During the holidays, when hot, blue-skied days stretch long into balmy nights, many of us find ourselves seeking an ease with which to melt softly from one activity to the next. This includes summer dining and drinking — when the mercury climbs, simple and quick refreshments are the name of the game.
Created by Bar Non Solo manager Connor Griesdale, this cocktail recipe to make at home hits all the right flavour notes for a lip-smackingly refreshing drop. A base of Hendrick’s Gin is complemented by Schweppes 1783 Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water, and added flourishes of elderflower liqueur, cucumber puree and lemon juice make for a well-rounded libation that goes brilliantly with a relaxed and sunny disposition.
Cucumber Crisp Cocktail Recipe Makes One
Ingredients: 30ml Hendrick’s gin 15ml St Germain elderflower liqueur 1 peeled cucumber for cucumber purée 25ml lemon juice Pinch of salt Schweppes 1783 Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water to finish A couple of slices of cucumber for garnish
Method: 1. Add the peeled cucumber to a blender and blitz to make cucumber purée. 2. In a tall glass, mix the Hendrick’s gin, St Germain, lemon juice and pinch of salt. 3. Add 30ml of cucumber purée. 4. Fill the glass with ice and stir, then top with Schweppes 1783 Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water. 5. Garnish with a slice or two of cucumber and enjoy.
There’s no garment that trumps the slide for ease of wear, however these superior slip-ons (with a side of logomania) are anything but basic. Whether pool-side or out and about, their sartorial impact far outweighs their effort.
Clockwise: Miami mule from Louis Vuitton, Leather slide sandal from Prada, Dior Men Aqua Dior Sandal from Dior, Leather Band slide from Bottega Veneta.
Clockwise: Acne studios Bode Logo-Appliquéd PU slide from Mr Porter, Off The Grid slide sandal from Gucci, Basile Logo-Embossed Striped Rubber slide from Moncler, Logo-Detailed Rubber slide from Balenciaga.
Nothing offsets summer’s golden glow more than a crisp white dress. Effortlessly chic, regardless of its style, this season we’re favouring textural fabrics, cinched waists and a hint of volume in just the right places. For both daytime and after dark, pair with flat sandals for a relaxed vibe and heels for elevated polish.
Left: Matteau Knit and Cotton Dress in Ecru from Muse Boutique. Right: M.A.B.E Nola Sundress from Workshop.
Left: Ganni Cotton Poplin Shirred Puff Sleeve dress from Workshop. Right: Apron Mini dress from Louis Vuitton.
From the aficionados behind esteemed Viaduct Harbour venues Parasol & Swing and Brolly, The Broken Lantern is breathing much-needed new life into the Ponsonby Road space formerly occupied by Little Easy.
Owners Jason Rosen, Adam Neal and Olly Fitton are aiming to transform the sprawling building into multiple spaces. The lower level, open now, houses what Rosen describes as “a beer hall or tavern at its roots, but realised with the same high quality as Parasol & Swing”.
The decor scrubs away the last few incarnations of building, and “takes a touch of inspiration from its 100-year-old roots, modernised, with a hint of New York City Lower East Side street alley-vibe thrown in, to spice things up a little”. There’s a sun-catching courtyard out the back, perfect for when you want to soak up some rays while being hidden from street view.
There’s an overarching theme to the proceedings that will change seasonally — on one side of the main room, the wall is dedicated to a local artist’s mural that will change every six months, coinciding with the seasonal change of the menus.
“This means, although we will have a classic menu that will stay fairly consistent, every six months part of the main room’s energy will change, and to match it, the food and drinks,” explains Rosen.
The Broken Lantern opens with lean towards Spanish and South American flavours, sherry-based cocktails and wine from grapes such as Tempranillo, Garnacha and Albarino.
Find original cocktails, with an array of bespoke, house-made ingredients, plus 10 local craft beers on tap, and a wine menu that focuses on natural and organic wines. There are also five natural wines on tap, which is a steadily growing trend that allows customers to use refillable glass bottles to take away.
Right: Barrel-Aged Decadence.
