Welcome back to The Sauce - because Tash and Vicki simply couldn't stay away from the group chat. This season we dive into hot food issues and plenty of straight talkin' about what makes New Zealand delicious.

This week, we tackle all manner of protein heavy recipes in Vicki's quest for perfect macros. Tash just chews her way through the black bean brownies.

Tash and Vicki finally catch up on some travel adventures and dive into the winter goodies getting us through - like beef cheeks and warm cocktails. We put Wonderland Chocolate to the taste test before catching up with Kate Necklen ahead of Chocstock this weekend!

Dive in - and visit https://www.wonderlandchocolate.co.nz/

To celebrate 21 episodes of The Sauce and our first negative review - Tash and Vicki welcome David Wrigley, the Editor of The Feed Weekly to the show to talk about what makes a good story, what makes us tick and some of what is coming next as we continue to love telling New Zealand food and beverage stories.

Please show your support by rating and reviewing this podcast, sharing it with your friends via social media AND telling us all about what snacks you just had to buy after listening to the episode!

Plus - big news! Not only is a new edition of Nourish about to hit the streets but More Good Drinks is now New Zealand's only 100% dedicated drinks magazine and it's coming out June 6th.

The cold blast has arrived so Vicki talks us through her slow-cooked lamb ragu and homemade pasta for just $15 to feed the family! Then Tash leads through a tasting of New Zealand made vermouths before we chat to the New Zealand winners of The Perfect Blend NZ - a cocktail competition that will see NZ go head to head with Australia in the grand final next month in Queenstown. Go behind the scenes with what it takes to win a cocktail competition in the modern age of cocktails!

Vicki and Tash dive deep into flattened croissants and all things tea, not to mention the commercial challenges posed by DoorDash's expansion into Hamilton. Then we explore a food forest like no other.

This week Vicki sings the praises of crispy chicken skin and then Tash delivers the 7 cookie taste test challenge before we talk to co-founder Alistair Parker about Molly Woppy's launch into Woolworths stores.

Tash and Vicki chat all things soda and apple cider vinegar with Fiona and Rogie from Sidekick Soda! Plus the usual puns and taste trials!

Vicki puts a new halloumi trick to the test and it will revolutionise the way you eat your squeaky cheese! Plus we dive into Awards season chatting with Kathie Bartley from the Outstanding Food Producers awards, right after Tash finished judging over 166 samples of whisky.

This episode Tash catches up with the incredible Ben Bayly - who pushes innovation and the New Zealand food story across his tv shows, restaurants and in almost every breath. Plus Vicki talks school holiday tricks and why we all need to think again when complaining about vege prices - she's found a deep love of eggplant!

In this episode we dive into popping Methode Marlborough, have a giggle about who really eats more chocolate and get down and dirty with our metaphorical Redbands talking to Daniel Eb from Open Farms, about getting urban Kiwis back to the farm to understand what's really going on.