Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Following a fantastic bake off in our head office in Wellington last year, yesterday we held the 6^th annual Great Icebreaker Cake Bake Off.

This years competition was our biggest event yet with 15 cakes entered, and the standard of the entries were truly scrumptious.  Entrants had gone to huge lengths to take out this years title and trophy (a wooden rolling pin with winners names engraved on it).  Cakes were baked just prior to submitting so they were warm; there were beautiful cake stands, decorations and name cards designed; and one entrant even spent half of his Sunday testing and getting his cake ‘just right’ for judging!

Congratulations to the following Wellington staff members (as judged by the famous NZ chef Ruth Pretty):

1st PLACE – Rebecca Toomer and her Lemon Drizzle Cake
2nd PLACE – Heidi Anderson and her Schwarzwälder Torte
3rd PLACE – Tracey Davies and her Caramel Apple Cupcakes
BEST PRESENTATION – Christina Stanley and her Magpie Meringue Cake
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Di Clapperton and her Sticky Date Cake

Congrats to all who entered, bring on next years comp!

The Icebreaker office was buzzing this week with a truly momentous occasion.

It was thought only to exist in myth and legend, talked about in reverent whispers at the photocopier or espresso machine. As with most mystical items in history, open conversation about it was generally avoided for fear that talking about such an illustrious artifact in the cold light of day may destroy that last glimmer of hope that it were real.

But now, all of those doubts can be put to rest as the Icebreaker Golden Fleece was finally revealed.

It’s origins* are still somewhat vague, some even say magical. However, we do know that it has only revealed itself to us when the time was right and the recipient deserving.

So this week, the Golden Fleece was bestowed upon Alice Foote, to recognize her five years of loyal and valued service to Icebreaker.

In line with protocol, Alice had the honour of wearing the Golden Fleece for the entire day to mark the occasion, before the Fleece mysteriously vanished once more, only to return when another deserving soul reveals themselves (or when they’ve been here 5 years…. It’s flexible..)

PS: it is rumoured that if you stare at the Golden Fleece for too long your head will melt… so try to look at these pictures quickly.

*The Golden Fleece was handknitted by Caroline Chin and features a combination of soft, loopy merino wool intertwined with a metallic gold thread for sparkle power!

Sunday April the 25th is ANZAC Day here in New Zealand (and Australia).

It’s a day when we remember the ANZACS (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who played an important part in the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War, and all those who have served in warfare.

Two of the traditions that surround the day are Anzac Biscuits and wearing a poppy.

Hard, long-keeping biscuits that could survive a journey by sea and still remain edible were known as Soldiers’ Biscuits, but after the Gallipoli landings in 1915, they became known as Anzac Biscuits.

Poppies also have an enduring association with Anzac Day. Throughout New Zealand, people of all ages wear a red poppy as a mark of remembrance for the men and women who have died in the course of service for their country. The poppies are a vivid reminder of the sacrifice – the blood lost – in war.

Many of our grandparents and great grandparents fought for our country, and so this morning at Icebreaker we munched on Anzac biscuits with our morning coffees and donned poppies.

Read more about Anzac Day here, or try your hand and making some yummy Anzac biscuits with this recipe.