The Dish: Spring market

J.Friend and Co's Honey for Health Collection. Photo / Babiche Martens

Celebrate the new season with the Spring Market at Farro Fresh this weekend. From Friday through until Sunday there will be a whole host of artisan producers showing off their wares, with loads to taste and sample. The other good news is Farro is turning three, so to celebrate there will be $3 deals throughout the store. Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August.
Farro Fresh, 80 Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington, ph (09) 570 7071. www.farrofresh.co.nz

Julie & Julia
The movie is on its way, but before it arrives (in October) why not submerge yourself in the "super dooper" world of American cooking of legend Julia Child with the book Julie & Julia - My Year of Cooking Dangerously (Penguin: $28). The book is author Julie Powell's story of how she turned her life from working in a job she hated, to one rich with promise - and food - thanks to Julia Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It's described as being "sassy", "hilarious and touching". And if you like it, and we know you will, then you also might enjoy her new book Cleaving - A Story of Marriage, Meat & Obsession (Penguin: $37) which has just been released.

Honey honey
Knowing where your food comes from is important, that's why we love the range of honey from J. Friend & Co. Not only do they tell you where in New Zealand the honey comes from - they source from apiaries found in places such as the Coromandel and the Southern Alps - they even tell you the name of the beekeeper. The range includes certified organic, single varietal honey such as clover, wild thyme, beechwood honeydew, pohutukawa and manuka. Plus, you can buy them in sets such as the Honey For Cheese Matching Collection or the Honey for Health Collection. Sweet. Viva has four sets of J. Friend & Co. Honey to give away. Simply send your name, address and phone number on the back of an envelope to Viva Honey Competition, NZ Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close September 2, winners announced September 9.

Pastry perfect
You know those Saturday mornings when you just want to laze around the house and can't be bothered traipsing up the road to the bakery? Well we suggest you stock up in advance with a pack of frozen croissants from the Paneton Bakery. They are melt-in-your mouth delicious, perfect with a home-made latte, and mean you can stay in your PJs all day if you want.

Choc treat
For chocolate lovers looking for another way to indulge their obsession, Choc-o-Lait is just the thing. Beautiful Belgian chocolate - hazelnut, dark, milk and Cointreau - is set on the end of a stick which you then dunk into a cup of hot milk and stir gently. The chocolate melts and you have a deliciously decadent drink. If you can't wait that long however, you can always just eat them like a lollipop! Plus, we love the tin they come in which comes complete with chalk so you can scribble on the side of it.
$33.30 from Sabato, 57 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden. www.sabato.co.nz

Oyster love
There's nothing better than a mystery tour with friends. So why not organise an outing to Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana where, for the month of September, they'll be serving up fresh local oysters from both the Mahurangi and Kaipara harbours. Buy them by the bucket, have them shucked in front of you, eat au naturel or cooked, and wash down with Ascension's new releases of viognier, flora and sauvignon blanc which are the perfect oyster accompaniment. Taking oyster and wine-matching one step further, winemaker and owner Darryl Soljan will be hosting master classes throughout the month to showcase oysters with an international selection of wines. To find out more, ph: (09) 422 9601 ext. 1.

Cheers
Here at Viva we're already visualising summer days on the deck sharing a drink with friends. That's why we love the idea of the new Strawberry Daiquiri VnC ready-to-pour cocktail. One of six flavours, and yes we intend to try them all, the strawberry mix is made with locally grown Camarosa strawberries, West Indian lime juice, South African lemon juice, elderberry and New Zealand vodka. See you on the deck! $19.95 from liquor stores.