We’ve just had our fourth week at the Ohoka Farmers Market and we’ve had lovely feedback and comments. Thank you to everyone who has purchased, ordered, shared, and recommended!
Each week there are two flavours of cake. Maybe there’s spiced coffee and walnut or perhaps caramel dulce de leche but one is always chocolate. Sometimes the chocolate is paired with other flavours like raspberry and other times not (sometimes chocolate likes to be alone) There’s also a cheesecake - which of course is a baked cheesecake. So far we’ve had passionfruit /raspberry and lime /lemon and honey/ and strawberry with margarita cacti. Plus one special item such as gluten free, dairy free, or vegan.
Buying a slice or two from the market is a great way to test out the cakes if you are thinking of ordering a whole celebration cake. Cakes are usually $6 per slice at the market. It’s great value and a good reason to come out to Ohoka on a lovely Friday morning in Spring. ohokafarmersmarket.co.nz
Dad has planted vegetable seedlings in L'Orto which are slowly growing into recognisable edibles. Our asparagus is growing nicely too, we’ve been devouring it as soon as each crop is ready.
What isn’t slow is the growth of the weeds and grass. I must get out and do some serious weeding and wrestle everything back under control before we start welcoming guests for tea parties!
A view from the air shows the garden coming back to life. It's still young but we do see it filling out as each year passes.
A view from the ground on a windy day (the Villa was living up to it's name)
Villa del Vento sits on about 15 acres and is home to a few sheep, some fallow deer, 2 retired mares, some chickens, and recently 4 ducks. The ducks needed a new home and they found it here with us. Unfortunately they are all boys so we won’t be getting any eggs. - Added to the wish list: female ducks. - Luckily though the chickens produce all the free range eggs used in our cakes - you don’t get much fresher than that!
Bookings are open now for tea parties so if you are keen send me an email francesca@villadelvento.co.nz or use the form villadelvento.co.nz/tea-bookings on the website and we can plan your menu to suit your tastes.
We've got about 4 weeks until our first booking so we'll need to keep working hard to make sure everything is looking the best it can. I've almost finished decorating the outside 'water closet' and just started painting the windows and doors on all the outbuildings. I'm painting them purple! Actually it's more of a sensible dark burgundy. There's still a lot to do but the Villa is a work in progress.
Meanwhile back in the kitchen…
I've been extra busy making cakes for the market in addition to regular orders. Here are a few orders and market cakes from this month...
I'll be making Christmas cakes soon, these can be pre-ordered mid November. I'll have some samples at the market in a couple of weeks. I will also be offering desserts such as 'real-proper-authentic' tiramisu and baked cheesecake on the website. More about these new items next month.
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