Star of the Show

Star of the Show: Recipes

Star anise is the star of the culinary show with these chocolate fondant cakes with orange ice cream, adding spice to what is a fairly traditional cake. Ingredients For the orange ice cream 300ml double cream 300ml full fat milk 1 orange, zest and 2 tbsp juice 6 egg yolks 1/2 cup caster sugar For […]

Christchurch Food Chase

Chasing culinary perfection: Christchurch Food Chase

If you’re a foodie that’s always on the lookout for exceptional eats throughout the city, or you’re a hospitality hotspot chasing the perfect recipe, the Christchurch Food Chase will be right up your alley. A two-week three-weekend spectacular, all in the pursuit of the perfect dish, the Christchurch Food Chase will bring together restaurants from […]

The Bespoke Chef

Bespoke Eats: The Bespoke Chef

Does the idea of having someone else do all the cooking and cleaning up for your next dinner party appeal to you? Would you prefer to relax and have quality time with your friends and family instead of being stuck in the kitchen away from all the action? For many the answers would be a […]

foodie philosophy

No-fuss foodie philosophy: Q&A with Sarah and Nick Freeman

Sarah and Nick Freeman put Lyttleton’s London Street on the culinary map when they opened Freemans in 2006. Now they’ve brought their simple, no-fuss foodie philosophy to the heart of Beckenham with The Birdwood, which opened earlier this year.   How did your culinary journey begin? Nick is from Poole on the south coast of […]

Fermented Favourites

Fermented Favourites: Get some culinary culture in your life

We throw out milk that has ‘turned’ and purchase sour cream; we slice off the mouldy parts of the cheese block before paying top dollar for blue cheese and toss the stale bread then buy breadcrumbs by the bag. Don’t even get me started on the price of fungi – those delicious little spores we […]

Alex Ricketts

Getting The Last Word: Q&A with Alex Ricketts

At the heart of New Regent Street’s The Last Word is an extensive whisky collection – more than 360 at last count. Owner Alex Ricketts gets ‘The Last Word’ in on this tempting tipple.   How would you describe The Last Word to a stranger? The Last Word is an intimate and beautiful whisky and […]

A golden elixir

A golden elixir: Recipe

You’ve probably been told at least once or twice to drink a glass of warm milk before bed. Now this advice has been given the Midas touch, with the golden sheen of turmeric. Turmeric has gone seriously mainstream this year, based on the powerful medicinal properties of curcumin, which research suggests contains strong anti-inflammatory properties. […]

Spagalimis

A Garden City icon: Spagalimis

In August 1978, ‘You’re the one that I want’ with Olivia Newton John and John Travolta was at the top of the charts, Rob Muldoon was our Prime Minister and we won five gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. It was also the year that we were blessed with the opening of Spagalimis Pizza – […]

No.4 Bar and Restaurant

Winter Warmers: No.4 Bar and Restaurant

No.4 Bar and Restaurant is a premium establishment in the heart of Merivale. Housed in a converted 1920’s villa, it offers exceptional indoor and outdoor dining and refreshments. On these cooler evenings, the inside is cosy, warmed by a roaring fire, and the courtyards are heated. When the beautiful summer weather kicks in, what could […]

Top Truffles

Top Truffles: The Perigord black truffle

Last July I found myself on the side of a hill, nose down in the dirt with the delightful truffle hunting dog, Sophie and the team from Amuri Truffiere by my side. Truffles have a unique taste, one not easy to describe but one that adds something special to a dish. With the Perigord black […]