With Easter just around the corner bakers and chocolatiers are preparing for another big chocolate show down.

Kiwi chocolate and baking experts said this Easter season’s biggest trends are chocolate hot cross buns, chocolate bunnies and the ever-growing cupcake craze.

As consumers become increasingly savvy about recognising quality baking, café and bakery owners around New Zealand say they’ve noticed a huge change in attitude. Nowadays, many customers will go for quality over price, writes Hayley Barnett.

After a successful summer season of sizzling Saturday morning cook-offs, the Remarkables Market Chef competition is set for an exciting finale on March 31 from 10am to midday. The final will take place at the Red Barn at Remarkables Park as two local finalists, Lee Vandergeest and Naomi Lindsay, go head to head over the grill.

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.

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.

On November 1 the 2011 DineAid charity campaign will begin, and there is still time for you to sign up to be part of it .

Along time ago, in a very different life, I was struck by a ‘curve ball’ (an unexpected and difficult situation) and had it not been for the generosity of others and the gift of a food parcel just days away from Christmas, who knows what the outcome might have been for me and my two young children. DineAid allows you to give people dining at your establishment the choice to add $2 to their table bill and donate to a cause that puts 100 per cent of the money collected back into the less fortunate in our communities through city missions.