While many of us might seek a Bloody Mary as a remedy after a night out, the classic cocktail itself is more than worthy of being highlighted as the main event. Savoury, spicy and satisfying, a well made, well-timed Bloody Mary hits the spot as little else can — a fact that Viaduct Harbour favourite Soul Bar & Bistro has recognised with its July special ‘Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary’.
The extravaganza is occurring every Sunday during July, starting on the 4th, and will be taking the moreish mixture to new heights with a range of optional additions that far outstrip just the usual celery stick. Start with the classic — vodka or tequila (known as a Bloody Maria) is mixed with tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, Culley’s habanero sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, horseradish, lemon, olives, and celery.
You can then bolster your Bloody Mary with a dill pickle or freshly-shucked Te Matuku oyster; a skewer of prawns or a bite of beef jerky. Should you wish to go the whole hog (or bird?) you can always choose to order your drink garnished with a fried chicken slider — or, test the balancing skills of the kitchen and your own mettle with The Mother of All Marys, a dazzling drink that encompasses all the aforementioned garnishes.
Taking place 11am to 4pm every Sunday until the end of July, walk-ins are welcome but bookings are recommended — simply call the friendly Soul team on 09 356 7249. We’ll see you there.
Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary at Soul Bar & Bistro
Sunday 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th July
11am – 4pm
Matariki, the māori name for the star cluster also known as the Pleiades, signals the start of the Māori new year. The date changes every year, following the lunar calendar rather than the European calendar. Traditionally, Māori engaged in a week-long Matariki celebration which commenced once the Matariki star cluster had risen during specific lunar phases— an astrological event that will begin this week on Friday 2nd July. However, to accommodate an expanding programme, Auckland’s Matariki Festival now runs for a full month across Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) from 19 June to 11 July.
The significance of Matariki stems back to ancestral Māori, for whom astronomy was interwoven into all facets of life. It is seen as a time to celebrate new life, providing communities the opportunity to come together and acknowledge the year gone by, and make plans for the one to come. For both indigenous and non-indigenous people, it is a chance to celebrate our unique country and pay homage to tangata whenua, past and present.
Ngā Mata o te Ariki.
An experiential Matariki celebration will be taking over Viaduct Harbour for nine days from the 2nd of July. Appointing creative director Tuhirangi Blair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei and clothing label Lucky Dip to oversee the events, the iconic waterfront destination will, this Friday, unveil a breathtaking installation, named ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki’ (‘The Eyes of God’).
Created by renowned New Zealand light artist Angus Muir, Ngā Mata o te Ariki will illuminate Market Square in the heart of Viaduct Harbour in its full-scale glory, bringing the stars from the Matariki cluster to life through colour and moving depictions on the ceiling of the installation. Configured so that viewers are required to look up to observe it, Muir’s piece invites us to find a moment of stillness and contemplation of the infinitely awe-inspiring cosmos.
Not only is the ongoing celebration enriching our surroundings but it is also set to treat our tastebuds, with several Viaduct Harbour restaurants putting on special Matariki menus until the 10th of July.
Saint Alice’s hangi pork sando.
Saint Alice’s executive chef Maia Atvars (Ngāi Te Rangi) has created three special menu items that include a hangi pork sando with kūmara mayo and pickled radish; trevally sashimi with cultured cream and kawakawa and a mocktail made with Wai Mānuka honey sparkling water and kiwifruit.
Cocktail bar Parasol & Swing is serving up kumara skins with New Zealand goat cheese, honeycomb and foraged herbs, along with bacon bone croquettes with smoked and breaded pork bones served in a kumara foam with truffle oil.
Honouring Waitā (bounty of the sea), Oyster & Chop has created a menu featuring oyster beignets, grilled scampi, smoked hapuka, pipis, mussel fritters, saffron pickled fennel and an aromatic fish broth.
Parasol & Swing’s bacon bone croquettes and kumara skins.
This immersive commemoration is being launched with a free public karakia Matariki ceremony led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, at 7am in Market Square on Friday, the 2nd of July, followed by a ticketed breakfast at Saint Alice. The breakfast will feature a delicious sharing menu by Maia Atvars that includes kumara sourdough bread with hangi kumara butter, scrambled eggs with native bush seasonings, kawakawa and horopito — and more tasty dishes. Bookings for this breakfast are essential via the Saint Alice website.
Particularly leading up to Matariki becoming a public holiday in 2022, Viaduct Harbour’s inaugural event is all about inspiring and educating people to discover and participate in Matariki celebrations — so we suggest you get involved.
Viaduct Harbour Karakia Matariki ceremony on Friday, 2nd of July: 6:30am: free coffee available in Market Square 7am: Karakia Matariki ceremony begins 7:45am: Breakfast served at Saint Alice
While beauty trends seem to come and go at lightning speed, thankfully when it comes to our eyebrows we can leave the tweezers firmly locked in the bathroom drawer as the collective preference for fluffy, full-looking brows still reigns supreme.
When we need a little help in this department, we find ourselves turning to the team at Cityworks Depot beauty studio Lash Noir who are (as the name would suggest) experts in the lash department, but certainly know their way around a pair of brows, too.
“Our philosophy is a balanced approach”, says Lash Noir founder Rebecca Hutchinson. “We take into consideration the intensity of your other features such as lashes and natural brow hair, to design something that looks good with a full face of makeup, and also without a full face of makeup.”
The Lash Noir team specialises in the sweet spot of enhancement that doesn’t look applied, but instead fits in with its surrounding features. “Brows are best tackled conservatively and less truly is more. We follow the contours of the face and don’t overcorrect.”
Whether you have patchy brows, down-growing hairs or are blessed with full brows and want to simply keep them groomed, here are the best treatments to consider.
For a natural-looking result with your own brows, plus minimal investment and minimal maintenance: Lash Noir’s signature brow shape (and optional tint) is called Brow Magic. What sets this 30-minute treatment apart is the detailed face-mapping technique used to plan a well-suited shape to the client’s facial features. “We love goal-setting, and working towards your best brow,” says Hutchinson. Available both with wax and without for sensitive skin, Brow Magic can be done with fully customisable colour, and make sure you ask for Christina or Zoe.
