All posts tagged: authentic

La Cigale French Market

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If you are looking for something fun to do on a Saturday or Sunday morning and which involves lots of delicious food, then I highly recommend checking out La Cigale French Market in Parnell. It is undoubtedly the best market in Auckland. Here’s a taste of what you may come across at La Cigale: – Delicious coffee, macarons and croissants just out of the oven – Rotisserie chickens, gooey croque monsieurs, breakfast buns and other savoury delights – Delectable tarts (my favourite being the Frangipani tart with rhubarb and pistachio) and eclairs from Amadine – Freshly made juices, plus smoothies from The Organic Mechanic – Muesli and chia seed bowls from The Vital Bowl – Various international foods like paella, crepes and gozleme – Freshly baked bread, smoked fish, fruit and vegetables – Tasty dips, Turkish bread, wraps and fresh dates – And you probably wouldn’t believe it but there is a stand near the entrance selling every dog treat you can imagine! The market can get quite crowded, so I recommend coming here as early as possible – my favourite time being …

Taste of Auckland 15

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Today, I attended my second Taste of Auckland. I was so incredibly excited as it really is ultimate foodie heaven! Held over four days, Taste showcases some of the best restaurants in Auckland. Each restaurant offers 2-4 dishes, costing between $8-$20. Like last year, I made a beeline for Depot, because their oysters and tuatuas (clams) are top notch. I also tried a wood fired margherita pizza from Farina (again, amazing) and rice paper rolls with shredded pork and prawn from Vietnam based restaurant, Koto (which were fresh, light and perfect on this hot spring day). But, the best part about Taste of Auckland is definitely sampling all of the foodie products! Below is a list of my favourites from today: – Jenny’s Kitchen Tamarind Chutney were selling their delicious chutneys, and we bought a jar each of their mild and extra hot versions. They both tasted amazing! – The Baron, where I purchased their sweet and salty nuts (great for Christmas stocking fillers!) and an edible chocolate moustache – yummy! – Delonghi Group, showcasing their coffee machines and other kitchen appliances and Moustache making delicious cookies, including a marmite and cheese combination! …

5 Reasons Why I Love Judge Bao

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Here are five reasons why I love Judge Bao (and why you should try one!): 1. The owners, Debbie and Jamie, are so down to earth and very welcoming. I first came across Judge Bao at The Street Food Collective (SFC), where Debbie was so friendly and happily explained all the dishes they serve, including the preparation and ingredients used. It was great to see a couple so passionate about their product. 2. The bao, of course. Fluffy cloud-like bao, all delicately homemade, using Debbie’s mum’s recipe. The bao are then filled with heavenly ingredients, from pulled pork to mapo tofu to lamb. My favourite so far is definitely the black vinegar braised free range pork which I tried at Auckland’s Street Eats. The pork was perfectly cooked and gone in a flash! 3. The presentation. You will find that Judge Bao are generous with their fillings and also have great toppings – pickles, sriracha sauce, sesame seeds, spring onion and peanuts. They also serve fried chicken, which is delicious. 4. Their fortune cookies. When I was last at …

L’Eclair de Genie, Paris

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I find it hard to believe that I had never tried an eclair prior to visiting Paris a few weeks ago! I have definitely been missing out because eclairs are wonderful – choux pastry on the outside, and a mousse filing inside. One bite and you’re in sweet foodie heaven. This is how I felt when I had my first eclair at L’Eclair de Genie. The shop is small and selling only one thing – eclairs. There are many to choose from and all have different toppings, such as fruit, chocolate or gold flakes. I ended up choosing a double chocolate eclair with gold dusted dark chocolate – delicious! My eclair was then boxed and put into a cute bag. Nearby are the Luxembourg Gardens, which is the perfect place to devour this work of art! It was a great first experience and it might become my new obsession! I loved L’Eclair de Genie and will definitely re-visit next time I’m in Paris! L’Eclair de Genie 13 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, Paris Open: Monday to …

Federal Delicatessen

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I have never been to an ‘old-school New York City Jewish delicatessen’ before, but if they are anything like Federal Delicatessen (“The Fed“), then I am absolutely sold. The menu is fabulous, seriously never tried ‘schticks’, ‘milk-fed schnitzel’, ‘salmon latkes’ or ‘Montreal Poutine’ before and the sweet desserts (pumpkin pie, NY cheesecake, banoffee pie, lemon meringue pie and choc cherry pie) are all absolutely delicious. Also love the decor! Art on the walls, ‘Federal’ bottomless mugs filled with filter coffee, the waitresses’ pastel outfits, the odd knick knacks when you look up (which I only noticed on my second visit to The Fed), the red lined chef’s hats and one of the coolest bar back walls I have seen around Auckland. Highly recommend ordering the ‘Montreal Poutine’. It is a Canadian dish of fries with cheese curd (melt in your mouth!) and gravy. We shared this between two of us, but it was filling nonetheless. We also tried the ‘schticks’, which are croquettes filled with peas and pastrami – such a beautiful green colour inside! These were …

The Food Show, Auckland

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  I don’t know about you, but every year I get very excited about the Auckland Food Show, held over three days in July/August at ASB Showgrounds. I love it because it gives you a chance to meet all your favourite product owners, try new foods, take home free samples/goodie bags and taste, taste, taste! Last year, I discovered The Lucky Taco at The Food Show and it is definitely one of my favourite foodie experiences to date! Delicious tacos in either a corn or flour tortilla plus an agua de horchata (sweetened, iced rice milk infused with cinnamon) and you’re all set for the day! I attended the show on Friday and was instantly surprised at how much bigger the event was compared to last year. I was also excited to see that many new companies have popped up over the last year and that really gave me a chance to talk to the owners about their product, which is what I really love. My new favourite products that I tasted included the Deluxe Hot Chocolate by West Coast Cocoa, Coconut Flour …