KEY POINTS:
We can hardly wait for this year's Food Show, what with Sydney-based chef Tetsuya Wakuda making a guest appearance, as well as Australian foodies Bill Granger and Charmaine Solomon and our own stellar line-up. We have 10 double passes to the Food Show to give away. To enter,
write your name, address and phone number on a postcard or envelope and send to: The Food Show, Viva, NZ Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close July 25, winners announced August 1.
Spice is nice
Adding cinnamon to your dessert may temper the blood-sugar surge that follows a sweet treat, a new study suggests. Swedish researchers found that adding a little more than a teaspoon of cinnamon to a bowl of rice pudding lowered the post-meal blood sugar rise in a group of healthy volunteers. The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, add to evidence that cinnamon may aid in blood-sugar control by slowing the rate at which food passes from the stomach to the intestines. It's too early to prescribe the spice as a therapy for health problems such as diabetes, though more study is planned.
Mentoring men
Antoine's chef/owner Tony Astle and Antipodes water creator Simon Woolley are mentoring rising chef Michael Meredith and Toss! The Salad People founder Jason Linnell. The three-year commitment is part of the Lewisham Foundation's programme to support the hospitality industry, for which it holds annual awards. "We were thrilled that mentors the calibre of Tony and Simon are happy to step up to the task," said mentoring task force member Clive Weston. "They have both made significant marks in the course of their careers in Auckland over the last three decades and we cannot think of anyone better to safeguard the progress of our emerging stars."
Astle gave Meredith his first kitchen job before he went on to work at Ottos, Vinnies and The Grove, where he was named chef of the year. Meredith is now planning to open his own restaurant and Astle sees him as someone with talent to burn. Meredith says: "I have always looked up to Tony for his wisdom and support and feel exceedingly lucky to have his counsel at such a critical time."
Simon Woolley, who took Parnell's Metropole to its 1980s heyday, spent a decade in the US before launching Antipodes and says he is keen to put back into an industry that has been good to him by helping Linnell grow his business.
Food flash
Renowned Australian Chef, Greg Malouf will give a demonstration in-store at Farro Fresh, 80 Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington, on Saturday, from 10-11am.
Flavour boost
Porcini salt is a new product we think is good to add to the pantry. Give your food a mushroomy flavour when you're out of the real thing or want a more intense taste. Attitude Foods porcini salt is available at Smith & Caughey's or from the Waiheke Island based company's website www.attitude foods.com. Two new delis worth checking out are also stockists - GO! Espresso at 324 Pakuranga Rd and Ashore Fine Foods, 13 Birkenhead Ave - as is With Relish in Clevedon.