As we see out the last of winter, many of us could probably do with showing our hair some love after the cold season. Whether it’s silky, smooth locks you’re after or would like to combat a dry, flaky scalp, we recommend investigating these innovative products.
Fight frizz Humidity is often not a hair’s best friend, with processes like colouring leaving strands porous and even more susceptible to it. No fear, as a groundbreaking product promises to shield it from moisture. Dream Coat Anti-Humidity Treatment by Color Wow uses heat-activated polymer technology to keep moisture at bay, not to mention bestowing hair with a silky smoothness that lasts through 3 to 4 shampoos — without weighing it down or making it greasy. Simply requiring the user to spray in damp hair and activate with a blow dry, Dream Coat couldn’t be easier to apply.
Hydrate and repair Many of us will be familiar with the original bond-building Olaplex range. The global best-seller is a household name when it comes to reducing breakage and strengthening hair, and it’s theNo.7 Bonding Oilthat’s got us excited — especially as we look forward to the warmer seasons (and will them to arrive sooner, please). A highly-concentrated, weightless reparative styling oil, the No.7 Bonding Oil promises to dramatically increase shine, softness, and colour vibrancy, as well as providing UV/heat protection of up to 450°F/232°C.
Scalp saviour If you use dry shampoo, have regular colour treatments, or just generally tend to suffer from greasy roots, this product is for you. The highly-rated Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum with Niacinamide from Sunday Riley is formulated to cleanse the scalp of product buildup, excess oil, dead skin, and pollution, resulting in a healthier-looking scalp and refreshed hair. Suitable for straight, wavy, curly, and coily locks, this scalp serum is effective but gentle, with a micellar water base to lift away dirt as it is rinsed out of your hair.
Tame tangles Protect your tresses while you sleep with a silk turban by Slip. Crafted from high-grade, long fibre mulberry silk, this silk turban helps to protect your hair from friction throughout the night with a double-lined twist design, made especially with Slipsilk elastic to fit a range of head sizes.
Since founding his eponymous design studio in 2004, Auckland-based principal architect John Irving has led his team to strive for simplification, and well-considered, timeless design. Among Studio John Irving’s acclaimed projects are the tranquil Tara Iti cottages at Tara Iti golf course near Mangawhai, and the Dart — a breathtaking holiday home with an exquisite outlook and unique, streamlined form. A man of wide-ranging interests who recognises the importance of enjoying the process, Irving shares his inspirations, favourite pieces and foremost design rules.
The Dart by John Irving
My design style can be defined as ‘keep it simple.’
Living and working as an architect in Berlin in the 90s has shaped me, and my work, more than any particular teachings. That place was the best possible head f**k. Berliners know how to live.
The product or item I specify the most is anything from the Tio range by Mass Productions, there’s not a dud in the whole collection. It’s visually light, bulletproof, works inside and out — props to the designers, it’s brilliant work.
At this point in my career, usually I can convince clients to take a risk. The good clients throw curveballs at you and then trust you to figure it out.
I love the design work of Marcel Breuer. His houses rock my boat; modernism with warmth. In terms of contemporary architects, I enjoy Tom Kundig’s work. We are working with him as the local team on a lovely home he is doing here in New Zealand and it’s been great fun.
My favourite furniture pieces are beautiful and comfortable chairs which are more difficult to find than you would think. My top three are the PK22 by Poul Kjaerholm, Charles and Ray Eames’ 124 lounge chair, and Mr. Chair by Charles Mulhauser. They were all designed in the glory days of furniture design: the late 1950s. I collect mid-century furniture, so I definitely have my favourites.
Ronchamp chapel by Le Corbusier
I’m a courtyard junky; it’s my favourite space to design. It’s the room you create by leaving a space empty. I also love a sunken lounge with a fireplace. I have no idea why stepping down into a lounge is the best, but it really is.
Diamond Beach in Iceland was one of the most incredible places I have visited. 1000 year old glacial ice flows out of the lagoon only for wave action to smash the ice back up onto the black sand beach. I just stood there dumbfounded by its beauty. Iceland feels like what nature looks like when it’s tripping on acid, it’s relentlessly beautiful. In terms of unforgettable buildings, it’s hard to beat the drama of the Pantheon, although Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp chapel gives it a good nudge. It’s great to meet your heroes and not be disappointed.
