If you have not tried hot buttered rum, you’re really missing out. A richly smooth beverage, it combines a medley of spices for a warming cocktail with an undeniable kick. Destined to warm even the coldest souls in these tough times, this hot buttered rum recipe should be on your weekend cocktail making agenda.
Hot buttered rum recipe Serves 2
Ingredients: ¼ cup softened unsalted butter ¼ cup brown sugar ½ tsp vanilla extract ¼ tsp cinnamon ⅛ tsp ground cloves ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg ⅛ tsp ground allspice ½ cup boiling water 120 ml dark rum
To garnish Whipped cream Freshly grated nutmeg
Method: 1. Mix the softened butter with sugar and vanilla extract, then mix in all of the spices. 2. While boiling the water in a jug, add a heaped tablespoon (more if you want) of the butter mixture into each mug or heat proof glass. 3. Divide boiled water between each vessel, stir with butter mixture, add rum, stir. 4. Top each with whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg. You can also add a cinnamon stick which can also serve as a stirrer.
Our wardrobes are in the process of becoming substantially more stylish thanks to the arrival of several new luxury boutiques on our shores, opening between now and the end of the year in Westfield Newmarket. One of the first to welcome us through its glamorous doors was Saint Laurent this week, and the fact that it’s the first time the storied fashion house has had a standalone boutique in New Zealand makes this foray all the more exciting.
The Maison has a rich history. Founder Yves Saint Laurent was one of the greatest designers of the 20th century — he changed the way women dress, both when he got his start as a fashion wunderkind, named Creative Director of Dior at only age 21, and when he founded YSL in 1961. He introduced many styles and principles that have informed the fashion landscape to this day; the legendary Dior Trapeze dress that catapulted him to stardom, famed androgynous silhouettes like the Le Smoking tuxedo and his safari jackets, as well as designs that bridged the gap between fashion, art and culture.
From left: Megan Miles for Saint Laurent Denim 2021; Sonny Hall for Saint Laurent Denim 2021.
Anthony Vaccarello has been the brand’s Creative Director for five years now, after taking up the mantle from predecessor Hedi Slimane in 2016. (Slimane was responsible for dropping the Y from the Saint Laurent brand.) Vaccarello’s penchant for reinterpreting heritage YSL styles for the present-day consumer, while amping up the signature sensuality that he harnessed back when he helmed his own eponymous label, has ensured Saint Laurent remains eternally sought after by tastemakers, celebrities and style-savvy shoppers the world over.
The new Westfield store is a suitably glitzy destination, decked out in light and dark marble with chrome and mirrors galore. You’ll find a curated yet substantial selection of women’s and men’s collections, including ready-to-wear and accessories — currently, pieces from Fall 2021. We’ve got our eye on the achingly cool leather Kate booties, with Western-inspired details and chunky high heels; the men’s double-breasted, striped woollen jacket; and the Le Monogramme bucket bag, seen on ‘It girl’ (and Saint Laurent V.I.P) Hailey Bieber.
If your coffee table is looking rather bare, or you simply want to refresh your current stack, take time to peruse our curated selection of this year’s most alluring coffee table books below.
Her Dior: Maria Grazia Chiuri’s New Voice Celebrating the feminist spirit that Maria Grazia Chiuri has brought to the house of Christian Dior, this exquisite new coffee table book combines photography and essays by a number of incredible women to offer a picture of how the historical brand has embraced innovation to grow and evolve into a new era.
Abloh-ismsby Virgil Abloh Capturing the enigmatic nature of trailblazing American creative director, DJ, designer and stylist, Virgil Abloh, this coffee table tome is a collection of quotes that offer thought-provoking insight into his uniquely creative mind.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Floating Piers In light of Christo’s death last year, this special edition, designed and signed by the artist himself carries new weight. Christo, in his own words, runs through the creation of his and Jeanne-Claude’s iconic 16-day installation, The Floating Piers via sketches, collages, engineering drawings, technical data and more than 2,000 project photographs.
