plus I thought this would be a great idea for our wedding !!!

Next we came across the Gü stand. I got to try a couple of their products but then received a phone call so didn’t get to try all their tasty treats…but I WILL return because the couple that I did try were OMG amazing… Key Lime – I can’t say anything else other than TRY IT.

From there, we made our way around the various stands, sampling and chatting as we went. It was great to catch up with some of the companies we have dealt with previously like  Savour the Taste,  Queen Products, Hansells, and more, and also great to meet up with some other awesome companies. Some of them I have to confess that I had never heard of so it was great to have my eyes opened (and my tastebuds). At times it was hard to work through the crowds and I was extremely greatful for the frequent little open areas where I could take a breath and just get my bearings back again. Plus it meant 5 minutes where I  could talk to my partner about what he thought about things etc.

Although there were a few wine companies in attendance, we only sampled a few, although those ‘few’ were definately wines I would buy in the future. Brown Brothers convinced me to try one of their wines, despite the fact that I am not a red wine fan and I must admit that I am extremely glad I did. If you get a chance to try their Cienna, I would definately recommend it.  Another of the wine companies we were lucky to sample was Ti Point. Thanks so much Jan for taking the time to chat with us   It was so lovely to meet you and your wine is quite simply devine. Make sure you try their Ruby Rose if you get the opportunity. The last wine company we tried was Tohu . Being a reisling fan I was not disappointed by the wines they had on offer. Again, thanks guys for taking time to chat with us.

Food wise we were far from disappointed. What was amazing was that a lot of products weren’t just on display, the companies had actually USED them to show you just how great they are. One example was West Indies Spice Traders.  All I can say is OMG. If you haven’t tried their products before (I had) then I seriously suggest you do. They had chicken & salmon on display, seasoned with their Jerk Chicken seasoning & Sauce and it was one of my favourites of the day. Seriously, I could have stayed there all day. The guys are so friendly and willing to share recipes etc – it was great to talk to them….needless to say I walked off with a small bag of goodies. Speaking of favourites, another of mine was Mel’s Gourmet Foods – being a HUGE fan of  Indian Food, these guys were definately on my list of  ’must do’  and I’m so glad I did. They had their Butter Chicken mix made up and it is quite simply devine…Since being home, I have also found out that I won a hamper of their goodies so I am excited in the prospect of that turning up. Another company that were on my ‘must do’ list was Annies.  My twins LOVE their products and I was looking forward to meeting the company. I was over the moon to see that Ann herself was there (what a lovely lady) and even more over the moon to find out that she had already heard all about us from So D’Lish. So great to hear that our name is getting out there to other quality companies. The  Wiggles snack bars are 100% pure fruit which is naturally fat free, gluten free, no added sugar, yeast or dairy so are GREAT for school lunches.

Gosh so many companies, so little time. It was about this time that we thought maybe next year we would come up for 2 days and really spend more time, or perhaps come up on the preview day which has limited tickets and sounds a lot less crowded to me. It was about now that we really needed a coffee and Jeds Coffee were only a stand away so we thought we’d give it a go. The guys there were really friendly (and their coffee was yumm) and I fell in love with their coffee machine (but at $5000 it wont be gracing our kitchen any time soon). Mark was however enthralled in the other coffee machines (chem sets) so while he looked at those, I spoke to the people at Bell Tea about their tea’s for kids. I think these are a great idea but I had a few concerns which I put to them and they were more than happy to answer my questions. So a big thank you to them.

Gosh, this post just seems to be going on and on but there were just so many amazing companies that even though I know I can’t put them all down on here, there are  lots that I just HAVE to share with you all. Another of my favourites (that I also left the show with) was Frappe’ Vino. Use all natural Frappe Vino mix with any white or red wine, Rose or fruit wine to make an endless variety of frozen wine cocktails, sorbets, slushies or desserts. Mmmm a fruit wine slushie – what more could you want. My preference was the white wine slushie – I could have happily grabbed a seat and sat for the rest of the afternoon, but there were other companies calling…so we thought we’d better answer the call.

Collective Dairy – What can I say ? I already know how amazing the yoghurts from these guys are but there was one flavour I hadn’t yet had the chance to try. Apple Crumble. My favourite til then was the Strawberry & Rhubarb but now I’m not so sure. The Apple Crumble is extremely tasty and I can see it appearing in our fridge a bit more often in the future. No Bull !!!   However the real eye opener for me was the Lemon & Chilli Haloumi. The flavour is beautiful but not over powering so it was another ‘treat’ that had to leave with me.

