The humble chocolate cake voted NZ’s favourite birthday cake

The humble chocolate cake voted NZ’s favourite birthday cake

PAK’nSAVE survey findings reveal:

• Chocolate cake voted New Zealand’s favourite birthday cake

• Sausage rolls are the Kiwi party food favourite

• Cheerios voted favourite childhood party food

• Bringing a plate to a party is ‘the Kiwi way’

• Cheese is Kiwis’ ‘go-to’ when asked to bring a plate

Move over Pavlova! Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the Kiwi classic, but when it comes to birthdays, chocolate cake is New Zealand’s favourite birthday cake.

In preparation for its own 30th birthday party, PAK’nSAVE surveyed over 1,500 Kiwis to find out their favourite party food, past and present, and, if ‘bring a plate’ is still the Kiwi way.

The humble, but delicious chocolate cake beat out other cake classics such as carrot (2nd), banana (3rd) and pavlova (18th) to take the title of New Zealand’s favourite birthday cake.

“Whether it’s homemade or store bought, this proves a good chocolate cake is always going to be a crowd-pleaser and the perfect way to say ‘Happy Birthday’. But as simple as it sounds, chocolate cake can be difficult to get right and nobody wants to eat dry cake. The secret is using good quality ingredients, real chocolate, resisting the temptation to keep opening the oven while it is cooking, and of course, a great chocolate ganache icing,” says PAK’nSAVE baker, Gareth Morgan.

Whether it’s for a first birthday party, or you are celebrating your big 3-0, the quality of the party food can still make or break a party.

“Growing up, the highlight of any kids party was always the fairy bread, jelly, and cheerios matched with the ubiquitous Wattie’s Tomato Sauce,” says Steve Anderson, Managing Director, Foodstuffs New Zealand.

While haircuts and fashions may have changed over the intervening years, it seems not much has changed between Kiwis’ favourite party foods growing up and their preferences now.

Sausage rolls and chips have been long-standing classics, with both ranked in the top five party foods growing up and now.

Amongst the memories of hotly contested rounds of pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey, cheerios (or cocktail sausages) were voted Kiwis’ favourite childhood party food item. Other childhood classics included sausage rolls (2nd), chips (3rd), fairy bread (buttered bread with hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top, 4th) and ice cream (5th).

“We might like to believe that our palates get more sophisticated with age, but this survey highlights how much Kiwis still love good old traditional party food,” says Steve.

Sausage rolls took the top spot and were voted New Zealanders’ party food favourite. Closely followed by chips (2nd), savouries (3rd), dips (4th) and cheese (5th). Some healthier options did make the top 20, including fruit (10th), salad (17th) and sushi (20th).

The survey also revealed that Kiwis are a hospitable bunch - 64% said they would bring a plate of food to a party, even without being asked. A large number of respondents cited it was simply ‘common courtesy’ and many felt it is an important part of New Zealand culture, or ‘the Kiwi way’. Only 2% would not bring a plate to a party at all.

With an overwhelming majority, people’s ‘go-to’ plate of food to bring to a party was cheese. Other popular choices included crackers (2nd), chicken (3rd), rolls (4th) and salad (5th).

“’Bring a plate’ is as Kiwi as the All Blacks, number 8 wire and jandals. It’s brilliant to see that tradition is still going strong.”

“PAK’nSAVE is proud to have been saving Kiwis money each week on their groceries and party food over the past 30 years. We’re really excited to be celebrating our 30th birthday with New Zealand with prices on selected items being taken back to 1985 prices, as well plenty of other in-store celebrations and deals.”

PAK’nSAVE’s birthday celebrations have launched this week with a 1985 Price Sale until 23 August.

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