Since launching in 2014 and winning the Worlds Best London Dry Gin award in 2018, independent New Zealand distillery Scapegrace has solidified its reputation for trailblazing spirits that bottle our country’s unique, clean flavours for enjoyment around the globe.
Its latest launch is no different, encompassing a range of new craft spirits that celebrate the true diversity of New Zealand’s seasonal produce and botanicals. Named ‘Uncommon’, every spirit released within this new category is to be limited edition, with 3,000 individually numbered bottles of each that only amplify the range’s exclusivity.
For the first outing of the Uncommon range, two completely distinct styles of gin have been created that showcase two different regions, and varying harvest periods.
There’s the Central Otago Early Harvest, with its botanical profile of nectarine and lavender, smoked hay and pollen, bringing young, fresh and ripe flavours to the fore. The Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest, on the other hand, encapsulates raspberry leaf, pear and olive brine for a slightly sweet yet tart drop that lingers with residual flavour.
From left: Central Otago Early Harvest; Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest.
Having collaborated with acclaimed hospitality virtuoso Mikey Ball on a selection of signature serves, Scapegrace’s Uncommon cocktails are just the quenching creations we want to be sipping this summer. Mix up a Bianca (a light and refreshing ode to the Negroni) which combines 20ml of Central Otago Early Harvest, 15ml of Americano Vermouth, a dash of orange bitters and is topped with soda water.
The Karamu Sip recipe sees 50ml of Hawkes Bay Late Harvest combined with 10ml of dry vermouth and a dash of hopped bitters, garnished with kaffir lime leaf for a fragrant take on a martini.
Thanks to their thoughtful, craft-centric creation and exclusivity, the Uncommon spirits make a brilliant gift — both for yourself, and someone else, and can be found at all good liquor stores nationwide and on the Scapegrace website.
With residents of Tāmaki Makaurau enjoying increasingly social outdoor gatherings over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been enjoying the chance to explore some of our favourite eateries in a more casual, al fresco fashion with friends and family. As we eagerly await the return to restaurants in-person, we’ve become aware that several local hospitality businesses who have tweaked their offering to include picnic-specific packs and selections will be stopping these when we move to the new traffic light system. This is your last weekend to enjoy our pick(nic) of the bunch below, and for other special takeaway options see our very extensive level 3 takeaways guide.
Left to right: The NSP Ultimate Picnic; OJI Sushi Sando Pack.
Savor Goods With its varied and extensive stable of eateries, Savor has a whole host of picnic packs to order online. Curated by its chefs at Amano, Ostro, Lobster & Tap, NSP and Oji sushi, these picnic boxes take the hard work out of picnic planning, with an assortment of treats for the ultimate al fresco feast. From Amano‘s bakery, find varying boxes of sweet and savoury selections, filled with its famous pastries, sandwiches and Kumeu orange juice. Oji Sushi has a fresh spin on a sandwich lunch available with its family pack of Japanese-style sandos that includes a katsu chicken, katsu prawn, spicy lobster and Japanese egg rendition. Oji also has large sushi platters on offer. NSP will bring Italian flair to any sit-down session with its aperitivo picnic box, and Ostro is very appealing indeed with its picnic roast (including organic, free-range roasted chicken, baguettes, potato salad and more), its seafood platter or takeaway high tea. See Savor’s website for pick-up or delivery options.
Left to right: Andiamo PICNIC TO GO; Park Hyatt.
Andiamo Linger even longer at a beachside lunch with Herne Bay Italian staple Andiamo’s picnic boxes that contain a generous selection of goodies. Expect the likes of housemade focaccia; fresh crostini with whipped cannellini beans, preserved lemon and roasted garlic; chicken liver pâté, pickled cherries and pistachio tuille; an antipasti selection; Ceasar salad; fresh cannoli — and more. Order by phone on 09-378 7811 or email [email protected]. Contactless collection times are Monday to Thursday, 4pm – 8pm and Friday to Sunday, 12pm – 8pm.
Park Hyatt Auckland For a truly next level al fresco experience, we suggest ordering one of Park Hyatt’s afternoon tea boxes — with sizes available for small to large groups. Available every weekend, Friday to Sunday, each box contains a scrumptious selection of sweet and savoury treats, similar to what would be served for Park Hyatt’s famous Afternoon Tea in non-lockdown times. Order a box per person, or there are more decadent options — the ‘luxe picnic’ for four includes a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne while the ‘extravaganza picnic’ for 10 comprises a truly indulgent selection of treats — plus two bottles of Champagne to really take things up a notch. In both boxes, expect the likes of parmesan éclairs and bacon & egg quiche; salmon & dill sandwiches and ham brie & chutney rolls; strawberry shortcake, dulcey honey petit gateaux; salted caramel chocolate tart… and more. Find all ordering details here.