An object I would never part with is my 1969 Omega Speedmaster moon watch that I got from Irving Texas. We belong together.
On my personal wish list is a 1969 Porsche 911 in olive green. Some of my wishes can get a little specific.
The last design piece I added to a project that I loved was a Douglas and Bec wall light. Everyone: buy their stuff.
Thermal baths in Switzerland by Peter Zumthor
The designer that inspires me is Swiss architect Peter Zumthor for his gimmick-free, modern, timeless work and his mastery of stone and I have stayed at his thermal baths in Vals, Switzerland, a few times. It is an architect’s dream with bonus rooms by Kuma and Ando, and my favourite winter escape — go there.
My design icon is Jean Nouvel, I enjoy his architectural unpredictability, he has a loose mind.
I often find unexpected inspiration in and on planes. Everything about them — their honest form being based on function alone. I think the Concorde is the greatest piece of C20 design, and it was done by engineers going “okay, what works best for something that goes faster than a bullet?” I am addicted to designing on planes, there’s something about being in a metal canister travelling a million miles an hour above the clouds that makes me want to design stuff. It also justifies the upgrade.
All houses should have an outdoor shower, it’s my favourite thing to include. I have one among the Nikau at my beach house. I don’t even know if the indoor shower works.
From left: PK22 chair by by Poul Kjærholm for Fritz Hansen; V Beachhouse by Studio John Irving
It sounds a little pretentious but I try to pluck inspiration from the site and the personality of the clients, rather than external projects. Otherwise, you can get caught up in the fashion of the day which is bad when you are designing things that should last for 100 years.
I am an obsessive art collector, it’s so much sexier than having money in a bank account. If I could choose any artist it would be Caravaggio, I discovered him by accident at the Vatican museum and spent the next 10 years trawling around Europe looking at his paintings, I have literally seen most of them. Coming closer to earth, my Muriwai pad would look rather dapper as a homage to Colin McCahon’s works from his Muriwai years.
My personal style signifier is jandals.
Fred & Ginger by Studio John Irving
If I wasn’t doing what I am, I would be an influencer.
My parents were collectors and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree… I collect a lot of things; old electric fans, things from 1969 (this particular collection is out of control), retro Air New Zealand memorabilia, moon stuff, mid-century furniture, Lufthansa cutlery, propellers. I also have more surfboards and snowboards than I care to admit. Playtime is important.
One of my important design rules as an architect when working on people’s homes is: try to remember that it is their home and not yours. Be friends with your clients at the end of the project, it’s my number one rule. If you aren’t friends then you are doing it wrong. It’s about making people happy.
Nothing beats curling up with a good book. From classics to contemporary fiction, these novels and short stories are sure to inspire and captivate during long days spent inside.
NEW FICTION A Long Petal of The Seaby Isabel Allende From a titan of fiction, this new work tells the story of two Spanish Civil War refugees in the 1930s. Across decades and continents, Allende weaves a vivid narrative as her protagonists search for somewhere to call home.
Topics of Conversationby Miranda Popkey A remarkable debut, this novel comprises conversations between women about desire, motherhood, loneliness, shame, pain, love and everything in between in a way that would pass the Bechdel test with flying colours.
The Mirror & The Lightby Hilary Mantel The final installment of Mantel’s double Booker-winning Thomas Cromwell trilogy is just as compelling and captivating as its predecessors, an artful work of historical fiction that covers the aftermath of Anne Boelyn’s death in 1536.
SHORT STORIES & ESSAY COLLECTIONS How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right?by Pandora Sykes Known for her work that cuts through Zeitgeist-y topics (including her role as co-host of popular podcast, The High Low) journalist Pandora Sykes has penned a series of essays for her new book, How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? Interrogating the stories we’re told and the anxieties that come with the modern pressure to ‘live our best lives,’ Sykes looks at some of the tools we can use to feel our way through, in a wide-ranging, witty and thought-provoking way.
