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This blog started as a way for me to share my recipes + culinary adventures, tips for vibrant health + happiness, thoughts on the latest developments in nutritional medicine + the low down on the Sydney wholefoods scene and beyond...

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ON SALE NOW - ORGANIC KID-FRIENDLY CHOCOLATE EASTER BUNNIES + MINI EASTER EGGS!

March 02, 2016Becca Crawford

Our nutrient-dense no-crap Easter chocolates are now available for sale at Broth Bar & Larder. This is artisan chocolate made with the highest quality ingredients. We have tweaked our original recipe to make it more kid-friendly for younger palates.

We have 2 fabulous offerings this Easter! --->

1.

ORGANIC YUMMY BUNNY

These little fellows are made of solid raw dark chocolate and retail for $16.50 (cheaper than the Lindt ones I saw in Woollies!)

Perfect for all the yummy mummies, delicious daddies and little bunnies out there….these will get your bunny tails shaking!

2.

MINI SOKOLATA DELIGHTS

These delightful little half eggs are the perfect mouth-sized treat. Each egg is decorated with either a goji berry, an activated almond or activated cinnamon buckwheat. You can pop them into some hard plastic egg-shaped containers from $2 shops for those treasured Easter egg hunts (pictured below).

They are retailing for $15/100g bag and each bag has a mixture of the 3 flavours.

THE INGREDIENTS THAT GO INTO OUR ARTISAN CHOCOLATE...

Our artisan chocolate is made with the following 4 pure ingredients:

Raw cacao powder
Raw cacao butter
Mineral rich Canadian maple syrup
A pinch of sea salt to add further minerals and to further reduce bitterness of the raw cacao powder.

This year we have reformulated our signature raw dark chocolate recipe by reducing the amount of raw cacao powder to make it less bitter for younger palates. Because it is less bitter, we reduced the amount of maple syrup as less sweetener is needed when there is less raw cacao powder. Commercial manufactures increase the amount of sweetener for kids’ chocolates but we did the opposite as we know how unnecessary and damaging an excess of sweeteners are, especially for young growing bodies. The result is a silky smooth melt-in-your-mouth buttery sensation with a hint of raw dark chocolate. We trialed these on the harshest of critics (kids!) and got the big thumbs up!

To read about the nutritional benefits of raw cacao powder and what’s in commercially-produced chocolate that you might want to steer clear of (such as soy lecithins, refined sweetens, agave syrup, preservatives, milk powders), read one of my earlier newsletters here.

If these Easter chocolates don’t take your fancy, there’s always our sokolata (raw dark chocolate slabs…choose from 4 different flavours retailing from $12.50/100g) or our raw cacao coconut balls (sweetened with whole medjool dates retailing at $17.50/bag of 6).

AVAILABLE NOW UNTIL STOCKS LAST AT BROTH BAR & LARDER IN BRONTE

Or you can pre-order (to avoid disappointment) by emailing orders@staraniseorganic.com and we will put packets aside for you. we can also courier the Yummy Bunnies to Sydney Metro Areas for an additional courier fee.

We are closed over the Easter 4 day long weekend 25-28 March!
WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY CHOCOLATE-FILLED EASTER!!

categories Broth Bar & Larder, My Products, New Products
tags Easter eggs, easter, sokolata, chocolate

Raw love, rose petals and love-infused everything!

January 23, 2016Becca Crawford

Valentines Day might traditionally be a celebration of romantic love but since having children it just felt so natural to take the opportunity on Valentines Days to express my love to much broader circle of those who are near and dear to my heart including my children, family and close friends. I might send my besties little messages reminding them how much they mean to me, I give extra cuddles and kisses to my kids and tell them how much they rock my world, and I love to gift my hand-made chocolate to those I love so dearly.

I asked my greatest gurus today (my kids) what it means to love someone and I got a myriad of highly entertaining responses from them with peels of laughter all round. I then dug a little deeper and discovered that a bunch of kids, aged 5 to 10, were asked questions about what they thought of love. Here's what they said:

"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." -- Glenn, age 7

"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." -- Tom, age 5

"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." -- Mike, 10

"My mother says to look for a man who is kind. That's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and handsome." -- Carolyn, age 8

"One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." -- Ava, age 8

"Most men are brainless, so you might have to try more than once to find a live one." -- Angie, age 10

"A man and a woman promise to go through sickness and illness and diseases together." -- Marlon, age 10

"Love is foolish...but I still might try it sometime." -- Floyd, age 9

"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -- Dave, age 8

"It isn't always how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything, and I haven't got anybody to marry me yet." -- Brian, age 7

