Creating places with punch: meet the imaginationologists at Dream It who are designing clever new spaces in our city
As our new city starts to develop and people slowly make their way back into the central city, it will be interesting to see where the winners and the losers of the social scene will be. A bar that just pours beer will simply not make it any more. There need to be […]
Culinary energy efficiency: you need to check out Everhot’s beautiful cookers at Classic Cookers
Crafted in a fashion from days of old, where quality and longevity go hand in hand, Everhot embraces the future, with cookers that are energy efficient and suitable for solar power generation. Manufactured in Gloucestershire, England, Everhot is a heat storage range cooker. It steadily transfers the heat from its core into its […]
A cool cafe vibe: a visit to Riccarton’s popular Seven Cafe
The atmosphere in Seven Café at 11am is warm and welcoming. “This is coffee time and people really enjoy getting together for a chat,” says Vivi Xu, café owner. As one customer is about to leave the café she remarks, “I especially like the vibe here. Do you cater for private functions? I […]
Old meets new: Q&A with O.G.B. owner Nick Inkster
The central city is becoming a hotspot for local talent to realise their creative dreams, with historic buildings providing the inspirational canvas. Such dreams have been realised in the CBD’s grand Old Government Building, which opened in 1913 and now O.G.B is a perfect way to get a taste of old Christchurch, with […]
A unique family business: Lemongrass is a lovely little Thai restaurant in a hazelnut orchard (and how cool is that?!)
Everything about Lemongrass is unique. It’s a Thai restaurant, located off the beaten track, in a hazelnut orchard north of Rangiora. It is the true definition of a family business. Sriamorn Reavill and husband Paul bought the Loburn property and house, later building the restaurant onto their home. At Lemongrass you are likely […]
Exquisitely romantic: weddings at The Vineyard at Rossendale
The Vineyard at Rossendale is an exquisitely romantic wedding venue, created especially for the occasion. The ambience and space, flexibility and flow, are unsurpassed for a perfect day. Floor to ceiling windows form a vista through 10 acres of pinot noir grapes. With room for up to 200, the functional floorplan allows the […]
Braised beef cheeks in red wine: The Villas recipe series
When cooked slowly, beef cheeks are delicious paired with chunky, forked potato mash or with silky, smooth polenta. Look out for The Villas’ take on this delicious dish on its new dinner menu. Ingredients 4 beef cheeks 3 tbs seasoned flour 2 stalks celery, 1 carrot, 1 onion, all finely diced 3 cloves […]
Tea-totaller: the re-emergence of the cuppa as a drink of choice
New Zealand once led the world in cups of tea consumed per person. So it seems somewhat strange to have to put one’s hat in the ring to defend the humble cuppa. But despite the seemingly all-encompassing nature of the Kiwi coffee culture, tea drinking is on the rise. And not just in […]
Delicious travelling feasts : Twentyfour Catering puts on a good spread
‘Have kit, will travel’ is Twentyfour Catering’s mantra. The team specialises in weddings throughout the South Island, and owner and Chef Chantelle Quinn says the flexibility to travel means the team can conjure up delicious feasts anywhere, often with just two ovens and a barbeque. “We are very versatile and have said yes […]
A luxurious lodge: French Farm Winery is the boutique wedding venue you must see
French Farm Winery is unique. A boutique luxury lodge in French provincial style with commanding views of Akaroa harbour, exceptional accommodation and meandering streams and birdlife. There is a special tranquillity to it. Located at French Farm, not far from Akaroa, there are four luxury ensuite studios with kitchenettes, a courtyard area and […]