Wow, No Thank Youby Samantha Irby There should be a warning about the amount of uncomfortably loud laughter this book will induce. Samantha Irby addresses the challenges of life with an unrelenting, deadpan humour.
Intimations: Six Essaysby Zadie Smith An extremely timely new book born out of the pandemic and lockdown, this short collection of essays by renowned author Zadie Smith is deepy personal and moving. A slim volume — ideal for short attention spans, perhaps — Intimations explores ideas and questions prompted by an unprecedented situation.
You Will Never Be Forgottenby Mary South In this provocative debut, Mary South tackles the idea of how technology affects our relationships — for better and worse. The 10 stories in this anthology are funny, sad, anxious, thought-provoking and deeply human.
CRUCIAL CLASSICS The Color Purple by Alice Walker This epistolary novel follows an African-American teenager growing up in rural Georgia. Offering a painfully honest glimpse into her abuse and struggle for empowerment, the book was praised for the dialogue it prompted around race and gender.
Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley Written in 1931, set in a future society called the World State, this seminal piece of dystopian fiction presents life defined by the triumph of science and efficiency over individuality and the dangers of industrialisation at any cost, messages that still ring true today.
Passingby Nella Larsen Following two light-skinned black women living through the Harlem Renaissance, this novel juxtaposes how the stories of Clare and Irene converge and disperse, based on the different ways each woman embraces (or rejects) her racial background.
EASY READS Temporaryby Hilary Leichter Taking comedic aim at temporary work, this novel follows a young woman whose employment as a ‘temp’ becomes increasingly bizarre, as she embarks on a metaphysical quest for permanence.
Real Men Knitby Kwana Jackson Following four brothers striving to keep the doors of their Harlem knitting shop open after the sudden death of their foster-turned-adoptive mother, this poignantly funny story speaks to family, love and community.
Rodhamby Curtis Sittenfeld The structure of this novel is based on one question: What if Hillary Rodham hadn’t married Bill Clinton? A riveting tale that traces a woman blazing her own trail, Sittenfeld addresses the compromises required of female ambition.
INFORMATIVE READS The Quick and The Dead by Cynric Temple-Camp The subject might feel on-the-nose, but the stories of New Zealand pathologist Cynric Temple-Camp offer a fascinating glimpse into disease and death.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Raceby Reni Eddo-Lodge Already an acclaimed piece but all the more necessary now, this book addresses institutionalised, pervasive racism and re-frames the discussion to challenge white people on their assumptions and behaviours.
Lurking: How a Person Became a Userby Joanne McNeil A seminal read for the digital age, this intriguing book addresses the rise and life-altering affects of the Internet and how it has irrevocably changed how we communicate and who we are.
You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Mattersby Kate Murphy New York Times journalist, Kate Murphy, details how we can cut through all the noise and distractions to become active listeners. And how it will change everything.
With the importance of taking care of our day-to-day wellbeing more urgent than ever, the demand for treatments, products and choices that support our immune system and overall health function is on the rise.
While self-care often prompts us to focus inward, health is an externally holistic concept — it radiates even further than the individual, in turn allowing us to effectively manage our lives and the needs of those around us.
New Zealand supplement brand Me Today lives and breathes this philosophy, with its ethos of ‘look after yourself, so you can be there for others.’
The foundation of the range came from an extremely personal experience, says CEO Michael Kerr. “In 2018 my wife, Nikki, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She was 36 and we had two young girls, so it came as a big shock to the family. My immediate reaction was to stop working, stay home and look after her. However, Nikki had other ideas. She wanted me to ensure I was keeping myself healthy, both mentally and physically, so I could be there to look after the whole family.”
Photographer: Holly Burgess
While focusing on nourishing his body from the inside out with diet, exercise and getting enough sleep, it was through a futile search for a trustworthy, New Zealand-made, supplement and skincare range that Kerr and his wife became frustrated.
This frustration led Kerr to develop Me Today, along with Grant Baker and Stephen Sinclair, a brand focused on delivering high quality, natural products based on scientific and traditional evidence that Kiwis can trust.