Côte.
Côte The bespoke caterer has a delicious selection of platter boxes to perk up any picnic, available for delivery Auckland-wide. Choose from the Luxury Charcuterie Platter Box, featuring a host of lip smacking snacks including artisan cheeses and Cote’s popular seeded crackers; the Mānuka Smoked NZ King Salmon Platter Box with cashew caper cream, house-made pickles, seeded crackers and caper berries; or the new Champagne and Oysters Platter Box, which is deliciously self-explanatory. With all boxes feeding eight to ten people, orders must be placed at leat 48 hours in advance. Email [email protected] to secure your platter box.
Left to right: Bar Céleste; Orphans Kitchen.
Bar Céleste Each weekend, Bar Céleste has conjured up seasonal specialties to enjoy with our nearest and dearest. This weekend, the delectable range includes a freshly baked baguette with seaweed butter, saucisson, porchetta with salsa verde and relish, and a pithivier pie with jambon blanc and gruyère. If this wasn’t enough of a feast for the senses, you can also add freshly shucked oysters, prawn cocktails, and a fresh strawberry and almond tart to your picnic scene. Did we mention, Bar Céleste’s sommelier will pair a bottle of exquisite wine with your selection?
Orphans Kitchen The Orphans picnic box is sure to have you feeling sunny even if the clouds are blocking out those rays. It’s a make-your-own-sandwich kind of a situation, with a very enviable selection of Orphans favourites including nasturtium pesto, red lentil hummus, pickled egg with aioli, Mt Cook salmon gravlax and more — all on Daily Bread’s famous baguette. Pick up is from the Ponsonby Road cafe window, between 10am and 2pm, 7 days a week.
Poni Picnic.
The Poni Room Those of us who have missed the fun, fusion flavours of Commercial Bay eatery The Poni Room now have the opportunity to serve up a different kind of picnic. Feeding six to eight people, Poni Picnic comes ready to eat in steam baskets that you can take home for good and comprises twice-cooked duck breast, duck legs, bao buns, pancakes, hoisin sauce, chilli dressing, pickles and lettuce cups. See The Poni Room’s website for pick-up details.
Link up with this season’s way to wear a chain: eschewing all subtlety. The likes of JW Anderson, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton have ensured this finishing touch is one you won’t want to skip. Embellishing a flowing gown, a statement handbag or shoes, it’s classic redefined.
Left: JW Anderson Asymmetric Chain-Embellished Paneled Satin Maxi dress from Net-A-Porter, Bottega Veneta Chain-trim scoop-neck wool sweater from Matches Fashion, Givenchy Chain-embellished cropped ribbed jersey T-shirt from Net-A-Porter, Cinched Balloon dress from Louis Vuitton.
Clockwise: Black Soft Nappa Leather Clutch Bag with Multichain Bracelet Daisy bag from Jimmy Choo, Padded nappa leather shoulder bag from Prada, Mount Raintree bag from Bottega Veneta, Chloé Juana Chain bag from Workshop, Chain Cassette Cobalt from Bottega Veneta, JW Anderson Chain large textured-leather tote from Net-A-Porter.
Clockwise: Anine Bing Tony sandals from Muse Boutique, Giuseppe Zanotti Evry Velvet sandals from Faradays, Bottega Veneta Stretch chain-strap leather sandals from Matches Fashion, Sunset Chain sandals from Saint Laurent.
While we cannot wait for the soon-to-be-announced freedoms coming our way this December, a mini-vacation is just what we need to prepare ourselves for a Christmas rush like no other.
The 5-star Park Hyatt Auckland is providing the relaxation we require with an exceptional offer on its top-tier suites. The Park Hyatt Suite Staycation promotion offers a specialty suite with harbour views at 50 percent off, for the month of December.
Whether you’re staying in the city to be close to the action, or to get away from it all, it’s the perfect escape to book into while our free-for-all social calendar starts to fill up. Immerse yourself in the luxurious experience from arrival with a welcome amenity, complimentary breakfast, and late check-out at 2pm (subject to availability), as well as a pick-up and drop-off service.
Step into a spacious Executive Suite with a separate living area, powder room, walk-in wardrobe and a private furnished balcony. Or, on the top floor, the Rooftop Executive corner suite has a separate dining room and a wrap-around balcony, and the expansive Chairman Suite has separate living and dining areas with a full designer kitchen.