For those who are keen to create bold and defined brows, or have patchy or uneven brows:Utilising a unique henna/tint combination, the Hybrid Colour service is specially designed to not only define the brows but to also stain the skin underneath. Staying in place for between eight and 14 days, this technique eliminates the need for brow pencils, powders and pomades, and is customisable to create warmer or cooler shades depending on your skin tone. It also doesn’t discolour or fade in a patchy way like some other skin stain options can, and we would highly recommend Zoe, Hana or Kirstin for this 40-to-50-minute service.
From left: Brow Magic; Brow mapping; Ombre Mist Combo.
For those who draw their brows on daily, or want an overhaul of their shape plus previous tattoo cover-ups: The Ombre Mist Brow Tattoo treatment involves a super-soft powder effect that sits on the skin like a mist behind the brow hair. More low maintenance than hair-stroke tattoos, it can be used on a wide range of skin types — including oilier skins that might not be well-suited to a hair stroke-style tattoo — and offers a wide colour range. Even if you have little to no brow hair, it still looks natural. There is also theOmbre Mist Combination service, which offers the defined tail with powdered mist as mentioned but softens it through the fronts using hair strokes. This is perfect for people with sparse areas at the front of the brow. Specialists Britney and Ellen are Lash Noir’s star therapists for this one, and it requires two visits of around one-and-a-half hours each
For those who want a textured fluffy look, have downturned brow hair growth or are after a ‘feature brow’: Using a keratin-based lamination product, Yumi Brow Lamination sculpts the hair into the desired direction and sets it close to the skin, resulting in a more manageable textured brow. Lasting four-to-six weeks, this treatment takes one hour and both Kristen and Steph are the experts to take your brows to wow.
From left: Hybrid Colour; Feather Touch Tattoos; Yumi Brow Lamination.
For those who want a seamlessly realistic effect, volume with texture and who don’t like a soft, powder look: Great for people who are happy with their natural brow placement but wish to perfect and add to it, the Feather Touch Tattoo offers the most realistic and natural result. Best suited to normal skin types, as oily skin types can blur the strokes, this tattoo treatment seamlessly blends in with the natural hair, with a customised shape design and stroke pattern. It will take two-to-three two-hour sessions, and while all the specialists will do right by your brows, we’ve been recommended Tahlia and Brogan.
For those who are after a take-home product to help with a lack of natural hair and patchy hair growth:If you’re not naturally endowed with full brows or have had too much taken off in the past, Revitabrow Growth Serum is a miracle worker and key component in brow rehabilitation. Working brilliantly with any one of Lash Noir’s other services, it takes roughly eight weeks of daily use at home but the great results speak for themselves.
The food truck formula is tried and true, and when we saw the founders of one of our favourite burger food trucks had branched out into tacos, we were immediately excited.
Chefs Brody Jenkins and Josh Barlow both boast impressive CVs — having met at fine-dining restaurant The Grove, Jenkins then went on to Ben Bayly’s other eatery, The Grounds, while Barlow took up tenure at The Sugar Club. The duo cooked up the idea for Jo Bro’s Burgers in 2019, and since launching it has only gone from strength to strength.
It was during New Zealand’s first lockdown in 2020 that they started thinking about adding a sister truck to their offering, and now Loco Bro’s has arrived, specialising in delicious tacos and Mexican-inspired snacks made with high-quality ingredients.
Josh Barlow (left) and Brody Jenkins.
The taqueria works with the same philosophy as Jo Bro’s — which they describe as “taking something that’s already done well and that people love, just doing it better. Better techniques, better produce, all while doing our best to keep it at an affordable price-point.”
Keeping the flavour profiles as traditional as possible, the duo use their chef-trained cooking techniques to elevate the offering, using Mexican spices from supplier Tio Pablo, fresh New Zealand chillies and handmade corn tortillas from Napier business Hands Down which uses Gisborne-grown corn.
Loco Bro’s Doble Birria taco.
The selection of snacks includes house-made blue corn tortilla chips, available with queso dip (made with three cheeses including Oaxaca mozzarella), and other classics like guacamole and roasted tomato salsa — plus hot chips and wedges.
There are three enticing flavours of tacos so far but this is set to grow — currently, the Doble Birria comprises slow-braised beef and lamb, fresh onion and chipotle; Escalfada Chicken has poached organic chicken, roasted tomato mole and pickled onion; and for those after a plant-based option, the Chilli Con Carne is made with vegan chilli, vegan queso and fresh onion.
While the taco truck is the mobile arm of the business, and at the moment can be found most often at The Beer Spot’s various locations, Jenkins and Barlow will also be opening a brick-and-mortar Loco Bro’s in an exciting new hospitality development coming to Titirangi in mid-July. Keep an eye on our channels for more on that particular new opening, and for now, we encourage you to seek out the Loco Bro’s taco truck for a hit of some of the tastiest tacos in town.
It’s official, one of New Zealand’s most beloved menswear and suiting brands has introduced its first foray into womenswear — coming 34 years after it first launched, it’s more than worth the wait. W by Working Style debuted with a bang last Thursday night, with a spectacular showcase held at the Mercedes-Benz Auckland showroom in front of a crowd of 600 guests.
Showing a curated selection of 27 looks, the show demonstrated the variety within W by Working Style’s bespoke range, from more casual, effortless cotton and linen suit separates, to sumptuous wool suits, silk satin and velvet jackets — all impeccably tailored. The Director and Designer of the new W Collection is Sharon Orquieo, who has been with the Working Style brand for over 15 years, and her strong vision was integral when it came to creating a collection that stays true to its beginnings while adhering to the core design principles that make great womenswear.
“The Working Style brand and the W by Working Style collection is all about inclusiveness and the proud New Zealand tailoring heritage that these brands stand for,” she says.
