Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all? When it comes to Arte Veneziana’s enchanting looking glasses, the real beauty is reflected in the maximalist Murano frames of its Fairy Tale capsule.
In building a magical baroque world to lose yourself in, the collection’s Product Designer Leo De Carlo has captured the mesmerisingly artistic and absurd, in hyper-decorative pieces made to be a showpiece in any environment.
Clockwise from top left: The Frog Prince, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty.
On show at Sarsfield Brooke, three different Fairy Tale designs tell their dazzling stories within a crest structure of fir wood and decorative Murano glass details. The verdant ‘Frog Prince’ comprises mirrors across three levels of engraved Venetian glass. Varnished with acid green and finished with an antiqued mirrored effect, it is sure to entrance.
The ‘Little Mermaid’ style has many of these essential elements, with cerulean blue varnish and crystal-blue Murano. The most delicate of all, the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ has two levels of rosy reds and pinks, the colour of a princess’ nightgown.
Hailing from Venice, De Carlo has his own kind of fairy tale vocation. He studied in the design city of Milan and worked for Philippe Starck in the City of Love, Paris, before returning to his floating home. This unique collaboration captures the romance of his career — elegantly crafted by the Murano glass oracle that is Arte Veneziana.
While we’re currently lapping up the sparkling days of late summer, you won’t find us too deeply in (sartorial) mourning once more of a chill sets in. This is thanks to the cosy staples from Acne Studios that have just arrived at Workshop, ready to inject a hit of bright optimism into any season.
Within the latest outing from the signature Face collection, unisex flannel and stripes are rendered in cheery shades, ready for the daring to clash at will. Acne also worked with the Oslo-based Munch Museum on a selection of prints featuring artworks by famed Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, in “an homage to Scandinavian art”.
Celebrated artworks like ‘The Scream’, ‘Lovers in the Waves’ and ‘Madonna’ have made their way from the frame onto garments, and can now be donned on shirts, sweaters, bags and more.
Tailoring is always another of Acne’s strong suits, and the classic fit suit jacket is a forever staple. Double-breasted with peak lapels, it sits effortlessly with either slim tailored trousers or a more fashion-forward pair like Acne’s high-rise suit trousers. Cut from the same wool-blend suiting, the latter have a kick-flare silhouette and pin-stitched centre front creases.
Highly covetable accessories are, as usual, a key part of Acne’s new-season offering, with scarves, jewellery, hats and bags forming the perfect finishing touches.
Trust this Scandinavian fashion favourite to have thought of everything one could need for a bona fide closet refresh.
Step inside Muse’s private styling room, above the beautiful Ponsonby boutique, and you will find a shopping sanctuary. Designed with Isabelle Tolich and Alisa Allison Interiors, the space is well-dressed for the occasion, with a mesmerising painting by Nick Herd above a custom bouclé sofa and Twister side table by Sophie Davies. But what will really catch your eye is the pick of new season pieces as you peruse the rack.
Whether you attend a one-on-one session or share with a friend, your personal shopper consults ahead of your appointment. With a clear idea of your personal style requirements, they curate a line-up of clothes that suit your taste — while being in step with the season. For summer, this includes refined resort collections and hints of 70s-nostalgia, the latter coming through in the form of bold prints and colours, co-ordinate sets, floaty kaftans and crisp cotton poplins.
The bespoke experience is also a chance to preview new collections — complimentary Champagne in-hand — before they reach the shop floor. Currently, this includes the vibrant vintage patterns of Milan-based label La Double J, eclectic and floral designs from Australian label Alemais, chic and comfortable footwear from Proenza Schouler, and sparkly and slimline swimsuits from Oséree.
While each experienced stylist has their own unique flair, they draw on Muse’s 25-year heritage to ensure you receive the most luxurious and specially tailored advice. Effortless elegance is always paramount — whether you’re here for a seasonal update, a special event piece, or a re-stock of staples. Aiming to help clients fill much-needed gaps in their wardrobes, Muse welcomes you to bring along problem pieces, to work out exactly what you can wear with them.
The experience ensures you find garments that you will hold dear — while learning some style secrets along the way.
The pizza market is burgeoning in Auckland, as outposts have spun the most delicious pies into a kind of culinary art form. Next to get a slice of the perfected pizza genre is Onehunga, with the opening of Slabs Pizza.
As the name suggests, the neighbourhood eatery serves deep-dish squares, Detroit-style. Cooked in traditional blue steel pans, the pizzas are slow to rise. Holding high hydration in the dough while it’s in the pizza oven results in a soft, fluffy interior — almost like focaccia — and a super crispy base.
Right: Pepperoni Pizza.
Whether you grab a full or half size slab, each is made to order. Toppings are lavishly layered on top, with sauce often going on — not before — but after most for a truly sensational mouthful. The O.G Square treats us to the classic red sauce, Grana Padano cheese and basil. The Pepperoni takes things up a notch with the addition of tabasco and guindilla peppers. For vegetarians, the Mushroom option, with ricotta, truffle, pecorino and parsley, is a sell-out — and there is also a vegan option with all the trimmings.
