The VOLVO Long Lunch has found a new home in Britomart’s Takutai Square. Join 500 others on March 2 to celebrate the best of New Zealand fine food, beverage and fashion and sample a five-course feast courtesy of Café Hanoi, District Dining and Ebisu.

The crème de la crème of New Zealand cheese will be named soon at the 2012 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, New Zealand’s national cheese competition.

With the sun finally in the ascendant, Glengarry has gathered their best value picks for the long, languid days. Winestate's Winery of the Year trophy winner for 2011, Saint Clair Family Estate, is the featured winery this month. A family business, it's their second consecutive year to hold this title. Akarua have also launched two new sparklers, a brut NV and a rosé.

Monteith’s CheeseFest is taking place at The Langham in Auckland on February 29 from 5-9pm, and FBT is giving you the chance to win one of four double passes.

Kiwi consumers love to play fair. In a recent Colmar Brunton survey 69 per cent of respondents stated they are more likely to buy a product if it is Fairtrade. The good news for the industry is that we’re now very well placed to cater for these ethically minded customers beyond their daily coffee fix.

DineAid trustees, supported by RANZ and HNZ, invite restaurant, cafe and catering owners and managers to register for the annual DineAid 2011, Nov 1 – Dec 31 and sign up today online at www.menumania.co.nz

BY KATHRYN STEANE

Conscious Consumers continues to take the country by storm, having recently arrived in the Waikato.

More than 40 cafe owners, suppliers and other people showed their support for the project by attending a launch party at Hamilton’s Zinc Café & Eatery; where they enjoyed sustainable food served in eco-friendly packaging.

By Cynthia Daly

A group of budding business operators have come up with a rather unique product they hope will win them a Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Award.

But far more importantly, they hope someone will notice their product and take it to new highs of production, marketing and consumer use.

Story and photos by Cynthia Daly

Attending the opening in September of the Hansells Food Group Innovation Centre and Bakery Line in Auckland had been one of those ‘oh I’d like to cover that’ moments for Prime Minister, John Key, but at the end of the bakery tour he had to admit the aroma of freshly baked Aunt Betty’s Classic Tarts proved just too tempting.

Calling all lovers of Earl Grey tea – here is your chance to select a brand new Twinings Earl Grey blend especially for New Zealand.