Having been treated to this initial preview of the offering, we can’t wait to see what more is to come from this exciting new venture.
Any prospective home buyer who has had to make the choice between a contemporary, design-led apartment and a nature-immersed lifestyle will know, it’s not an easy toss-up to make. The acquisition of greenery, airiness and proximity to water might come with a home that doesn’t necessarily include all the desired mod cons, and vice versa.
This is not the case with Elementum, a premium residential project that offers resort-style living in the heart of Long Bay Village — mere minutes walk from the beach and Long Bay Regional Park. Presenting as a hidden oasis of landscaped spaces, it will boast both apartments and terrace houses that will ensure you can escape the suburban norm for beachside living, while enjoying all the benefits of a premium design aesthetic.
Elementum is being developed by Templeton Group, which has overseen other popular projects such as the NXN apartments in Kingsland, and has a stellar reputation for attentively crafted, quality places for people and families. Award-winning cross-disciplinary practice, Studio Pacific Architecture is behind the design, having completed numerous high profile residential, civic and commercial projects including Wynyard Quarter development 30 Madden Street.
The Elementum complex will be formed of nine, three-storey buildings, comprising 107 apartments and 15 terraced homes. The walk-up apartments are available in a multitude of designs, and will feature open-plan living that harmoniously encompasses secluded balconies, overlooking green spaces. With a price range of $560,000 to $1,100,000, there is a range of layouts to choose from to suit a variety of lifestyles.
Each apartment will be imbued with a welcoming, homely feel thanks to exceptional details like high ceilings, fully tiled bathrooms and high-spec kitchens featuring European appliances and stone benchtops.
The 15 terraced homes will be north-facing and overlook the landscaped internal space, each facade denoted by a sloping, mansard roof and white brick exterior. Starting from $1,475,000 for a four-bedroom terraced home with a two-car garage, those who live in these beautiful abodes will also be privy to a hidden green oasis of native plants and trees.
The layout design includes high-quality kitchens on level one with European appliances and stone benchtops, and an open-plan living and dining room, while the master bedroom and ensuite sit alongside a second bedroom and bathroom upstairs, with two more spacious bedrooms and a full-sized bathroom completing the top level. A two-car garage sits on the lower level, with a laundry and ample storage.
“I love the challenge of understanding the environment we’re working with, how we work with the land,” says Templeton Group founder Nigel McKenna. “With Elementum, the coastal context lends itself to natural and raw materials and plenty of lush planting. The apartments and terraced homes are set in an oasis of landscaped spaces, creating a relaxed, tropical sanctuary. Within collections of foliage sit interwoven timber platforms and boardwalks with bench seating creating places to gather and connect.”
In terms of Elementum’s location, beachside community Long Bay is located approximately 22-kilometres north of Auckland city, with a direct bus route to the extensive Albany retail precinct (which offers a park and ride system) and the Northern Express bus to Auckland CBD. The on-ramp to central Auckland is a 10-minute drive away.
Long Bay Village Centre won the 2021 Auckland Architecture Award for planning and urban design, thanks to its impeccably considered positioning and design. With Elementum’s proximity to the village, a vital sense of connection and community can be cultivated with ease.
“You have all the amenities you need as well as plenty of shared open spaces and hubs where people can gather and meet which fosters connectivity and a sense of belonging,” adds McKenna. “Our aim at Long Bay is to create a unique living environment that connects the people who live there with the stunning surrounding environment.”
Visit the Elementum sales suite to discuss your options.
Open Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 3pm
88 Te Oneroa Way, Long Bay Village, Auckland 0792 (Opposite New World)
For a private appointment please contact Colliers.
Having launched his label Porter James Sports only six months ago, Joshua Heares is seemingly well on the road to success. Recently chosen as an amici of Italian beer brand, Peroni, we learn a little more about the man behind the brand.
Why did you decide to create Porter James Sports? Having worked for a decade in the advertising and branding industries, I was craving change. Clothing and fashion is something I’ve always loved and when a few opportunities presented themselves, I went after this dream. Porter James Sports is a blend between streetwear and menswear. Something really refined but also a style that isn’t unattainable. The label is only six months old, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive and for that, I’m super grateful and motivated to take this as far as I can.
Porter James Sports is all about “a life well designed” — how does this concept look in practice for your own life? One day, while employed with a “good” job I spoke to my friend and mentor (Shout out Ravi Patel) about my next steps. I was perplexed as to where I should take my career, i.e. what is my next job title? What is my dream job? He told me to forget my dream job and to design my dream day.
Ultimately this led me to the place I’m at now. A life designed exactly as I want it, working with purpose, creativity, incredible people and for the most part, on my own terms. Porter James Sports takes this a step further, with the idea of “well-designed” expressed in an aesthetic I regard as timeless.
What has been one of the biggest things you’ve learned? One of my most significant learnings is understanding the weaknesses in my own decision-making process. As a solo founder, I’ve sometimes been too quick to make decisions without consulting my peers or support network. I also think creative decisions should be slept on, at least for one night. Sometimes I find I see things completely different the next day.
What’s something you’re passionate about? A life well-designed is one that lets you play or practice golf a lot! I was a keen junior golfer and then took a bit of time off in my 20’s but I have the golf bug badly again. When I’m not working it’s pretty much all I think about.
What’s coming up next for you? At this point I’m just trying to launch my next range at the highest quality. I’m not in a rush, or chasing seasonal trends. I just want to get it right while I’m still new. Also I have a couple of global brand collaborations in the works, which should release later in the year. In a nutshell, continually asking myself how I can grow the brand correctly, irrespective of sales.
Blink and you’ll miss the latest new opening we’re excited about, tucked down a city-fringe back street and marked by a black door and a subtly lit, dark red sign. But head through the door and downstairs to the subterranean space, and once you’ve had a taste of what Bar Magda has to offer, you’ll be glad you found it.
