Jamie Phillips in action

Taranaki-based Jamie Phillips (pictured left) won silver on this year’s NZ Culinary Fare, where the best and brightest of the hospitality industry compete for prestigious industry awards and prizes.

Jamie produced the top score in the Kapiti Cheese Experience (Open) category, using Kapiti cheese’s Pamaro Parmesan in three different recipes (recipes below). Also pictured are Krystol McMillan of the NZ Army and Mark Southon of Auckland’s French Café, who also won silver medals in the Kapiti event.

Six chefs from around the country had just an hour to prepare a serving of cheese to be served as part of an eight-course degustation menu for four guests. The national contest, which was held at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds on August 23, went down to the wire, with chefs racing their completed meals to the finishing line. Judging was tough, so only bronze and silver medals were awarded by the hard-to-please adjudicators.

“Entering these sorts of national contests are good for your own profile as a chef and also good to represent the Taranaki, said Jamie, who runs and owns New Plymouth’s Deli Star Catering. “It’s good to keep in touch with modern trends. You need to think about presenting a dish that’s unique and inject some passion into what you’re doing.”

The NZ Culinary fare comprises some 75 competitions covering both the kitchen and restaurant sides of the hospitality industry. It stretches over three days of competition and has around 1,000 competitors.

Jamie’s dish will be published on the Kapiti website: http://www.kapiticollection.co.nz

Dedicated followers of food gathered at the Auckland Museum to celebrate the opening of their latest exhibition – Kai to Pie. It’s a celebration of Auckland, its rich culture and history seen through the lens of food.

Accompanying the exhibition is a full programme of activities and events that tell this city’s unique story. It’s a story that can be told through the dining tables of the 181 ethnic groups that call New Zealand’s largest city home.

The events programme includes the World on a Plate series, which showcases the incredible array of cuisine – from Maori to Mediterranean – in Auckland. There will also be a Trolley Dolly with food to sample on Sundays, a Coffee Festival, a Family Food Fiesta and other events.

The exhibition will be held from 12 June – 25 October and it is FREE entry.

Check out the website www.aucklandmuseum.co.nz for more information.

SUBWAY® has been touring New Zealand with a giant inflatable horizontal bungee to test resistance to their new Chicken Cordon Bleu subs.

The tour kick-started at the AUT City Campus in Auckland on Monday 17^th May with an impressive number of brave souls proving their determination on the bungee. This has been well documented on a youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZteAvft9Pc

South City Centre Mall in Christchurch was the only non-Uni stop on the schedule, and boy did the good people in Christchurch prove themselves as troopers! SUBMAN® was there, challenging people on the bungee, and SUBWAY® fans of all ages did their best to try and win a $10 SUBCARD®.

Dunedin put on absolutely stellar weather for the day on Thursday 20^th May so that Otago University Students could bare their feet without fear of frostbite! Joining in with the monthly market day on campus, the SUBWAY® Chicken Cordon Bleu horizontal bungee fitted in nicely as another fun distraction from study and assignments.

The Capital City lived up to it’s windy reputation, but the stormy weather and freezing temperature didn’t seem to put off Victoria University students when SUBWAY® graced their Quad with the horizontal bungee challenge.

Monday 31^st May is Auckland University day, and Wednesday 2^nd June will mark the end of this irresistible event, when Waikato University students get to prove their worth on the bungee in Hamilton.

If you are one of the few people out there who hasn’t given in to the succulent chicken, ham and melted cheese, coated in golden breadcrumbs– do yourself a favour – treat yourself to the delicious new Chicken Cordon Bleu Sub, and overcome the resistance!

The hunt is on for New Zealand’s keenest pair of green thumbs as NZ Gardener magazine, in association with Mitre 10, calls for nominations to find 15 regional winners to compete for the national title of 2010 NZ Gardener of the Year.

Each regional winner takes home a prize package of gardening products worth more than $1000, with the supreme winner scooping $5000 worth of Mitre 10 gift cards, along with a luxury trip for two to the 2011 Ellerslie International Flower Show.