Currently encompassing 15 different supplements, targeted for specific uses, and a range of 13 skincare products for face and body, Me Today’s offering is formulated to slot into busy lifestyles effortlessly — a boon when all of us are more stressed and busy than ever before.
“We’ve created a cross-category range of highly natural products that are free of nasties and use premium ingredients,” says Kerr. “We choose ingredients that we know are effective and are the most absorbable on the skin and in the body, ensuring the highest-quality products.”
“Given the pandemic we’re currently facing, and with cold weather still lingering, it’s of vital importance that we provide our bodies with the support they need to fight off winter ills and chills”, says Kerr. Me Today’s Women’s Daily and Men’s Daily supplements are a great starting point for maintaining general health and wellbeing, as they contain all the essential vitamins, minerals and herbs to support energy production, immune function and overall health.
“I’d also recommend building Protect into your routine as this includes echinacea and vitamin C to boost your body’s immune system against winter colds.”
A good night’s sleep is also vital for keeping our strength up, with the Goodnight supplement containing magnesium and valerian to help muscles relax and calm any restlessness and tension before bedtime.
Photographer: Holly Burgess
Not neglecting our outer appearance as well as our inner-health, Me Today’s range of daily skincare upholds the brand’s values of premium and highly natural ingredients, and is curated for women’s specific skincare needs. Crafted with natural botanicals and powerful antioxidants including Vitamin C, A, E and B3, these products aim to assist with deep hydration and in reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
Me today’s skincare range is cruelty free, and free from parabens, sodium laureth sulphate or phthalates — all packaged in recyclable and reusable glass with minimal plastic.
“The entire range is also from New Zealand, which is something that is important to me and the brand,” says Kerr. “I wanted to ensure that, as a New Zealand wellness-focused company, we were creating all our products here too.”
And as for what is next in the beauty and wellness industry? “I think we’re going to see an even bigger focus on natural beauty worldwide, but especially here in New Zealand,” predicts Kerr. “People are increasingly aware of the adverse side effects that ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and silicones have on their health, and I think we’re only going to see that awareness grow.”
Supplements will also become even more important, he thinks, and we can see why — especially when they allow us to naturally pick up our game, feel great in mind, body and spirit, while still being there for the people around us.
As streaming services offer more excellent content than we’ve ever had access to before, we help you cut through the noise with the latest and greatest. From ground-breaking series to captivating films, these projects are sure to impress.
Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story The second season of true crime drama Dirty John tackles a totally different story of suspicion, deception and ultimately, murder. This time around, Betty Broderick is the focus, a Californian housewife whose seemingly picture-perfect life totally unravels in a love story gone very, very wrong. Watch on Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoPQ_OPWDN0
Lovecraft Country Based on the novel by Matt Gruff and produced by Get Out‘s Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country follows Atticus Black as he travels across racially-segregated 1950s America in search of his missing father. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, this new HBO series is not to be missed. Watch on Neon
Bad Education The true story of the largest public school embezzlement in American history, Bad Education is a dark comedy/drama that follows Dr. Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) and Pam Glukin (Allison Janney) as they steal millions of dollars from the public school they run, while simultaneously striving to make it the best in the district. Watch on Neon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxXn2PA65XE
High Fidelity This small-screen adaptation of the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby revisits the tale of Rob, a record store owner who decides to reach back into his relationship archive to determine what exactly what went wrong with his most recent romance. This adaptation sees Zoe Kravitz play Rob, one of many refreshing updates to this well-known and well-loved story. Watch on Neon
The Way Back Ben Affleck plays an ex-high-school basketball star who, after walking away from his future, finds himself stuck on a meaningless path. A story of loss and resurrection without leaning on cliché, the protagonist is given a shot at redemption when he becomes the basketball coach at his alma mater. Watch on Apple TV
The Therapist This Viceland series sees Dr Siri Sat Nam Sing sit down with some of music’s best-known rappers, pop artists and rockstars to dig deeper into their public personas and see what really lies beneath the surface. Watch on Neon