Thanks to the cooking method, the crusts of each slice have a crave-worthy caramelised cheese crust. These are given the attention they deserve with additional dips created specifically for the outer edges, including ranch, red and BBQ sauce.
From left: Italian Sausage Pizza; BBQ Chicken Pizza.
For those after a little more, there is a trifecta of sides — garlic bread with all the cheese, garlic butter and red sauce; fries with house seasoning and roasted garlic aioli; and wings with BBQ and ranch sauce.
While we think it’s worth taking a seat at the purple-hued pizzeria for the all-consuming smell of freshly baked pizza, Slabs has also developed an online ordering system to make it easy to pick up takeaway orders as soon as they come out of the oven.
Before Slabs, owner Simon Murphy started Umu in Kingsland, which specialises in pizza with a sourdough base that took ten years to develop, and the cultivation of an ancient starter. This new venture has the same level of care. Spotlighting only six signature flavours, and a drinks menu of ice-cold soft drink cans, the focus is on curation and quality before all else.
A key ingredient to achieving success in the home kitchen is the collection of tools you’re working with. Just as sharp knives, high-quality pans and appropriate implements all contribute to making the gastronomic process as hitch-free as possible, so too do appliances.
If you’ve ever struggled to cook a roast chicken without it drying out, or to bake a cake evenly, then perhaps it could be time to look at upgrading to an intuitive oven that takes the guesswork out of meal prep.
Opening up a whole new world of cooking, Miele’s steam range utilises impressive technology that will have both home cooks and culinary experts racing to the kitchen. Available in various niche sizes and designs, the range has options to suit any room, whether compact or cavernous.
Kitted out with DualSteam technology — which enables fast heat-up times and cooking durations, as well as even steam distribution — it’s easier than ever for you to prepare food. During the cooking process, the whole oven compartment fills with steam and the oxygen is displaced — so the food remains visually and structurally intact, while retaining its natural flavour. Picture how good steamed broccoli tastes when it is as vibrant as when it was picked, or salmon that is blushing pink.
Pushed for time? A spacious oven interior and large tray offers maximum space, allowing several portions to be prepared simultaneously. No more waiting for the roast veges to cook before you can slide in the lamb rack. The Miele steam and microwave combination ovens even have a popcorn setting, with times and wattages tailored to a 100gram packet of microwave popcorn.
Several models of the steam oven also boast a built-in sous vide function, for you to prepare meat, fish, fruit or vegetables with utmost tenderness and flavour.
Back to that dreaded dry chicken, you’ll never have to worry about that again with a steam combination oven. Imagine locking in all that moisture, while also perfectly crisping the chicken skin. The steam combination simultaneously puts moisture into the cavity while the elements heat up and brown the bird. With such exquisite possibilities, we’re sure there will be chefs kisses all around.
If anyone understands music’s ability to make a mood, it’s Nathan Haines and Jaimie Webster Haines. The husband-and-wife duo is a music industry dynamo, and founded Zoot Music in 2019 — a multi-faceted sound design, music production and playlist curation company.
Offering everything from original productions for fashion shows to artist collaborations, brand identity, custom playlists and in-house DJ installations, Haines and Webster Haines utilise their hefty musical nous and excellent taste for all manner of projects. Here, they kindly share a blissful jazz-focused playlist to cue up this season.
Since it opened in 2016, Grey Lynn eatery Tiger Burger has garnered fans from far and wide for its particular brand of fusion that melds Korean flavours with decadent burgers, to offer a whole new take on the bun-encased genre.
As of today, the burger purveyor is set to become even more popular with the opening of its second outpost at 590 Dominion Road in Mount Eden.
The Tiger team has been working away at this new opening for three years — as with nearly all of Auckland’s hospitality businesses, lockdowns provided far too many challenges. Now, they’re “super excited” about arriving among the many excellent eateries of Dominion Road, their Korean-tinged fare poised to be the perfect addition to the area.
Left: Double kimcheese burger; Seoulful Bites.
Find all your favourites, from the Gang-Jeong burger comprising double-fried, free-range chicken thigh in a chilli-soy glaze with pickled radish, shredded lettuce and gochu mayo; to the patented Kimcheese with signature blend, New Zealand grass-fed beef and sautéed house kimchi, aged cheddar and gochu mayo.
For Tiger Burger’s new location, Korean fried chicken has been added to the menu, which is sure to be a must-add side to any order. Meanwhile, classics like the various loaded fries, bibimbap slaw and chicken bites are back and better than ever.
While “very different” to its Grey Lynn store, Tiger Burger 2.0 can seat 65 people dine-in, and also offers online orders for pick-up — plus delivery via Uber Eats and Delivereasy.
So, should the hankering for a burger seize your tastebuds, why not pay this flavoursome new opening a visit?
