Sallys

Spectacular show-stoppers: Sally Holt makes gasp worthy wedding cakes

No stranger to elaborate cakes, Sally Holt was a founding member of the Canterbury Cake Decorators Guild and the NZ Cake Decorators Guild. Her most memorable was a 17kg, half metre-tall wedding cake, made for a world champion ballroom dancing couple. “Back in the day wedding cakes were three-tier fruit cakes with lacework and handmade […]

Feijoas

A feijoa fixation: nine ideas for what to do with all those feijoas

There’s great excitement in the autumnal air, with feijoa season upon us. Generally available from about mid-March until early June, the small, green, egg-shaped fruit is pretty unique to New Zealand – although not native. A distinctive flavour and culinary versatility sees feijoa making their mark on an exceptional range of cakes, salsas, jams and […]

Fiona's Food

Personality on a plate: Fiona’s Food provides more than just great food for your wedding

Fiona’s Food is personality on a plate – a delicious affordable catering option for any wedding. For 11 years, Fiona van der Pol has run a boutique catering business. Her only qualification: bringing up four children! Cooking from the heart, she’s super-efficient, enlisting daughter Flossie when needed. Freshly made, nothing’s from the freezer. “Long live […]

Wedding cake

Have your cake and eat it too: a non-traditional approach to wedding cakes

Once upon a time, wedding cakes were a one size fits all affair – that is to say, dried fruit and white fondant were the order of the day. That was – of course – pre-Instagram. As our cake creations have become increasingly elaborate, they are taking a bigger bite out of the bridal budget. […]

Dane McGregor aka Baker Gatherer

Sure to rise: Q&A with instagram’s Baker Gatherer aka Dane McGregor

We’re not proponents of gender stereotypes round here at Metropol, but we won’t deny we were tickled pink by the sight of Dane McGregor, Baker Gatherer, getting his culinary craft on over on his Instagram @bakergatherer in amongst all the lasses. The sweet toothed recipe maker and content creator talks shop on whipping up a […]

Cyclical Superfoods

Cyclical superfoods: what culinary ingredients are making the rounds this season

Trends are cyclical by their very nature and yet some of the biggest crazes to hit the culinary scene are cyclical in more ways than one. While seeds have been ruling the gastronomic game for the longest of times, chia seeds have been pushed off their perch for the first time this year, with a […]

North Loburn School

From Garden to Table: food education for young people

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be”. While some people are quite content to maintain the status quo, others see opportunities for improvement. This is certainly the case for a Christchurch food technology teacher who is putting her heart and soul into improving food education programmes […]

The North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival

A super special Sunday: The uber cool North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival

When it comes to the hit events on the Canterbury social calendar, the North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival is right up there with the best. Set under the picturesque oaks of Glenmark Domain in Waipara Valley, the festival is back next weekend Sunday 11 March to celebrate the local bounty of the flourishing region […]