Dollface Whimsical and extremely watchable, Dollface is a new comedy series which charts the journey of newly-single Jules (Kat Dennings), who must seek to rekindle her friendships after being consumed by coupledom for half a decade. Watch on Neon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJGedvRfHYg
The Great Hilariously irreverent and very loosely based on fact, The Great centres around Catherine The Great (Elle Fanning), and her fraught journey to power. Set in the Russian court of stroppy Emperor Peter (Nicholas Hoult), Catherine must find her own path through rampant promiscuity, violent outbursts and cautious conspiracy. Watch on Neon
I May Destroy You Told through the eyes of Arabella, a young woman who has her drink spiked on a night out, this new British comedy-drama (written by and starring Michaela Coel) is making waves for its honest portrayal of sexual assault and its aftermath. Watch on Neon
Stateless Inspired by true events, Stateless is the gripping tale of four strangers whose lives intersect at an Australian immigration detention centre. Co-created by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (more on her later), this six-episode series is being hailed as one of the year’s best. Watch on Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhRId0BTw
Unorthodox Growing up in Brooklyn’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community, Esty feels there is something more in store for her, as she escapes her religion and husband, to start a new life. Offering a fascinating look at the customs of a religion that is typically very private, but told in a way that never errs into sensationalism, this moving miniseries will stay with you long after its final scene. Watch on Netflix
Mrs America Centred around second-wave feminism at the time of the Equal Rights Amendment, this miniseries focuses on Phylis Schlafly — conservative darling of the right — and her attempts to thwart the amendment’s passing into law. Told through the eyes of women from the era (on both sides of the aisle) and anchored by a masterful Cate Blanchett in the leading role, this show offers a fascinating look into history. Watch on Neon
Misbehaviour Starring Keira Knightly, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessie Buckley, Misbehaviour tells the story of the women who hatched a plan to hijack the 1970 Miss World competition — the year that saw the first Black competitor crowned. In cinemas 22nd October
The Platform Fair warning, this Spanish sci-fi/horror film is not for the faint of heart. Like this year’s Best Picture-winning Parasite, the film takes an unconventional approach to examining the separation of wealth, class and its impact on society. Watch on Netflix
A new product range from Tim Webber Design offers an evolution of the brand’s much-loved aesthetic. Known for its simplistic beauty and a focus on functionality, clean lines and details, Tim Webber Design’s latest release brings a slightly more sculptural element to the fold, a harmonious meeting of the artistic and the functional.
“I wanted to convey a sense of luxury through the materials and design,” says Tim Webber of the direction, “while remaining homely, versatile and practical at the same time.”
Comprising 14 pieces encompassing tables, sideboards, lighting and accessories, as well as sofas and chairs, the new collection has a particular focus on solid timber, a progression from the plywood regularly utilised by the brand.
Designed to sit seamlessly in varied spaces across New Zealand and Australia, the quality of the timber offers a sense of solidity and permanence, finished with brass details.
“It’s in line with my philosophy of creating clean, simple lines that are well-considered with a focus on details and connections,” says Webber. “Celebrating the joins and the mixing of materials.”
Trace Table from Tim Webber Design
Pale, luminous maple would sit well at a holiday home, or in an environment where there are lighter, whiter timbers, while the darker grains of walnut and oak offer a deeper, luxurious look that would be particularly at home in a villa.
Lighting also sees a turn of the sculptural with one range featuring a collaboration by a local glass-blower, in a bid to explore new processes as well as new materials. A new pendant series born from the pairing creates an organic feel with an undulating mould process, resulting in a shape that contrasts beautifully with the brass fitting. Fans of the clean and crisp will find much to love in the other new lighting release, utilising linear lines with brass and glass tubing.
It’s hugely important to Webber that nearly everything in the collection is made in New Zealand, working with local craftspeople and businesses, and with all of us spending even more time in our homes, these are products that will add timeless joy to any space.
For nearly 20 years leading designer Karen Walker has applied her fashion sensibility to the serious business of selecting paints with Resene. Now with Karen Walker Chalk Colour paints for Resene — a series of dusty, tonal colours — the relationship continues.
