The gin to your tonic: Forth Luck Gin
Daniel Stapleforth is passionate about gin. In fact, he is so passionate about it that, along with three childhood friends, he has set up his own gin distillery. Daniel spent many years working in breweries and distilleries around the world, loving the creation of different beer and spirit flavours. Back in New Zealand, […]
Nothing odd about these treats: Oddfellows Cafe
You, your steaming cup of hot coffee, a pulled pork burger with fresh apple slaw on a brioche bun. Bliss. Renowned for their fresh coffee from the home of the original Hummingbird roastery, Oddfellows Café in Addington also has a huge variety of delicious home-made baked goods (you must try the famous buttermilk […]
Waipara truffle hunt
From June to August in North Canterbury, it is time to go truffle hunting. Dollar for dollar, truffles (aka Black Gold) are one of the most expensive luxury foods you can buy, taking years to cultivate, and only available during a short season. North Canterbury is home to Kings Truffles, where the team, […]
Cellaring wine at home
Wine enthusiasts dream about having their own cellar and often it is easy enough to turn dreams into reality. A home wine cellar may be as simple as a spare hall cupboard, a section of the pantry or the garage, an upcycle sideboard, or as complex as a complete purpose-built room. Before deciding […]
Roasted roots soup
Serves 2 adults + 2-3 children Prep time 15 minutes Cook time 1 hour 10 minutes Ingredients 1kg pumpkin, skin on,seeds removed 500g orange kūmara, peeled 3 carrots, peeled 1 large onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 2 teaspoons mild curry powder 400g can coconut milk or cream 500ml homemade (or […]
Red, red wine
Sipping a sauvignon takes on a whole new meaning when we’re talking about cabernet sauvignon. Arguably the most widely planted red grape variety, cabernet sauvignon is many people’s first venture into the world of red wine. Why red? Research suggests that drinking an occasional glass of red wine is good for you. It […]
The art of High Tea: The Crowne Plaza
For too long high tea has been dismissed as an ancient, somewhat formal affair but now — just like your mum’s beloved vintage bell bottoms — high tea is chic again. Crowne Plaza has returned to the Christchurch high tea scene with a classic three-tiered offering available every day in it’s expanded 1851 […]
Cool beans
While there are many espresso machines to choose from, Breville’s latest offering – the Express Impress makes drinking cafe-quality coffees at home extremely simple. Metropol’s over-caffeinated gadget guru Ian Knott goes without sleep for about a month. I spend too much on coffee. Long gone are the days when you could get a […]
Lamb shanks with garlic with rosemary
“This recipe was given to me by an old schoolmate. It is tried and true, a classic winter comfort dish.” Metropol editor Lynda Papesch. Ingredients Serves 4 — Prep time 10 mins Cook time 3 hours 4 lamb shanks 2 cups beef stock 1 cup red wine Zest of 1 lemon 1/2 cup […]
Great food and service: The Fine Lion
Imagine a local establishment that is as comfortable as your own living room, but possibly featuring a more interesting fitout. This establishment can provide every drink you can think of, and offers a range of food, whether full meals or snacks, to suit your every fancy. When the weather is cool, it is […]
