SkyCity welcomes Cassia –
Auckland’s award-winning Indian restaurant Cassia, led by Chef Sid Sahrawat, is moving to SkyCity. The renowned restaurant in Auckland’s Fort Street was closed in January after severe weather events and flooding left the business inoperable, temporarily opening as a ‘Cassia Kitchen’ pop up in the private dining room at the Sahrawat’s restaurant, Sid at The French Café. Owners, husband and wife duo Sid and Chand Sahrawat have now found a new permanent home for the much-loved restaurant and its 20-plus team members. Cassia is scheduled to open in early May at the site formerly housed by The Grills and will…
MBIE survey highlights hospo workplace challenges –
New Zealand now has better data on working conditions in tourism and hospitality, for those on the frontline as well as for managers, following a survey of more than 900 people working in the industry. The research was headed by Dr David Williamson from AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, with Professor Erling Rasmussen from AUT’s New Zealand Work Research Institute. the Hey Tangata survey, conducted by AUT, was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and helps to inform the work of the Tourism Industry Transformation Plan Better Work Action Plan, launched by the Minister of Tourism…
A spoonful of olive oil in your coffee? –
Starbucks has launched an ‘innovative’ range of coffee beverages infused with extra virgin olive oil across its Italian stores. Interim CEO Howard Schultz said the Oleato – meaning ‘with oil’ – range of beverages represents the ‘next revolution in coffee’ that brings together an ‘alchemy of nature’s finest ingredients’. Starbucks cited an Italian family tradition of consuming a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil each day as an uplifting ritual as the inspiration for the concept and has partnered with premium Sicily-based olive oil brand Partanna for the product launch. Three products — Oleato Caffè Latte, Oleato Iced Shaken Espresso…
McPlant nuggets premiere in Germany –
The world’s first plant-based nuggets at a McDonald’s restaurant will be available in Germany’s 1450 outlets today, replacing the vegan burger. Also new on the menu is the McPlant Burger. It replaces the vegan burger and the Fresh Vegan TS, and McDonald’s has emphasized the plant-based characteristic of the nuggets and patties, avoiding the vegan designation. This makes Germany the first country market with plant-based nuggets on the menu boards. According to the company, this is also the first time a plant-based alternative has been available in a Happy Meal. McDonald’s and Beyond Meat worked together to create the new…
Food experts meet to judge New Zealand’s finest produce –
Michelin-star chef Pim Techamuanvivit is joining internationally renowned New Zealand chef Peter Gordon and 25 local food experts to judge the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards in Auckland this week. More than 290 locally harvested, grown and made food and drink products will be assessed on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 February at Gordon’s restaurant, Homeland, known as The Food Embassy for Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands. Born and raised in Bangkok, Pim (pictured above right), took a circuitous route through the world of food from blogging (her blog Chez Pim attracted more than 250,000 views a month), to make…
Ed Sheeran chocolate block up for grabs to support flood victims –
Whittaker’s has announced there are five special ‘Ed-ition’ prize packs up for grabs to raise funds for Auckland flood recovery thanks to support from Ed Sheeran. Whittaker’s created the ‘Ed Block’ for him last week after he posted to Instagram about New Zealand chocolate. The ‘Ed Block’ is Whittaker’s classic Five Roll Refined Creamy Milk chocolate with a special edition label. He has now supplied a selfie which features on the blocks, and collaborated with Whittaker’s on the prize packs. Each prize pack contains a signed Special Ed-ition Ed Block, a signed one-of-a-kind Ed Block t-shirt each with a unique…
Contingency planning essential says NZ Events Association –
The New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) says the cancellation of multiple events at short notice is heartbreaking for organizers and concertgoers alike, but says it is a timely reminder of the necessity for emergency contingency plans. “Just when things seemed to be getting back to normal for the events industry, it started raining and hasn’t stopped,” says Elaine Linnell, General Manager, NZEA. “It’s devastating for all our members as the cancellation of major events has a knock-on effect which is hitting hard. It also demonstrates the necessity for emergency plans – after all, this is New Zealand and the unexpected…