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We're a little bit biased but we're right, Auckland has many many hidden gems and we've been lucky enough to take over one of them! The Vineyard Cottages were built in the early 2000's by Bill and Eileen Spence on the back of their vineyard Matua Estate. The Spence brothers were famous for introducing Sauvignon Blanc to New Zealand which is now over 75% of the wine produced in New Zealand

We packed our lives into a truck,  threw the cat in a cage and dogs in the front seat of the car and moved to the rolling hills of the Waikoukou Valley and North West Auckland. There are seven cottages each individually decorated to match the variety of wine they are named after. The pinnacle of the property is the little event centre which can host up to 35 people for events and weddings. A veranda wraps around the lodge perfect for BBQ's and long lunches. 

It was love at first sight and over the last three months we've travelled around the area and met some of the nicest people in the region, all very passionate about the local area and showing it off. The Kumeu wine region has a number of boutique vineyards producing world class wines. The glorious black sand Muriwai Beach is 15kms away from the cottages and home to an enormous gannet colony. We've walked the dogs for miles along the black sands as the waves have crashed around us and sand has sparkled below our feet. 

The area is very famous for it's produce too and having said goodbye to our old faithful vegetable garden, we've thoroughly enjoyed the farm stands and local veggie shops where produce is coming straight from their land and onto the shelves.

Later this month we have our first five day food and wine tour of the Auckland Region and will be adding more dates for later this year and 2018!!!! To sign up for the five day tours, please email us at [email protected] so we can add you to the list!

We've had such an amazing variety of guests coming to stay with us in the last three months and some wonderful nights sharing travel and food stories. From local wedding guests to international tourists, conference groups and honeymooners, this is the perfect spot to kick back and relax! 

Fall really is in the air now. Halloween is over, the leaves flamed out and are beginning to drop, leaving most sidewalks in Portland cushioned with various shades of brown. Urban chickens have slowed laying while many of Portland’s artisan food and drink makers are steadily churning away, some switching over to fall-inspired preparations. Fall-time in Portland is associated with rainy day pastimes such as mushroom hunting in the mist-soaked forests of the coast range and then relaxing in your favorite bar, restaurant or at home with something warm in hand. Within the city itself, locals spend time hiking in Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the country, escaping to nature – a very typical Oregonian pursuit. Of course, the best way to end an excursion into the woods is with a delicious snack and a hot drink or glass of wine afterward, this is why we went hiking in the first place, isn’t it?! Lucky for us, there are plenty of ways to do this in Portland, which is what we’ll be talking about on the blog this month – all things deliciously drinkable! So stay tuned for recipes, tips for great places to get a drink in Portland and a spotlight on the most imbibable seasonal products.

PRO-TIP: Go to Forest Park when you’re here! There are several ways to get into the park, but for a truly Nob Hill experience Portland-style, enter the park by walking or biking up NW Thurman St or parking in the designated parking lot on NW Upshur. Follow the Lower MacLeay trail at the MacLeay Park Entrance one mile up to the Witch’s Castle, as it’s locally known, or up to Pittock Mansion for a bit more of a workout (it’s all uphill from this point, but still only 5 miles round trip). When you get back to the trailhead where you started, walk up the stairs onto NW Thurman and a couple blocks down the street to The Clearing Café & Bakery for a chai latte or glass of wine (and one of their house-made pastries)!

Happy Fall from The Big Foody PDX!

Every country has its favourite drinks and it might be a bit of a funny thing to be celebrating for a whole month, but we love traditional drinks, new drinks and quirky drinks, so we’re going to tell you all about them throughout November. 

First up the legendary L&P - Lemon and Paeroa! The legendary New Zealand drink that we all love has actually been in existence for over a century. Paeroa is a township at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula and is famous for the giant Lemon and Paeroa Bottle you pass on the road through. 

