Akaroa’s Top Eats

Need a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of city life? Head out to our favourite little slice of French paradise – Akaroa.     1. Rona’s Head down to Rona’s at 74 Rue Lavaud; find a spot in the garden, sit back in the sun and enjoy a light breakfast or lunch, or […]

First Table

First in first served: we talk to Mat Weir founder of (now international) table booking service with a twist First Table

The media is not always kind to millennials in this country, but the vision and expertise of Mat Weir of First Table will see them eating their words, as well as some very delicious dinners around the world. This innovative and actually useful (because let’s face it, not all of them are) Kiwi start-up is […]

The Monday Room (TMR)

High Street’s dining destination: The Monday Room is the perfect pre or post wedding venue

Down at 161 High Street there is something very special. The Monday Room is a destination for any food and beverage lover already, but if you’re looking for the perfect venue for your pre or post wedding event, then look no further. For fancy home cooked sharing plates, ‘Trust the Chef’ is an amazing concept, […]

Lemongrass

A unique family business: Lemongrass is a lovely little Thai restaurant in a hazelnut orchard (and how cool is that?!)

Everything about Lemongrass is unique. It’s a Thai restaurant, located off the beaten track, in a hazelnut orchard north of Rangiora. It is the true definition of a family business. Sriamorn Reavill and husband Paul bought the Loburn property and house, later building the restaurant onto their home. At Lemongrass you are likely to be […]

The Villas braised beef cheeks

Braised beef cheeks in red wine: The Villas recipe series

When cooked slowly, beef cheeks are delicious paired with chunky, forked potato mash or with silky, smooth polenta. Look out for The Villas’ take on this delicious dish on its new dinner menu. Ingredients 4 beef cheeks 3 tbs seasoned flour 2 stalks celery, 1 carrot, 1 onion, all finely diced 3 cloves garlic, crushed […]

Corianders

A delicious culinary crusade: we chat to Amar from Corianders about being a Bollywood actor and the road that took him to having an empire of successful Indian restaurants

“My dream was to be a famous Bollywood actor – yet somehow I have ended up in hospitality!” chuckles Amar Singh, owner of the Corianders restaurant group. Amar was indeed a Bollywood actor in India for a time, as well as a model and theatre actor. But with downtimes in the entertainment industry and the […]