For those who only settle-in for the best, the Presidential Suite boasts all of the above, with a private outdoor garden with sweeping views and secure VIP access. Be a (very well-informed) tourist in your own city, and see most of it from the privacy of your own suite.
This offer is exclusively bookable through Park Hyatt Auckland’s reservations centre. Secure your stay by the 20th of December, and stay before the 30th of December, 2021, to live the suite life.
To celebrate this unsurpassable Park Hyatt offer, we are giving away a free stay for one night in the Presidential Suite, with breakfast included, for two people. Winners will have six months to redeem their prize.
New North Road has a new pizza joint that’s already got locals lining up outside. Founded by Guil Bezerra — a former head chef at Coco’s Cantina — along with two friends and now business partners, Frat’s Pizza is a friendly neighbourhood spot that specialises in approachable yet elevated pizzas.
“We wanted to focus on quality and offer a bit of a twist, flavour-wise,” explains Bezerra. Focusing on simple flavours that are then lifted with chef-driven touches, the Frat’s team is offering its own, fresh take on a much-loved cuisine.
From prawn and corn to broccoli and smoked pancetta; chicken and mushroom, and even a cacio e pepe pizza, Frat’s toppings are crowd-pleasers that are executed with finesse. Take the prawn and corn pizza, for example — after coming out of the oven, it is drizzled with a fragrant prawn emulsion, made in-house from the prawn shells, lemongrass, fennel seeds, garlic and chilli so each bite sings with flavour. The chicken and mushroom pizza sees organic chicken and locally sourced mushrooms marinated and roasted separately before going on the base, and then finished after baking with fresh thyme and a sprinkle of lemon zest.
Bezerra is a big believer in the texture of a pizza’s base, he says, preferring a slightly stronger base rather than too flimsy in the middle. Sourdough is perfect for this, giving a crunchy yet pillowy slice that sits somewhere between the Neopolitan and New York styles.
In accordance with current government Covid-19 restrictions, Frat’s has only been open for takeaway thus far, but once it is able to have dine-in customers it can seat up to 30 inside and out the front. There will be a pared-back wine list, and casual yet welcoming service style.
Feedback from diners has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’d love to become that neighbourhood place where you go once a week, without fail,” says Bezerra.
Frat’s emphasis on utilising exceptional ingredients and supporting local suppliers, like olive oil from up north, organic chicken and Massimo’s New Zealand-made Italian cheeses, mean that not only is the product delicious, it’s high quality.
Frat’s is short for ‘fratelli’, meaning ‘brothers’. “We are three really good mates,” says Bezerra, “but didn’t want to call it Fratelli, because we’re not Italians!”
Regardless of their relation, we think Frat’s Pizza will become your fast friend.
Just in time to celebrate our much longed for freedoms, the Summer issue of Denizen celebrates our favourite time of the year, with family and friends in tow.
With the opportunity to get out and support our local retailers, hairdressers, beauty providers, restaurants, cafés, and bars more clearly on the horizon, our new issue is filled with all the intel and inspiration you need to ready yourself to emerge from captivity in style.
With our favourite restaurants re-opening next Friday, Denizen’s Gastronomy Guide highlights over 90 places to toast to summer, from picturesque outdoor dining locations to convivial cocktail spots and, for when the time comes, out-of-town eateries worth venturing to. Behind the scenes, restaurateur Fleur Caulton, of Rātā and Madam Woo, shares her thoughts on leadership in the cut-throat hospitality industry. While Paula and Richard Sigley share the good memories of their two decade long ownership of the now closed Euro.
Our What I Have Learned series continues to profile trailblazers including the fascinating story of leading warzone journalist Charlotte Bellis, who delivers her firsthand insights into what motivates the Taliban. Mental health educator, and former comedian, Mike King shares his moving story. Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Pascoe finds where a true sense of self and strength comes from. And, as we ready our summer playlist, Jordan Luck shares the process behind his oft belted-out songs and gigs all over Aotearoa.
For those planning a road trip like our cover stars, the Denizen team share their go-to holiday spots, and best ways to make the most of your local stay — from fine dining to luxury accommodation.
Packed full of design, fashion, beauty and culture finds, the summer issue is the only magazine to guide you through your reemergence back to a sense of normalcy.
Always at the avant-garde, the Cartier Tank watch design has stood the test of time for aesthetes and creatives looking for the ultimate elegant edge — since the late 1910s, no less.
Legend has it, Louis Cartier himself drew a parallel between the architecture of his eponymous brand’s Tank watch and that of a combat vehicle, when viewed from above. While the Tank watch is much more luxurious than this likeness would let on, the sheer precision of its proportions, accuracy of shape and purity of its lines are markers of its uncompromising style.
