New in Store

10% discount for Club members. Join the Passionfoods Club and be eligible for vouchers giving you a 10% discount, specials, access to the Club pages, special invitations to events and more. To join click here.

Exciting new ranges are:

‘The Hamstead’ imported Connoisseur’s Collection of teas, tea blends and herbal blends including Fennel Liquorice, Rosehip Hibiscus, Ginger Green, Cooling Peppermint, Energising English breakfast and Bio Chai exotic spiced tea.

Open up a tin of ‘Fish 4 Ever’ and you will immediately notice the difference. This range of sustainably-fished tinned fish, tuna, mackerel herring, sardines and anchovies is dense and whole, not mashed up or flaked. Organic oil and ingredients are used. Fished by mostly community boats that don’t use drag nets or industrial lines. There is no fishing during breeding season, no by-catch, no damage to the ocean floor or to other species.

Crunch and munch your way through ‘Tasmanian Gourmet Kitchen’s’ Toasted Granola with Cranberries. There’s also gluten free granola that’s equally tasty. Oh, and it’s a local Australian breakfast food! Try their range of perky palate teasing chutneys too. Beetroot, Red Pepper, Yellow Pepper and Apricot with Whisky and Almonds and a more trad. Spicy Tomato and Apple Chutney.

It’s All Happening

More successful wine tastings, food ideas and cooking tips are planned with ‘Inspired Food’ chef Lucinda Macdougall. For a lively fun time, keep these dates free for Fridays between 4.00-6.30pm November 10^thand December 8^th.

October 28^th, Tasmanian specialist honeyman Yves Ginat of Miellerie Honey, will sweeten up your palate with tastings and stories of traditional unprocessed non-heated honey making.

Organic and In Season

Asparagus, beans and broad beans, beetroot, chinese greens, corn, coriander, cucumbers, new season garlic, variety lettuce, jap pumpkin, rocket, basil, sweet gold and white potatoes, cherry tomatoes,

Avocadoes, mangoes, strawberries, watermelon, walnuts, ruby red grapefruit, rockmelon.

In the Spotlight

Gluten free goes gourmet. More and more customers are asking for gluten free foods. Even if you’re not gluten or wheat intolerant, check out this amazing range. Fig and Pistachio Slice, Florentine Biscuit, Almond Biscotti, Chocolate Gingerbread, Chocolate Caramel Crispies, Orange Almond Cake Mix, Organic Bircher Muesli, Granola with Cranberries, Teriyaki and Sesame Simmer Sauce, Satay Sauce, Couscous, pastas, flours, and lots more.

From our Kitchen to Your Table

New Chefs Rob and Sasa have revitalised the kitchen, maintaining and improving on our most popular dishes, whilst introducing many new dishes as well. The overall approach to our food is to keep it simple and honour the produce, so that the flavours can come out. Remember the first time you ate an organic apple, or tomato, for example and how different it tastes to conventional produce. That revelation of flavour is what Passionfoods is all about.

Spring Carnival catering ideas are flowing here at Passionfoods. We find inspiration from a Parisian source – think baguette, cold meats, cheese and wine. What could be more simple or sophisticated? It is so easy to put a picnic together; grab a juice, a salad and a punnet of strawberries. How about a bottle of rosè, some crackers, a dip or two and a jar of olives. Or a quiche, some Florentines and sparkling mineral water. Bring on the races!

For lunch there is an array of salads to choose from, featuring spelt pasta, quinoa, tempeh, brown rice, tofu, cous cous; the list goes on and they are all teamed with an abundance of seasonal vegetables.

For dinner, we echo the ethos of home cooking – tasty and comforting, with such favourites as organic lamb shepherds pie, traditional beef and vegetable lasagne and spicy lentil and chickpea casserole. It’s an ever-changing menu, so come in and see what’s been cooking today.

Healthy Eating is based on some simple, easy-to-follow concepts. Try to eat ‘whole’ foods, rather than ‘altered’ foods. Avoid processed food and food that has been unnecessarily packaged or preserved. Shift the emphasis in your diet towards fresh vegetables and legumes/pulses; an increase of these is recommended. Some foods recognised for their health-giving properties are oats, broccoli, yoghurt, blueberries, almonds, spinach and tofu and lentils.

For some cookery tips in healthy eating, please come along to our monthly Friday afternoon session with Chef Lucinda Macdougall. See dates above.

Try This

Our cheese section is abundant with all kinds of cheeses, from goats, sheep, buffalo and cow. Fresh white curd cheeses are delicious spread on thin rye toast and topped with berry fruits. Try our soft Shaw River Smoked Buffalino, or a Smoked Australian Cheddar with Amber Walnuts and Blueberry and Grape Paste. Soft and herbed feta include Meredith Sheep Milk, or Goat Cheese Feta in Herbed Oil, Yarra Valley Persian Fetta. Try French La Roche Blue or a local Red Hill Mountain Goat Blue with a juicy pear, fresh dates or a Chocolate Panforte. Play with your palate - the combinations are endless.

Wine of the month

Small certified organic winemaker Battle of Bosworth, from McLaren Vale SA, was awarded ‘Best Wine of the Show’ for its 2005 Shiraz Viognier at the 2006 Australian and New Zealand Organic Wine Show.

Tasting notes:

A very interesting wine from Marlborough New Zealand, 2005 Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc, is produced from organically grown grapes and has an elegant blend of passionfruit, mandarin and peach aromas with an intense fruit salad flavour. This is a great summer wine to go with chicken, light meat and especially seafood dishes.

Talkback

Can we increase our range to meet your needs? Do you produce a product that would benefit our customers? Click here and send us an email to register your suggestion.

Passionfoods Club members follow the link to your own online chat room “Food and Body talk”. Ask your questions, give your answers.

For the latest and previous newsletters follow the link to

Food and Body Talk

We also encourage you to become a member of the Passionfoods Club so you can get involved in the Food and Body Talk Forum online, giving and taking useful tips on good food, good health and beauty.