KEY POINTS:
Jodie and Chris Hannam returned from overseas and spotted a gap in the market for gourmet takeaways. So they've opened Taste in Grey Lynn, aimed at delivering healthy food to go. "We want to ensure that there is something on offer for everyone from the most carnivorous meat eater to the health-conscious dieter," says Chris.
Taste, whose motto is Fresh Food Fast, serves fresh, affordable home-style cooking including rotisserie chicken, salads, pastas, casseroles and stir-fries and vegetarian options. Raw Fish Salad is popular as is a vege-packed low GI Raw Energy salad. The Daily Special, a full evening meal for less than $15, might be lamb shanks or pork belly and on Sunday there's Gourmet Roast.
280 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, opposite Woolworths. Monday to Friday: 8am-9pm and Saturday and Sunday: 4pm-9pm.
Like aunty used to make
New from Charlie's is a range of Quenchers. We like the tangy Lemonade Quencher best, but there's also Blackcurrant and Raspberry and Mango and Orange. Charlie's Trading Company director Marc Ellis said the idea came from childhood: "We all remember when we were kids and we'd spend the whole day riding on bikes or climbing trees, and you'd only go back to the house because you were thirsty ... there was nothing better than being met with a jug of your aunty's lemonade, not the fizzy kind, but the kind made with real, bursting lemons." So, among the consultants for the new drink was Marc's Aunt Shirley, who says: "I have to admit it tastes as good as mine."
Full of juice, water, natural cane sugar and Vitamin C, the quenchers are available in 1.5-litre bottles at supermarkets nationwide for $3.99.
On the shelves
Farro Fresh has some some delicious new nibbles including Provisions cherries and pinot noir syrup ($10.95), ideal for meat reductions; Aromatics chilli pickled pears ($8.95), just the thing to spice up the cheeseboard; and Popilicious instant dessert hits the spot ($15.95). The desserts are ready to microwave and serve with ice cream or cream and you can choose froom chocolate fudge brownie and chocolate sauce or date and chocolate sticky with butterscotch sauce.
Then there's just the thing for these cooler evenings, Prenzel's mulled wine mixer at $17.95.
80 Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington. Ph (09) 570-7071
V is the word
Viognier seems to be the varietal everyone's talking about these days. If you're a fan, the place to be is Gisborne on Saturday, June 9, for the Viognier workshop.
The event will draw grapegrowers, winemakers and enthusiasts alike, and will include tasting sessions and expert speakers.
For information or to register, contact Prue Younger, of Wines of Gisborne. Registration by Friday, June 1 at $85 plus GST per person, for this limited-place event. prue@gisborne.net.nz or 021 2765-484.
For the diary
A picturesque old convent's gardens are the base for the indulgent Marlborough Wine Weekend running from October 26-28. Just 300 tickets are available for the three days of new-release tastings, tours, and one-of-a-kind meals with more than 30 local winemakers participating.
Tickets have just gone on sale at www.ticketdirect.co.nzor check out www.wine-marlborough.co.nz for information.
Say si si
Spanish restaurants took top billing in a list of the world's best eateries, with three in the top 10, but France had the most nominations in Restaurant magazine's selection of 50 leading restaurants. A dozen French eateries made the grade, with eight in the United States and seven from Britain beating six each from Spain and Italy.
Top place went to El Bulli in Barcelona.
Its chef, Ferran Adria, was recently named the best in the world by the New York Times. Restaurant magazine named The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, second best restaurant and third was Pierre Gagnaire in Paris, followed by French Laundry in Yountville, California, then Tetsuya in Sydney.
Just one Asian restaurant made the top 50, India's Bukhara in Delhi.
A panel of 651 people from 70 countries determined the awards, which also saw British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's eponymous restaurant drop 10 places to 24th.
Paris was the best city for food enthusiasts, with nine restaurants in the top 50, followed by London with six.
