Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Food Show 08

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  • Russell Brown,

    Just getting this over to System, seeing as it's taken so long to get posted. Have a happy weekend, folks. And eat well.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    Those Yarrows are good peoples. I suppose a large part of their philanthropy is possible because they are still a family owned business, but even so, it's impressive.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    Not here it wasn't: Starbucks has never been cool in New Zealand... Its competition isn't Mojo, it's McDonald's.

    it's funny 'cause it's true.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Those Yarrows are good peoples. I suppose a large part of their philanthropy is possible because they are still a family owned business, but even so, it's impressive.

    Yes, and their stand had a really nice vibe -- younger family members on the job and all. I had toast this morning from the soy and linseed loaf they gave me, and it was really nice. Good packaging design too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    Starbuck in NZ is run as a franchise by Restaurant Brands. It accounts for about 10% of their revenue but almost none of their profit (those high profile locations don't come cheap).

    Judging by the performance of RBD generally, and how they've hung on while Pizza Hut bleeds out, they won't close Starbucks whether it makes sense or not.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Nathan Wallace,

    I hope that cherry extract is working for you Russell, as you seem to have a real taste for the (yummy) gout causing foods...

    Wellington • Since Mar 2007 • 1 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    chillis. ...don't take chillis on, they always win.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    Coffee snobbery, slightly sillier but four times more tedious than wine snobbery (at least wine gets you drunk) but neither are anywhere near as bad as olive oil snobbery.Its oil. From olives. I get it.

    Down with imported foreign muck like wine, coffee and olive oil! Give me Anglo-Saxon beer, tea and butter or give me death!

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    For anyone else planning to go to the Food Show, I'd like to shamelessly spruik Olivado's avocado oil

    Its fine oil, and say hi to Pip if you go along for a tasting.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Freedom farms sells things other than bacon? I wonder if any of it is available in Palmerston North...

    And the demise of Anglo-Saxon food is IMHO one of the great positive things to have happened in NZ during my lifetime. You can take your fatty baked chops and boiled cabbage with mushed potato and stick them somewhere unpleasant. Like England.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    And eat well.

    Today I have been mostly eating chicken liver mousse on crackers.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • James Green,

    Not here it wasn't: Starbucks has never been cool in New Zealand... Its competition isn't Mojo, it's McDonald's.

    And in the market Maccas are whomping them. Better product for cheaper.
    http://shareinvestornz.blogspot.com/2008/07/starbucks-new-zealand-cup-doesnt.html

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report

  • Tom,

    Even if Lygon st Melbourne is a bit of a tourist strip these days, it was always an affront to see a Star Bucks there.

    It won't be missed by me atleast.

    Melbourne • Since May 2007 • 6 posts Report

  • Jo S,

    The only long black I've ever actually _thrown out_ was from starbucks.
    I was desperate for a coffee and everything else nearby was closed.
    Not that desperate though

    is it autumn yet? • Since May 2007 • 80 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Coffee snobbery, slightly sillier but four times more tedious than wine snobbery

    Oh no, Tom, coffee snobbery is quite rational. After a steady diet of Starbucks being some of the BEST coffee one can find, one of the things I'm most looking forward to back in NZ is the coffee. Coffee in Canada is truly, truly terrible. I'm told Vancouver is a bit better, but still too many Starbucks.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    Lighten up I/S! i'ts Friday and the bars and bright lights of Palmerston North lay at your feet... oh wait...


    And I still think the mighty Lamington is the Japanese rock garden of baking when done properly and in its proper cultural context.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Martin Roberts,

    I also had a chat to the Freedom Farms people, who supply my local butcher with free-range pork.

    Your local butcher is probably closer to me than any of the New Worlds listed on the Freedom Farms website. Would you care, please, to share their location?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 93 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Starbucks in NZ is run as a franchise by Restaurant Brands. It accounts for about 10% of their revenue but almost none of their profit (those high profile locations don't come cheap).

    Indeed they wouldn't. Particularly not the Starbucks on Parnell Road, sandwiched between about four spectacularly good cafes. Who they think they're fooling there, I have no idea... or maybe I do, since we went for brunch in Parnell recently with two complete coffee greenhorns, and had to actively persuade them not to choose the Starbucks.

    We succeeded, went to Dunk next door, and our guests weren't sorry; but you have to wonder how many other suckers blithely wander in under that familiar logo, with no idea what they're missing a few strides away.

    And it's not even that cheap, for goodness' sake.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    ¡Scorchio! A Fast Show reference from Ms Gallagher.

    Mr Brown, I could not help but notice, while enjoying your excellent hospitality, that you had a bottle of Home Brand olive oil; and verily I was impressed that the Brown family put common sense before oil snobbery. I stopped buying Italian Extra Virgin when I found the Home Brand to be just as good in cooking.

    Still, I think these local oils to be better for dribbling over vegetables. And it is nice to see (in b4 Jake) that we are pressing above our weight on a global stage.

    Someone from Restaurant Brands was on NatRad saying that their franchise model meant they would not be forced to do what the Australian Starbucks had done. Myself, I think they do a good job in providing somewhere for the tourists to enjoy coffee laced with strange fruit, thereby leaving space free in the good places for us boho types.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Your local butcher is probably closer to me than any of the New Worlds listed on the Freedom Farms website. Would you care, please, to share their location?

    That would be here.

    There's a lot more than pork, too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    And the demise of Anglo-Saxon food is IMHO one of the great positive things to have happened in NZ during my lifetime.

    Hang on. Done right its pretty damn good.

    Despite a one - sometimes two - home made curries a week habit I still reckon the closest to ideal meal is an entree of bluff oysters, follwoed by roast lamb, baked spud and kumara with steamed veges; and dessert of blackberry crumble.

    Accompanied by a Barrossa Valley red.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • Jim Cathcart,

    What's the real reaon behind the hatred of Starbucks? I suggest that its democratization of coffee opened access to gourmet coffee for the rabble, not the shitty coffee itself. As if the boycotters of SB really care about exposing another evil brand. What it's really about is old-fashioned coffee snobbism.

    Since Nov 2006 • 228 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    Ivanja Dabrowska makes a damn good lamington.

    as for oil, for cooking, use anything. for dipping bread in? it has to smell like banana and taste like freshly cut grass, imho.

    mmmm.... lawn clippings.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    opened access to gourmet coffee for the rabble

    jim, all due respect man, but those few words are wrong on so many levels i'm not sure where to start.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Mr Brown, I could not help but notice, while enjoying your excellent hospitality, that you had a bottle of Home Brand olive oil; and verily I was impressed that the Brown family put common sense before oil snobbery. I stopped buying Italian Extra Virgin when I found the Home Brand to be just as good in cooking.

    I picked Home Brand when the other everyday brands were out of stock at Woolworths one day, pretty much on the colour of the oil in the bottle.

    And, as you say, it's not bad! It's Spanish extra virgin.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

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