The history of the drink is totally fascinating. It originated from a bubbling spring on a block of land in Junction Road which people visited to enjoy the fresh naturally carbonated water and take some bottles away with them. The land was once owned by the “Father” of Auckland, Entrepreneur John Logan Campbell.  As the story goes a couple took lemons with them to squeeze the fresh juice into the naturally sweet water and there was the start of the drink we know today. The water from the spring was used in the manufacture of the drink right up until 1980 when all production moved up to Auckland. 

Lemon and Paeroa was purchased by a number of businesses over the years and finally swept up by Coca Cola Amatil. Still the refreshing lemon soft drink it is a firm family favourite amongst Kiwis and one we can say definitely started in NZ. 

We love showing New Zealand cheeses off here at The Big Foody Food Tours. On almost every Auckland food tour we do, there is a curd of some kind! Here food tour boss, Elle has picked five cheeses you must try in New Zealand.

1 Mahoe Very Old Edam

When you think of edam you think of a red waxed plastic cheese that tastes bland and has a rubbery texture. When we think of edam, we think of the multiple award winning Mahoe Very Old Edam from KeriKeri. VOE (as it is affectionately known) is highly addictive. We have renamed it “Crack” on the tours because one hit and you want more. Even the people who vehemently refuse to like cheese have been turned by VOE. Four years in a row this amazing cheese won the Champion of Champions at the cheese awards and it is not hard to see why. There is a distinctive sweet and nutty taste that has a lingering pineapple flavour. The tiny crystals add a slight crunch similar to that found in Parmesan. You have been warned, buy extra luggage, you’ll be taking some home!

2 Kaikoura Tenara

When Daniel and his team at the Kaikoura cheese company first sent this to Auckland, I took one look at it and decided it was definitely going to be a shut eye experience. Covered in a grey / blue geotrichum mould, the bright white goats curd underneath is mouthwateringly sensational. As a seasonal cheese we have had a long winter waiting for the goats to come off their maternity leave and start kidding so we could get out hands on this amazing fromage. Forget crackers, just eat this on its own - it is just perfect. 

3 Mahoe Blue 

Yes it’s true, we love Mahoe cheeses, but especially this one. It’s the blue sister to the VOE! The VOE is made with skimmed milk and the cream goes into making this delicious cheese. To those who turn their noses up at blue, it is almost impossible with this cheese. There is a similar sweetness as with the VOE but with a the sharp bite that puts a lot of people off blue cheese. Some might consider it a waste to throw a good dollop on a grilled steak, but we’re dusting off the BBQ just thinking about it.   

4 Cwmglyn Farmhouse Cheese

We talk about Biddy a lot on The Big Foody Food Tours. A lady of amazing cheese making talent, she is a bit of a food hero for us, constantly sticking up for the small artisan cheese maker, taking the powers that be to task when she believes they are treated unfairly. Her four cows, Patsy, Holly, Dizzy and Isobel are a great talking point on our Tastebud Tour. Each cheese is either made from one cow, or maybe with a splash of milk from another, either way, the authenticity, traceability and happy cows make it one hell of a memorable mouthful. Think strong buttery cheddar and you’re heading in the right direction. 

5 Matariki from Wangapeka Cheese

Colleen came into the office earlier this year proclaiming she had tried “the new salami cheese.” I thought she had lost the plot and decided to ignore her. The next day I was hosting the Tastebud Tour and was handed “the salami cheese” to try - Oh My Word! This cheese is a semi soft cows cheese cloaked in a blend of garlic, herbs and spices which infuse into the cheese giving it the most aromatic of flavours, very similar to salami! It is a delight to have on a cheeseboard, or with a cold craft beer or on a venison burger. It’s ok we’ve done the research for you, you’re welcome!

Want to try these cheeses, check out the Tastebud Tour

It is a beautiful time of year here in Auckland. Spring is in full bloom with blossoms on all the trees around the city and the parks are full of daffodils, camellias and magnolias. 

To celebrate the arrive of spring, the team at Masu along with New Zealand Master of Wine Sam Harrop and Japanese Master of Wine Kenichi Ohashi, have sourced 5 very rare sakes and bought them to New Zealand. 

