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…
NZ WelTec student selected for Young Chef Olympiad –
Wellingtonian Michelle Burling-Claridge, a Level 5 Diploma in Hospitality Management student at Whitireia and WelTec (Te Pūkenga), has been selected to represent New Zealand at the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2023 on January 29. Following two years of hosting the International Institute of Hotel Management’s Young Chef Olympiad event online, the global culinary competition is now back to being judged in person in India. Michelle represents New Zealand in the section of Group E heat to be held in Hyderabad, with competitors from Jordan, Sweden, Namibia, Spain, USA, South Africa, Uzbekistan and Portugal. Young chefs from over 50 countries will…
Largest food price rise in 32 years –
Food prices were 11.3 percent higher in December 2022 than they were in December 2021, Stats NZ has announced. This is the biggest annual increase since April 1990, when food prices increased by 11.4 percent. In December 2022, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories Stats NZ measures. Compared with December 2021: *grocery food prices increased by 11 percent*fruit and vegetable prices increased by 23%.*restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food increased by 7.8 percent*meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 11 percent*non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 7.3 percent. Grocery food was the largest contributor to…