One of the many restaurants celebrating Chinese New Year with colourful feasts for friends and family is Azabu Mission Bay. Especially auspicious, its Lunar New Year Seafood Platter presents the best market seafood of the day, including crayfish, sashimi, Ruakaka kingfish ceviche and tuna guacamole in one abundant dish.
It’s best enjoyed in the spacious Roku Gin Garden, where you can feel the breeze of the sea as you enjoy a cocktail made to celebrate the Year of the Water Tiger. The bold concoctions are sure to help you face the year ahead with the courage and conviction of 2022’s zoological zodiac sign.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year, between Tuesday the 1st and Sunday the 13th of February, Denizen and Azabu Mission Bay are giving away a festive experience for the lucky number of eight. This is your chance to win three Lunar New Year Seafood Platters to share, as well as two cocktails per table member, valued at $800.
There’s so much more to Auckland than the five-kilometre radius encompassing its centre and the neighbouring suburbs. Whenever a new hospitality opening brings more culinary options to a previously lacking area, we are all for it. Seeing an opportunity to do just this in Greenlane, the founders of the hugely popular &Sushi have opened a new cafe: Slowlane.
Jeff Kim and Isaac Yu form the duo behind both ventures, which operate under the umbrella of their hospitality company And Group. While the road to opening Slowlane was long and arduous, due to Covid and lockdowns, they’re delighted to now be able to welcome customers.
Pan-fried crispy market fish with cauliflower purée, tabbouleh grains, sumac dressing, sumac nut mix, herb oil and pea shoots.
Of the Great South Road location, Kim says he has lived in the area for 12 years, and always lamented the lack of good food options nearby. The space became available, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.
The thought behind Slowlane was to provide a relaxing environment where people can come and enjoy a bite and a great cup of coffee, and take a moment to detach from the daily grind. The space itself can seat 85 to 90, including outside. It’s peacefully tonal, with a mixture of textures from light grey concrete and dark-grained wooden tables to realistic faux plants (designed to mimic toetoe) that bring a feeling of nature and calm.
Food-wise, the focus is on daytime fare done well. We’re told Head Chef Marvin Choi brings experience from the likes of former waterfront stalwart Euro and Hobsonville Point’s Fabric, and under his guidance, everything is cooked with delicious finesse.
Right: Eggs Benedict — two poached, free-range eggs with Slow hash brown, cured salmon and hollandaise.
Find breakfast and brunch-appropriate dishes like granola, creamy mushrooms on toast, omelettes, bruschetta and more. The brioche French toast is a lovely rendition of the dish, surprisingly light and airy and served with citrus maple syrup, poached peaches and mascarpone. Eggs Benedict lovers will be well served with three options — bacon, portobello mushroom, or cured salmon.
For lunch, you would do well to order the market fish — we tried the snapper, cooked to crispy-skinned perfection and served on a silky cauliflower purée with moreish grains and pomegranate seeds. The butterfly steak, comprising flat sirloin with two fried eggs, onion rings and savoury Diane sauce, was also cooked beautifully. Should you be operating more in the fast lane for the day, there’s a cabinet stocked full with sandwiches and wraps, baked goods and more to takeaway.
Butterfly Steak — flat sirloin with fried eggs, Slow onion rings and Diane sauce.
There’s an emphasis on making from scratch at Slowlane, from house-made sauces and condiments to the coffee which they source and roast themselves — single-origin from Papua New Guinea. The eatery is also licenced, serving crisp Continental Platter prosecco on tap as well as beer from Asahi, Sawmill and Boundary Road, plus a range of wines.
Slowlane is open during daytime hours for now, but its owners have plans to eventually expand to dinner. For the time being, they’re working on perfecting the offering, a pursuit there’s no need to rush.
As the long weekends stretch out before us, it’s time to reach for an outfit that will act as its own ray of sunshine, no matter the weather or traffic light level. Having recently arrived at Muse Boutique, La Double J is signalling a sense of la dolce vita — providing a well-timed pick-me-up to our summer wardrobe.
Clockwise from top left: Artemis Dress, Knit Leisure Cardigan, Jennifer Jane Dress, Treccia Slides in Ionic, Treccia Slides in Holi, Magnifio Dress.
Unearthing a halcyon heritage of vintage patterns from the archives of Italy’s top textile manufacturers, La Double J prints these vibrant designs onto fine silks and crisp cottons from the shores of Lake Como. The effortless dresses and matching sets with joy-enhancing, eye-popping prints feel right for this hemisphere too.
From left: Vesta Dress, Swing Dress, Palazzo Florence Pants.
The heart and soul of La Double J is founder J.J. Martin, a spirited former journalist for the likes of Harper’s Bazaar and WSJ, who brings an editor’s eye and the holistic ease of her native California to seek out the best crafts and culture of her adopted home.
As the brand’s exclusive stockist in New Zealand, Muse’s curated range of its maximal ready-to-wear garments has a welcome sense of spontaneity, while skilfully satisfying every summer style whim.
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