Ice-cream – OK so anyone who knows me knows that this is my all time favourite food so there were a couple I got to sample – the first from NZ Natural. Honestly, what’s not to love ? And the second was the vanilla ice cream from Heilala Vanilla. This was absolutely devine… Once again, I could have stayed but time was getting on and we still had more to see and do.

Cupcakes – We did manage to find Delish Cupcakes and they are exactly that…..delish. Even my partner who doesn’t eat much in the way of chocolate, loved their chocolate cupcakes with raspberry frosting. If you’re in Auckland I would seriously make an effort to try these. Another cupcake company that unfortunately we missed   was Miss Melicious Cupcakes.  I was a bit disappointed at missing out on meeting them, but the comments I’ve heard from our members have been amazing. I can’t wait to try them at our next product meet.

The last 3 companies that I am going to mention are Alpine Gold, Jacks Links and Cuisine Scene. Alpine Gold – I only tried their juice but that was enough for me…..I was hooked. My favourite was definately the Apple and Boysenberry. Talk about a taste sensation. Other flavours were amazing too but I could have taken a box of this one home..if I could have carried it of course. Jacks Links –  OK this time I was pleasantly surprised. I have seen these before but in my head they were a strip of chewy meaty leather. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. The first bit I tried was the Teriyaki Steak Bar.  WOW. Tasty and Juicy are the first 2 words that spring to mind. And yes…..we bought some home with us which were gone within the first day. Will definately purchase in the future. Cuisine Scene –  These guys were also on my must do list. Being that they have amazing products and are also a Hamilton company, I just had to go meet them and sample some of their goodies All their products are hand made and it shows. My favourite of the day was their Garlic and Chives Aioli. But definately check them out 

I know there were many many other companies , but with it being so busy there were so many times we just couldn’t even get close enough to try things, let alone talk to the people.  There were a lot of stands we didn’t even get to which was a shame but when you’re fighting crowds to see everything, it can make things hard. Plus I found it hard to work out where we had been and where we wanted to go. Although there was a newspaper like publication, there was no way you could just open it up and browse through it. I would have preferred to see a smaller pamplet that was easier to read standing up.

One thing that did get me though, and I did find a little disappointing was the general public. There were a few times I saw products out for people to try, but often it was a case of hands in grabbing…with VERY few people stopping to even say thank you. That was probably my biggest negative of the show in all honesty.

2011 Hamilton Toy Fair

 

Back when we received the invitation to the 2011 New Zealand Toy Fair, I really had no idea just how much fun it was going to be.

I woke up that morning with very little voice, so wasn’t quite sure how I was going to cope with talking to everyone and I must confess I was more than a little nervous.
When we walked through the door, we were met by a multitude of exhibitors displaying their products, and there was everything there that a toy store (0r child) could want.
From soft toys to electrical products, from slot car sets to puzzles and games – it was all there, and MORE.

Obviously the first company we browsed through was Holdson.  I really do love all the different products that these guys have on offer. There is something for everyone, no matter how old (or young) you are.  They really care about their customers and offer a great ‘old fashioned’ service.  Make sure you check them out  HERE

Next up we came across another great company Dr Wood.

Mind Challenge Ltd is an innovative Australian company, engaged in the development of an amazing line of unique, mind challenging puzzles and games.
Under the arch brand of The Dr. Wood Challenge Centre, their goal is to give to the world a series of:
“Fresh, intelligently crafted, intellectually stimulating puzzles and games that redefine the genre!”

We got caught playing quite a few of these games at the Toy Fair, including one that was like ‘go fish’ but where you have to act out the expressions that are on the cards….yes, I looked like an idiot but it was fun 🙂
These guys were so friendly and so approachable and so willing to share the games that we just got caught up in the fun that  ‘is’  Dr Wood
With games that will test your mind (and your sanity) I would totally recommend the products that are available through them.
I really hope that MUMSreview will have the opportunity to share some of these products with you in the future.
Check these guys out HERE

Another amazing company we had the pleasure of talking to was IQ ideas.  With games that will not only entertain the family, they will educate as well.
Their promise of   “Love it and LEARN something, or we’ll give you your money back!” shows the faith they have in their own  products and after looking at some of their games I can assure you that you will LOVE and you will LEARN.

While at the Toy Fair, my partner had the opportunity to play one of their games miQube Duo and thoroughly enjoyed it, while I stood back and watched.
Players gain points by surrounding, capturing and conquering territory on the board’s surface by strategically selecting and placing games pieces so that they block and cover their opponents. Its durable wooden design will ensure it can withstand the rigours of play.