Regional winners will be selected from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

Nominations close on 31 July 2010.  For full competition details, see the June issue of NZ Gardener or visit www.nzgardener.co.nz.

How to enter the 2010 NZ Gardener of the Year competition

Send a letter to NZ Gardener to nominate the most passionate gardener in your region. Detail why they’d make a worthy winner and don’t forget to include your name and phone number, plus contact details for the person you’ve nominated. Entries close on 31 July 2010.

Nominations can be sent to NZ Gardener 2010 Gardener of the Year, PO Box 6341, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141, or email: contests@nzgardener.co.nz.

The regional winners will be announced in the magazine’s October issue.

Jeremy Burfoot and Travis Donoghue, two of the team who will attempt to break the world personal watercraft record by riding from London to New Zealand, joined Close Up’s Mark Sainsbury on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour to gain support for the challenge.

The TVNZ journalist had a great time racing around the harbour on a Sea-doo jet-ski on in the brilliant Auckland sunshine. The conditions were a far cry from what Jeremy and the team will face when undertaking their 32,000 km epic journey to boost public awareness about ways to prevent cancer and raise funds for global cancer research.

The team will travel more than half-way around the globe, enduring challenging weather and treacherous oceans with piracy, shark infested waters, language barriers and bureaucratic nightmares just some of the hazards along the way. The journey, which sets off from London on August 1, will culminate in Auckland sometime in November.

A major naming rights sponsor for the Ultimate Ride challenge is still available.

(For more on the challenge or to donate to your local cancer organisation via The Ultimate Ride, click on http://london-sydney.com/donate-local.htm). To see the Close Up clip, click on:

http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/london-auckland-jetski-3520210

With the onset of winter almost upon us, not only is the summer sun set to become the subject of MANY daydreams, but Ashley Fogel has given us more reason to pull through the cold months ahead. Why?   We were lucky enough to have a sneak peek at the new Ashley Fogel Summer Collection last week  and (girls, believe it) you are going to want to ditch your winter wardrobes as soon as it hits stores in mid-July.

Think flirty, flowy and feminine in colours that range from Monet inspired pastels to bold and brilliant emeralds and electric purples in fabrics that billow, layer and drape.  Contrast that with Ashley Fogel’s signature jackets in stone, white and black, and Fogel fashionistas everywhere are going to go gaga over what’s on the racks this summer.

The upcoming collection features pieces for every occasion. From the races to weddings, black tie events to resort wear.  Fabrics are gorgeous and feminine silk-cotton blends, organza and lace.  This summer is going to be all about capturing the inner goddess no matter what the occasion.

Styles are soft, unstructured and clean with a design twist.  One of the most outstanding pieces for this Goode girl is the military jacket which is supremely wearable, but gorgeous chic teamed up with the uneven spotted dress in silk.

Summer will be the season to celebrate being a woman and a wardrobe decked out in Ashley Fogel will bring life to the party.

One bright and early Tuesday morning, Bronwen Anderson, spokesperson of 5 + A Day, headed out to Mangere East to visit one lucky family bearing a week’s worth of fruit and vegetables.  The Salesa family were ecstatic to be the recipients of not just one week’s worth of fruit and vegetables, but a three months supply to help get their family eating their 5+ servings a day. What made this visit even more special was that it was all captured on TV One’s Breakfast programme by charismatic weather presenter Tamati Coffey and his crew.  The Salesa children were over the moon to meet their TV hero as well as by the selection of fruit and vegetables courtesy the 5 + A Day team.  The family are now really looking forward to July when the Breakfast team along with Bronwen revisit to see just how far they have gotten in achieving the 5+ servings a day challenge.

Stay tuned for part 2 of the 5 + A Day challenge on TV One’s Breakfast programme.

For the second time Cuisine and its food and wine tourism guide, Cuisine Wine Country, have been named as finalists in the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards.

Again up for best food magazine, current title-holder Cuisine and its stablemate, up for best drink magazine, are the only New Zealand titles nominated in these categories.

