Handmade Artisan Australia

At Last - An All Australian Stallholder Directory

Now I don't normally do this, but as a gourmet food providore and specialist digital marketer, it is only fair that I pass on some of the good stuff for you to share with your networks.

Here's some of the latest news - we have started a new project with a focus on handmade Australia stallholders - it is a niche specific directory featuring original contributions from local brands.  We are promoting it widely and expect the take up to be just grand.

On a brighter note, we have just released some new video of yours truly and even if I do say so myself - um, yeah, I am certainly getting better at the whole video thing.  You must listen carefully to this video to hear what we have been up to.

Fresh Fruit Hampers - Bananas

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NEWS RELEASE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2014
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Australian Hampers Fresh Bananas

Bananas are great get well fruit basket inclusions

As a strong structural component of a fruit basket, bananas make a great staple ingredient and add colour and textural variety to each fruit hamper.  We love putting bananas in a hamper as they hold the whole display together and are a great eating fruit for people who have tooth/dietary restrictions.  
In Australia, bananas come under the three main types, even though there are hundreds of varieties in all types of colours and sizes.  The three main varieties are Cavendish, Lady Finger and Plaintain and these are the types you are likely to encounter at your local fruit and vegetable markets.

Cavendish – these are the typical bananas you eat everyday – these are the bananas you are most likely to encounter in a Hunter Valley Hampers Fruit Basket.
Lady Finger – a small, squat banana with a lemony flavour – makes great school lunchbox filler although can be a tad more expensive than your cavendish.

Plantain – your cooking banana – too astringent for straight eating – makes great banana bread and bakes.

Bananas are native to the South East Asian region – and are actually herbs – not palms or trees at all.  The plant grows with a trunk of tightly curled leaves which only open at the top of the plant – from a well secured rhizome underground.  The actual bananas grow outward from a single flower stem and the individual fingers form hands which make up a bunch. 

From planting out as seedlings, Bananas take around nine months to mature in tropical settings, and in Australia from Coffs Harbour upwards.  As bananas mature off the plant they are picked green and transported to the place of consumption.  If stored cool, the ripening process is stalled and when you want to ripen the bananas you simply take them out of cold storage.

In your get well soon hamper your bananas will be ripe for eating – that means with a few brown splashes and yellow tips.  Enjoy and share over the next few days with your hospital fresh fruit for visitors so you can make the most of your recovery time.

Christmas Cupcakes Gift Ideas

Looking for some festive treats to share with your family and children for Christmas 2013 with sweet cute cupcakes?  Here's some of our best finds and hints and tips to get you started on making this Seasons Greetings one of the most memorable and enjoyable for your family and friends.

Choose Christmas Theme Cupcakes

From the rich luxury of Profiterole Cupcakes to the light-hearted fun of Snowman Cupcakes, there is something for everyone this year and in the adorable format of cupcakes you simply can't go wrong.

Creative Twist Cupcakes

Martha Stewart takes us all on a veritable journey into downtown Christmasville when she combines the crunchy snap of waffle cones with the delicate snowiness of frosting to create her version of a snow encrusted Christmas Tree Cupcake.


Whatever you choose, please drive carefully and make sure to keep your cupcakes out of the sun so they don't melt.  Eat plenty of Fruit and drink plenty of fresh cold water too.  And best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Christmas Cupcake Ideas 2013

Little Christmas Tree cupcakes with mini presents make
such an adorable and cute addition to any Christmas Table Setting Spectacular

Away in a Manger - btw what is a manger anyway?  But seriously, this fondant creation is simply evocative of the real reason behind Christmas, something about a little boy being born in the Middle East.

Loving the dark rich moistness of the chocolate cake base on these cupcakes as well as the simple fun and movement of the twirled Christmas Tree.  5 Stars, highly recommended.

If you know how to manipulate fondant, you are well on your way to designing the best ever Christmas Cupcakes for 2013.

Christmas Day Countdown

The Future belongs to those who plan, a famous woman once mused as she prepared a week out for Christmas Dinner.  And one of the keys to success is careful and well thought out organisation which can give your big day and seamless flow from morning to evening on Christmas Day.  To save you time and worry we have compiled a schedule to act as a guide leading up to Christmas so you are never overwhelmed or feel as though the whole thing is getting beyond you.

12 months in advance?

It may sound completely crazy and beyond the scope of this article, but you can save money and feel super organized by having a look at the post Christmas Sales and making some critical purchases a year ahead.  Think long expiry and ease of storage, so you most likely will be looking outside of food and beverage items and more towards styling and design elements.

Best Selling Australian Cupcakes 2013

Best sellers with good storage life are for example wrapping paper, cards and decorations – and if you can keep the original packaging intact all the better for long term safe keeping.  Be mindful that just buying up everything without an overall style in mind can be hazardous – try to keep you theme to two complimentary colours and stick to this.  It is easier on the eye and makes adding to your presentation simply a matter of finding matching colours.

Gorgeous Cupcakes at the Markets

Gourmet Gift Baskets Australia

PRESS_RELEASE-SEPT-2013; Gourmet Hampers Australia announces a double celebration - the 25th Anniversary of Hunter Valley Hampers and the launch of the latest incarnation of the website.

Kacy, owner operator of the successful franchise, expressed her pride and satisfaction at having come out of the GFC unscathed and still supporting a valued core of loyal clientele.

"It's really amazing how well people identify with the Hunter Valley Hampers brand." she said, cradling the youngest of her three daughters, "We never thought this business would be so resilient and teach us so much about not only business, but life as well."

For more on the story behind Hunter Valley Hampers, call 1300 284 684.