To time with the release of MasterChef winner, Emma Dean's new book, we asked her to share her top tracks to cook up a storm to.

Public holiday surcharges seem to be on the decline at Auckland eateries, but an industry insider says establishments are compensating by raising prices year-round.

Food, these days, has become less about eating and more about ethics and environmental concerns, Shelley Bridgeman says.

The Herald spoke to a Palestinian employee who says she's proud to work at the Sodastream factory at the centre of a fizz between Oxfam and a Hollywood star.

Cream cheese is a great alternative to butter on toast, especially if you are teaming it with salmon or my latest food craze, sliced fresh strawberries.

Sanitarium's much-publicised Marmite shortage failed to stop the food manufacturer's owner, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, from reporting a rise in revenue for its tax-free NZ businesses in the last financial year.

Icecream makers are worried by revelations that the Auckland Council is negotiating a 10-year deal to give Tip Top selling rights at public pools, parks, the waterfront and events.

Ralph Bungard spent some serious time in the corridors of academia (he has a PhD in Plant Science and degrees in Viticulture and Oenology) before setting up Christchurch-based Three Boys Brewery a decade ago.

Labour has officially dropped its policies of having the first $5000 of earnings tax-free and of removing GST from fresh fruit and vegetables.

Soren Eriksen is a former champion poker player turned brewer. He brews his 8 Wired brand using a ‘virtual brewery’ model, making his beers using equipment rented from other breweries.

Craig Bowen is the founder of dedicated craft beer distributor BeerNZ and chairman of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand.

Tuesday was a good day for Josef Roberts - he made about 30 million bucks.

The fight against sugar has begun, with high-profile scientists and doctors calling for governments and food industries to cut the sugar content of food and drinks by up to 30%.

Refusing to jump on the New Year diet bandwagon, one restaurant has unveiled a deep-fried PB&J beef burger.

Investment firm set up by Subway founders to take 10% stake in listed fast-food chain.

It is an "edgy, almost forbidden" ingredient that could make the bravest of cooks turn the colour of the traditional chef's uniform.

Bosses at a London branch of McDonald's have been forced to apologise after a sign was put up attempting to ban teenagers from entering the premises during the evening.

Many of Auckland's Chinese restaurants say they will continue serving shark fin while it's legal despite a landmark ban on finning dead sharks in New Zealand waters.

While some Kiwis are yet to wind up their Christmas breaks - and get through their Christmas ham - hot cross buns have already hit the shelves.

British chef Jamie Oliver has expressed sympathy for Nigella Lawson, likening the trial of her former personal assistants to a reality TV show.

It's a frightening figure - 11 per cent of early deaths in NZ are due to poor nutrition and obesity. So what can be done to reverse the trend?