In a traditional sake barrel cracking yesterday, we had the privilege to have a sneak preview of the sakes, each totally different and very special. Sam Harrop provided a very informative run down on the history and variety of each Sake. Chef Nic Watt shared his delight in being able to bring these sakes to New Zealand for his patrons to enjoy and celebrate spring. 

From October 3rd to October 16th Masu are offering a very special tasting flight of all five sakes for $36.00. We will certainly be heading back! 

The sakes in the flight are:

·         Tanaka-Rokujugo (Fukuoka) – One of the most sought-after brands in Japan. The brewery is located in Fukuoka prefecture which is in southern Japan. Restrained, pristine and transparent, dry, medium weight and a tight palate texture.

Producer Tanaka remains true to family traditions in everything he does, from hand-writing the labels in calligraphy himself to using a traditional ‘squeeze’ method (called Haneki Shibori) to extract the sake with timber and stones, a very slow process that produces maximum flavour.

·         Toyo-Bijin (Yamaguchi) - This sake is adopted regularly as a sake which is served in official VIP dinners or receptions in Japan. The maker accomplishes “the expression of pure water passed through the rice.” Abundant fruity aromas, perfumed, banana-scented, semi-sweet but light finish. Yamaguchi Prefecture is located at the western end of Japan

·         Juogura (Ibaraki) – High quality. An easy-drinking, moderate umami flavour.

·         Nechi-Otokoyama (Niigata) - The sake expresses the terroir of Nechi Valley in Niigata Prefecture. It’s sought-after and produced by rare brewery which mostly cultivates chemical-free rice. Medium intensity of aromas, well-balanced fruitiness and a touch of savourines and dryness. 

·         Hanahato (Hiroshima) – An aged sake that’s a gold medal winner in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2014. Nutty, spicy, dried fruit, abundant complexity providing long length, full bodied.

(Tasting notes from Sam Harrop MW)

If you haven't had much experience with sake then check out our quick guide to sake here

The Big Foody Food Tours Guide to NZ Farmers Markets

We are so lucky in NZ to have plenty of excellent farmers markets dotted around the country. Four of the best are:

Otago

One of our highlights of the Otago Farmers Market is ever delicious Evansdale Cheese. We love the Tania, a manuka hot smoked brie. It is amazing in burgers and grilled cheese! Any market with a Bacon Buttie stand is a must visit so we recommend heading straight over to the Bacon Buttie Station at the Otago Market.

Gisborne.

Gisborne Farmers Market is on the corner of Sprout Street opposite the museum every Saturday morning. One of our favourite is HiHi wine. They have a couple of big bouncy Chardonnays, one appropriately named Gizzy. Wines are around $10 / bottle and perfect for a picnic with other market produce. In season there are delicious avocados and local fruit and we’re huge fans of the fish stall who have a mouth wateringly addictive raw fish salad.

Hastings

Every time we are in the Hawkes Bay there is a compulsory Sunday morning at the Hastings Farmers Market. It is one of the largest in the country and apart from the endless queue for coffee, it is absolute heaven. Check out Hawkes Bay food heros St Andrews Limes and Orcona Chilli and Peppers. We adore the Orcona dried chilies and chili flakes. St Andrews produce a Lime Curd that I have been caught eating out of the jar with a spoon! You can also enjoy local wines, nuts, meats, fruit and veg, olive oils and baked goods.

The Old Packhouse Farmers Market KeriKeri

The Old Packhouse Farmers Market is Northland’s biggest farmers market and open rain or shine on Saturday morning with the very best local produce on offer. Check out the fruit leather, especially the Feijoa and all the local cheese. It is a great spot to spend the morning with live music and lots of food stands. We stocked up on some amazing chili sauces and some amazing strawberry vinegar!

Check out the Auckland Farmers Markets with us on our Tastebud Tour!!!!