“It’s the same selection of colours but with new pigments and new techniques,” Walker says. “In some ways the chalkiness is always where the range has been.”
While Walker says the latest range offers comfort, creating an atmosphere of homeliness in our not-so-glossy present times, the collection also harkens back to some treasured memories of family seaside escapes.
“My grandfather had a property that my mother used to visit as a girl and I spent time at in my twenties,” Walker remembers. “It was so close to the water that on most full moons the water reflection would come inside. But I was always enchanted by the weathered nature of the corrugated iron walls. There was a delightful patchwork nature to them and there was nothing shiny about them.”
With Walker having worked on seven palettes for Resene, there are now 42 colours as part of the curated collection, all available in the chalk execution.
Walker has also taken inspiration from legendary wartime photographer Lee Miller. Having recently visited Farleys Farm House in Sussex where Miller lived with artist Sir Roland Penrose, she was struck by the dusty nature of the coloured walls.
“Not many people have that amount of gumption but we should,” Walker says. Thankfully she’s made it easy for us to follow her cues with her new edit for Resene. “Each of the colours is talking back to the others. Sometimes it’s just easier to intrinsically trust the collection in front of you.”
In an unprecedented and trailblazing move, the much respected New Zealand home and body care brand Ecostore is taking full responsibility for the afterlife and disposal of its packaging with a newly-announced bottle collection system.
Consumers can be assured that the bottle ‘recall’ as they calling it, is not due to any packaging or product fault, but rather an impressive response to the critical need to take pressure off our country’s overwhelmed waste and recycling system. And remarkably the new program has the potential to take millions of bottles out of the waste systems in the short-term alone.
Customers are urged to take their bottles to more than 100 partnering schools, speciality grocery stores and Ecostore refill stations that have been set up as collection points across the country.
Ecostore Group CEO Pablo Kraus is determined to add something positive to 2020, and define it as the year that businesses step up and take action and responsibility for the waste they create.
“Our company is guided by the principle of ‘planet before profit’, yet we know that our bottles, despite using sustainable and renewable sugar plastic, are part of the problem,” he says. “I’m so proud of my team who have worked tirelessly over the last year to develop New Zealand’s first comprehensive closed loop system for household and personal care products through our Plastic Return Programme.”
“Issuing this Permanent Bottle Recall is a way of highlighting the urgency of the problem, while presenting a positive solution,” says Ecostore Group Marketing Director Jemma Whiten. “While our programme is viewed as a starting point, the aim is to create a system that can be scaled across many businesses to drive change and maximise the amount of plastic taken out of our overwhelmed system.”
Ecostore has already been trialing this programme with nine schools to great success, and is now ready to engage the wider population to educate communities around the importance of creating a circular recycling model.
To learn more about the program and where you can drop off your old Ecostore bottles, visit their website for further information.
Jeff Fearon is no stranger to oject d’art, having spent more than two decades as one half of celebrated architecture firm Fearon Hay. As the brains behind some of New Zealand’s most notable buildings and developments, Fearon is a tastemaker with an impeccable understanding of materials, landscapes and heritage spaces. Here, he shares his most treasured personal pieces.
“From the bottom left, is a cuff from Rick Owens gifted to me on my 40th birthday by friends who know me too well. It doesn’t get worn as often as I would like anymore, but when it does it feels good.
Next to this on the floor is an SPQR plate, a discarded utilities cover that was retrieved from the footpaths of Rome when I was 21. I’d just been in Auckland for the first time after living and studying in Australia for some time, and had spent too much time at the restaurant of the same name on Ponsonby Road, so it seemed like a great souvenir.
Above this is a Comme des Garçons jacket. I don’t have a lot of luck with online shopping, but not only was this one on sale, it was the right size, and arrived in a couple of days, and remains a firm favourite in my wardrobe.
Standing with the jacket is my grandfather’s Selmer Paris MK6 Alto saxophone procured by him in 1950, the year of my mother’s birth. It’s still in its original case. Now both of my sons enjoy playing it as much as I enjoyed playing it with him all those years ago.