After more than a century on the wrist of taste-makers, the Tank has been reinvented with two new styles, the Tank Must and Tank Louis Cartier. While they have the same unwavering line, Cartier’s commitment to constant progress is seen in the refined details, while staying faithful to the historic model.
The Tank Must combines the essential prestige of the Tank with the conventional luxury of the 70s-swayed Must. Not one to dial down the classicism, it incorporates a precious cabochon winding crown. Whether in leather or a steel strap with interchangeable curved links, its sophistication is measured on every level.
The option of a new photovoltaic dial, developed with the Cartier Manufacture at La Chaux-de-Fonds, is a technical feat. It relies on the delicate and invisible perforation of the Roman numerals for solar energy to reach the photovoltaic cells hidden underneath. It’s the first watch to benefit from the integrated SolarBeat movement, which has a lifespan of over 16 years — with no need to change batteries.
No one can still the hands of time, and with an eye on the future, the bracelet to go with the photovoltaic dial is composed of 40 percent plant matter. This is made of waste from apples grown for the food industry in Switzerland, Germany and Italy, as Cartier looks to more sustainable solutions.
Meanwhile, the Tank Louis Cartier includes the same detailed rail tracks, cabochon sapphire, and Roman numerals as the original Louis Cartier remake of the Tank from the 1920s. Available in an intense red and a bright blue, with manual winding, it enhances the watch’s precious details and visual power.
Once again, the Tank is armed with a polished balance of rounded shapes and lines, volume and harmony. A timeless design, that’s always right on time.
Cartier timepieces are available in Auckland at The Hour Glass, one of the world’s leading specialist watch retailers with an established presence of 50 boutiques in twelve key cities in the Asia Pacific region. Whether you are new to watches or are a seasoned connoisseur, the team of passionate watch specialists remain poised to assist you on your journey with The Hour Glass.
Visit The Hour Glass website here, or visit the store at 154 Queen Street, Auckland.
When the first Maserati Ghibli was revealed in 1966 by prodigy Giorgetto Giugiaro, it became an instant automotive design icon — its fastback format, pop-up headlights and shark-nosed profile as audacious as they were alluring. Named after the legendary south-easterly in the Libyan desert, the Ghibli promised to ride like the wind.
Continuous development underscores Maserati’s success over its 107-year history and the Ghibli is no exception. Even years after the debut of the sports sedan with its coupé silhouette, automotive connoisseurs are impressed with comprehensive technical and stylistic enhancements.
What made 2021 so special for Maserati was the electrification of the brand, which is breaking into a new era of hybrid technology without altering the brand’s core philosophy and values.
In perfect harmony with its DNA, Maserati has chosen a hybrid solution focused primarily on improving performance, while also reducing fuel consumption and cutting emissions.
Capturing the zeitgeist once again, the 2022 Ghibli GT delivers a dynamic yet refined drive at high speeds, like a designer race car. The difference is in the innovative L4 engine that is faster than diesel and greener than gasoline for efficiently delivered exhilaration. The forward-thinking spirit of this iteration is firing on all 4-cylinders of the engine, with a 48V motor that ensures superior performance, and that same unmistakeable sound that has distinguished every Maserati.
This new hybrid technology exploits kinetic energy the car accumulates when in motion, recovering it and transforming it into electricity during deceleration and braking, and storing it in a battery. In combination with a perfectly positioned eBooster this provides the driver a calm transition for a faster and more comfortable experience. With a top speed of 255 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds that comfort comes with considerable power.
While it’s racing towards the future with a high-performance engine design, there is a timeless beauty to the Ghibli GT that honours the Maserati gone before. In the tradition of ‘grand touring’ — fitting a sophisticated engine into an even more stylish coupé — the trim is characteristic of elegant Italian style, sculpted curves and all.
The interiors are a testament to Italian craftsmanship with natural silk upholstery by Ermenegildo Zegna and soft, full-grain natural leather sourced exclusively by Pieno Fiore. A Maserati is like a work of art, known for its construction with the care and attention that only the human hand can provide. As such, the Ghibli GT can be customised to a driver’s every aesthetically-charged need.
The most immersive design detail is the instrument cluster. A reconfigured MIA (Maserati Intelligent Assistant) multimedia system ensures comfort and safety with its personalised support. Presented in a frameless 10”1 HD touch screen, it has a new graphic interface behind an elegant curved glass edge — a first of its kind in automotive design. As well as an intuitive app, there are other little luxuries to discover, like wireless phone charging and a wi-fi hotspot for preoccupied passengers.