Located at 25B Cross St, Bar Magda is owned by a trio with extensive and varied experience in the hospitality industry — Carlo Buenaventura, Craig Thompson and Matt Venables. Buenaventura is a familiar face from all over the food scene, having moved from his native Philippines to Aotearoa in 2010 and worked his way up the ranks in Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland for eateries including Matterhorn, Orphans Kitchen, Burger Burger, Culprit and Gemmayze Street.
Carlo Buenaventura.
He has worked as both a chef and front of house, in management roles and assisting roles, always with the aim to absorb more information, practices, techniques and strategies for when he would eventually open his own venue.
Buenaventura’s most recent venture was his popular The Cult Project restaurant pop-ups, which took place in eateries country-wide including Waipara Valley’s Black Estate, Madame George, and Hillside in Wellington. He and co-owners Thompson and Venables knew each other from around the hospo circuit, and all bring different strengths to the venue. Thompson was the bar manager at Orphans Kitchen and runs Bar Magda’s drinks programme, and Venables also comes from a bar background on more of the operations side.
The space itself has a darkly cool vibe, like entering a subterranean club but more polished. Which makes sense, because it’s in what previously used to be X nightclub. Glowing, red-tinged lights line the underside of the bar and floor, with jewel-like round pendant lights dotting the space. Exposed brick walls, wooden banquette seating, concrete floors and glass tiles all come together to create a textural yet unfussy ambience.
Bar Magda seats 52, and is cleverly divided into three zones — there is a more intimate, quiet dining area near the open kitchen, and then a bar and dining space through a glass door that has both standing room, tables and bar leaners, with a dividing curtain separating the solely dedicated bar area.
Lamb ribs.
In terms of the food offering, Buenaventura describes it as ‘seasonal produce through a Filipino lens’. It’s not ‘modern Filipino food’, he says but the main direction of the kitchen, flowing through to the bar, is focused on the flavours he grew up with. “Some of the dishes are not in any way, shape or form a traditional Filipino dish”, he says, “but, there are flavours in there that people who grew up in the Philippines would find familiar.”
Bar Magda, like the name suggests, certainly has a strong drinks focus, but equally, it is a dinner destination, serving a fairly comprehensive menu of sharing plates that span snacks, and both hot and cold larger plates. Expect flavours that centre on sour-salty, sour-sweet, sour-spicy, and desserts that are more sweet-salty. When we visited we were struck by how different the food is from anything else we’ve seen locally.
The house-made bread of the day can be ordered with a very intriguing-sounding parmesan custard spread, garnished with preserved scallion and sweet gherkin — addictively creamy and cheesy with a bite of freshness from the scallions, it turns out that it’s inspired by Cheez Whiz, which Buenaventura grew up eating. Served in this iteration, we can certainly get on board. From the ‘something cold’ section, triangles of preserved kohlrabi are incredibly tangy and spicy, made with a riff on a traditional fermentation method that is normally done with shrimp paste but Buenaventura has replicated with other spices for the same effect, and coloured with beetroot. They are topped with creamy dollops of a boiled potato, saffron and egg mixture, which adds moreish contrast.
Yams with oyster mushrooms.
A dish of roasted, slightly smashed yams topped with oyster mushrooms and pickled mushrooms is beautifully comforting and earthy, and has added richness from a duck fat buttercream (which can be left off to make it vegan). We also highly recommend the lamb ribs ‘pyanggang’ with herbs and green sambal — the ribs are cooked until tender, meltingly soft and slightly charred, topped with a herbaceousness that cuts through the fat.
“We want the dishes to be generous but not too much”, says Buenaventura; for two or three people, you could order four or five dishes to share, plus dessert. With Bar Magda’s kitchen being open later than most — 11pm during the week and 12:30am on the weekends — the team are happy to cater to diners spaced out through the evening, coming in later rather than the typical 7pm slot.
Bar Magda is in its ‘soft opening’ phase until the 17th of July, meaning they’re still seeing what works and what doesn’t, ironing out kinks and refining the offering for what it will be more permanently moving forward. Regardless, we think it’s more than worth a visit, and can almost guarantee you’ll try something you have never tasted before.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 5pm — 12am (kitchen closes at 11pm) Friday & Saturday: 5pm — 2am (kitchen closes at 12:30am) Sunday & Monday: Closed
Is there a new opening you believe should be on our radar? Let us know at [email protected]
Shake up your classic playlists with these exceptional artists. With extraordinary voices and moving tracks that showcase their inspiring talent, these four artists are who you should be listening to right now.
Celeste Already an accomplished singer-songwriter at just 26, Celeste Epiphany Waite has been lauded for the way her music is causing mainstream listeners to tune into new wave British Jazz. While her powerful voice hints at Billie Holiday and Amy Winehouse, her stirring vocals feel entirely unique when coupled with her expressive lyrics, destined to draw the listener in. Come for the precise musicianship, stay for the storytelling.
Jon Batiste.
Jon Batiste Not only is he the longstanding band leader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Music Director at The Atlantic and the Creative Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Jon Batiste, a multifaceted musician and talented Jazz practitioner has (at only 34 years old) already won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his music compositions on acclaimed animated film Soul. A true, shining talent.
Nilüfer Yanya.
Nilüfer Yanya With tracks like ‘Keep On Calling’ and ‘Baby Blu’ (with over 12 million and 8 million listens on Spotify respectively) already to her name, this 25-year-old Londoner is making some serious waves in the music scene. From her evocative lyrics to her soft, breathy voice, this jazz-pop singer is one to add to the playlist, stat.
Jenevieve.
Jenevieve While she may still be up-and-coming, Jenevieve’s soft, sweet vocals and sound that amalgamates jazz, R&B, disco, new wave and pop will have you hooked from the first few lines. Start with her single ‘Baby Powder,’ for a tune you’ll want to keep on repeat.
What’s not to love about a hot pie? The pastry-laden dish is a national favourite for a reason — filling, a bit indulgent and ultimately very satisfying, pies are the quintessential comfort food and we’re craving them regularly now that a chill has set in. While we aren’t scared to admit we love a service station pie as much as the next person, we thought we’d go for a slightly more elevated experience. Without further ado, here are our favourite restaurant-quality pies in town.
