Port D'Anvers: Chocolate Café Launch with Miss Universe Australia, Haymarket (6 Dec 2011)

22-25 Dixon Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

http://anvers-chocolate.com.au

Celebrating Aussie sweetness

At first I wasn't quite sure what a Belgian chocolatier, Miss Universe Australia, UGG boots, a Lion Dance and a Souvenir Shop all had in common but finally discovered it was a celebration of all things Australian (except the Lion Dance). Thanks to Igor Van Gerwen for inviting me to the launch of his new chocolate cafe located inside the Harbour City Group two level souvenir shop in the heart of Chinatown. Probably the first launch I've ever been to where no alcohol was served but the abundance of chocolates, Parker's Organic Juices, Brasserie Bread cakes and the easy-on-the-eye Miss Universe models certainly provided enough distraction and sent me into a sugar overload topped up with a hot chocolate to wash it all down. I loved the illustrative menu where it's noted all hot drinks are served with a complimentary chocolate. Now that sounds like a pretty good deal for only $3.80 to come back to. Lyndey Milan did a wonderful job in eventually rounding up the guests and keeping the momentum going for the launch while introducing the official speakers. The chocolates I managed to try were enjoyable and the Green Tea & Ginger one was most memorable. If I'm ever in the market for some Crocodile, Beef, Emu or Kangaroo Jerky I'll certainly know where to visit along with Duck Creek Macadamias I spotted on the shelves. I'm not sure about the bottled Tasmanian Rain Water but apparently the bottle says it's 'captured from the purest skies on Earth' — I'm sure the Swiss might have something to say about that.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: All hot drinks are served with a complimentary chocolate, Quality chocolates, If you're looking for a touristy Aussie gift then you'll probably find it here

CONS: If you're not a fan of UGG boots then beware as you enter

MUST TRY: Revisiting to try the Chococcino Marocchino

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Miss Universe Australia Scherri-lee Biggs and her Miss Universe contestant entourage sporting Shearers UGGs — If my legs looked this good I'd probably get away with wearing them too

Scherri-lee Biggs and me showing the guests how to crack a paparazzi smile

Official speakers and Parker's Organic Juice stand

Cutting the red ribbon to officially open the chocolate café

Lion dance

Speech time

Igor Van Gerwen (left) and Alpha (right) who was responsible for illustrating the menu boards

Cafe service counter

Menu board

Sweet treats

If you hate Sydney rain water then perhaps check out the Tasmanian Rain water

Cakes from Brasserie Bread, Fudge from Anvers and cute chocolate kangaroos and koalas for the kids

Jerky anyone?

Downstairs shopping level

Upstairs shopping level

Australian merchandise

UGGs on display

Official Harbour City Group photographer — I think?

Goodie bag — some Anvers chocolates to enjoy

Flowers for opening launch

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Camilo: Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Sea Salts, Teesdale Vic (13 Jan 2011)

432 Bakers Lane, Teesdale Victoria 3328

http://camilo.com.au

Highly awarded olive oil

Harvest methods are gentle on the fruit and their olives are cold pressed immediately on-site, producing delicious, fresh and natural extra virgin olive oil.

Thanks to Anne Rathjen (business manager) and Joan McGovern (managing director) from Camilo for approaching me to try their award winning Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Honey Balsamic Glaze and Olive Salt. Arriving in a tightly packaged box it was time to taste test amongst my work colleagues with some freshly baked sourdough baguette for dipping. Having just been awarded 11 medals for their products between the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Fine Food Awards I was very interested to try.

One of the standout oils that impressed most of the tasters was the distinctive and refreshing Blood-Orange infused olive oil which was also one of my favourites. The Garlic infused olive oil was also well liked and if dipped into the Olive Salt or Spanish Olive Salt made with Murray River Salt Flakes gave that extra hit of flavour. We did find the flavoured salts quite salty so having them in very small moderation was the key to obtaining a good balance on the palate but perhaps are better used as a condiment or in cooking. I think they’ll be great with ripe tomatoes like a tried at the MasterChef Live SAXA stand. The Ligurian olive oil has won a few awards including Silver in the Sydney Fine Food Awards (small commercial) and Silver in the Royal Melbourne Show Fine Food Awards (single estate medium) and possessed a clean taste which matched nicely when dipped in the popular Honey Balsamic Glaze made with honey from Camilo’s own property hives. The Fruity Blend olive oil was slightly different to the Ligurian and as implied had a slightly fruitier note.

In the end the Blood-Orange infused and Garlic infused olive oils were the most popular and would work well as a dipping oil or as part of a salad dressing while the Ligurian and Fruit Blend oils were possibly considered more for cooking with and for salad dressing. Apparently Camilo also produce olives in different flavours of Sicilian, chilli, sweet Thai & lime and garlic, and lime & chilli, which sound pretty yummy and might be worth trying.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Premium quality, Cold pressed, Tasty infused flavoured oils, Award winning, Australian made

CONS: No NSW stockists listed and mostly available in Victoria

MUST TRY: Blood-Orange infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Olive Salt

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Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Honey Balsamic Glaze and Olive Salts to sample

(Left to Right) Ligurian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fruity Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Blood-Orange infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive Salt, Spanish Olive Salt

Olive Salt

Spanish Olive Salt

Honey Balsamic Glaze

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Preshafruit: 100% Australian Pressurised Cold Valencia Orange Juice (5 Sept 2010)

117 Derrimut Drive, Derrimut VIC 3030

http://www.preshafood.com.au

100% Australian juice

I usually buy Berri Australian Fresh Breakfast Juice in the supermarket but today I thought I'd try something different and noticed the clean, simple and distinctive three-sided Preshfruit packaging which clearly shows off the fruit juice contents. I could see the pulp in the Valencia ($4.99/1 litre) which was settling down the bottom of the bottle leaving the top of the juice quite clear. Advertised as Pressurised Cold I wasn't really sure what that meant but it all sounded healthier so it worked on me. The proof is in the pudding or the juice in this case and it did have a very nice clean freshly squeezed taste to it which I was hoping for — I'm tempted to try the other flavours now. I noticed the use by date was 11 Jan 2011 which is quite amazingly long for fresh juice while my usual Berri juice is due in about 3 weeks — can this be right? Berri needs to be consumed within 5-7 days of opening but I didn't see any information about how long Preshfruit will last once opened — hopefully just as long if not longer?

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: 100% Australian, No concentrate, No perservatives, No Sweeteners, No colours, Nice clean taste, Long shelf life

CONS: More expensive than other brands

MUST TRY: Other flavours to compare

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Preshafruit Valencia ($4.99/1 litre Coles) and my usual Berri Breakfast Juice (right)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Pressurised Cold not Heat Pasteurised

Contains no concentrates, preservatives, sweetners or colours

Nutritional information

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