Nike: Better is Temporary Offering an unprecedented look at Nike’s internal design philosophy via a range of the brand’s industry-defining innovations, most recognisable products and never-before-seen prototypes and designs, this book shines a light on how a shoe brand evolved into a cultural phenomenon.
Enhance your sleeping sanctuary with a design-led lamp. Whether your tastes lean towards curved and sculptural, or more clean and linear, the scope of a shaded table lamp that melds with its surroundings is impressive. Find a curated selection of our favourite pieces below.
French modern furniture manufacturer Ligne Roset is known for enlisting the expertise of some of the world’s most revered contemporary designers to create instantly iconic pieces — including Michel Ducaroy’s Togo chair, Yabu Pushelberg’s Pukka series, Pierre Paulin’s Pumpkin chair, and many more.
We’re already appraising our interiors after the announcement that the company opens its exclusive New Zealand showroom in Auckland tomorrow, located at 299 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.
Ploum by R. & E. Bouroullec at Ligne Roset’s Auckland showroom.
With more than 200 exclusive stores across the world and over 600 retailer distributors, there’s no doubt that Ligne Roset’s stylish reach extends far and wide — originally founded in the 1860s, it remains a family-owned business today with the original founders’ great-great-grandsons leading the charge.
On display in the new showroom will be a comprehensive range of living and dining furniture from the 2021/22 collection, as well as lighting and accessories.
Pumpkin Armchair by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset pictured in Adam Kane Architects Melbourne studio. Photo: Felix Forest.
With much of the world’s gaze focused decidedly on the home front, the company has only gone from strength to strength over the last year, and its arrival as a standalone brand on our shores is garnering a very warm welcome (and very large wishlist) already.
We all know that feeling — you’re out for a meal and have been given a good amount of time by the waitstaff to make your choice. But indecision lingers, exacerbated by the pressure of having to decide when you’re just not sure what the best dish might be.
To help combat what we’ll call ‘ordering stagefright’, here are some of the standout dishes we’ve eaten recently for you to put at the top of your list next time you’re dining out.
Kumara skins from Brolly The perfect combination of contrasting flavours with earthy, roasted kumara, creamy, truffle-laced goat feta, and a hint of sweetness from honeycomb, these bites are the perfect pair for any one of Brolly’s delicious cocktails.
Grangers.
Charred octopusfrom Grangers Fans of smoky flavours will love this dish, a flavourful medley of chargrilled octopus with fragrant chorizo and cannellini beans. We like to supplement this with a plate of grilled flatbreads and a glass of something good.
V.T. Station.
Paratha Kebabfrom V.T. Station Known throughout India as a ‘boti kebab’, this dish comprises succulent pieces of lamb that are served with flaky Paratha breads. Tear off a piece of the bread and use it as a mode of transportation for the lamb — you’d be hard-pressed to find a more addictive mouthful.
Lamb chopsfrom Alma With their menu of flame-kissed, Andalusian sharing plates drawing in the hoards seven days a week, Alma is an ideal stop for everything from a drink to a luxurious meal. If eating, make sure you don’t overlook the lamb chops, served on a creamy ajo blanco base and topped with a rhubarb chutney that perfectly offsets the richness of the meat.
Non Solo Pizza.
Wild Mushroom Tagliatellefrom Non Solo Pizza While we all have our favourites from this Parnell institution, it’s the menu’s new additions that we’re drooling over currently. The wild mushroom tagliatelle is a particular highlight; served with a fresh egg yolk and lashings of parmesan, with a plate of this in front of us, suddenly the winter doldrums don’t seem so bad.
Pici.
Cheesecakefrom Pici While this popular pasta spot opened late last year, we’re still not over its signature dessert — a weighty slice of cheesecake, served drizzled with a generous glug of olive oil, sea salt and lemon rind. If you haven’t tried it, we dare say it’s essential you make a visit a priority.