Otago lamb shank pie from Akarana Akarana’s signature pie is recognisable indeed, thanks to the (slightly confronting) bone sticking out of the middle. Despite the presentation, it’s always a winner, with rich lamb filling, expertly crafted pastry and a side of mashed peas with mint, and gravy.
Prego’s The Pie.
The Pie from Prego The arrival of Prego’s world-famous-in-Auckland pie usually heralds the start of winter, making the onset of short days and long nights all the more bearable with its presence. Set upon a luscious bed of mashed potato, the Prego pie’s flavour changes regularly but is always delicious. Currently, it’s smoked kahawai with sweet leek and dill, and a lime and dill hollandaise. Other iterations that might be on offer are spiced lamb ragu, beef short rib or occasionally, depending on supply, venison. While Prego’s classic Italian fare is divine, we usually find ourselves forgoing pizza and pasta if this pie is on the menu.
Meat Pie Croquette from The Lodge Bar & Dining The delectable Meat Pie Croquette is part of Commercial Bay eatery The Lodge Bar & Dining’s snack menu and it packs a big hit of flavour in a small mouthful. Perfect for when you want the taste of a pie without the inevitable full belly, this clever morsel comes out shaped like an innocuous croquette but bite into it and a delicious meaty filling with smoked cheddar will have you questioning why you ever ate anything else.
From left: Ostro fish pie; Ostro pastry-top pie.
Fish pie from Ostro Widely acclaimed for their sensational fish pie, filled with snapper and prawns and finished with a creamy potato top, Ostro has led the charge on restaurant-quality pies since it first opened. While the pie may not be on the restaurant’s dine-in menu, you can order it from the Savor Goods website to heat and eat at home. And if seafood is not your thing, the braised beef pie with red wine, bacon and mushroom or chicken and vegetable with a pastry top is equally as compelling — each serving four people.
Pies of the day from Daily Bread Admittedly these pies can be taken away and eaten fresh out of the brown paper bag but they can also be enjoyed onsite at one of Daily Bread’s bustling bakeries — we had to include them as they are, like everything from the baked-good maestros, always of exceptional quality and are very delicious. The flavours change with seasonal availability, but the current flavours are bolognese and mozzarella, mint and mutton, and pumpkin amaretto (a great one for vegetarians out there).
Lamb and cheese savoury from Ahi Another snack-size pie, the lamb and cheese savouries from Ahi are a must-order (along with the tahr tartare and the scampi corndog). With moreish, flaky pastry forming the base, a topping of lamb and melted Clevedon buffalo mozzarella makes these bites all the more luxurious and decadent.
Fed Deli’s sweet pies.
Sweet pies from Federal Delicatessen It would be remiss of us to skip a sweet pie when celebrating national pie day — after all, the best is often saved for last. The Fed’s sweets menu is renowned for how impossible it is to resist, and while we love the NY-style cheesecake, it’s the pies we’ll be making a beeline for this time. The lemon meringue pie is oh-so silky, while the banana and toffee pie with caramelised popcorn is heaven for fans of banoffee and the pecan pie is everything we want the classic pie flavour to be.
Apple pie from The Pie Piper Is there anything better than a hot apple pie served with cold whipped cream or ice cream? We challenge you to think of anything after tasting the classic apple pie from The Pie Piper. Sliced apples are tossed together with a mixture of sugar and warming spices, then encased in a lattice-top flaky pastry. Available for takeaway and serving six to seven people, this pie is perfect for an easy, ready-made dessert.
The skies might be dark and stormy but our wardrobes shouldn’t be. These delightful bags have us dabbling in soft, pastel tones like never before, with luxury fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Gucci taking inspiration from the candy shop. While these coloured bags may be sweet, they avoid being saccharine thanks to either a structured silhouette — as seen on Prada’s brushed-leather tote — or interesting texture, a la Bottega Veneta’s pouch.
If you find yourself gravitating towards a lot of black and dark colours in the winter, these bags are an easy way to punctuate a look, an uplifting statement that takes no effort at all.
Until recently, the multi-step skincare routine was truly a beauty force to be reckoned with. The likes of K-Beauty inspired ten-step regimes that are touted as the answer to youthful, glowing, blemish-free skin. But maintaining a routine this long and laborious is no easy feat. So, with this in mind, we set out searching for a system that would give us similar, sought-after benefits but at a fraction of the time (and effort).
Ever the minimalists, it was the French, it seems, that we should have been turning our attention to — more specifically, luxury skincare brand Sothys. Via simple three-step morning and evening plans, using just three Sothys products each, skincare can be made easy for those in a rush. Sure, they can be expanded on wherever seen fit (an eye cream, for example, never goes amiss) but these are the trios that create the supreme, foundational regimen.
Morning: Step One — Cleansing Be wary of cleansing too much in the morning as you may be stripping the face of the natural, beneficial oils that are produced overnight. Instead, find a cleanser that’s more on the gentle side, light but still effective, like the Cleansing Lotion — Comfort. Fusing creamy lotion with Spa™ Thermal Water, the cleanser both clears and freshens the skin while creating the perfectly prepped blank canvas for further products.
Step Two — Serum Once cleansed, be sure to add a serum that leaves a weightless, traceless finish — anything on the heavy-duty side should be reserved for nighttime only. Boasting an adaptogen-rich formula with a lightweight texture, the Energising Booster Serum is a simple way to inject a boost of radiance to the skin’s complexion, removing any signs of morning grogginess.
Step Three — Moisturiser When it comes to a day cream, you should be swiping a protective barrier onto the skin that will be both illuminating and hydrating under makeup. The Soothing Melting Fluidnot only protects the skin from external aggressors, but the use of Vitamin F ensures that it is softened and hydrated, too — resulting in a silky, nourishing base that’s perfect for make-up application.
Night: Step One — Cleansing The removal of makeup should always be first on the list when it comes to evening skincare, so begin by using a soft, gentle cleanser that will wash away the obvious stuff easily. Boasting a rich and silky formula, the Cleansing Milk — Comfortensures that any removal process is soft and easy, an ideal product for those on the more sensitive side.