"It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are - on fire." -- Christine, age 9

"See if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love." -- John, age 9

"You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming." -- Allan, age 10

And when the kids were asked to make up Titles of Love Ballads You Can Sing To Your Loved One, here’s what they said:

"'How Do I Love Thee When You're Always Picking Your Nose?'" -- Arnold, age 10
"'Honey, I Got Your Curly Hair and Your Nintendo On My Mind.'" -- Sharon, age 9
"'Hey, Baby, I Don't Like Girls, But I'm Willing To Forget You Are One!'" -- Will, age 7

Ok, so it seems that its hard to define love but my kids and I agreed that if it comes from the heart, it’s real and raw and it’s love.

I express my love in many ways but, like my mother, one of the ways I instinctively express my love is through the creation of beautiful nourishing food made for those who I care about.

To that end, here is our selection of limited edition exquisite hand-made products that we made exclusively for Valentines Day 2016 for you to share with you loved ones! I hope they make your heart sing as much as I loved crafting and making them for you:

1.

Rose Petal Raw Dark Chocolate

We liberally sprinkled our signature raw dark chocolate with Ovvio Organics certified organic rose petals to create chocolate that is almost too pretty to eat!

Each piece is individually wrapped in paper, tied with twine and stamped with a little “Love You” card. These sing artisan chocolate hand-made with love at the top of their sweet voices.

Priced according to weight at $14/100g.

2.

Raw Love Double Love Heart Chocolates

Lolly pop meets raw dark chocolate, these double chocolate love hearts on a stick were such hit last Valentines Day that we are including them in our Valentines range for 2016. Made with our signature raw dark chocolate sweetened with maple syrup (81% raw cacao content) there are 7 double love heart chocolates on a stick in a bag for $14/100g.

3.

Chocolate Infused Activated Muesli

Our raw dark chocolate + our activated muesli = taste orgasm in a bowl. Does is get any better? Over the past few weeks we’ve saved all the off cuts of our range of raw dark chocolates and mixed them through our activated muesli, packaged it up in glass jars with beautiful ribbon and a little “Love You” card. Because I think breakfast is the best time of day to eat chocolate!

$33.50/500g or $22.50/300g.

What makes our chocolate unique?

We think our chocolate is pretty special. Here’s why:

1. We only use certified organic ingredients where these are available.

2. We use raw cacao powder (as opposed to processed/heat treated cocoa) that has been fermented for 3 days and ranked as the 3rd most nutrient-dense food on the planet. Raw cacao powder is touted for its numerous health benefits:

a. High in polyphenols (anti-oxidants) particularly flavanols (higher than green tea, red wine, goji berries, acai berries). Anti-oxidants prevent the effects of aging, DNA damage, heart disease and cancer.

b. high in minerals esp. magnesium (healthy heart and brain function; muscle relaxant; bones density; mitigates feelings of stress), chromium (assists pancreatic health and regulates blood sugar) and iron (promotes oxygen transport in the blood).

c. positive effects on the brain, circulatory and cardiovascular system. Eg lowers Alzheimer’s risk, lowers blood pressure, improves blood lipid profile (lowers oxidised LDL), improves insulin sensitivity, improves exercise endurance, protects against pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.

d. anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-thrombotic (anti-blood clotting)

e. anti-depressant/ feel-good chemicals (eg dopamine, serotonine, tryptophan)

f. protects the liver against alcohol (wine and chocolate = winning pair!)

g. protects against UV damage

h. it’s theobromine content (bitter compound) has a stimulating effect producing higher levels of physical energy and mental alertness. It has 1/4 of the stimulating power of caffeine.

3. we only use raw cacao butter as our fat of choice which is what is used in traditional chocolate making (and do not ‘water down’ with coconut oil or other fats and especially no industrial seed oils like vegetable oil found in conventional chocolate). Raw cacao butter is what gives chocolate that melt in your mouth smooth chocolaty taste.

4. we only use natural sweeteners that have a favourable sucrose to fructose ratio. In this batch of limited edition Valentines Day chocolates we have used pure maple syrup from Canada as our sweetener of choice for its mineral content, smooth texture and beautiful flavour. We do not use agave syrup (way too high in fructose which causes metabolic and digestive issues).

5. We do not use soy lecithins, milk powders, any preservatives, or artificial flavours, colours or additives, which is why our chocolates need to be stored in the fridge.

