http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.janbilton.co.nz en-us Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:46:58 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/28911/I-m-A-Man-in-Love-with-Words/ In 2005, Anthony Bourdain, in New Zealand to promote his Les Halles Cookbook, chatted to magazine editor, Jan Bilton.... Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post28911 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/168701/https--youtu-be-5lq8zij1u6c/ It all started because two wives in Nelson became good friends pretty quickly, and they ended up introducing their chef husbands to each other.What started as an order for bagels for a charity event from Volker Marecek to Swiss-born Mark Schmid has developed into an incredible partnership in the kitchens of the Rutherford Hotel in Nelson.In three months, both chefs have become a positive influence on the menu as well as the kitchen staff. And both have their own different sets of skills that com... Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:07:34 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post168701 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/113219/count-your-chickens/ Chicken is the most universally popular of all meats. And deservedly so. A singularly versatile meal-maker, it features in such national or regional dishes as Arabian couscous, Hungarian chicken paprika, Florentine polla alla diavola, Indonesian sambal hati hati, Indian vindaloo, Japanese oyako donburi, Chinese beggar’s chicken, Spanish olla podrida, Malayan satay, Russian kurnik and South African peri peri to name but a few. The blandness of chicken gets the creative juices flowing in mo... Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post113219 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/167309/mid-winter-merry-making/ Throwing a midwinter Christmas/Matariki party is high on my celebration calendar this year. It will be a great antidote for the winter blues. I love a cheerful get-together with family and friends. And the cooler temperatures are more suited to indulgent dishes.Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori it heralds the start of a new year. Iwi across New Zealand understand and celebrate Matariki in different ways and ... Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:28:25 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post167309 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/166483/going-gluten-free/ Being gluten-intolerant was once an almost unheard-of health complication. But over the years, navigating the world without gluten has become an extreme sport for millions. Enjoy Caesar Salad? Just watch out for that rogue, gluten-filled crouton because you might end up with those classic Coeliac symptoms of bloating, stomach pains, fatigue and headaches. Studies show that about 10 per cent of the population are wheat and gluten sensitive, but four out of five don't know it. Coeliac disease... Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:37:10 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post166483 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/42048/GO-WINTER-GREENS/ My son’s fave joke for many winters was: “What’s green and goes to summer camp? A Brussel scout.” He had a distinct dislike of sprouts probably because they grew in abundance in our garden. However, after I began halving Brussels sprouts and roasting them with bacon and also thinly shredding them for a slaw, they won him over. Brassicas — which include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauli, cabbage, kale and boy choy — are a good source of vitamin C, potassium and dietary fibre a... Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post42048 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/164114/dishes-with-love/ Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to show Mum your appreciation with delicious food. Preparing a meal at home adds a personal touch that a restaurant meal can’t quite capture. Breakfast in bed remains a timeless favourite — think eggs benedict, or fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit and maple syrup — a caring and comforting start to her day.And don’t forget the card. Handmade is perfect; it doesn’t need to be flawless. Trust me, I keep a box of cards from my children that I open once ... Sun, 03 May 2026 14:47:21 +1200 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post164114 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/81363/easter-entertainers/ Around the world, Easter is a time when traditional treats take pride of place on the menu. Dried fruits and nuts feature in numerous Easter bakes. Hot Cross Buns, generally considered an English custom, combine spices with currants, peel and raisins. They were originally made to honour an Anglo-Saxon goddess 'Eastre'. With the advent of Christianity, goddesses went out of favour, but the bun remained and was decorated with a cross. Lamb — a symbol of spring in the northern hemisphere &mda... Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post81363 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/75997/hello-agaricus-bisporus/ There's not 'mushroom' for argument when is comes to the popularity of this fungi.  ... Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post75997 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/post/42963/LARGELY-LENTILS/ Lentils are a nutritious versatile food. A key ingredient in soups, salads, sides, casseroles and savoury bakes, they’re ridiculously cheap and can be stored in airtight containers for months. Lentils are high in protein and fibre and low in fat making them a healthy substitute for meat. They're also packed with folate, iron, phosphorus and potassium. However, the protein in lentils is incomplete. For proper nutritional balance other protein foods such as grains, nuts, seeds, eggs or dairy pro... Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.janbilton.co.nz/blog/#post42963