Step Two — Exfoliating The double cleanse trend has blown up in the beauty realm, and for good reason, too — there’s no better way to truly remove the day’s impurities. After removing makeup via the gentle cleansing milk, a second cleanse, via the Biological Peeling Scrub, allows you to work harder on the remenants that get left behind. Its gentle, exfoliant properties will remove that further layer of pollution, alongside any dry skin and stubborn, leftover makeup and dirt.
Step Four — Night Cream Now is the time where you can customise the routine to ensure it is tailored to your skin concerns, and if you were to add an eye cream or a specific treatment, it would be here. For those evenings where spare minutes are few and far between, however, you can skip this lengthy process — as long as you are sure to finish your routine with a heavy-duty moisturiser. Essentially, the skin only gets to work when you are asleep, so before bedtime, it’s important to lather your face in anything that will aid and accelerate the repairing process. Rich in stabilised Vitamin C, the Noctuelle Detox Overnight Creamdetoxifies the skin when it needs it the most, and ensures that it’s left soft, luminous and hydrated come morning time.
As a furniture designer, part of the challenge of designing any piece is envisioning it in the wider context of an array of homes, aesthetic preferences and individual needs. The temptation to expand into increasing mediums that communicate your vision must be irresistible, and with this in mind we are certainly delighted that Simon James has entered the rug market.
The Elias 010 rug.
Both the Cass and Elias rugs are available in a selection of timeless tones.
Crafted with the brand’s characteristic emphasis on impeccable quality and enduring functionality, the new rug styles are currently available in two material formulations. The sumptuous Cass rug, a dense, loop-pile, is a hand-tufted blend of Tibetan cashmere and New Zealand merino wool. With its plush construction and visually-textural appearance, the Cass rug bestows warmth and comfort to any space in a timeless choice of natural tones.
The Elias rug is rendered in high-performance silky nylon, its high, dense pile resulting in subtle tonal variations through ongoing use. Both suitable for residential spaces, the Elias translates seamlessly to a commercial setting while the Cass can be made to order with commercially-suitable hard-felted yarn. Both rugs are available in standard sizes, or can be designed in custom dimensions, making these rugs a perfectly adaptable yet elevated addition to any space.
Long time readers of Denizen magazine will be well aware of my somewhat macabre propensity to subject myself to painful cosmetic procedures, all in the name of youth preservation. But 80 to 120 needles in your face at once? That’s quite possibly a new record, even for me.
With my increasing interest in natural medicines, and a desire for a more natural outcome to facial rejuvenation, the burgeoning trend of facial acupuncture as an alternative therapy seemed worthwhile investigating.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for centuries. More recently, the art of facial massaging using a purposefully shaped piece of jade or rose quartz known as gua sha has grown immensely popular. But the ancient practice of acupuncture for its facial enhancing benefits is relatively new to New Zealand.
As an acupuncture virgin, I undertook some research. Being from the school of scepticism around natural remedies, I was interested to learn that the practice actually dates as far back as 221 BC in the Qin Dynasty when acupuncture and herbal medicines were provided for emperors and empresses to enhance their natural beauty and delay ageing.
I guess we humans haven’t evolved our penchant for seeking out eternal youth. But in modern times, cosmetic acupuncture hasn’t really become well-known among the general population.
Auckland-based acupuncturist Amy Chen of Origins Acupuncture has been practicing medical acupuncture for five years and has focused more specifically on the cosmetic practice for the past two years, to great success. Chen employs the Miso F.A.C.E technique, which is a Korean medical acupuncture treatment that is designed to naturally enhance and improve the skin’s elasticity and texture.
After our initial consultation, I learned that Chen uses needles that are extremely thin, 0.10 – 0.14mm, making them thinner than our hair (and much thinner than your typical acupuncture needle).
So while they are less painful to insert, it requires a serious degree of technique and training to ensure that each of the 80 to 120 needles she inserts into the face and scalp stimulates the muscle, fascia, acupuncture meridians, muscles along the meridians and the dermal layer of the skin. Thus improving the facial skin’s circulation and elasticity, giving a glow and gentle lift, that over time will result in long-term effective facial enhancements.
“Something to do” I say. A phrase I’ve been known to use on occasions when I’m feeling a tad nervous about what is to follow. Yet what does follow is far less intrusive than I anticipated. As I lay on the bed, Chen goes about inserting needles into the left side of my face, starting behind my ears and into my scalp — areas that I feel an immediate tightening from — followed by a customised-for-my-issues insertion of needles around my eyes, lips, cheeks and jawline.
I must admit, my first experience was a little challenging, purely because of the tightening I experienced. But Amy knows her stuff, and after filling half of my face with needles, she wisely and promptly shows me the results of what the needles have achieved. And I have to be honest, I was pretty gobsmacked.
The symmetry of my face was completely off. The side without needles is down and slightly droopy, with a very prominent nasal labial fold. While the other side, which is still filled with needles, is puffy, free of lines and wrinkles — definitely a vast improvement.
After all of the needles are inserted, I am left to lie in peace and quiet (or sleep as I have done on one occasion) for 20 minutes while the ancient mastery works its magic. At the end of this time, it’s a relatively swift process to remove the needles.
Amy recommended a course of four weekly sessions, followed by a monthly maintenance session. At the time of writing I have completed the four weekly sessions, and I can say that I can see a definite improvement in the elasticity and quality of my skin.
I’d conclude by saying that despite my long term propensity for the likes of Botox and fillers, there is a part of me that is tending towards procedures that result in a more natural outcome. The days of the pillowy lips, overly high cheekbones and waxy over-lasered skin are, I hope, behind us, or at the very least destined to be administered painlessly via phone filters.
Perhaps the ancient Chinese did have a point? I for one am sold on the idea of reducing the amount of rubbish I’m putting into my face and instead opting for a more natural approach.
