All posts tagged: market

Matakana Village Farmers’ Market

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One of the main reasons Aucklanders’ make the trip up to Matakana is to visit the famous Matakana Village Farmers’ Market. With it being only an hour (or less) drive up, it is a great activity to do on a Saturday. My parents moved up to Matakana last year, so every few weekends I have been checking out this foodie lover’s market.  You will find an array of foodie delights – there are many artisan producers selling their products, most of which are made locally in and around Matakana. These include:  An abundance of colourful Fruits and Vegetables Homemade Nut Butters including peanut, almond, cashew and dark chocolate Homemade Baking and Pies Handcrafted Chocolates Crepes, Sausages, Whitebait Fritters and Mexican Food Cheeses like blue, brie, Camembert and feta Plus, locally brewed coffee and beer, olive oils, fine wines (hello feijoa!), beautiful flowers, live music, and of course, the dog sitting service which is seriously cute (you cannot bring your dogs into the market). Tips for the market: Get there early (ideally 9am on the dot), …

15 Best Things to Do in London

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London is… Big. Thrilling. Multi Cultured. Fascinating. Inspiring. Food Heaven. Check out my 15 Best Things to Do in London below: #1  London Eye I am terrified of heights. But, on my most recent trip to London, I faced my fear, and booked tickets to go on the London Eye. It is probably the most touristy thing to do, but it is one of the few attractions that offers amazing 360 degree views over London. Some of the attractions you will see from above include Big Ben, River Thames, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral…. and many more! The London Eye stands at 135 metres above ground and is essentially a giant ferris wheel. You (along with a few strangers) are put into a large pod – do not fear, there is room to stand up and also a few seats if being up high gets too much (i.e. me!). There are numerous opportunities to take photos of yourself/friends/family in front of London’s most famous buildings.   At night, the London Eye …

Hawke’s Bay Travel Diary

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Over the summer holidays, I spent a week in Hawke’s Bay, a region in the North Island of New Zealand, which is home to fresh, delicious produce and beautiful wines. In fact, Hawke’s Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand and the second largest (after Marlborough). There is lots to do in Hawke’s Bay, from dining at the many restaurants and cafes, sampling local wines, climbing mountains, exploring beaches, or picking up your produce for the week at the amazing farmer’s market. Check out my highlights for my favourite things to see, eat and do in Hawke’s Bay… #1  Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market is one of my favourite markets to date for its abundant range of produce, and the fact that everyone is catered for. Highlights included: FIGS from Te Mata Figs, plus fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, nutty and wholesome gluten free breads, organic blueberries and ice cream from Bay Blueberries, gluten and dairy free treats and products from HAPI, mouthwatering macarons from Monsieur Macaron, hot chilies like jalapeños and Padron …

Night Noodle Markets

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Over the weekend, I headed down to Victoria Park to check out the Night Noodle Markets. Held annually, this event celebrates mouthwatering Asian street food from around the country. This year, the Night Noodle Markets are being held over 10 days (Friday 1st to Sunday 10th December). There are 20 street food vendors to choose from, with dishes ranging from $5 to $15 each. I love the variety of the food too – think dumplings, BBQ’d meat, summer rolls, ramen, bao, loaded fries, spicy karaage fried chicken, pakoras, roti rolls, donburi, poke bowls, noodles, gelato, deep fried ice cream and smoothies in pineapples. Check out my foodie highlights below:  Hoy Pinoy – it was my first time trying Hoy Pinoy at this year’s Night Noodle Markets and they did not disappoint! They are a Filipino BBQ vendor, selling juicy pork and chicken on sticks. My favourite is the Inihaw na baboy – BBQ Pork Belly.  House of Dumplings – handmade dumplings in a variety of flavours. My favourites are their Nepalese Spiced Lamb and Korean …

Sydney Travel Diary

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Sydney is one of my favourite cities. I love it because it is alive and vibrant any time of the day, it is very multi-cultural (think a vast range of delicious foods and products to buy) plus the views are always stunning, whether you are walking through Sydney National Park or are standing on top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. I also love that there are so many things to do, and everyone is catered for, whether you are into shopping, being out on the water, trying new foods, keeping active or just relaxing on a beautiful beach (I love Bondi and Bronte). Check out the list below of my favourite foodie places (with recommendations), shopping, and activities in Sydney: EAT I haven’t actually been to many restaurants, as we usually eat at food courts or markets, but there is one restaurant that we always revisit, namely Mama’s Buoi, a modern Vietnamese restaurant in Surry Hills. We love the rice paper rolls, vermicelli noodle salads and they also serve T2 teas. 116 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills On our most recent trip to Sydney, we planned to …

Queenstown Travel Diary

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Last year, my older sister moved to Glenorchy, so we decided to spend Christmas and New Years in nearby Queenstown. I was super excited as it was my first time travelling to Queenstown and I couldn’t wait to experience all that it had to offer. I love that there are so many things to do in Queenstown, and that everyone is catered for, whether you are into adventure sports, being out on the water, tramping, trying new foods, keeping active or just relaxing by a beautiful lake (I especially loved Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka). Check out the list below of my favourite foodie places (with recommendations), shopping, and activities in Queenstown and beyond: EAT 1. Fergburger – undoubtedly Queenstown’s most iconic foodie experience! However, be prepared to wait over an hour (or more) for your burger, but it is definitely worth it! Recommended: I loved the Bombay Chicken burger, washed down with a Speights beer 2. Patagonia Chocolates – I fell in love with this place while in Queenstown. Situated on the waterfront, they sell mouthwatering ice cream, desserts, hot and cold drinks, and of course, homemade chocolates. Definitely head to …

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 …