Auckland Food Show 2012

Annabelle White cooking demonstration in the Electrolux Theatre

I had a great day yesterday at the Auckland Food Show.  I went with Simon’s Mum (Michelle, who blogs over at The Jamjar) and Brother (David) and we had heaps of fun watching cooking demonstrations, attending a High Tea ‘master class’, and perusing all the stalls.

David buying a Whoopie Pie (photo courtesy of Michelle)

Nici Wickes cooking demonstration in the Electrolux Theatre

Me with Annabelle White

We started off our day in the Electrolux Theatre where we watched a cooking demonstrations by Annabelle White and Nici Wickes.  We were shown how to cook the perfect roast chicken and use it in three different meals.  Nici demonstrated how to make a beautiful Tagine and a delicious banana, custard and meringue dessert – I know it was delicious because David had a go at making it :)

Our High Tea treats at our Masterclass

Our High Tea Masterclass beverages

Annabelle White at the High Tea Masterclass

After the cooking demonstrations in the theatre we headed off to a High Tea Masterclass.  This was run by Annabelle White.  While we were shown how to make some dainty high tea nibbles we were treated to wine, tea and a selection of high tea treats (including mini cupcakes courtesy of Little and Friday). 

Whoopie Pies (photo courtesy of Michelle)

The egg stand (photo courtesy of Michelle)

Atomic Coffee (photo courtesy of Michelle)

Once the class had ended and we had collected our goodie bags, we set off to check out the stalls at the food show.  Michelle bought some honey, David bought some beer and I bought some beautiful products from St Andrews Limes.

The Lewis Road Creamery Stand

Overall we had heaps of fun.  The Food Show runs in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch so if you are able to, I would recommend heading along to the one nearest you.  One of the best things about the Auckland show is the cooking demonstrations in the Theatre.  They are free to attend and showcase the talents of some awesome chefs.  The Masterclasses are worth going to as well – definitely worth the money.  If you want more information about The Food Show, you can head on over to their website or you can check out my posts on the the 2011 and 2010 events.

Me with Nici Wickes

My day at the Auckland Food Show 2011

So, today I went to the Auckland Food Show.  Going on a Thursday, and to the preview day was awesome – still heaps of people but there wasn’t all the queuing to get to try stuff and waiting to move about.  I had quite a pleasant time taking everything in by myself.

I arrived there about 40 minutes before my truffle making master class so I looked around one of the halls.  Oh, before I looked about, I signed up on one of the computer terminals that were set up outside the main hall to get a sticker page printed off, containing my details so I could quickly enter ‘the over 60 competitions’ that were running at the show – don’t do this, I didn’t see all these supposed competitions.  There were a few, but really, you don’t need a sticker sheet to save you time in entering them.  Really they just want you on their database.

Annabelle White at the Truffle making master class

The truffle making master class.  I found this pretty disappointing.  It wasn’t all that different from going to one of the celebrity chef demonstrations except you need to pay for it.  And, since I knew how to make truffles I didn’t learn anything new there, however the other master classes, on topics I don’t know as much about clashed with the celebrity cooking demonstrations I wanted to see yet I still wanted to go to a master class so I was kinda stuck with this one.  I did get a goodie bag though and I learnt how to make chocolate into a play dough-like consistency so you can make stuff out of it, like the rose in the picture below.

Flower made out of chocolate and some of the truffles

My Whittaker’s loot from my goodie bag

Adam Liaw

After the master class I went and watched Adam Liaw in the theatre.  He made the most wonderful smelling chicken curry dish and some coconut rice.  He had recipes for other dishes but wasn't provided with the correct ingredients so he didn’t make them and he reckons he had just got off the plane from Aussie about 45 minutes before getting to the food show, so I don’t think he had the time or was in the right frame of mind to sort this out.  He would have been very pushed for time to cook anything else anyway, I think.  Adam was just like I remembered him off Master chef and I really enjoyed watching his demonstration.  I am inspired to try make his curry as it really did smell that amazing and I was sitting a fair bit away from the stage too.

Julie Le Clerc

After Adam’s demonstration I watched Julie Le Clerc.  Apparently she has a show on Sunday, TV 3 at 5pm called ‘Cafe Secrets’.  I am going to try catch it this week as she is popping into little and friday which is one of my fave cafes.  She made dishes using tea – she marinated Salmon in tea and used tea to cook some rice.  She also made smoke paprika buttermilk scones and a chocolate yoghurt cake – yum, yum!

Once I had watched these two chef’s I went back to checking out the exhibitors at the show.  I was laden with two very heavy bags and my shoulders ached by the time I got back to my car.  I picked up a few show specials – yes, I did take up the GÜ show offer, I got myself some Pitango pouches, and subscribed to Foodtown magazine ($25 for a year and I got a goodie bag and a spin of their prize wheel - I won a pack of salmon!)

