During our time in Rio, we have set out to show off both the highlights of the Rio Games and the city itself.
It's not a place Kiwis traditionally travel to so the chance to experience this fascinating place and tell its story is something we're really looking forward to.
Over the next couple of weeks the Newshub Olympics team will bring you our take on life here and a little bit about our passions. For me, it's cooking.
I love food, and love travelling and for me the two go hand in hand. I don’t think there’s a better way to get to know and understand a country or culture than through its food.
I also love cooking. Often when I get home from overseas trips, I find recipes from the food I've eaten and try to replicate them in my own kitchen.
Black beans and rice is now a favourite McRoberts family dish after it was cooked for me by a family I stayed with in Haiti while covering the earthquake in 2010.
A couple of blocks back from Copacabana Beach is the "Cook in Rio" studio where the gregarious Chef Simone takes daily cooking classes. His kitchen is aimed at the thriving tourist market looking for that special extra ingredient to their time in Brazil.
I join a Swiss man whose daughter is competing in the sailing at the Olympics, and an American couple and their adult daughter who have recently settled in Rio.
Within minutes we're all best of friends thanks to Chef Simone's great personal skills and our first Caipirinha - a popular Brazilian cocktail made from freshly muddled fruit, sugar, ice and a generous pouring of the alcoholic spirit Cachaca.
They taste great but are potent. Chef Simone says "you have one, you have two, you have three and then you have floor".
Chef Simone has a quote for everything. My favourite "if more people cooked together there’d be no wars".
The entree is a simple flambéed sausage and onion dish dressed in a killer chilli sauce. The main meal is Fish Moqueca served with Toasted Cassava Banana Forafa. It's delicious.
I think the McRoberts family can look forward to another favourite.
Mike McRoberts/Newshub.
