Scrumptious dumplings

Bite-sized flavour dynamos, dumplings are a crowd-pleasing snack or meal that are fun and surprisingly simple to make at home. From Korean mandu to Japanese gyoza and Chinese-style wonton, here are some tried and true flavour combos to try – whether you like them boiled, steamed or fried.     Dumpling wrappers […]

Heroic herbs

Fragrant and flavourful, herbs are a secret weapon in any cook’s culinary arsenal. If you’re tempted to pass on these aromatic, tasty stalks because they require some TLC to grow, or can seem superfluous to requirements when browsing the supermarket shelves, we urge you to reconsider. Here are Metropol’s tips for adding […]

Causing a Stir: Stir Cafe

The beautifully restored Christchurch historic tram is a renowned city attraction that brings joy to riders aboard the family-friendly journey. It is at the iconic New Regent Street stop you will find Café Stir, waiting to subdue your hunger and quench your thirst with its creative and artistic offerings.   With a […]

Generous, genuine Greek: The Athens Yacht Club

Passion to create an authentic Greek experience is translated into every aspect of The Athens Yacht Club restaurant. Here, the head chef has perfected owners Emilios and Rebecca Kotzikas’ family recipes, staff greet you with a genuine smile, and the atmosphere mimics a Greek family meal.     Emilios and Rebecca are […]

Highway haven: Cafe Mayfield

When Kevin and Gaye Monson decided to retire from their long years of running a take-away and grocery store in Mayfield, their daughter, Deborah McCormick, bought the business and immediately got to work on updating it, beginning with a name change to Café Mayfield.     In those three years since the […]

All fired up: Arbour Woodfired Pizza

A century-old Lyttelton fishing boat is the centre-piece bar for a pizza joint that’s authentic to the core. Arbour Woodfired Pizza and Bar is rustic simplicity and intense perfection in the same bite.     Megan Hancox-Hammer and arbourist husband, Ra, dreamed of woodfired pizza set amongst native timbers, using local produce […]

Treat yourself! Waffle Haus

This new dessert dynasty on New Regent Street stands by an important motto: “Go ahead, treat yourself”. And the Waffle Haus is quickly building a reputation for delivering on that brief, with a mouth-watering menu of waffles, gourmet shakes, ice creams, coffee and tea.     One of the newest additions to […]

Feta, pea and mint crustless quiche

This light and minty crustless quiche is lifted by the salty feta. Perfect for a packed lunch, it will also keep well in the fridge for up to two days. Serve warm or cold with a lightly dressed mixed salad.     PER SERVING 340 cals | PROTEIN 17g | CARBS 5.5g […]

Grilled Bluff Oysters

When grilling oysters, you need to pick a species that is robust enough to stand up to the heat. The firmness of Bluff oysters makes them perfect for popping onto a barbecue with a spoonful of dressing or compound butter. This recipe comes from the early pop-up days of Hiakai. INGREDIENTS 50g […]

Leftovers lead the way

Creating new dishes from last night’s (or the night before’s) leftovers is nothing new. But creating whole new products from the remnants of meals past? Welcome to the world of edible upcycling.     Food upcycling – where new edible products are created from leftovers, by-products and surplus food waste – is […]