Dress up your condiments selection
After decades of providing fresh, natural meals as a chef, predominantly in France and Italy, Lara Hayes immediately saw a gap in the market upon returning home to New Zealand. Where were the premium salad dressings, condiments and vinaigrettes made with healthy seed oils and zero nasties or refined sugars?
A Bit Dressy was established in 2020 with a dressings range that has now expanded to include hearty soups and beneficial bone broths in winter, with refreshing chilled summer soups soon to be added to the offering. Our stunning Kiwi produce and the sharing of good food is Lara’s inspiration and she is driven to support local suppliers. A Bit Dressy has recently relocated from Auckland to Leigh and are loving local life with their new weekly spot at the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market.
Always passionate about quality ingredients, nutritional value, freshness and seasonality, Lara has been enjoying the abundance of local suppliers now available to her. Spray-free vegetables like watercress and zucchini are sourced from Matakana Chillies, and Salt River Farms provide beets, carrots, coriander, kale and more. Monaghans food service in Warkworth and Matakana Butchery are her go to’s for meat marrow bones and chicken frames while a selection of herbs come straight from her own and friends' gardens.
All much loved over the years, and born out of her previous life cooking for private clients locally and overseas, you'll find some beloved classics in the range plus some innovative recipes of Lara’s own. Her best selling Chicken, Veggie and Barley Soup is ‘just like grandma used to make’ and evokes feelings of nostalgia for her customers. While the latest best seller, Keto Spicy Thai Chicken Soup is influenced by an intensive professional cheffing course Lara completed in Koh Samui years ago, where she made 60 dishes in six days!
Lara’s flavours, despite using local ingredients, will take you on a journey around the world. From Divine Beef Borscht, perfected during her days cheffing for Russian oligarchs, to Broccoli and Stilton Cheese Soup, a favourite from her London cheffing days, and Tuscan Cannellini Bean Soup inspired by her time in Italy; you’re sure to find a broth, dressing, sauce or soup to tantalise your taste buds.
Sustainability is important to Lara, not wanting to use plastic sachets she packages everything in glass jars and bottles, meaning customers can keep them to use in their own pantry or return them to her market stall for a 50 cent refund. All tags, labels and carry bags are also recyclable.
With an abundance of vegan and keto options available and corporate gift boxes, perfect for Christmas, A Bit Dressy is a unique foodie offering. Starting at the Grey Lynn Farmers' Market over three years ago you’ll now find Lara weekly at her new spot at the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market; fully stocked with A Bit Dressy products and fresh tastings for you to try. Order online for local and North Island weekly deliveries and keep your eyes peeled as A Bit Dressy branches into local retailers very soon!