Given their reputation for stellar cocktails, The Broken Lantern more than delivers on this aspect with a wide range of thoughtfully crafted libations that you won’t find anywhere else. Barrel-Aged Decadence, for example, comprises wine barrel-aged whiskey, cocoa nib infused cognac, Italian maraschino liqueur, a blend of rosso vermouths, and a touch of Campari, all of which are rested in a new oak barrel for no less than one month.
The Lonely Hearts Club is a new take on Parasol’s most popular Crimson & Clover Club cocktail, and mixes a peppermint tea gin, Italian aperitif wine, vanilla and strawberry grenadine, lemon and a dusting of strawberry.
The food is just as worthy a drawcard at The Broken Lantern, with a menu designed by Executive Chef Fitton, whose dishes for both Parasol & Swing and Brolly have been a large part of their success.
White fish ceviche.
In keeping with the Spanish theme, there’s “Carne Asada” half chicken with lentil chimichurri and grilled courgette; skirt steak with a “sofrito” inspired sauce, plus pickled shallots and a herb salad; white fish ceviche with tomato and chilli, topped with an inventive tapioca cracker; charred eggplant on hung yoghurt with smoked paprika and lemon, topped with a salsa of asadillo, capsicum, onion and garlic — and a hearty bar snacks menu, too.
With its thoughtful offering and seasoned team, The Broken Lantern is a suitably high calibre venue for Ponsonby that’s still welcoming and approachable. Pay them a visit, and they’re sure to fix you a delicious spread indeed.
Opening hours: Wednesday & Thursday: 4pm — at least 1am Friday to Sunday: 12pm — at least 1am Closed Monday & Tuesday.
With the level of technology used to make film as advanced as it is these days, it seems a shame to experience a dulled-down version on a regular TV screen (even if that screen is high-definition and has all the mod cons). For some, it’s an even more basic set-up of the old faithful laptop propped up on the duvet. Cosy, sure, but an immersive, big-picture cinematic experience? Hardly.
With its new 4K Ultra Short Throw laser projector, The Premiere, Samsung is offering just that. Available in two models, it is the world’s first HDR10+ certified projector, delivering contrast and detail from both bright and dark scenes, with a peak brightness of up to 2,800 lumens as measured by the American National Standards Institute (or ANSI).
It has two models available — the LSP7T single laser projector, with an up to 120-inch screen size, and the LSP9T, which boasts triple laser technology with an up to 130-inch image size.
Wherever one wishes to position it in the house — whether close to the wall or further away to adjust the screen size — The Premiere is versatile and easy to use, with ultra-short throw laser technology and a sleek, compact design that fits into any living room arrangement.
TV shows, sports games and movies alike all benefit from premium sound quality, with two built-in woofers, two tweeters and Samsung’s Acoustic Beam technology. Whether it’s a full-scale action sequence you’re watching or a more intimate scene, you’re in for a fully immersive experience.
With Christmas around the corner, we think the Premiere is a brilliant idea for a gift — and we suggest gifting this to someone with whom you share an abode, so you too can benefit from the groundbreaking cinematic technology. Movie nights in never looked so magnificent.
If you’ve missed any milestones of late (or just want to acknowledge our still-novel liberty), we recommend gathering your friends and family for some long overdue wining, dining and general good timing at these lauded restaurants.
Ahi Ben Bayly’s restaurant celebrates New Zealand food with a story, and thanks to its incredible dishes and Commercial Bay corner site overlooking the Waitematā Harbour, you’ll be in the mood for celebrating as soon as you walk through the doors.
Cibo Whether taking the air in the private courtyard or ensconced inside, diners at Cibo always feel like the most important person in the room, as they enjoy its elegant, seasonal cuisine.
Jervois Steak House For when only a perfectly cooked cut and a side of finely polished ambience will do, head to Jervois Steak House, which also happens to be celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Lillius Whether you choose a set menu or à la carte, prepare to be wowed by the thoughtful execution of Lillius’ innovative fine dining dishes — its welcoming setting a refined contrast to its urban location.
Masu Honoured affairs need not exclude any of your nearest and dearest at this family-friendly Japanese robata restaurant and bar, with a passion for freshness and flavour.