My GÜ score – cost $20 but you got a pot of puds, two lots of their desserts that come in their cute glass ramekins, a box of ganache tubs and a cute little coolie bag!

My Pitango pouches – it was 3 for $10.  Seriously if you want a quick and easy meal try one of their curry’s over that microwavable 2 minute rice.  I usually get the Red Thai Curry but I purchased the Green variety today for a change.

Simon feels like he missed out, in fact he had to sit a computer exam today, so we might head back to the food show in the weekend.

Update…

On my food show decision.  I’ve got myself a ticket to the Thursday and a ticket to go to the truffle making master class presented by Annabelle White.  The master class finishes just in time for me to go watch Adam Liaw and the Julie Le Clerc.  Win!

Auckland Food Show 2011

The Auckland Food Show for 2011 is coming up in less than a fortnight, running from Thursday 28th July through to Sunday 31st July at the ASB Showgrounds.  Doors are open from 10am until 6pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 10am – 5pm on Sunday.
I can’t decide what day to go.  I’ve been looking at the celebrity chef programme and have been trying to choose.  I seriously recommend going to watch one of the  chef’s cooking demonstrations – they are usually pretty inspiring and you get just that little bit extra out of attending the show.  I’ve managed to see Donna Hay cooking at two different food shows and watched Sophie Gray last year (pictured above).  Adam Liaw is going to be at the show this year – I religiously watched the season of Australian Masterchef that he was on and I reckon he would be awesome to watch cook.  I’m pretty interested in seeing Julie Le Clerc too – I have no idea what she is like, but I have some of her cookbooks and the recipes are all very appealing.
A new thing that has been introduced this year is the ‘Masterclass Series’.  You can pay a little bit more and attend a class, limited to 50 people, which runs for an hour.  There’s truffle making, learning about meat, making tapas, cheese tasting and a matching wine to your food class.  These intrigue me too.  Decisions, decisions.
If you’re not keen on celebrity chefs and master classes, you can always just attend the show for all the food that is on offer.  Each year there are new products on display along with hundreds of free samples and show specials not to be missed.  I’ve seen that GÜ will be running a show special ($20 for two puds, one pot of ganache and a tub of naughties) which is one thing I am decided about – I will definitely take advantage of it!
So, put the food show into your diary and have a great foodie day out :)

Nestle New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker: Season 2

The show returns on TV3 and Food TV (channel 9 on SKY) this coming week. According to the Food TV website episode one for 2011 will air at 4pm, Saturday 12 February. What I am looking forward to more than the competition between the bakers (personally I wasn’t that excited by what the home bakers produced last year, with the exception of one or two recipes) are the master classes that accompany each episode, these are hosted by show judges Dean Brettschneider and Jade Lipton (new to the show this year).  Jade appears to be an amazing cake decorator and owns Cake Star in Brisbane, so I am excited to see what tips and tricks I can pick up from her in particular.  The first master class will air at 4pm, Sunday 13 February on Food TV.  Check out the Food TV website for more info on the contestants and upcoming competitions to be featured on the show.

The Auckland Food Show

 
This afternoon I battled (well, I didn’t battle, I behaved quite politely really) the hordes of people who decided to spend a wet, rainy Sunday at The Auckland Food show. 

 
After looking around all the exhibitors I went and watched Sophie Gray do a cooking demonstration in the theatre they have set up at the show.  She made Tagliatelle with chicken and lemon dressing, Lamb biriyani one pan and a Fragrant lemongrass chicken curry – the recipes can all be found on the food show website.

 
There were lots of my fave foods on display – delicious yoghurt, heaps of pesto’s and olive oils, different meats, soups, wines.  Stand outs for me at the show would be (since I am a chocolate truffle lover) The Seriously Good Chocolate Company – yummy yummy truffles.  I will be keeping an eye out for them in stores (and according to their website, the duty free store at the airport is a stockist – just another reason to get excited about my upcoming trip to Melbourne in September!).  You can find a stockist near you or buy their products on their website.  Also, I have to mention Cathedral Cove Macadamias – my friend Jarrah and I love their flavoured Dukkah’s (we usually pick some up if we go to the French Market in Parnell).  You can purchase their products, get recipe ideas, and find more information on their website.

Can’t wait ‘till next years show.

Diary Date: The Auckland Food Show

 
There is just over a month now until The Food Show comes to Auckland.  I’m definitely going – I love trying all the new products on display.  There are hundreds of exhibitor stalls, many boasting free samples, to go and visit.  I also try to stop in and watch one of the celebrity chef demonstrations.  The picture above is of Donna Hay at the 2009 food show, making what was a very delicious looking ‘flourless chocolate cake’.  I love her.  I can’t wait to see the celebrity chef line-up for this years event.

The Auckland food show this year is running at the ASB showgrounds from Friday 30 July to Sunday 1 August, with Thursday 29 July as a special pre-view day.  Last year they reckon they had 41,548 people come along, so it is a very popular weekend activity!

For more info visit the food show website.