TASTES ACROSS THE TASMAN
Now that the quarantine-free travel bubble is opening up between Australia and New Zealand, we can start to spread our foodie wings and sample fresh delights.
VEGAN SWEET TREATS
Sydney’s first vegan sweet treat bar, Fresh + Frosted has opened its doors in Mortlake. After returning from overseas and becoming a vegan, Nicole Wright found it difficult to find tasty vegan treats. “I started experimenting. Soon I was not only baking for myself, but for others as well,” Nicole said. After success selling her treats at markets, opening her Fresh + Frosted sweet treat bar seemed the next logical option. “I want non-vegans to experience how great vegan food can be when it’s done well,” she said. Nicole says using high-quality ingredients is the key to her success. “I use fair trade, organic Madagascan vanilla beans and Callebaut chocolate, which is also organic and fair trade.” freshfrosted.com.au
FOOD & WINE CLASSIC
New Zealand’s beautiful wine region of Hawkes Bay is back with its winter Food & Wine Classic, which runs throughout the four weekends of June. Enjoy hearty fare with some of the country’s best wines, as awardwinning chefs, winemakers and brewers take you on a culinary journey in the region’s most stunning locations. fawc.co.nz
RSVP FOR MVP ASAP
MVP (Mark + Vinny’s Place) has just opened in Byron Bay. It is the evolution of its sister Sydney restaurant Mark + Vinny’s (the vegan-friendly restaurant, bringing rainbow-coloured pastas to the masses), as well as Mark Filippelli’s Melbourne venues Matcha Mylkbar (where the world’s first trademarked vegan egg was invented), and plantbased city patisserie Weirdoughs, home of the ultimate plant-based butter croissant. MVP is an intimate, casual and fun space with a sustainably sourced, 50 per cent plant-based, in-season menu offering dishes such as vegan egg carbonara and mushroom ragu. mvpbyronbay.com
OPENINGS IN AUCKLAND
The pandemic hasn’t slowed down Auckland’s dining scene, with plenty of new restaurants opening their doors to hungry new visitors. For modern Greek fare in a beautiful relaxed setting, head along to Daphnes Taverna (daphnes. co.nz). Karangahape Road’s Lebanese eatery Gemmayze Street has been revamped and is well worth a visit (gemmayzestreet.co.nz). And around the corner tapas bar Candela serves up delicious Spanish cuisine in a cosy, dimly lit setting (candelabar.co.nz).