“If you are going to eat chocolate, make sure you eat the best quality chocolate in the world. Life’s too short to eat crap chocolate”.

CLICK HERE TO TWEET

What makes our muesli unique?

I crafted this muesli as few years back as there was and still is nothing on the market that comes close in terms of source and processing. Here’s why:

1. To my knowledge, we are the only producers in Australia of muesli made with activated nuts and seeds. To understand why it is so important that all nuts and seeds be properly prepared (“activated”) read the product information brochure at the top of this page. Many mueslis might claim to be “paleo” or “organic” but proper preparation is all-important to make the nutrients digestible and accessible.

2. We only use certified organic ingredients where these are available.

3. Our muesli is grain-free and in particular gluten-free. We use activated buckwheat (not a relative of wheat) as the base. Technically buckwheat is a fruit and not a grain but it behaves like a grain so it is soaked and dehydrated until crispy. We do not used puffed grains or any other grains for that matter.

4. We do not add any concentrated sugars or sweeteners. It is naturally sweetened with gojis, coconut flakes and dried figs which are hand-cut to size.

In the words of some of my clients:

“I just wanted to let you know that your muesli is so delicious …. It has the most amazing combination of flavours & textures & our family love it .... there is nothing else like it on the market ....” Heather

“Awww Soulla, the goods arrived, and oh myyyy, they are sooo delicious! The muesli is absolutely yummy (could devour it all day long)” Fiona

“Soulla, your muesli is the best part of my day!” Kate

“Hi there, I have had many organic/natural chocolates over the last 10 years from all over the world… these ones have to be the best by far! My fav is the fruit and nut and cinnamon crunch… well done! Your macadamia nuts are the best too!” Peter

How to Purchase

These limited edition Valentines Day products can be purchased from Broth Bar & Larder or to pre-order please drop us a line at orders@staraniseorganic.com. We have only made a limited amount and will not be making more when these sell out so please get in fast or pre-order to avoid disappointment.

I HOPE YOUR VALENTINES DAY IS INFUSED WITH RAW LOVE IN ALL ITS GUISES.

Soulla x

categories Broth Bar & Larder, My Products, My Thoughts, New Products

BROTH BAR & LARDER IS NOW OPEN!!

December 06, 2015Becca Crawford

I am beyond excited to announce that today Monday 7th December the doors of our brand new retail shop fly open. Broth Bar & Larder is officially born in Bronte in Sydney’s east!

Broth Bar & Larder is the first dedicated broth bar in Sydney. It is an extension of my kitchen. It was born out of a desire to create a small and inviting space to enjoy home-made, nourishing and completely unprocessed foods made to the same standard that my children and I eat at home. I wanted to create the type of place that I would personally eat at. A place where I don’t have to make endless enquiries about the source and provenance of the ingredients that go into the food. A place where I can feel totally assured that the food is traditionally-prepared, and made with the highest quality of ethically-sourced ingredients without any artificial crap or empty fillers. A place which represents the fusion of two worlds: olde world wisdoms, traditions and artisan crafts with a slick contemporary edge. I wanted to create that space for you.

My MISSION is, and always has been since I created Star Anise Organic Wholefoods 5 years ago, to bring nutrient-dense traditional wholefoods back to the modern table for vibrant health and longevity. And what better way to start than with a simple cup of broth which can be so satisfying, hugely comforting, and rich in complex flavours and nutrients. All customers who walk in the door are given a free tasting of our signature chicken broth. And boy how I love seeing and hearing their responses after their first sip! It’s really touching!

The INGREDIENTS that go into our products are meticulously sourced from the finest provenance. Our beef and chicken broths are made from 100% pastured and certified organic bones. All of our ingredients are, much as humanly possible, certified organic. All Star Anise Organic Wholefoods products are free from refined sugars, gluten, industrial seed oils, tap water, agave syrup, and (other than the pâté & some soups) also free of dairy. Our products do not contain any artificial or processed ingredients. I pride myself on my commitment to purity and authenticity. I could opt for conventional ingredients at a fraction of the price but I have chosen not to. It’s not what I’m about and stand for. The food created in this space is what I personally consume and take home for my kids and I to eat. If I wouldn’t eat it myself, then we don’t make it. That quality control makes it really simple. We have added a suppliers page to our website so that you can see exactly where we source each ingredient from. I wish all companies did this.

Broth Bar & Larder encompasses both our retail space and our commercial kitchen, all under the one roof. All our Star Anise Organic Wholefoods products are handcrafted on-site, displaying transparency to consumers. These products are available dine-in or takeaway from the Broth Bar, or can be purchased pre-packaged from the Larder (pantry).

