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A Chat with Dean Thompson

Hospitality Conference New Zealand 2022 - The Future of Hospitality

Restaurant Month 1-31 August 2022

2021 NZ Artisan Awards Finalist

After much anticipation, we were extremely excited to be told that our foodies for food lovers Rice Straws were a finalist in the 2021 NZ Artisan Awards! This year there was a record-breaking number of 957 entries, with judges being overwhelmed with the amount of innovation across an array of food and beverage categories.

While delays were experienced through the judging due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the judges worked solidly to fine-tune their prized list of finalists.

The 2021 finalists had been chosen, and undoubtedly, competition was very tough. This year, a new category for sauces was introduced, thanks to category sponsor Wendy's, and New Zealand sauce producers did not disappoint. Consumers are extremely fortunate to have such a range of high-quality delicious sauces to choose from.

Each entry was analysed for the product’s degree of innovation, fit for purpose, visual appeal, taste, price point, and shelf-life. Entries received covered the full range of food and beverage categories for both FMCG and foodservice, from alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, ambient, frozen, chilled/deli, fresh and general merchandise, and of course, the special 2021 sauce category.

All entries met very high standards that we ultimately expect from New Zealand artisanal producers. All entrants should be extremely proud of their efforts in bringing the best artisanal food and beverage to the New Zealand consumer.

So being a finalist in this year’s awards was so exciting for our team after such a difficult year for our hospitality sector.

A Delicious And Kiwi Alternative To Pepper

Salt and pepper have been used to season food for centuries. But did you know that we have a bush pepper right here in our own backyard?

Salt originated in China around 450BC and black pepper originated in Kerala, India about 4,000 years ago. They have been used in recipes around the world ever since. Like salt, pepper was a rare and expensive commodity. Highly prized, it was referred to as black gold and used for dowries, taxes and rent. With delays getting pepper to our shores causing scarcities, especially over the last three months, you would be forgiven for thinking that pepper has become a rare commodity once again.

What most people don’t know is that we have a bush pepper right here in New  Zealand. Horopito has been used by Māori for hundreds of years. Medicinally it is used for its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. In cooking, it adds flavour to both savoury and sweet food. Interestingly, you use a lot less Horopito to get the same amount of flavour.

NZ Premium Foods supports a local Iwi to forage and pick native herbs on 1080-free land. This delivers some employment in an area that has very few options for work.

Buying local NZ native herbs from NZ Premium Foods ticks all the boxes around supporting local and the ongoing development of Kiwi cuisine. Native herbs are offered in fresh and freshly dried formats and are supplied in bulk to the hospitality and food manufacturing industries.

Innovative Kiwi chefs choose from native NZ botanicals such as Horopito, Kawakawa, Kumerahou, Manuka, Pikopiko, Kanuka, and Red Matipo. They pair them with premium NZ Organic Flaky Sea Salt.

For more information, contact the team via sales@nzpremiumfoods.com, 09 579 5589

Supporting Kiwis in Need Over Lockdown