where it takes a further 2-3 hours to
assemble all the different elements,
along with fresh foliage and flowers
to create a masterpiece that is almost
too good to eat.
“I love putting the food together at
the end, it’s like doing a painting or a
sculpture, it’s a real work of art.”
Her passion for food has been a lifelong
one. Her nana and aunt loved to bake,
and she remembers always being “that
kid in the kitchen”.
“My aunt and I have always had bake
offs,” she says. “We still do this to this
day - we love a bit of competition and
share a love for extra salt.”
Janine’s passion for food has also been
hugely influenced by one of her closest
friends, Zoe, a big foodie, who helped
her take her cooking and baking to the
next level.
The pair flatted together in Wellington
with another close friend, and the little
house of food lovers would regularly get
together to make all manner of weird
and wonderful dishes on their very tight
budget of $75 per week.
Janine is a big believer in eating whole
foods as much as possible. She was
sugar free for more than three years,
and during that time developed many
delicious, refined sugar free and whole
food recipes.
“They are my go-to recipes when I have
requests for food and cakes that are
gluten, dairy and sugar free,” she says.
Janine uses local products when she
can, but she also enjoys exploring all the
delicious, high quality foods created by
passionate boutique producers around
the country.
Since starting the business, Janine has
been dismayed at the amount of single-
use plastic packaging that many of our
foods come in.
It’s a huge challenge, but she’s working
with suppliers to try and get some foods
such as salamis and cheeses wrapped
DE BROOD BAKKER'S ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE
100% NATURAL HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS TO
JANINE HOMEMADE AND HER BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS.
BAKERY OPEN: Tues - Fri 6.30am - 3.30pm, Sat 7.30am - 1.30pm
133 Maxwell Road, Blenheim | P: (03) 579 1409 | debroodbakkers.co.nz
in a more sustainable manner.
She uses her own platters, bowls and
cake stands to present the food on, and
has forgone the use of plastic cutlery,
cups or plates with the real thing, or
sustainable alternatives.
Janine caters for weddings, baptisms
and birthdays with her large grazing
tables, while the platter boxes are ideal
for picnics and small get togethers with
family and friends.
One of her exciting recent developments
has been a new wine barrel platter for
smaller numbers, which Janine prepares
at home and delivers to the venue.
So if you’ve got a celebration coming
up and want to do something different,
check out some of the gorgeous
platters, spreads and picnic boxes on
Janine Homemade’s Facebook page:
@JanineHomemade and Instagram
account: @janinehomemade_platters
www.janinehomemade.co.nz
or give Janine a call on 027 426 3463.