All posts tagged: coconut

Choc-Almond Slice with Cocavo

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Baking is one of my favourite hobbies. Cookies, brownies and slices are my favourite things to bake. So, when I was sent the whole range of Cocavo products recently (and having never used their products in baking or cooking before), I was super excited to create a recipe using Cocavo’s products.  For those of you that are not familiar with Cocavo, they are a New Zealand owned and run company which produces a unique blend of extra virgin coconut and avocado oils, bringing the healthiest cooking oil to the market. Their products are made from all natural premium ingredients and are dairy and gluten free, and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Cocavo has five delicious flavours, including: Cocavo Original (used in a variety of sweet and savoury dishes) Cocavo Light (the light flavour does not have the aroma or taste of coconut, which makes it the perfect cooking oil for everyday use) Cocavo with Chili and Lime (use for seafood or stir-fry dishes) Cocavo with Cilantro, Lime and Ginger (will bring out the flavours in Thai or …

5 Reasons Why I Love GIAPO

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  GIAPO. The best ice cream in New Zealand. Here are five reasons why I love GIAPO (and why you should try their ice cream!): 1. Owner Gianpaolo (Giapo) Grazioli. Giapo is the creative mastermind behind all the wondrous ice cream creations. He is very passionate about his ice cream and is the most enthusiastic person I know! You will often find him at the store, talking to customers and/or taking orders. Not many hospitality owners do this around Auckland, so I think this is pretty awesome. Also a special mention to Giapo’s wife, Annarosa, who is lovely, kind and always a joy to see at the Giapo store. 2. The ice cream flavours and the different options to ‘hold’ your ice cream. The menu at Giapo is extensive, with many flavours to choose from. All of the ice creams are gluten free, with four being vegan – definitely something for everyone! Their ice cream is different to that of the normal ones you would get at a dairy or supermarket – Giapo’s are like works of art. …

Miann Britomart

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Heads up dessert lovers, chocoholics, and gelato stick/macaron fans, Miann has just opened up their second store in Britomart!

If you are any of the above, then I guarantee you will love Miann, a sophisticated dessert bar and patisserie in Auckland CBD.

Vegan Cocoa Coconut Treats

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You may have read my recent post on The Caker, aka Jordan Rondel. She makes unusual but mouthwatering cakes, cookies and sweet delights. This recipe is from her first book, as pictured below. These cocoa coconut treats are super simple to recreate, and are perfect as a lunchbox snack, a ‘pick me up’ at work or enjoyed with a hot cup of tea. Jordan says in her book that because the treats are vegan, they can also be served raw – just chill the balls in the fridge for an hour or so. However, baking them in the oven gives them a texture, somewhere between a truffle and a cookie, crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. Sounds perfect! Makes approximately 20 treats. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups dried shredded coconut 1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder 30g rolled oats 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (I used Nudecoconut) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon extra shredded coconut for rolling balls in Method 1. In a bowl of an electric mixer, combine the coconut, cocoa powder and rolled oats. Mix in …

Zomato Foodie Meetup: Sawadee

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  I had always heard great things about Sawadee, but sadly had never been, possibly due to the fact that I have only eaten Thai food twice in my life! So, when I was lucky enough to be invited to a degustation at Sawadee, held as part of Zomato’s Foodie Meetup, I was super excited, not only for the food, but also to meet fellow Zomato reviewers! Upon walking in, I was warmly greeted with ‘Sawadee’ and shown to our table. The table setting was very pretty, with royal blue being the main feature colour. I also loved the overall décor and ambience of the place – from the indoor waterfall and the beautiful flowers on our table, to the various pot plants dotted around the restaurant – it had a great tropical and summery feel to it! We first started off with a few drinks. Sawadee had compiled a new summer cocktail list, saying that ‘no one else in Auckland has tried yet’ which was quite exciting! I ordered the ‘Sunkiss’ which consisted of …

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 …