Baker Gatherer

Sweet Fusion

Dane McGregor

SKYCITY Dessert Tour

By Leave a Comment

I’ve always had a sweet tooth, so the opportunity to experience 11 different desserts over 4 restaurants in two days, was not something to turn down. Being placed amongst the bustling food precinct that is SKYCITY Auckland, you find yourself quite overwhelmed by the variety, sounds and smells. While staying the night in SKYCITY Grand Hotel, I had stunning views of the city, Auckland Harbour Bridge and of course the iconic Sky Tower. I called this my base as I prepared myself to get a taste of some of the best desserts SKYCITY has to offer.

The Sugar Club

Left: Niuean Honey Parfait. Top Right: Mandarin Sorbet. Bottom Right: Baked Pineapple.

The Sugar Club saw us making our way up to level 53 of the Sky Tower, a restaurant founded by Peter Gordon overlooking the city of Auckland. With its fusion styled cuisine and 1930s Italian Art Deco decor of brass and stone, I could feel I was about to experience something special. …

Read More

Pavlova Cheesecake

By Leave a Comment

Christmas is better spent enjoying the warm weather and time with family. But if you’re anything like me, everything is left until the last minute and then becomes a mad panic. To be honest I’d actually really enjoy being super prepared for once, so this year is all about maximum impact with minimal effort. There are plenty of great products at the supermarket which have already done the work for you and only need dressing up on Christmas Day. Countdown have a great selection of Christmas staples that I believe are necessities, such as their in-house traditional fruit mince pies, self-saucing puddings and brandy snaps. I’m also a sucker for shortbread, Corinthian wafers and fresh fruit, so it’s easy to put together a platter of finger treats to cater to everyone’s cravings. If you’re actually after some more Christmas recipe inspiration or want to use some of these Countdown items as a base, jump on over to their recipe section ‘here’.…

Read More

Mojito Cheesecake

By 2 Comments

Warmer weather calls for cool drinks and cool desserts. So when I think cool desserts, I can’t go past the classic cheesecake. And if you asked me what one of my favourite cocktails for the summer season were, I’d always say mojito! There’s something so fresh about lime and mint that gets me every time. Also don’t forget the splash of rum too!…

Read More

Orange Chocolate Tiramisu

By Leave a Comment

You can feel it in the air as summer approaches, with promises of warm weather, end of year festivities and evenings outside eating until dusk. There’s nothing quite like spending this time of the year with friends and family around the barbecue, it screams out salads and cold desserts. I’m a huge fan of desserts to finish off a night, or even to get one started. So when I heard that Nespresso had joined the festive table, embracing the season of nostalgia and excitement, I was immediately inspired.…

Read More

Chocolate Mud Pie

By Leave a Comment

While growing up the wheat biscuit has been a staple part of many households and has also become an amazing ingredient for baking and various other meals. So it’s clear wheat biscuits are not only enjoyed as a cereal, but can also add fibre and texture to a range of sweet and savoury recipes.…

Read More

Coffee Biscotti Sticks

By Leave a Comment

It’s hard to imagine going a day without a good cup of coffee and generally that’s just a quick stop at my local cafe on the way to work. Now though, Nespresso has released three new limited edition coffees inspired by barista’s craftsmanship, which means I can enjoy my ideal café style coffee without even leaving home!…

Read More

Beer and Pretzel Cupcake

By 1 Comment

Cupcakes don’t always have to be bright and covered in sprinkles and glitter. Not that anything is wrong with that, however for this recipe I wanted to put together a cupcake with a more muted colour palette and incorporate an aspect of masculinity for the guys out there.…

Read More

Locavore Long Lunch

By Leave a Comment

Today I attended a special long lunch that was put on by Nourish Magazine and Dough Bros here in Hamilton. The lunch was in celebration of favourite local suppliers and the impressive bounty of food produced here in the Waikato. With a guest number seating between 70-80, we were treated to a leisurely four-course lunch alongside some of the growers and artisan makers that are putting the Waikato on the map as a food destination. The lunch stretched over nearly 4 hours and was a great opportunity to sample local produce and chat with like-minded foodies.

…

Read More