Category: Events | Post by: Andrea Wong
Last year, I contemplated the idea of taking one of those trundler shopping bag / suitcase things to The Food Show, but this year I decided that they are a pain. It may, or may not have had something to do with the number of times I almost tripped over them... Maybe.
Low trundling obstacles aside, it was another great show.
I become quite happy when I hear that a product is launched at The Food Show. I'm happy for them, because I can imagine how exciting it is after all their hard work making a product, to finally unleash it to the public. I found two such products at The Food Show this year: Little Paddock ice cream and Elliotts King Of Kiwi.
Little Paddock is for you fun-loving ice cream fanatics. With quirky flavour names like Captain Vanilla, Baby Cupcake and Mister Boysenberry, you are bound to eat this ice cream with a huge smile on your face. 500ml tubs are selling at The Food Show for $8.50.
Elliotts King Of Kiwi is an all natural kiwifruit juice, with no added sugar, preservatives or extra water. Flavours are Green Kiwi, Gold Kiwi, and Feijoa. I was afraid that this would taste too kiwifruity, but the pear base mellowed out the kiwifruit taste. Well worth a try, I reckon.
And while not a product launch, Butlers Chocolate is coming to Auckland. The Irish chocolate brand have four cafes in Wellington already and their first Auckland cafe will be opening in Sylvia Park soon. I sipped on their hot chocolate, made from melting a chocolate bar in hot milk... yes, I think that I will find myself making a trip to Sylvia Park once they've opened. :)
Butter may seem like a very uninteresting product, but you must try the Lewis Road Creamery butter (see the first photo)... it's something else! Made from Jersey cream and lightly cultured, this butter is handled with care and it shows in its quality. I would have this butter served simply, with a piece of d'lish-iously fresh bread... and that's it. Just taste the bread and the butter.
This year seems to be the rise and rise of gourmet take home meals that you just heat and eat. Tomette meals are very French. Made here in New Zealand using our produce, but French recipes... and cute packaging too! I've seen the meals in C'est Fromage in Newmarket and you'll be able to order online soon. C'est bon!
Stop by the big European Food stand, where they have lined a bench with lots of yummy antipasti ingredients, like marinated artichoke, capsicum, olives and a couple of proscuitto choices. It's like making your own self-serve antipasto platter!
The trouble with The Food Show is that you are constantly nibbling but don't have much chance to have something more substantial. By the time I made it to Eurpoean Foods, the little panini in their counter were beckoning to me. It's a good deal: $3 for a wee sandwich filled with spek, a northern Italian cheese and capsicum relish.
Believe it or not, despite the constant sampling, I felt a bit peckish a few hours after my mini panino. I had some nice treats like mini cupcakes from Petal and caesar salad from Auckland On The Menu.
By the end of the day, my shopping basket was full of goodies and I had quite a few people peering at it - I'm not sure what they expected to see... it was just my stash!
My purchases included:
Do tell me, how did you find The Food Show this year?
Take your trundler / wheely suitcase if you must, just watch out for people like me who will trip over it!