Fan favourite fritter: Red Post Cafe
It is whitebait season! A Kiwi classic that screams summer is the holy whitebait fritter, and Red Post Café in Culverden is home to the fan favourite. Just an hour and a half out of Christchurch – whether you are coming or going into the Garden City, etch this café into your trip. The […]
Hello, asparagus season!
Earthy and bitter asparagus is back. In season from September, asparagus is a vibrant and welcome addition to any meal, adding its fresh crunch to salads, balancing the richness of pastas and quiches, and even being the hero of simple, healthy snacks. SNAPPY SALAD: Combine even more seasonal produce in the forms of snow […]
Chickpea Caprese Salad with spinach walnut pesto
A simple 10-minute starter which you could double up for a big sharing plate. Make sure all the ingredients (especially the mozzarella) are at room temperature – I’ve eaten far too many fridge-cold tomatoes and cheeses that don’t taste of anything. Use any nuts, seeds or greens in this, but don’t skip toasting the walnuts […]
All a-skew
Colourful, sizzling, tasty skewers. As the weather warms up, so do our backyard barbecues. These simple and fun crowd pleasers set the chef’s creativity on fire – and everyone can pitch in with the preparation. MEATY MOUTHFULS: Pairing up bite-sized morsels with their likely partners always wins. Chicken and red pepper, lamb and onion, […]
Choux Pastry & Éclairs
Choux pastry can be a bit scary at first, but definitely give it a go — after a little practice you’ll never look back! There are so many options with choux; we’ve given a couple of sweet ones here, but choux is also great savoury, and deep-fried, the filling choices are endless. These choux pastries […]
Dipping into spring
A universal joy of warmer seasons is the vibrant and flavoursome fresh produce yields – and using the ingredients in creative ways. As the weather heats up, our preferred snacks tend to cool down, and one way to embrace the colour and crispness of fresh seasonal produce is to create refreshing savoury dips in the […]
Elegant year end events: The George
Commemorate the end of an unforgettable year with an elegant soiree at The George, a Christchurch destination for those who appreciate the finer things. Here, the range of world-class hospitality offerings can be tailored to suit any corporate or social get together. Overlooking the picturesque Hagley Park, The George is an award-winning boutique hotel on […]
Pass the pasta, please!
Versatile in form and flavours, pasta is a classic staple on high rotation for many household menus for very good reasons. But don’t make the mistake of relegating this ultimate comfort food to winter. Instead, impress your guests (or even just yourself) with these refreshing springtime pasta suggestions that will make anyone say, “Mama […]
Dinner party delights: Salmon Heaven
It’s a beautiful and tranquil space that Salmon Heaven now occupies in the recently opened Provedore, a gourmet lover’s paradise situated in the Bush Inn Centre. What a joy it is to find a fishmongers that thinks outside the square, for alongside the extensive cabinets of salmon – which stocks hot and cold smoked, […]
New venture adventure: Salt n Pepper Cafe
Buying a hospitality business during the Covid-19 lockdown could be seen as a risky venture. That is, however, exactly what Dharambir Judge did when the opportunity arose to purchase the Salt n Pepper Café in Hanmer Springs. “Certainly, I had some sleepless nights about it,” says Dharambir. “But I concentrated on the positives of […]