As was the case with the original Ghibli design 55 years ago, this clean spark of design creativity is a catalyst for change for the coupés that come next. The attention to detail, style and quality in all aspects of the Ghibli GT embodies the very essence of Maserati.
It was back in 1934 that Angelo Molteni established a small furniture business in Guissano, Italy, unaware of the eventual impact it would have in the world of international design. By the second half of the 1950s, Molteni’s reputation as a brand that stood for innovation, collaboration and luxury was already becoming clear, with its pieces praised for their forward-looking, avant-garde nature and rapid industrialisation driving the brand’s development.
This set Molteni&C on a trajectory of success, a path that has underpinned its evolution and laid the foundations for the exceptional, multifaceted design entity it is today.
The beauty of Molteni&C (aside from its collections) is the fact that its core tenet of creating progressive, high-quality designs that are entirely made in Italy has undergone little change since the brand’s inception. It still is one of the only furniture brands with a production chain that can claim to be 100 percent made in Italy, from the initial sourcing of materials to the final products.
Now, Molteni&C is recognised as the residential furniture arm of the wider Molteni group, which also includes Dada (kitchen furnishing), Unifor (office furnishing) and Citterio (divider walls and office furniture), and is internationally sought-after by a raft of renowned architects and designers.
And thanks to local design go-to, Dawson & Co., getting our hands on some of the pieces from those ranges has never been easier. From occasional chairs to modular sofas, refined coffee tables and even a line-up of elegant mirrors, the selection not only injects a touch of luxury into our interiors, but offers up the chance to own a piece that speaks to the rich history of Italian design.
An early pioneer, an instigator of trends and a leader in every sense of the word, Molteni&C is a brand to invest in, to keep in your home forever and to hand down through generations. With a timeless ethos that lends itself to furniture that is versatile, durable and visually arresting, this heritage brand is one that we are overjoyed to finally be able to introduce into our home.
After a third of the year spent in lockdown in Auckland, we are ready to dress up and let our hair down well and truly. Well-timed, then, is Dadelszen’s Summer 21/22 collection — a feat of fashion frolicking as we patiently await the green (or should we say red) light.
The new collection includes Dadelszen’s signature, sensual cuts, with beautiful new season silhouettes — particularly in knitwear — that will make each day feel special as we create our own sense of freedom in anticipation.
She wears The Helena Jacket. He wears The Tuxedo Jacket and the Jitrois Leather Wynn Trouser in Noir.
The Helena double-breasted jacket, in pure cotton with mother of pearl buttons, and Elvira jacket, in red velvet with silk satin lapel, bring back an appreciation of touch. A standout fabrication, the forest green crepe combed cotton can be found in the effortless Riviera dress. Meanwhile, feather-pure cotton and cashmere and silk t-shirts, skirts and dresses are exceptional-feeling essentials.
Inspired in part by lockdown dressing, and the interchangeability of wardrobes, many of the garments — including the cotton knit polos — have a versatile, genderless appeal. They also pair perfectly with a range of pieces from iconic leather label Jitrois, which the Dadelszen showroom stocks exclusively.
Left to right: He wears The Jitrois Wynn Leather Trouser with the Edward Peak Lapel Jacket and the Brando Cashmere and Silk Tee, She wears The Elvira Tuxedo Jacket with the Manhattan Trouser; He wears The Edward Peak Lapel with The Cashmere Tee.
Working with iconic celebrity photographer Tony Duran for the fifth time, yet for the first time remotely, Dadelszen’s ‘Let Me Free’ campaign captures the longing desire for a return to reality, as models try on these new styles for size.
“Throughout this tumultuous year, we have leaned more than ever on trusted partners to bring our vision to life — and in some ways, the results have been even more incredible than we could have ever imagined,” says founder and co-creative director Edward von Dadelszen. “’Let me Free’ tells the fantastical story of what comes next, the rebirth of us all, which is just around the corner.”
Capturing the social interaction and spontaneity we so crave, Duran’s work for Dadelszen has remained as timeless and alluring as when they first started their creative partnership together. Transcending the commercial context, a select number of campaign images hang proudly on walls around the world, after private requests from loyal clients.
In response to ongoing inquiries, Dadelszen is delighted to announce the release of an official series of limited-edition campaign prints — from the archives through to today — to coincide with the launch of the Summer 21/22 collection.
Whether you’re staying close to home or planning a galavanting getaway this summer, Dadelszen’s new offering ensures celebrations will ensue.
For more exclusive access to what the city has to offer, engaging content, excellent imagery and thought provoking commentary on the life that surrounds you, subscribe to Denizen magazine now.
