Say ‘buon natale’: Pasta Vera
Being a great host is the starting point to successful Christmas celebrations and can come down to one very simple factor – planning. Part of that preparation is making sure you can cater for different taste buds and dietary requirements, so look no further than the fresh pasta, pesto, lasagne and sauces at […]
Blending tradition with time: Pudding Recipe
Many families still celebrate long-established traditions such as Christmas pudding, with brandy sauce, trifle, Kiwi favourite Pavlova with whipped cream and strawberries, and classic fruit mince pies. The origins of some, such as the Christmas pudding, date back to the 14th-century. In those days it was a sort of porridge known as ‘frumenty’, […]
Eat, drink and be merry: Fiddlesticks
We live in fast changing times and with continually evolving options, so making decisions can be downright exhausting. However, wondering about where to eat or drink something delicious in relaxed and elegant surroundings in the heart of our beautiful city is not one of them. Whatever the question, the answer is always “Fiddlesticks”. […]
Whisky is the go-go: Big Daddy’s Liquor
Metropol writer Nicholas Henare enjoys a wee dram, especially on special occasions. Here are his picks from the wide selection at Big Daddy’s Liquor. Scotland boasts five main areas of whisky distillation, Speyside, Lowland, Highland, Campbeltown, and Islay. Each one has its own very distinct flavour. Growing up, I used to hook into […]
Boutique accommodation at its best: Eliza’s Manor
A fabulous hotel stay should always take you to another world, and the cocooning effect of a reality completely separate from daily life should stay with you forever. At Eliza’s Manor you are transported back through the decades from the moment you open the door. The Manor offers eight delightfully spacious boutique rooms, […]
Party central
The festive season is a time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, and to be jolly, with office parties, family gatherings and any excuse for celebrating. Central Christchurch is home to a cornucopia of bars, restaurants and other options for your festive frolics. Here are some suggestions from Metropol. Progressive festive […]
Delectable dining in Ashburton: The Fine Lion
The idea was to bring a Christchurch restaurant vibe to Ashburton. Hosts of The Fine Lion multi-cuisine restaurant, Matt and Belinda Fine, did their research around the new balcony bars and restaurants of Christchurch’s Terrace and brought to life their very own in the mid-Canterbury town. The couple have a great deal of […]
White chocolate and cherry cheesecake: Keepers
Ingredients Cheesecake 400g vanilla wine biscuits 200g butter, melted 500g cream cheese 1 cup caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 3 eggs 1 Tbsp cornflour 250g sour cream 200g white chocolate, melted Cherry compote 500g frozen pitted cherries ½ cup sugar 1 Tbsp Bakers Blend, OR 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar, […]
Gorgeous glossy glaze
A good glaze completely transforms a ham, chicken or turkey. It adds delicious flavour and a beautiful golden layer that caramelises when baking. As the hero of the Christmas table, having a sticky, glossy glaze will lift the whole spread and make it look all the more indulgent. The trick with a glaze […]
A delicious tradition
December is a few days away, and so too is the season of holly, tinsel, and carols. As we begin to prepare for all of the merry festivities, we are taking a look at one of the most loved, and most delicious Christmas traditions. Christmas lunch or dinner is often the main event […]