And that is just ONE of their amazing educational games.
To see more, check out their site  HERE

 

Moving on to something a little more different – Plush Toys
Being that I’m a HUGE soft toy fan, I have to confess that I fell in love with this company.

Started in May 2006, this company is the  distributor of all brands listed on their website in both New Zealand and Australia. They have an award winning collection of classic nostalgic toys and playthings. Many of their brands are educational, ethically manufactured, handmade and Fair Trade certified, natural and organic.

If you are looking for that family ‘treasure’ or something special then I really do suggest you check these guys out. I know you’re going to love them as much as I do (especially if you have a soft spot for soft toys)

Check out Plush Toys  HERE

TO BE CONT !!

Hamilton Toy Fair 2011 – Holdson

Receiving an invitation to the 2011 New Zealand Toy Fair back in April, was like offering to put the proverbial kid in the candy store for a site like MUMSreview.
On top of looking forward to seeing all the new products that Holdson were going to have on the market, there were going to be all these other companies that would have lots of different goodies that we would be able to have the chance to look at
So Saturday 7th May came around and off we went full of anticipation (and a few nerves) to see what this Fair was all about!!
We were met at the door by one of the Holdson Team, and it was great to finally meet them after all the email contact, and it was always a good sign that they didn’t go running!!

So many products, so little time…..

I could have spent several hours just browsing through the Holdson section of the Toy Fair, and in fact I think I did to be honest. All the favourites like Thomas the Tank Engine, Sylvanian Families, Chuggington, John Deere just to name a few, were there in all their glory but with all sorts of new twists on them.
A big piece of wall that was devoted to the amazing Jigsaw Puzzles that we all know and love Holdson for and that can consume so much of our time and passion were on display,
BUT

Then, there were all these amazing new, bright, fun NEW toys……

First up was the Dinosaur Train Toys.

Dinosaur Train is an animated show for children between the ages of three to six, and aims to teach children about paleontology, and natural history and science in a fun way. The adorable Tyrannosaurus Rex named Buddy, boards the colorful Dinosaur Train every episode and embarks on a wide range of int…eresting journeys into various prehistoric lands, and uncovers exciting dinosaur facts.

Holdson have bought us some wonderful toys that are based on this series.
The toys start with the smaller models, right up to the larger T- Rex Action Figure, and I know they are going to be loved by all.
Due out in June 2011 – This series is going to be one you don’t want to miss out on.

Next was the Whipple Brand.

Looks good enough to eat but this product is NOT edible!

Whipple is the amazing new craft creme that lets up and coming pastry and dessert designers create their own fantasy sweets. With the Cupcake kit, young designers can whipple up 6 cupcake creations using the easy instructions, Whipple pastry bag and assorted decorations. Whipple… treats are perfect to wear (key chain), share or give to a friend!

This was one of the products that I had the pleasure of seeing at the Hamilton Toy Fair that really appealled to me.

With all the different cooking shows that we see on our screens these days, it reflects in the way our children play. With this particular product you have the opportunity to decorate various cupcakes, tarts etc which is fun on it’s own but then you have the advantage that the ‘cream’ hardens and you then have a great toy that the kids can play with.
Seems a win/win toy to me !!

Then we come to the Tumblekins Range

Tumblekins is a distinctive line of toddler play sets that brings action, excitement, and personality to the traditional wooden toy market. Tumblekins are engaging vehicle play sets made with real wood that come with chunky characters that spin, turn and tumble as children roll them along in the vehicle.

Made from Real Wood, Tumblekins are classic wooden vehicle and play sets with a twist! The chunky play figure is great for little hands. Place him in the vehicle and watch him tumble and roll as you push it along. Encourage endless fun and imaginative play for your little one and collect them all!

Last but not least (on this post anyhow) was the Zoob range.

ZOOB!
is the moving, mind-building, modeling system that encourages kids to learn, explore, and create using the most important tool of all: their imaginations!

Simple, versatile, easy-to-use. Zoob is an open-ended construction toy with no wrong answers! Zoob mobility mirrors that of people, animals, and machines making it an intuitive construction set for kids. Importantly, as it is based on real-life structures it is one of the few construction systems appealing to both boys and girls

All 4 of these products are amazing. Bright dinosaurs to little wooden vehicles with moving parts. Cake decorating to creating amazing structures with a simple but effective construction system. Definately something for everyone and MUMSreview can’t wait for the opportunity to share all of these with our Mum and their families.