News and Events

4th June 2009

Welcome to Heilala Vanilla!

Fino Food and Wine is very proud to welcome Heilala Vanilla to Queensland.

Heilala began as an aid project to assist a village in one of the most beautiful and remote places on the globe, Vava'u Islands, Kingdom of Tonga. There the Boggiss family fell in love with the people and the environment, and using their horticultural background and research facilities in Tauranga New Zealand they established a Vanilla Plantation. A partnership of people, united by their passion for the world’s most sensual and exotic flavour and aroma.

Heilala practice organic growing principles in the most perfect and natural growing environment. Their Vanilla is grown in organic virgin soil, on coconut husk frames, hand pollinated and dried under the Pacific Sun, then stored at optimum conditions to ensure full flavour to develop.

Heilala’s practice of true sustainability with the local village has enabled resources for education and infrastructure, which they otherwise may not have had, and is recognised by the local Agriculture Ministry as a true example of a Pacific partnership in practice.

The result is the richest grade of Vanilla in the Asia Pacific region. A distinctive aroma, shine and plumpness. Heilala Vanilla is then packaged in small batches for each order.

A partnership of two Pacific families, everyday celebrating and honouring Pure Vanilla!

Watch a video presentation of Heilala’s Vanilla being grown and processed.

28th May 2009

Pristine Oysters wins Vogue Produce Award

On Monday night Pristine Oysters was awarded a prestigious Vogue Entertaining and Travel produce award in the category “From the Sea”.

“...Pristine Oyster Farm, has been run for 10 years by brothers Tony, Brendan and Nick Guiderais, and is located at Coffin Bay. The waters here are surrounded predominately by national parks and the lack of agricultural run-off means that conditions are perfect for growing oysters. “I visited Coffin Bay while taking part in SA’s Wold Food Summit last year in the most pristine of environments – hence the name, I suppose! Beautiful flavour,” said Alla Wolf-Tasker.

In a coup for Queensland the award was jointly awarded to Noosa Spanner Crab, well done!

Pristine Oysters are available through Fino Food and Wine or First Class Food and Wine in North Queensland.

Please place orders by 7am on Monday mornings for delivery on Thursday (weather and public holidays may occasionally delay delivery until Friday).

www.pristineoysters.com.au

Please call us on 07 3899 9414 for more information.

28th May 2009

New range of Salumi from Quattro Stelle

Australia’s best Italian smallgoods manufacturer Quattro Stelle has released a new range of Salumi.

All Quattro Stelle’s products are made with free-range Berkshire pork. They are made by hand to traditional recipes and are slow cured under the watchful eye of Tony Sgro and his family.

In our opinion these are among the best artisanal food products made in Australia today. They are a must for any quality affettati plate.

New Products

Zampone – Stuffed Pigs Trotter, hand sown and filled with Cotechino.

Sopressa Vicentina – A large salami with mild but complex flavours.

Nduja Tradizionale Salami – A spreadable Calabrian specialty. It can be used in a similar way to pate and rillettes. It is also wonderful cooked out with pasta and pizza.

Speck Italiano – A smoked cured prosciutto, boned and flattened out.

Lonza – Cured loin of pork.

Culatello – “little bum”. The most prized part of the prosciutto.

Please call us on 07 38999414 for more infomation.