Some products just make everyday life feel a little more enjoyable – whether it’s adding deeper flavour to home cooking, elevating a simple glass of wine with dinner, or turning your morning coffee into something that feels more like dessert. In this review, we’re trying out three very different but equally interesting food and drink finds: a “liquid bacon” cooking fat that promises instant flavour, a lighter-style red wine that’s perfect for relaxed entertaining, and a sweet coffee collaboration that tastes like your favourite doughnut in a cup. Here’s what stood out when we actually put them to the test in real, everyday moments.
HOLLY GOLD, by Holly Bacon
If you love the flavour of bacon but don’t always want to cook an entire packet just to add a little smoky goodness to a meal, Holly Gold could become your new kitchen obsession. Created by the team at Holly Bacon, this rich, savoury “liquid bacon” delivers all the delicious salty-smoky flavour of bacon in an easy-to-use jar – and once you try it, it’s surprisingly hard to stop thinking about all the ways you could use it.
Made from 100% New Zealand pork in Hawke’s Bay, Holly Gold is the kind of product that instantly makes everyday cooking taste better. A spoonful stirred through roast vegetables, potatoes, eggs, or even Brussels sprouts adds that delicious bacon flavour without needing to fry bacon separately. It’s especially good for home cooks who love creating flavour but don’t always have time for complicated prep.
One of the best things about Holly Gold is how versatile it is. It solidifies in the fridge like traditional cooking fat, making it easy to scoop out just what you need, and a little goes a long way. You don’t need much to completely transform a dish. Roast potatoes come out golden and crispy with that subtle bacon richness, while fried eggs somehow taste like you cooked them alongside streaky bacon at a café brunch.
There’s also something wonderfully nostalgic about it. It feels like a modern twist on old-school cooking staples that Kiwi kitchens once relied on, but with a far more indulgent flavour profile. While duck fat and beef tallow have become trendy in recent years, Holly Gold stands out because it adds instant depth and comfort to food in a way that feels familiar and exciting all at once.
For anyone who enjoys cooking at home and wants an easy shortcut to richer flavour, Holly Gold is one of those products that quietly elevates everything it touches. Holly Gold is available now directly through Holly Bacon.
Taylors Wines Estate Syrah 2024
If you usually associate Australian reds with heavy, bold wines, the new Estate Syrah 2024 from Taylors Wines might just surprise you. It’s smooth, and incredibly easy to drink and is the kind of red that feels equally at home at a dinner party, a casual catch-up with friends, or simply poured into a glass at the end of a long week.
Coming from the cooler Adelaide Hills region, the wine has a much lighter and fresher feel than a traditional Shiraz. While Syrah and Shiraz come from the same grape, this Syrah leans into the more refined side of things. From the first sip, you’ll notice berry flavours, particularly raspberry and strawberry, along with gentle spice and subtle hints of cinnamon and clove that give it warmth without being too heavy.
Some reds demand a full meal and a serious occasion, but this one was incredibly versatile. We shared it with friends who enjoyed it with a relaxed grazing platter of cheeses and crackers one evening, and it worked beautifully – smooth enough to sip casually, but still complex enough to feel special. It’s the sort of wine that disappears very quickly once the bottle is opened because everyone keeps going back for “just one more glass.”
The wine also pairs well with richer dishes like slow-cooked meats, pasta with creamy sauces, or lamb. It’s easy to imagine this becoming a go-to bottle for long lunches, entertaining friends, or cosy nights in during the cooler months.
This is definitely a wine to try. It has been a really enjoyable discovery and is great for casual wine drinkers, but still interesting enough for people who appreciate a good red.
Taylors Estate Syrah 2024 is ready to enjoy and will cellar well for 5–8 years, through to 2032. Taylors Estate Syrah 2024 is available from select bottle shops and most supermarkets nationwide.
NESCAFÉ Lattes inspired by NESCAFÉ x Krispy Kreme
If you’ve ever found yourself torn between having a coffee or grabbing something sweet, this new collaboration basically says: why not both?
The latest frothy coffee range from NESCAFÉ, inspired by the iconic doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, feels like it was made for anyone with a serious sweet tooth. And not just “I like a bit of chocolate” sweet – we’re talking proper dessert-in-a-cup territory.
The range comes in two flavours: a Doughnut Latte inspired by the classic Original Glazed™ doughnut, and a Strawberry Doughnut Latte that leans into that nostalgic pink, sprinkled doughnut vibe. From the first sip, it’s clear these aren’t your everyday coffees – they’re smooth, frothy, and noticeably sweet, with that unmistakable dessert-like flavour coming through right away.
What stood out most in trying them was how much they actually taste like a treat rather than just a coffee. The Doughnut Latte has that warm, vanilla-glazed comfort to it – the kind of flavour that makes you think of grabbing a fresh doughnut with your morning coffee. The Strawberry version has a soft fruity sweetness that feels almost like a café-style dessert drink.
The single-serve sachets make them super easy – just add hot water and you’ve got a frothy, dessert-style coffee in minutes.
If you’re someone who likes your coffee strong and black, this probably isn’t your thing. But if you lean more toward caramel lattes, mochas, or anything that doubles as dessert, this collaboration is honestly a fun little upgrade to the usual instant coffee routine.
The NESCAFÉ Doughnut Latte inspired by Krispy Kreme is available from major retailers nationwide, while the NESCAFÉ Strawberry Doughnut Latte inspired by Krispy Kreme® is available exclusively at Woolworths.