Newly opened in Eden Terrace, Kind Stranger is a cosy neighbourhood cafe where the service is just as warm as the piping hot coffee. It is owned and operated by Mate Vella who, having returned to New Zealand from a stint in London just before Covid, was honing his caffeine-centric craft full time at Grey Lynn cafe Crumb when the opportunity came up to realise a long-held goal of opening his own spot.
Located in the site previously occupied by cult sandwich slingers Hero Sandwich House, Kind Stranger has been given an interior refresh that has taken it from a predominantly takeaway direction to a space that invites customers to sit in with a brew and a bite from the cabinet.
Vella enlisted the help of his friend, designer Elliot Francis, who works for hospitality design firm Millé but took on the venue as a personal project. Early on in their friendship, the duo had bonded over a shared love for the style of cafes visited on their travels to Japan and Korea, and this formed the inspiration for Kind Stranger’s sensibility.
Walking in, there are three tall, stool-lined tables lining one side, and the rest of the space is intended to feel as open as possible with a striking white tiled banquette around the left side and by the front window, and small yet solid wooden plinths sourced from boutique and gallery Public Record in the place of traditional tables.
The terracotta red wall, painted in Resene Tandoori, further encourages the overall warmth of the space, and the mixture of textures between natural wooden floors and plinths, creamy tiles and rust-toned wall combine in a way that adds interest to the otherwise pared-back effect.
Kind Stranger’s Reuben sandwich.
In terms of the food offering, Kind Stranger keeps the cabinet stocked with savoury sandwiches and baked sweet treats, plus vegan options within both categories made by local baker Neat Cakes. We tried Vella’s delicious take on a Reuben, served in a brioche bun with pastrami, Swiss cheese, gherkins and house-made sauce; and the beef cheek, rocket, cheese and onion jam toasted bun, which was also very tasty.
Open seven days a week, it is in a prime spot to service both residential visitors and those coming from the various offices and company headquarters in the area.
“Kind Stranger is really in the name,” says Vella of the intention behind his new venture. “A community based on having as much or as little interaction with me as they so choose. Regardless, they’ll be met with a warm reaction by me.”
It’s been an exciting year so far for Tiffany and Co., and the luxury jewellery giant has only gone from strength to strength. Its latest announcement unveiled the identities of three new global brand ambassadors, following on from the appointment of Blackpink megastar Rosé who debuted her ambassador role in April’s 2021 Tiffany HardWear digital campaign.
Tiffany’s line-up of new muses is a trio of inspiring, trailblazing women — award-winning actors Anya Taylor-Joy and Tracee Ellis Ross, and world champion skier Eileen Gu, and seeing as the T1 line is dedicated to inner strength and individuality, we can’t think of three more perfect representatives of this mission statement.
Ushering in a fresh, creative vision for Tiffany, Taylor-Joy, Ellis Ross and Gu all starred in the stunning, Mario Sorrenti-shot 2021 Tiffany T1 campaign, ‘Give Me the T’, expressing admiration and appreciation for the House as they unveiled the shoot to each of their sizeable social media followings.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Taylor-Joy, best known for her star turns in the 2020 rendition of Jane Austen’s Emma, and the record-breaking Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, speaks of how she adores the symbolism of jewellery — no matter if it just speaks to the wearer. “I love it to mean something to me,” she says. “It doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything to anybody else, but I like to look down at my fingers and have a story.”
Ellis Ross (daughter of none other than the legendary Diana Ross) is also an actor, as well as a singer, television host, producer and director, known for her multi-award-winning lead roles in Girlfriends and Black-ish. Both she and Taylor-Joy are famed for their impeccable style off-screen — and along with Gu, they shine when showcasing the signature collection through a pared-down, contemporary lens.
Eileen Gu.
While she is only 17, Chinese American pro-skier and model Eileen Gu (also known by her Chinese name Gu Ailing) is already an utter inspiration to young women around the world for her athletic prowess, determination and fearlessness.
With this formidable trio representing the T1 collection in a mutual celebration of talent and beauty, Tiffany once again proves why its iconic pieces never go out of style.
If you have never tried a proper Portuguese custard tart, we are sincerely sorry for your tastebuds. Known in the mother tongue as ‘Pastel de Nata’, these sweet delights are absolutely heavenly when executed with the proper finesse, comprising crisp, flaky pastry shells that hold a creamy custard centre, with a blistered top that adds an addictive caramelised pay-off.
They make for the perfect sweet pick-me-up any time of day — and, luckily for you, we’ve discovered a local bakery that will deliver them by the box-load to a business address, ready to heat in the oven for a morning or afternoon tea the whole office will love.
Founded by Portuguese native Pedro Marcelino, Nata is a bakery specialising in authentic Pasteis de Nata, as well as orange Queijadas (another type of custardy Portuguese cupcake). It had a brick-and-mortar shop on Karanghapape Road until April this year, when unfortunately it had to close due to Covid-related hardships, and now just operates an online-only delivery business.
Having moved to New Zealand from Portugal in 2015, Marcelino and his wife found themselves missing the delectable baked goods of their home country, so after just six months Marcelino decided to quit his IT job, and travelled back to Portugal to train as a professional pastry chef — specialising in Portuguese custard tarts.
The training has certainly paid off, as these tarts are sublime. Currently, you can find them in coffee shops and restaurants, as well as in the bakery section at Farro and Countdown supermarkets nationwide. Should you wish to stock up your workplace fridge, Nata provides the option of ordering boxes of 16 or 32 tarts to be frozen and baked as required.
So, while we currently can’t head to the Northern Hemisphere and escape the cold, Nata’s renowned Portuguese tarts are bringing a taste of Europe to us — the only challenge? It’s impossible to just eat one.
Bringing rich tones of emerald, forest and beryl to the fore, the verdant trend emerging in high-end jewellery has us seeing green. From the standout pieces at Sutcliffe, to the eye-catching sparklers at Partridge, these exquisite pieces will have everyone else green with envy.