Mr Morris Each touchpoint of Michael Meredith’s Britomart restaurant will have you feeling more at ease than the last, from the polished yet affable service to the food that celebrates the best of the Pacific.
Onslow Refined yet relaxed, an easy elegance touches everything at Onslow. No matter the occasion, big or small, timeless fare and warm service will make it one to remember.
The Engine Room The beloved Northcote Point institution makes a point of exceptional experiences for all. There’s no better feeling than toasting the good times knowing a plate of its comforting fare is on the way.
Picture this — you’ve just clocked off for Christmas and there is a light breeze in the air as the sun starts to set. Your party decides to dine outdoors, with a refreshing drop of wine that shines. Encapsulating the essence of summer, the Dry Riesling 2021 from Butterworth Estate pairs exceptionally well with long evenings such as these.
Notes of rockmelon, lime blossom and lemon zest leap forward from the glass. With an extraordinary length to the finish, it lingers for a memorable mouthful. Especially special, the Dry Riesling is crafted from hand-pruned and hand-harvested produce from Butterworth Estate’s home block vineyard on Te Muna Road in Martinborough. With a very limited number of bottles available (1500 to be exact) securing a bottle (or a few) ensures summer reveries like these can become a crisp reality.
When it comes to summer dining, we think you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better than Aotearoa’s abundant offering of kai moana, and the local chefs who do brilliant things with it. To help guide your craving, we’ve homed in on some of the best seafood dishes to seek out this summer.
Ruakaka Kingfishfrom Hello Beasty This new addition to Hello Beasty’s menu is far more beauty than beast, comprising exquisitely fresh pieces of kingfish crudo paired with perfectly balanced flavours of whipped avocado, radish, pickled daikon, buttermilk and sudachi dressing (sudachi is a small, lime-like Japanese fruit), and wakame.
Smoked Scallops Grilled on Lava Stonefrom La Marée These fragrant morsels see balsamic, beetroot, lemon caviar and horopito join expertly-grilled scallops in each harmoniously complex bite.
Scampi Corndogs from Ahi Everything tastes better in batter, including juicy, impressively-sized scampi. This dish is worth ordering for the dipping sauce alone.
Paua Risottofrom Onemata Amidst an array of dishes that showcase the best of Aotearoa’s ingredients, this risotto is a stand-out with miso butter, shiitake mushroom and onsen egg complementing the delicate paua.
Buttermilk Blue Cod Wings from Kingi Roll up your sleeves and tuck into a plate of these tasty wings — crunchy on the outside, moist and flaky on the inside, the only bad part is when it’s over.
Fiordland Crayfish Eclairsfrom Onslow Creamy lobster, air-light eclair and a hint of basil combine for a bite-sized delight that is incredibly moreish.
Oystersfrom Depot It’s hard to choose just one thing from Depot’s excellent raw bar, which includes the likes of clams, kingfish and our must-try — oysters. Take your pick from three local varieties (or try them all). Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
Chipotle Prawn BLATfrom The Crab Shack A soft buttered roll houses juicy prawns and crispy bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato in this sandwich of our dreams. Doused with spicy mayo, it’s the perfect amount of creamy with a kick.
Mussel Escabechefrom Bar Magda From Bar Magda’s Filipino-inspired fare, this mussel escabeche is a suitably refreshing dish on its ‘something cold’ menu. Served with green garlic sauce and pickled fennel, it’s bright, savoury and fresh.
Smoked Trevally Rillettesfrom Atelier From Karangahape Road newcomer Atelier, this smoked trevally rillettes dip is perfect for spreading on its special Daily Bread sourdough — topped with fried capers and salmon caviar, and paired with cornichons, there’s balance to every bite.
Grilled Snapperfrom Soul Bar & Bistro There’s a lot to be said for simplicity, and a perfectly cooked piece of fish often hits the spot. Soul’s grilled snapper is served with a delicious and colourful confit tomato and saffron sauce.
Seafood Platter from Ostro The freshest catch sings on this loaded seafood platter, comprising local battered and fresh oysters, Skull Island prawns, trevally ceviche, tuna and smoked green lip mussels — served with flavoursome dressings and dipping sauces. This dish is summer on a plate.