Cheddar pao, honey, goat curdfrom Mr Morris From the excellent service to the stellar menu, we can’t fault anything at Britomart restaurant Mr Morris. Starting a meal with the innovative snacks is a must, and we currently can’t get enough of the cheddar pao wtih honey and goat curd. Similar to Brazillian cheese bread (or ‘pao de queijo’) these beauties are very comforting with a satisfying chewiness, and are topped with the eternally delicious combination of goat curd and honey.
Euro.
Tarte Tatinfrom Euro With a delicious French-inspired winter menu, Euro is transporting us to Paris with the Tarte Tatin from the ‘Le Jardin’ section of the offering. Golden beetroot replaces the usual apple in this flaky pastry tart, and on the side is a garnish of thinly-sliced beetroot on a pillowy cloud of whipped chevre studded with walnuts.
San Daniele e Gnocco Fritto from Spiga There may only be a handful of seats at pint-sized Italian restaurant Spiga, but that doesn’t stop us from making a beeline to the Remuera eatery whenever we get the chance. We can’t resist the San Daniele e Goncco Fritto, a moreish starter of freshly-sliced prosciutto with delicate and light mini pizza dough balls.
Gemmayze Street.
Roasted pumpkin from Gemmayze Street A symphony of butternut pumpkin, this dish from K’ Road’s Gemmayze Street explores the versatile root vegetable in all its glory. Marinated in roasted garlic, za’atar and Lebanese chilli flakes, the roast pumpkin is then served with a red onion reduction, pumpkin puree and a pumpkin seed cracker — the fact that it’s gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan does absolutely nothing to detract from this dish’s heavenly taste.
Katsu sandofrom Masu Our appetite for the Japanese street food-favourite katsu sando shows no signs of waning, and our latest crush can be found at Masu. This perfect mouthful is formed of a sesame brioche slider within which crumbed pork, tart and mustardy karashi miso sauce and garlic mayonnaise are a match made in heaven.
Ki Māha.
Coastal Spring Lamb Rumpfrom Ki Māha A trip to Waiheke Island is improved to no end with a visit to Onetangi restaurant Ki Māha. Our particular favourite dish right now is the coastal spring lamb rump, perfectly cooked and served wtih roasted shallots, fried artichoke, peas, buffalo curd and a flavoursome anchovy salsa verde.
Since Cavit & Co was established 30 years ago, its founder Debbie Cavit has curated an inspiring collection of international interior brands with her discerning eye. The result is a longstanding showroom of superb style, with designs that can make your day-to-day that much more enjoyable if you take a piece home with you.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary this August, Cavit & Co is offering 30 percent off its premium furniture and accessories, which we know will be loved for many more years to come.
From left: McGuire Hayes Dining Chair, Kelly Wearstler Alma Floor Lamp.
For furniture finds, we have our eye on Baxter’s marble-topped tables which are made in Como to bring a traditional quality to contemporary forms. Meanwhile US legacy brand Baker brings sophistication and functionality together with its considered category.
In time for spring, and summers to come, McGuire’s Californian-casual style creations will add a sense of ease and elegance to your place — especially its refined rattan lounge chairs.
Kelly Wearstler Elevado Desk.
Design wunderkind Kelly Wearstler’s eponymous brand is also part of the company-wide sale. Her Elevado Desk is a standout. The architectural silhouette in cathedral grain wenge wood includes delicate, linen lined drawers with wooden glides, so you can be your most productive and polished yet.
For décor additions, we have our eye on Guaxs’ hand-carved glass sculptural objects, which are often double glazed for the most intriguing effect.
The Cavit & Co aesthetic has always transcended the boundary between classical and contemporary styles. Overlooking trends for a true sense of style, these sale finds will continue to dazzle and delight.
Sale opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9.30am—5pm Saturday: 10am—4pm Sale lasts until Saturday the 28th of August.