We are offering hot broth in 3 sizes (baby broth, small and large) with various broth flavour bombs (eg. chilli, fish sauce, tamari, lemon juice, spices) as well as our 5 broth based soups. The menu also includes a substantial Provincial Plate – a full meal encompassing nutrient-dense morsels of pâté with vegetable crudités, Iggy’s sourdough bread, fermented veggies, raw milk cheese and jumbo green olives. We are also serving our gluten-free activated buckwheat-based muesli all day as well as broth-infused smoothies (trust me, you won't taste the broth when a couple of frozen beef broth cubes are thrown in for extra nutrient-density and frothiness) and our beet kvass and kombucha. As a summer special, take-away brothsicles (broth-boosted iceblocks) are on sale! Kids love these. Big ones too!

The Broth Bar menu and Larder price list can be found on the dedicated Broth Bar & Larder page on my website HERE.

You can still purchase all our products online by sending an email to orders@staraniseorganic. We ship dry goods all over Australia and refrigerated/frozen goods all over Sydney for a flat courier fee. Check out any of the Products page of our website for prices.

I will conducting my one on one health coaching sessions from the Broth Bar. I am still working as a health coach all through this period and will also run all my cooking workshops (resuming Feb 2016) from the Broth Bar. So everything under the one roof! My house is now feeling incredibly…home-like!

The response we have had from the community during our soft launch last week was incredibly overwhelming. People are so excited, supportive and encouraging. Far more than I ever expected. The first thing people comment on when stepping foot in the door is the aroma. “Oh it smells so nice in here”. Yep that’s our chicken broth slow simmering on the stove!

The process of setting up this space over the past couple of months has been overwhelming, electrifying and incredibly intense to say the least. I have learnt so much and most of all that things rarely go to plan and the only thing I can control is my reaction to countless daily obstacles. I have experienced every gamut of emotion. Very much like a mother giving birth to a precious newborn with all of the trials and tribulations that come with that, all the while needing to attend to the needs and desires of older children.

What started out as a hobby business from home 5 years ago grew and expanded to the point that I was bursting at the seams and climbing over boxes to get into my bed at night. Stock pots simmering all over the house (“I’ve never seen anyone cook in their lounge room before!” exclaimed my son’s friend one day. “Mate, you should see what’s going on in my bedroom!” I retorted). Despite the mountains of boxes and stock pots, operating from home felt safe and comfortable. A commercial shop sounded expensive, tricky and too grown up. But the universe conspired something different for me and pushed me (somewhat resistingly) in this direction. It often takes a lightening bolt of energy for me to switch courses. I felt like I had been pushed off a cliff, freefalling, desperately trying to find solid ground. The ground still feels very shaky even now. I’m not sure I’m even touching it! I have taken a gigantic leap of faith. The words of Whitney Houston ring loud in my ears daily “If I fail, if I succeed, at least I’ll live as I believe”. I’m determined, committed and hard-working. I want to make my children proud. I want to create something truly unique, exciting and beautiful for all of us.

To celebrate the opening, we are offering all loyal followers of my blog - yes YOU! - a special promotional gift voucher which entitles you to 50% off any small packet of activated nuts for every purchase of a small broth or a broth-infused smoothie. Simply mention that you are a recipient of my newsletter to redeem this special offer.

In addition, EVERY time you post about Broth Bar & Larder on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (or share someone else’s post about Broth Bar & Larder) you will receive 10% off a hot broth or smoothie!

I hope to see you at Broth Bar & Larder really soon to share with you my passion for simple pleasures and conscious consumption. Whether it’s a simple cup of broth, a substantial meal, a hearty bowl of soup, a delightful bottle of Earl Grey kombucha or just to come in and say hi and have a chat, everyone is welcome, young and old. Bubbas can entertain themselves with the wooden toys, books and crayons in the kids basket. School kids can enjoy a healthy treat or brothsicle, and teenagers are loving the broth-boosted smoothies. And everyone is grateful that we are still selling Iggys sourdough bread!

BROTH BAR & LARDER

49 BELGRAVE ST, BRONTE, NSW, 2024
(the old Iggy’s bakery)

OPENING HOURS
8AM - 6PM 7 DAYS

Soulla Chamberlain, Creator & Director:
0407 871 884
Tom Landauer, Manager & Co-Director:
0481 454 631

With much gratitude,
Soulla Chamberlain & the Star Anise Organic Wholefoods team