We can’t be the only ones who are in a constant “shopping mood” of late. With festive season in full swing, combined with what we’ll admit is a spot of literal retail therapy in an effort to cheer ourselves up while we can’t easily travel overseas (yet), creates the perfect conditions for an updated wardrobe. Plus, we need something to wear out to those newly re-opened restaurants and bars, don’t we?
It’s also our job to know what’s out there and what you should be buying — and we can’t help it if we influence ourselves along the way. From chic utilitarian ensembles to artful yet neutral romanticism and a going-out look, these are the outfits the Denizen team is dreaming of currently, available locally from both homegrown and international brands.
Put your best face forward with our discerning selection of marvellous makeup products, encompassing both new cosmetic crushes and cult favourites. What they all have in common, is their high-powered formulations and impeccable useability, meaning you don’t have to be a bona fide artiste to succeed with these beauty bastions.
Status Symbol:Hermès Nail Enamel Since launching Hermès Beauty in March last year, the heritage luxury company has set a new and beautiful bar for opulence in cosmetics. It has dipped its polished fingers into a new range of high-performing nail enamels and hand care, with quintessentially chic, Pierre Hardy-designed packaging. The Les Mains Hermès range is available in 24 unique shades; each one of which contains ultra-fine, ultra-saturated biosourced pigments.
Lush Lashes:DiorShow Iconic Overcurl Mascara A master of reinvention, the DiorShow Iconic Overcurl mascara has been re-released to provide even more volume and curl. It defines, coats and fans out lashes with its faceted brush for longer-looking lashes and larger eyes. Enriched with cotton nectar, the formula also helps lashes become stronger and shinier in the blink of an eye.
Best Base:IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream The award-winning IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream (with SPF 50) was developed by plastic surgeons to deliver clinically tested hydration, while diffusing the appearance of skin imperfections. What’s left is flawless coverage that won’t crease or crack. Infused with hydrolysed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and vitamins, it covers all bases.
It’s in the Eyes: Byredo 5 Colour Eyeshadow Palette When it comes to modern makeup, you’d do well to play up those peepers with all this mask-wearing. Byredo’s luxurious cosmetics range not only comes in incredible packaging but its formulas and shades are also suitably unique. We’ll be dipping our brush into Corporate Colours (pictured), with the perfect shades for both daytime and after dark.
The Glow Getter: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Now we can get our hands on beloved British brand Charlotte Tilbury, we’re reaching for the Flawless Filter. Inspired by Hollywood lighting effects (which the eponymous founder has worked under as a makeup artist to the stars), it illuminates the skin while blurring and smoothing. It can be worn alone, or in any combination with your favourite foundation.
Couture Coverage: Chanel Le Correcteur de Longwear Concealer The secret agent in our makeup bag, Chanel’s Le Correcteur blurs imperfections, diminishes the appearance of dark circles and brightens up the eyes, while being supple and comfortable for long wear. Enriched with an energising active ingredient and a light-reflecting pigment, the moisturising formula can also illuminate the eye area for up to eight hours.
Raise Your Brows: Kosas Air Brow Clear Lifting Brow Treatment Gel From the makeup brand created with skincare priorities, this clear brow gel is a one sweep wonder for those who like a naturally groomed brow. Biodegradable, plant-based fibres and a triangular spoolie promise to lift each hair and hold them in place through each and every expression.
Clever Contour: Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick Founded by lauded American makeup artist Gucci Westman, Westman Atelier is a luxurious beauty brand that favours vegan, high-performing formulas and conscious ingredients. The Face Trace Contour Stick is brilliant for those who like a natural contour, gliding on easily with a neutral taupe undertone that never appears orange or ashy.
Finishing Touch: Sisley Phyto-Lip Twist Coloured like a lipstick and shiny like a gloss, Sisley’s Phyto-Lip Twist tinted balm, with nourishing plant-based active ingredients, is a best-selling trifecta. Following the rules of threes, the new shades for summer — Rosy Nude, Soft Berry and True Red — will help you create a divine lip proportion.
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