Welcome to September in Portland! Finally we're getting a bit of the cool, drizzly weather that Portlanders love and long for during the hot slog of summer. Not that we don't appreciate leaving the house without jackets and boots or jumping with wild abandon into our favorite swimming holes, but that heat can be so oppressive! Luckily for visitors, too, umbrellas are finally cool again in this city!

Not to worry though, before the leaves start to change there are still some beautifully mild and sunny days ahead of us. It's also prime time for apples, pears, tomatoes and corn on urban farms and in rural parts of Oregon. In fact, everyone here in the Great Pacific Northwest tend to go out of their minds at this time of year celebrating our incredible bounty with farm dinners, special menus and food festivals galore. From the Taste of Latinoamerica at the Portland Mercado, to Feast - the food fest to end all food festivals - there is so much to do in Portland right now.

Not the least of which is the launch of The Big Foody PDX and the Central “Eats-side” tour which offers guests the opportunity to taste some of Portland's most iconic products and meet some of the movers and shakers who produce them as well. Historically the city is a blue-collar, industrial town that is surrounded by an abundance of breathtaking natural beauty, and nowhere is our industrial past more apparent than in the Central Eastside Industrial District. In recent years, however, city planners, long-time industry groups and local food and drink business owners have begun to open up the traditional meaning of “industrial” to include the creative, artisan and tech industries as well.

With the addition of multiple new public transportation hubs and the construction of Tillikum Crossing, the city’s newest pedestrian, cyclist and mass transit bridge, it is also easier and more fun than ever to spend time in the Central Eastside. From downtown’s hotels to world-class restaurants and truly-Portland shopping experiences, you can find it all here. So join us on a tour, we’ll show you around one of our favorite spots in the city and introduce you to some really cool people along the way!

*Insider tip – if you’re a photographer, or even just an avid instagrammer, the Central “Eats-side” tour is a great opportunity to get some urban photos - from street art, to some of the best views of the city from the ground – you’ll quickly learn why we’re known as Bridgetown and the most delicious city in America. 

September is Farmers Market month here at The Big Foody and an opportunity to share with you some of the stories and history of the stall holders and farmers markets around the Auckland region.  On our weekend Tastebud Tours we visit a couple of farmers markets meeting the vendors and sampling the artisan produce, heirloom vegetables, baked goods, olive oils and cheeses. if you're venturing out and about on your own while in the city here is a list of highly recommended markets to go and check out!

Matakana Village Farmers’ Market - An hour north of Auckland this fantastic farmers market is home to some of the region's best artisans. We highly recommend taking some picnic gear and buying all the ingredients for a picnic at the beach. It is also in the middle of the North Auckland wine region where some of the most delicious red wines are produced.  We often visit this market on our private tours, so if you would like us to take you to explore this exciting region, get in touch!

Hobsonville Point Farmers’ Market  - One of our favourites! Hobsonville Point Farmers Market is tucked away at the far side of the Waitemata Harbour and situated in an old airforce hanger. Running both on Saturday and Sunday there are a large variety of vendors selling cheese, breads, honey, chutneys and much more. 

The City Farmers’ Market at Britomart - Saturday morning only. Fantastic central city market to get some supplies and enjoy a mussel fritter or two. 

Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market - Sunday morning only, this little market is inside the community centre and great for local honeys from the nearby Kemlmarna urban farm. 

Parnell Farmers’ Market Another one of our favourites and on Saturday morning only, Parnell Farmers Market is next to the Domain and the best in the city. 

La Cigale French Style Farmers’ Market Weekend market with a classic French style. 

Clevedon Village Farmers’ Market  Sunday heaven! We love this place. 40 mins south of the City Centre, Clevedon Farmers Market has some of the best produce from all around the area. We highly recommend you check out the Tomatoes from The Curious Croppers and Culleys Chilli Sauces

Coatesville Market - Held on the first Sunday of every month this large market has groceries, craft and all sorts. Go early, it gets busy. 

From the Kitchens of the team at The Big Foody Food Tours we love to share some of our favourite recipes and seasonal dishes!