NEWS >> FOOD SERVICE, HOSPITALITY
McDonald's still top of food chain with healthy result
Date: 13 Jun 2011The McDonald's mothership made a $35 million profit in New Zealand last year, a 5 per cent increase, but it says a drop in tourism and the popularity of cooking shows are eating into its sales. McDonald's tills rang through 57 million transactions last year, and average roughly 1.3 million transactions a week. The company, which celebrated 35 years in New Zealand this month, increased revenues 7 per cent in the year to December to $197.6m, according to Companies Office records, with net ... more
Gold for New Zealand Youth at International Culinary Classic
Date: 3 Jun 2011GOLDEN COOKS: Three New Zealand apprentice chefs proudly display their Gold Medals from the prestigious Hong Kong International Culinary Classic II in mid-May. The chefs, Nolan Murray, Allen Truong and Touvai Poloniati, all aged 20 years were part of The Dream Team Challenge between international teams comprising a chef, a waiter and a bartender. Together they present judges with a full food & beverage experience. The teams’ inspiration was to showcase New Zealand produce. ... more
The Grove wins Metro Audi Auckland Restaurant of the Year for a second time
Date: 31 May 2011For the second-year running, upmarket CBD restaurant The Grove has won the Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year Award. Announcing the award at a dinner tonight [Monday], Metro editor Simon Wilson said, "The Grove creates a wonderful fusion of sophisticated standards with warmly inviting hospitality. "The room is smart but very comfortable, the service is impeccable and superbly friendly, and the food is exquisite, without being unduly fiddly. "Whether it's a business ... more
Domino’s leaps ahead with mobile ordering
Date: 30 May 2011New Zealand’s favourite pizza company, Domino’s Pizza, is now more portable and accessible than ever with the launch of a Mobile Ordering Site for all internet enabled mobile devices. Domino’s new Mobile Ordering Site is the most advanced Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) mobile ordering site in New Zealand. The launch pushes Domino’s even further ahead in its drive to offer customers more ways to order their favourite pizza. Domino’s CEO and MD Don Meij ... more
Great galangal: the secret of a successful curry chef
Date: 25 May 2011The secret of many mouth-watering Malaysian curries is in the flavour of the important galangal [“guh-lang-guhl”] root. Greater galangal is the variety used most commonly in Malaysia – it is from the ginger family however it differs greatly in flavour and texture from the common ginger New Zealanders are familiar with. The pantry staple has a sharp and peppery flavour – more likened to pepper than ginger. The spice is used in curries, sauces, salads and soups ... more
Can you handle the heat: May-laysia curry challenge
Date: 3 May 2011Kiwis are being challenged to test their curry tolerance at special events during May-laysia – a moreish month-long celebration of Malaysian cuisine. In the “Can you handle the Malaysia Kitchen heat?” challenge, kiwi consumers in Auckland and Wellington will get to test different curries for free* in return for rating the curries against certain criteria. The first 100 consumers through the doors will get to experience the heat in the exciting events with a feast of ... more
OED formalises NZ's claim to the pavlova
Date: 1 Dec 2010New Zealand has trumped Australia in the long-running argument over who invented the pavlova. According to the latest online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, the first recorded pavlova recipe appeared in 1927 in Davis Dainty Dishes, a recipe book published by Davis Gelatine (NZ). The spectacular light and fluffy meringue dessert was named after famed Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926. Both countries carry fond traditions that one ... more
