Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: My Food Bag: is it any good?

163 Responses

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  • Islander, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    ike catching your own whitebait and then sharing the resulting meal with friends
    Or growing the salad and remembering to plant a succession so you can keep on doing that all summer

    *’bait or any fish, including my reserved-for-family-only smoked- silver-bellies…

    I have nothing against the scheme – sounds really good for those foodies who can afford it (I couldnt, and! they wouldnt deliver this far south-)but there are always ways to entertain your family & friends with special foods you’ve collected/grown/or just plain cooked yourself-

    cheers all!


    **O, panko? Waaay better than most breadcrumbs you can buy-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Some living wage info here. The meaty stuff is in the downloadable PDFs.

    Thanks Joe, I recall this from last year, now you mention it. Lots to digest. The regional variation was one thing that came to mind, which I see is covered in the larger report to a degree.

    I do think businesses identifying themselves with the 'Living Wage' movement, and signing a pledge or something, as with the Tonzu Tofu Hilary mentioned, might help in a small way. Or a big way, for those working in those companies.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    As someone who quite enjoys cooking (on a good day) but often feels worn down by meal planning and shopping I can totally see the appeal of something like this and there are most definitely days where we are in the privileged position of choosing to value time over money.

    It would have to be a lot more customisable to be actually useful though. How many families have no food allergies, picky people or veg*ans to deal with and regularly have the same number of people to feed every evening?

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to JacksonP,

    I do think businesses identifying themselves with the 'Living Wage' movement, and signing a pledge or something, as with the Tonzu Tofu Hilary mentioned, might help in a small way. Or a big way, for those working in those companies.

    Tonzu's reasons for getting involved are certainly interesting. BTW at around $15 per kilo Tonzu seems to be one of the better priced premium tofus, and their claim to be organic appears to be backed up by independent certification.

    That's still nearly twice the price of Chinese supermarket tofu, but I notice that Tofu Man, probably one of the biggest non-organic producers, was named and shamed* by Auckland health inspectors a while back.

    *Despite the headline the offenders listed aren't all restaurants.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    I am pleased that we have now passed peak cupcake. Good riddance.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Eclairs are the new cupcakes!

    Pfft. Doughnuts is where it’s at.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Re ethical food, I wonder if anyone has noted that King Salmon, which is presumably the brand featured in the Food Bag (considering Nadia Lim's TV advertising campaign for it), is not very popular with some environmental groups in the Marlborough Sounds.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Any farmed salmon is neither ethical or particularly healthy (although I'm sure a small amount won't kill you). Stuffed full of drugs and treatments to keep them alive and thriving, with a plume of shit and waste food below the farm. That pretty pink colour - colouring in the feed.

    I still eat it, but then I also eat bacon.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Wow, that's insidious. I just went to the fridge looking for donuts, and found myself with bacon in hand, searching for the frying pan.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    gap's just not large enough :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Damn!
    That article let out the secret of *savoury* eclairs!

    In Oamaru (at the farmers' market) you can obtain some of the best traditional eclairs, made by a German-trained baker (his other wares are pretty good too-)
    The cooked batter is crisp; the custard is perfect, with just a hint of coconut, and the dark chocolate icing is superb...

    while I really enjoy these, I especially like making my savoury versions: best success to date - a mix of fresh salmon eggs & lightly smoked salmon pieces in creme fraiche with (secret) herbs & baby rocket.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    That pretty pink colour – colouring in the feed.

    Well, I trust you actually meant ‘deep red orange’ colouring…otherwise the salmon-farmers are getting the mix wrong...

    While wild-caught salmon are much better eating, their stocks are still kept up by
    by captive hatching, and later release – and all wild-caught salmon can carry a parasite load (which includes ones that can infect humans, if the salmon is eaten as sushi…)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Nora Leggs, in reply to Islander,

    Soaring! - your savoury choux pastry delights

    Plummeting! - the low down on salmon

    Might have to stay with whipped cream and intense chocolate icing for the choux.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2011 • 2700 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Any farmed salmon is neither ethical or particularly healthy

    Re. the ethics of farmed salmon:
    The alleged main protagonist in the bashing to death of 23 seals at Kaikoura in 2010 was described , along with his younger already convicted accomplice, as a builder. Both men have claimed that they were culling animals that they regarded as pests. What hasn't been prominently reported is that they were employees of a salmon farm.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Good to see that noted, Joe-

    seals are really good at harvesting penned salmon-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Islander,

    seals are really good at harvesting penned salmon-

    Thanks Islander. It's been a big issue with fur seals in Tasmania for years now. Capsicum spray seems to be the latest trick.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Whoa! That's a real can of worms/capsicum! Ye gods&little fishes! *35%*!!

    And without any proper testing on the animals so affected...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason, in reply to Sacha,

    gap’s just not large enough :)

    I presume that is a skite....

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Nora Leggs,

    Attachment

    Do you get a good chip recipe in My Food Bag?

    Auckland • Since Dec 2011 • 2700 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Nora Leggs,

    As someone who cooked fishnchips for 2 years(but blackened tips a n0-n0) – I’d say those’re pretty near perfect-
    in ”’Bait” – one of my major characters is a wisecracking fishnchip cook: you’ll find my perfect recipes for chips therein-
    when - sigh - I finally sell off my Big O house and shift to the homestead East Coast Otago-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    wait until you encounter one of those AirBlades :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Seems to me it's pretty clearly better to not take freebies as a reviewer. Whether it's supererogatory or obligatory is a bit beyond me.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Seamus Harris, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Well said. The spam + Chongqing hotpot combo is strangely delicious..

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 49 posts Report Reply

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