Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Social Retail

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  • James Green,

    Stephen, Amy: you haven't lived until you've had a Southland cheese roll (recipe posted on request).

    You mean Southland Sushi?


    _____



    Also, I think its worth noting the buying power of supermarkets. I heard recently that Yellowtail (not that I recommend it), were not prepared to supply at the requested price, so are no longer being stocked (this isn't just applicable to wine). You meet the price the supermarket wants, or they can ditch *all* your products, not just the ones they're demanding a certain price over.

    This was thrown into focus recently, with Progressive having a little stoush with the Dunedin City Council. "Progressive started paying its monthly accounts minus a 2.5% discount, an amount staff said was given by all its suppliers".

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • JohnS,

    ... feijoa glut ...

    Feijoa wine? Apparently well regarded as among the best tasting of the fruit wines.

    Greenlane, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 26 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I might do that at the checkout.

    Person of the till:
    That'll be $100 please
    HaveYouGotAOneCardWouldYouLikeToDonateToOurTaxDodgeCharityOfTheMonthHowWouldYouLikeToPay
    Customer:
    There you go, $99.70.
    Person of the till:
    Sorry, that's $100
    Customer:
    Yes, less 2.5% discount. I get this from all my suppliers.

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    s/99.70/97.50/p

    Also, HTML fail..

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

  • FletcherB,

    provided that you ignore that grapes are fruit?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    Apparently well regarded as among the best tasting of the fruit wines.

    provided that you ignore that grapes are fruit?

    Doh... I knew I should have quoted.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome

    This is why we need socialism - to send surplus feijoas to places where there is real need. Feijoas are still $6.99 kg in the supermarket here. I have planted many feijoa trees in my time but they have rarely produced any fruit. Having sufficient feijoas sounds blissful!.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • JohnS,

    There are grape wines -- and fruit wines (and herb/vegetable/whatever).

    Generally understood convention.

    Greenlane, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 26 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Recipes:

    Sangria
    -------

    - several bottles of the cheapest red wine you can find that isn't complete shite
    - any fruit juice you like (start with orange, maybe boil some mint and make a little tea ) to taste
    - chop up some fresh fruits, perhaps half a pineapple as people expect floaty bits
    - lots of vodka
    - more vodka

    place in a big punch bowl, garnish with a small sign encouraging people to keep it away from the kiddies

    when it starts to run out pour in more of everything, don't forget the vodka

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome

    Put them in the blender with a couple of handfulls of icecubes, the juice of a fresh lime or two, a splash of sugar syrup depending on how sweet your palatte is, and a couple of glugs of either white rum or tequilla. Blend, drink, make some more.

    Pure genius. Thanks for that.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    JohnS- yes I know... I was just being a smart ass because I've yet to find a single non-grape wine I even slightly liked.... all the ones I've tried have been too sweet and tasted too similar to the fruit they were derived from...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    s/99.70/97.50/p

    Also, HTML fail..

    But sed win, so you're even.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    Pure genius. Thanks for that.

    I can always be relied on for cocktail recipes. I would be the ideal addition to any workplace, and I am available after June 30...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    Small independents of Wellington that I rate for the quality of their repartee as well as their product:
    - Rumbles (wine)
    - Wine Seeker (wine)
    - Mandatory (clothes)
    - Unity (books)

    Seconded on all of those, especially Wineseeker, which probably counts as my local and has introduced me to many wonderful, obscure varieties of wine. Though there's one thing that New World seems to do very well here, and that's beer: even the Metro has a better selection of Belgian, English and local boutique beers than most bottle stores (Rumbles & Regional excepted).

    Apropos local food, the Waitangi Park market on a Sunday has ever more stalls from small producers of smallgoods, baked goods, preserves, and what-have-you. It's nice to get stuff directly from the producer.