Not every friendship translates to a fruitful business relationship but in the case of Doe Donut founders (and high school best friends) Grace Tauber and Shenine Dube, their shared history has been a recipe for success.
From living in Australia where they came up with an idea for a new spin on Cook Island doughnuts, to regular market pop-ups and now to their own standalone store in Grey Lynn, the duo has passionately guided Doe Donuts to where it is now, with a steady stream of doughnut devotees ensuring their fresh-baked-daily selection always sells out.
“Doe is an edible collaboration of our identity, with many of our recipes stemming from nostalgic Kiwiana and heartwarming Pasifika memories,” they say.
Tauber and Dube took a moment out of their busy baking schedule to share more of an insight into their day-to-day, and some local foodie recommendations beyond their heavenly doughy creations.
Something we wish we’d known starting out is: There is no how-to manual on how to start a business. You throw yourself in the deep end and fake it ’til you make it! Totally rewarding, of course. Oh, and that when you work full-time in hospo, particularly as a baker, you can forget about ever having nice nails again.
A common misconception about what we do is: We are a huge business with automated machinery and a whole team of workers behind us. People don’t realise that it’s always just been the two of us utilising a small space, rolling and hand-cutting doughnuts at the crack of dawn (and we have only just recently hired two new employees).
If we could only eat one Doe Donut flavour for the rest of our life, it would be: Apple pie or banoffee pie. The combination of flavours in the apple pie are a match made in heaven. The banana custard used in our banoffee doughnuts (which we make using real bananas) is legit our kryptonite.
Our most popular flavour is: Caramilk or Boston cream.
A flavour we would like to release next is: Rocky road.
An ingredient we would never use is: Persimmon. The worst fruit of all time. Although we like to think we’re an incredibly open-minded duo and would give most things a chance.
The most farfetched doughnut request we’ve had is: A taro milk tea flavoured doughnut.
Doe Donuts Caramilk flavour.
In our fridge, you’ll always find: Without a doubt, Best Foods mayo, McClure’s pickles and cheese.
The best coffee in Auckland can be found: At Doe Donuts, of course! Allpress and Allgood oat milk flatties are our speciality.
Number one for a special meal is: Depot and Andiamo.
And for a cheap and cheerful: Bunga Raya and Lucky Gs. Favourite spot for a drink is: Hotel Ponsonby or the Morningside Tavern.
Preferred way to wind down: Totally varies for us between wine and good company amongst friends to lying in bed watching Tik Tok till we fall asleep. It really depends on our mood.
Being in business with your best friend is: A surreal, crazy, exciting and amazing experience. Can you just imagine the everyday banter we have? It’s business on another level. Outside of Doe Donuts, we are passionate about: Sleep. We are incredibly passionate about sleep. Also, music. All genres, and live music.
The days of wearing one bracelet or a single, simple necklace are being overtaken by a rising propensity to combine accessories in an eye-catching stack. Far from being a flashy endeavour, this style of adornment is designed to lend an added dimension to some of your favourite pieces, as well as ensuring that you get far more wear out of them than you usually would.
Pair fine bracelets with chunky styles and complete the stack with your favourite watch. To inspire your own combinations, we have lined up some of our favourites.
Techniques for bending and curving wood require a hefty dose of skill, and when executed to the finest degree they further elevate the organic look and feel of a piece of wooden furniture. The superb Ottawa Sideboard (pictured above) designed by Karim Rashid from BoConcept utilises both linear and undulating lines, for a fluid yet functional storage solution that emphasises characterful craftsmanship. For more inspiration, peruse our carefully curated wishlist of pieces below.
From left: Tesaurus storage by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto from Matisse; Venus chair by Konstantin Grcic for Classicon from Matisse; Round coffee table by Carlo Colombo for Giorgetti from ECC; Q/Wood armchair by Philippe Starck for Kartell from Backhouse. Pictured centre: Roma by OOAA Arquitectura.
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