While it may be hard to imagine from the winter doldrums we currently find ourselves in (although, there’s no denying it’s nice to be bundled up cosily inside), the warmer months will roll around again soon enough and, with them, the urge to spend sunny days relaxing outdoors.
Should you be thinking your home’s outdoor furniture could do with a refresh, you’re not alone. We currently have our eyes on the versatile and stylish Bullfrog Outdoor range, available to order locally from Sarsfield Brooke.
Named after the bullfrog for its flexibility and ease at adapting to new environments, the German brand specialises in high-quality exterior pieces that can be rendered in both neutral and unique designs, and even outdoor leathers.
Bullfrog Johann floor seat cushion.
Many of the pieces are crafted with high-quality outdoor woods, including thermo-treated Ash, which renders it weather-resistant and highly durable — high dimensional stability also means lower expanding and contracting during seasonal changes. Oiled Larch wood is also used, oiled so as to be UV and weather-resistant, and is naturally resistant to fungus and the like.
Where steel framing is used, it has been galvanised or powder coated for UV protection and is highly resistant to corrosion, plus the vast range of fabrics (including water-resistant or 100 percent waterproof) means you’ll have no trouble finding something that fits your at-home environment.
Within the excellent range, we particularly love the Akito outdoor sofa; stylish yet elegant, functional and design-led. It comprises a solid wood base fixed with upholstered cushions and has a multitude of reclining options.
This versatile sofa can be adjusted up or down, making a double lounger or sofa, and can even be configured to form a snug corner setting. A table can be revealed thanks to a sliding feature, and the Akito can be set with castor wheels for ease of movement.
Bullfrog Gajus outdoor sofa.
The Gajus sofa has also caught our eye, and is for those who love a versatile lounger, with Bullfrog’s engineering allowing for a range of possible back positions. Available as a single lounger, or as a chaise and sofa, its relatively straight-forward shape suits a range of fabrications, from statement-making to neutral.
With a large range of pieces available, from island-style armchairs to side-tables, moveable cushions and more, Sarsfield Brooke’s selection of Bullfrog has us already mapping out what our warm weather relaxation situation is going to look like — and we suggest you do the same.
Designer Jordan Gibson founded Auckland-based streetwear favourite Checks Downtown in 2017, and the unisex label specialises in streetwear silhouettes that have an irreverent sensibility, while still prioritising lush fabrications and impeccable fit.
Having initially opened in a downstairs space on High Street, Checks has been welcoming customers to its eye-catching orange store at 84 Pitt Street since July 2020, frontage that is certainly in keeping with the brand’s colourful shades and prints.
Fans of the brand (of which there are many) gravitate towards it for more than just the tangible clothing aspect — Gibson has succeeded in creating a community around Checks that goes beyond sales, with a highly engaged social media presence and regular involvement in collaborative food, music and charity events.
We knew this tastemaker would have some good recommendations, so read on to learn more about the man behind the brand.
What I do for a job described in one sentence: Founder of Checks Downtown, Auckland-based unisex clothing brand, and spinner of many plates.
My personal style can be defined by: Colour, texture, a bit of risk-taking with a mix of references from different eras. Lately, it’s also been very comfortable.
The last thing I bought and loved was: A custom signet ring from my friend Frank Silver, it has a classic chunky shape with a beaten texture on the top and sides for a contemporary twist. I don’t really shop much so jewellery has become a bit of a new obsession!
An unforgettable place I visited was: Tonga, just incredibly beautiful. Swimming with whales was a particularly special experience. I’m dreaming of visiting Rarotonga with the Cook Islands bubble opening.
On my wish list is: My obsession with textures means that 90 percent of my footwear is suede, and in this city, I really need something waterproof. Salomons? Boots? HELP!
From left: Frank Silver custom signet ring; Inside Checks Downtown’s Pitt Street store.
When I was younger, I wanted to be: Without really realising it was a career path, a clothing designer, I’m a pretty singular focus kind of person and can’t apply myself to something I don’t love. So I’m pretty happy it worked out.
My guilty pleasure is: Dining out, the diet tends to go out the window when I’m enjoying a night amongst friends.
My secret talent is: I make a really good vegetarian curry. I’m a bit of an anxious host but do enjoy sharing this with others.
My style / favourite cultural icon is: Jason Dill, the way he mixes styles and adds a toughness to finer garments appeals to me.
The best book I’ve read in the last year is:The Best of Me, by David Sedaris.
I can’t miss an episode of: Right now, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under.
My morning routine is: Coffee, gym, get to work early, coffee, check for urgent emails, catch up with the team on how their work is tracking.
In my fridge you’ll always find: I generally cook a big meal we can enjoy throughout the week so probably whatever has been prepared the night before.
Clockwise from left: Moccamaster; The Best of Me by David Sedaris; RuPaul’s Drag Race; Cazador; The Happiness Lab.
I recently discovered: A broader musical interest — folk, jazz, disco, bossa nova, afro boogie, what have I been doing all this time!
A gadget I can’t do without is: Our orange Moccamaster at the studio.
The last meal out I had that truly impressed me was: My 30th birthday dinner at Cazador, the food never disappoints me there. That secret recipe chocolate mousse!
The podcasts I listen to are:Throwing Fits, Switched on Pop, Popcast, The Happiness Lab, Slow Burn.
The best gift I ever received was: This year was really great, I spent the weekend on Waiheke Island with my beautiful girlfriend. She gifted me a trip to the Queen Charlotte Sound to see family friends whom I love dearly. Along with a Japanese kitchen knife, I have been enjoying putting that to good use lately!
The grooming product I can’t live without is: Kiehl’s SPF 15 moisturising lotion.
The last music I downloaded was: HAIM, Women in Music pt. III.
If I wasn’t doing what I am, I would be: Maybe opening a restaurant, I seem to enjoy back-breakingly hard work…
I have a collection of: Lots of things: belts, socks, pins, bandanas, hats, tote bags. The list could go on.
My favourite way to unwind is: Arriving home to my cat, she’s always happy to see me.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is: Fall in love with the process.
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