At Hot PJ, we’re lucky enough to be right in the centre of town in an office above Cashel Mall. Sometimes this means we have to put up with very loud bagpipe music from the local buskers but most of the time the pros out-weigh the cons!

[Christchurch Sky Lens Portrait] Today, a new sculpture has been perched above the pedestrian area just along from our office. The ‘Sky Lens’ by Neil Dawson is looking pretty great and I’m sure when the stars come out at night it’ll be fantastic to stand beneath it and look up through it at the stars.

According to an article on Stuff.co.nz the lens is …

It is part of the City Mall revitalisation project and supported by Christchurch’s Public Art Advisory Group, which jointly funded the $140,000 project.

… and will be lit up at night which will look pretty impressive (but I hope it doesn’t ruin the view of the stars!). I hope that traffic cone isn’t there to stop it landing on people’s heads.

Posted on December 10th, 2009 by Mark Lincoln
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It is the start of the second week of the school holidays, and for parents another week to occupy the kids whilst juggling all the things you have to do (like work!). A great way to engage the kids, discover places you didn’t know existed in your own neighbourhood, and get some of your things [...]

Posted on April 20th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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We’ve just completed our review of 10 different Hot Cross Buns from suppliers around town.  Apart from being totally ‘over’ hot cross buns before it is even Easter, we have discovered a lot of average buns out there. And it doesn’t seem to matter whether the buns are mass produced, bought from a supermarket or [...]

Posted on April 6th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker: Brumby’s, Barrington Mall Price: $6.30 per pack of 6 ($1.05. each) plus a free loaf of bread. Serving size: Not available Ingredients: Not available Appearance: Flat, wrinkled, uneven surface with broken and uneven crosses. Very sticky on top due to glaze. A lot more yellow than previous buns we’ve trialed. Appearance was improved by [...]

Posted on April 2nd, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker: Quality Bakers Hot Cross Buns. Bought from New World Halswell. Price: $2.99 for a pack of 8 ($0.37375 cents each) Serving size: 60g. Ingredients: Wheat and soy flour, water, fruit (13%) (sultanas and currants), yeast, sugar, gluten, spices, canola oil, salt, salt, emulsifiers (481, 471), acidity regulator  (263), vegetable gum (415). Sugar per 100g [...]

Posted on March 31st, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker: KBs Bakery, Corner Durham & Elgin St, Sydenham Price: $4.50 per pack of 6 ($0.75 each) Serving size: Not available Ingredients: (not printed on the pack, had to ask to see the ingredients list but this was not available, however they did offer to ring someone to find out.) Sugar per 100g = not [...]

Posted on March 30th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker: Sydenham Bakery Hot Cross Buns, Colombo Street, Christchurch. Price: $6.00 per pack of 6 ($1.00 each) Serving size: not available Ingredients: Not available. Was told by one of the bakers they contained sultanas, currents, peel, spices and ginger. Sugar per 100g = not available Total fat per 100g = not available Appearance: The darkest [...]

Posted on March 27th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker: Bakers Delight Hot Cross Buns. Tower Junction. Price: $7.90 per pack of 6 ($1.316 each) Serving size: 65g. Ingredients: (not printed on the pack, had to ask to see the ingredients list which was freely supplied) Wheat flour, sultanas, currants, water, sugar, yeast, canola oil, spice, salt, wheat starch, mineral salt, salt, vegetable gum, [...]

Posted on March 26th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker: Tip Top Cafe Style Hot Cross Buns. Bought from New World Halswell. Price: $3.79 for a pack of 6 (0.6316 cents each) Serving size: 60g. Ingredients: Wheat flour, fruit (30%) (raisins, sultanas), water, baker’s yeast, sugar, canola oil, mixed spice, wheat gluten, salt, maize starch, modified maize starch (1422), skim milk powder, emulsifiers (481, [...]

Posted on March 25th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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Brand/Baker:  MacKenzie Highcountry Traditional Hot Cross Buns. Bought from New World Supermarket, Halswell, Christchurch. Price: $3.75 for a pack of 4 (0.9375 cents each) Ingredients: Wheat flour, water, fruit (21%) (sultanas, currants, citrus peel), sugar, yeast, wheat gluten, canola oil, spices, salt, soy flour, emulsifiers (433, 471, 475, 481), wheat starch, vegetable gum (415), acidity [...]

Posted on March 24th, 2009 by Wendy Riley-Biddle
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