    It's great to see it becoming more diverse. I'm all in favour of markets, but having two dozen trucks all essentially selling the same range of veges is not particularly exciting, even if I did cook at home (and even if I did eat vegetables). But having sausages, bread, crepes and so forth makes it so much more of an experience, and the great advantage of the Waitangi Park market is that the fishing boats can pull up almost next door and fillet their catch for you.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Sorry, belatedly Sacha,

    Because they're humans, Mark, not just market actors. People get embarrassed irrationally. Sheesh.

    Wrong. But try again.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Recently was rather impressed in my hunt for a decent range of beer. Balmoral Liquor on Dominion Rd has an extensive range of Wines and Spirits and many foreign beers sold also as singles allowing us a selection to try. It is opp Landscape Rd between Hells Pizza and Chef Co. which is a fantastic Lebanese food outlet that does shwarmas and all manner of products freshly made on the premises each day.mmmmm.Falafels to die for. Backlava to die for :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome

    Get a still and make your own vodka.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    Balmoral Liquor on Dominion Rd has an extensive range of Wines and Spirits and many foreign beers sold also as singles

    Dominion Wines and Spirits is also surprisingly good on the foreign beer front, I can't speak for the wines.

    Chef Co. which is a fantastic Lebanese food outlet that does shwarmas and all manner of products freshly made on the premises each day

    I don't know about you, but Chefco/Cedar Cafe seems to me to get a little less fresh every year. My current favourites from there are the cheap imported tinned goods, fried eggplant, dolmades etc..

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Wrong. But try again.

    I'm not really looking to pursue the point, but Sacha corrrectly deduced my meaning.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    Some ideas on how to deal with the on-going feijoa glut would be welcome

    Whatever happened to "put them in a plastic bag and hang it off your letterbox for passers-by"? And why are they so expensive to buy, in the unlikely event that you crave some, and your neighbours don't have a bag on their letterbox?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Dominion Wines and Spirits is also surprisingly good on the foreign beer front,

    Which one is that. How far down? Re Chef co, diff backlava have diff consistency so some would appear less fresh but I go for babaganush and hummus and tabouli and, and, breads and get olives and feta from the Indian Spice shop in Sandringham and yoghurt and spices etc. Actually hardly hit the supermarket at all. Only go now for eggs and dog food.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    1:Carol Stewart- ahhh, cheese rolls! They're everywhere south of the Waitaki, and were v. common in CHCH also when I was growing up.
    While the whitebread version is traditional, I prefer thinly sliced wholemeal - and use chives instead of the minced onion, generally. Recipe otherwise the same-

    2: Stephen Judd- those cheese puffs sound uncommonly like the family cheesies...the recipe given in your post is similar but
    a)beat egg white until it peaks; add yolk carefully, and sift in self-raising flour + a tspn. of b.p, with a sufficiency of buttermilk; add the grated cheese (and especially additional flavourings - minced onion/paprika/or piripiri all work well) until you have a soft, not overworked, dough. It should be moist.
    b) We cook them in dessertspoonfuls, and hurl them at the ravening mob (a.k.a whanau) ...quick, easy, and better than mucking round with fried breads sometimes..

    3: If you should find yourself in Hokitika, dont despair! Very close to the New World in Revell Street, going south, you will find Collette's. I dont know Collette's buisness name, but I do know her shop. Excellent & large selection of single malts; best selection of cigars on the Coast; wonderful collection of coffees, and Rosy Glow chocolate-

    which name made my sister-i-l laugh like a drain the first time she saw it: it's a diagnostic for death by cabon monoxide poisoning...

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

  • Sacha,

    And loo paper.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ahem. That's a classic case of needing to refresh before posting. Referring to Sofie's post, o course.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    I'm an Aucklander with a Moore Wilson wholesale card, and I'd dearly love that company to open a branch here.

    I often thought the same, Russell. That huge empty warehouse section on the south-west corner of Wellesley St West and Nelson St would be ideal. Close enough to Ponsonby, yet central enough for the CBD commuters and dwellers, just like the Wellington centre.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

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