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Lip-Smacking Food

Food Reviews

Raw Vegan Treats from Wise Cicada

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Hidden away downstairs from the hustle and bustle of Broadway, Newmarket, you’ll find the cafe and whole foods super-store, Wise Cicada. The food is all organic and vegan, including a salad bar, juice bar and desserts. After a day of walking around the shops with my Mum, we needed a pick-me-up and Wise Cicada was the perfect spot. 

We chose the Protein Bar, the Crème Caramel & Tiramisu. The protein bar looks pretty with raspberry on top, and is a powerhouse of nutrients including almonds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, buckwheat, protein powder & flaxseed. This one really keeps you satisfied. 

Preview Party at Krispy Kreme NZ

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In case you didn’t know, Krispy Kreme is opening its first store in Auckland next Wednesday, February 28th. I was lucky to get to attend the preview VIP party yesterday, and I couldn’t have been more excited. I’ve been a fan of Krispy Kreme doughnuts for years now, ever since I had my first bite of one many years ago when I first visited the USA. I also ate them when I visited Melbourne & Sydney, and wondered why New Zealand didn’t have them but Australia did. Well it’s officially happening Aucklanders! 

I spent a fun and informative two hours at the preview event, and got to do a range of things, including behind the scenes. Upon arrival we had the choice of a milkshake or coffee. Of course, I took the milkshake. (Well, ok, I ended up getting two). I started with a classic strawberry milkshake, which was divine, then I got one of the new Kreme Shakes, known as ‘The Doughnut you Can Drink’. I got the choc honeycomb, which was topped with Crunchie bar pieces and was absoultely delicious.

Rockabilly Bakes Cupcakes

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Next time you’re at Clevedon Village Famers Market, make sure you grab a cupcake (or several) from Rockabilly Bakes. Owner Alyssa Sanders created Rockabilly Bakes when she moved to Auckland from Canada, and the company recently celebrated its first birthday. The cupcakes all have pin-up girl names, in keeping with the rockabilly theme.  We chose 3…

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Casita Miro on Waiheke Island

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Auckland has been having one of the hottest summers I can ever remember. What better way to spend such a day than by taking a ferry across to Waiheke Island and exploring the vineyards followed by a swim in the sea? My Mum & I enjoyed a Friday doing just that and we couldn’t have chosen a more friendly vineyard to visit. Casita Miro is situated in Onetangi, on the top of a hill, and specialises in Spanish cuisine, as well as that of the wider Mediterranean Rim. The menu includes tapas (snack plates) and raciones (shared plates), as well as a ‘Fiesta’ set menu for groups of 10 or more. 

Clevedon Village Farmers Market

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The Clevedon Village Farmers Market is held every Sunday from 8.30am – 1pm. My Mum and I, along with my best friend, enjoyed a recent morning there and stuffed ourselves silly. Seriously, there is so much food you are going to want to try, you should really go with an empty stomach.

Raspberry Chia Coconut Yoghurt from Cathedral Cove Naturals

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I have fond memories of the first time I discovered the Cathedral Cove Naturals brand. I was on a road trip with my best friend and we stopped in Hahei for the day. I saw that there was a macadamia orchard there, so of course we stopped and met with the founder, Hamish Pilkington, who was only too kind to give us a sample of each of his products. Along with the macadamias, I took home a bag of the Lightly Toasted Organic Muesli, and fell in love with the flavour and the simple, natural ingredients.

That trip was some years ago now, and since then I’ve lived mostly in New York City. I returned back to Auckland this August and on a supermarket trip I saw a jar of Cathedral Cove Naturals Coconut Yoghurt on the shelf. Of course I had to try it! It was the Raspberry Chia Coconut Yoghurt and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Super creamy, with the tang of the raspberries, and a distinct coconut flavour, this yogurt was divine just by itself.

Summer Offerings at Dominique Ansel Bakery

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At my office, we always celebrate birthdays with a cake of that person’s choosing, and I usually bake it the night before to bring in the next day. This past Monday was my birthday, and since I’m the only one out of my colleagues who bakes, they let me choose a bakery to purchase a…

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Tramezzini NYC Preview

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Last week I was fortunate to get to preview the offerings at Tramezzini’s first brick and mortar location on the Lower East Side.  Tramezzini began their business as a vendor at the weekend food fair ‘Smorgasburg’ in Williamsburg and Prospect Park and was founded by brothers Filippo and Massimiliano Paccagnella, and their friend Davide Pedon, all hailing from Venice, Italy.  For those of us not yet in the know, a tramezzino is an Italian sandwich made with soft, white bread with the crusts removed. 

Cheesecake Babka from Breads Bakery

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The month of May is Cheesecake Month at Breads Bakery. And the star of the show (for me anyway) is the Cheesecake Babka ($14.95). For May only, you can also get your hands on a lemon ricotta cheesecake and a pomegranate cheesecake in a jar. The classic New York cheesecake is available all year round. To say this Cheesecake Babka is amazing, is an understatement. This is without a doubt, one of the best things I have ever eaten in my whole life. Our office has a tradition of getting something sweet for everyone to enjoy on Fridays. So this particular Friday, we decided to get the Cheesecake Babka. I couldn’t shut up about how good it was, and the others couldn’t stop marveling at how exactly they do it. How does Breads Bakery make something so damn perfect, that it’s the stuff of dreams? 

Cha Cha Matcha

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It had been on my list for a while to try the ‘Special Swirl’ soft serve at Cha Cha Matcha. Every month they introduce a special flavor that is swirled with their matcha soft serve. This month’s flavor is vegan Tangerine Dream. Located on Broome Street in Nolita, the cafe showcases the flavor of authentic Japanese Ceremonial matcha. 

Cha Cha Matcha was founded by recent New York University graduates Matthew Morton and Conrad Sandelman. The two met while studying business management and hospitality and both had a fondness for matcha. Morton is the son of Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton. They wanted to see if a matcha bar would be viable in New York so they traveled to Japan to visit small, independent tea farms and decided to partner with one in Uji, outside Kyoto. The goal was to create a matcha blend that was smooth, with more caffeine (to appeal to New Yorkers) and less bitterness. Since opening in April 2016, Cha Cha Matcha has enjoyed great success, with long lines extending out the door every weekend.