And it doesn’t stop there. Cuisine’s senior features writer, David Burton, is a finalist for best food journalist; Melbourne-based Cuisine wine judge and writer Ralph Kyte-Powell, for best drink journalist; and Ken Downie for best drink photography.

Winners will be announced on 3 May 2010 at the biennial Tasting Australia festival in Adelaide.

Cuisine is up against its peers, respected publications such as Gourmet Traveller and Delicious (Australia), Jamie Magazine and Waitrose Food Illustrated (UK), and Food and Drink (US).

Cuisine editor, Sarah Nicholson, says it is gratifying, once again, to see Cuisine nominated for the world’s best food magazine. “The calibre of the competition is incredibly high and this nomination, along with those of our talented contributors, really cements Cuisine’s position as a world-class publication.”

Fairfax Magazines general manager Lynley Belton says these nominations demonstrate just how high the standard of food publishing is in New Zealand. “The international food magazine market is fiercely competitive and to be recognised on the world stage is very prestigious indeed.”

An international panel of 50 judged the 700 entries received from around the globe.

For full details see http://www.worldfoodmediaawards.com

From modern seaside mansions to historic cottages, New York-style urban lofts to the Prime Minister’s official residence, some of New Zealand’s most captivating homes are opening their doors to the public for the first time.

The NZ House & Garden Tours take in more than 40 homes in four centres: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and the well-heeled settlement of Omaha.

It’s a rare chance to get a sneak peek inside some of the country’s most interesting residences – belonging to equally interesting people from architects to designers, from empty nesters to artists. 

Often referred to as ‘The Hamptons’, the Omaha/Matakana tour takes in several modern beach retreats varying in style from Pacifica to boat shed to Cape Cod and English country. See the “casual mansions” that have sprung up in this seaside resort.

Auckland visitors can view a huge Newmarket urban loft, a remodelled Remuera 1920s arts and crafts villa, an industrial minimalist Mt Eden home and even the upgraded 100-year-old Devonport bungalow home of NZ House & Garden collectables editor Pam Neville.

The Wellington properties range from the official residence of the Prime Minister – Premier House, to a modified 1890 Te Aro cottage, a property designed as a doll’s house and one which includes a latin dance studio.

In the Garden City, visitors can view inside the winner of the 2009 NZ Institute of Architects Canterbury Regional Award, and a 1890s mansion that has housed royalty. This tour also includes a restored Victorian workers’ cottage and an architecturally-designed 1960s family home.

“We have chosen the 42 houses in this year’s house tours to showcase the huge variety of New Zealand’s home design,” says NZ House & Garden editor Kate Coughlan. “Some of them are grand and spacious, some of them are compact but perfect. Some are modern and some are very old, but faithfully maintained or restored.”

 The NZ House & Garden Tours take place in March on the following dates: 

Christchurch               Friday 5 March

Auckland                     Friday 12 March

Wellington                   Friday 19 March

Omaha/Matakana       Friday 26 March

Get in quickly! Tickets cost $55 and are available from Ticketmaster on www.ticketmaster.co.nz  0800 111 999 or (09) 970 9700 or your local Ticketmaster outlet. 

The proceeds of all four tours will be donated to the Cancer Society of New Zealand and cancer charity, Look Good Feel Better

CheeseFest is a unique event on the NZ food calendar. It’s the only time all NZ Cheese companies are in one place as part of the Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards. This years CheeseFest is being held at The Langham Great Room. Wednesday 3 March 5 – 8 pm. The ticket price has been reduced to $30 and is available through www.eventfinder.co.nz Door sales are also available from 4.30pm on the day.

Talk to the cheesemakers, enjoy your complimentary glass of Yealands Estate wine, Bakers Delight bread and sample over 400 cheeses. The winner of the Cuisine Artisan Awards will also be there with samples.

The NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association also run a stand selling cheese at bargain prices. It’s a great evening out and the only chance you’ll get to taste and see this much cheese at one venue.