Continuing with the music theme are a few of my favourite vinyls, LCD Soundsystem and Chromatics’ Night Drive, in the front and Kruder & Dorfmeister’s G-Stoned at the back. This one in particular has a fabulous little lump in the vinyl, as a reminder to not leave your records in a hot car, but somehow the stylis still hangs on.
Next to this is Blondie’s Parallel Lines, which I have to hide from my sons as they love to play ‘Sunday Girl’ at 45 RPM.
The golden floor light is a favourite gift from my wife Sophie, the Stchu-Moon light, by Catellani & Smith. Funnily enough, the editor of this magazine introduced me to the brand when we visited the Milan Fair together back in 2010.
Perched above the records is one of my favourite knives by Pallares, it’s extremely sharp, beautiful and very useful. The artwork is a Sally Mintram drawing from 1995 gifted to me by my parents upon graduation of my architecture degree. It’s called The Red Chair, and is drawn in a style that is very familiar to me, and also just happens to be the name of the cafe above which I lived during my architectural studies in Melbourne.
The last thing is a photo of my wife Sophie, before I met her. She’s sitting on the floor of her flat in London, sewing and looking extremely happy. I insisted that I keep this photo for myself.”
Octopus is one of those things that’s easy to get wrong, but hard to pass up when it’s done right. For dishes that do the seafood justice, look no further than the following offerings from these local restaurants.
Grilled octopus with yuzu pepper soy, aji amarillo mash & shichimi pepper from Azabu From the first day Azabu opened its doors, its grilled octopus has been a standout. The iconic dish comprises seasoned, grilled and sliced octopus, served on a bed of mash — currently it’s a delightful whip of potato mixed with aji amarillo. This hot yellow chilli pepper is used a lot in Peruvian cuisine and has a slightly sweet flavour with plenty of heat. A citrusy yuzu pepper soy sauce and the final sprinkle of spicy Japanese shichimi pepper enhance the overall complexity yet cohesiveness of this dish.
South Island octopus with potato, smoked mayonnaise, seaweed butter, chili and spinachfrom Ostro A long-standing favourite on the Ostro menu, Josh Emett’s incarnation sees perfectly charred octopus accompanied by golden, fried potatoes that have crisp exteriors and fluffy centres, and a smoked mayonnaise to enhance the charred flavours of the delicacy. Adding another dimension to the flavour is butter which has been infused with seaweed and is complemented by a drizzle of chilli, achieving the perfect hybrid of spicy and umami.
Omni’s octopus with X.O
Octopus, X.O from Omni With culinary influences from Norway and Hong Kong, it’s no surprise the talented team at Omni know how to throw down a damn good octopus dish. Grilled until beautifully charred, Omni’s octopus is chopped into bite-sized pieces you can easily pluck up with your chopsticks and pop into your mouth. The texture is tender yet pleasingly chewy, with XO sauce adding an irresistible umami element and a thoughtful triangle of lemon offering a bright burst of citrus to cut through the richness.
Wood fired octopus, braised fennel, celeriac, bottarga from Lilian This special dish from neighbourhood eatery Lilian lets whole octopus tentacles shine. Braised then finished over the wood fired grill, they’re served on a celeriac puree with olive and preserved lemon gremolata, finished with a small herb salad, basil oil and grated bottarga (salted fish roe).
Bar Celeste’s seared octopus with parsnip velouté
Seared octopus, parsnip velouté, chorizo vinaigrette and herb salad from Bar Céleste One of the most in-demand dishes on Céleste‘s menu, the octopus is back and as delicious as ever. Served atop a silky parsnip puree, with a salty, savoury chorizo vinaigrette and fresh, fragrant herb salad, this dish hits all the right flavour notes with each satisfying bite.
Charcoal grilled octopus, baby fennel, tomato, cannellini beans and lemon dressingfrom Gusto at the Grand Renowned chef Sean Connolly shines a light on the unsung hero of Italian cuisine at his restaurant, Gusto at the Grand. His rendition of octopus carpaccio is the palate cleanser that everyone needs. Thin slivers of delicately cooked octopus are sprinkled with capers, shallots, fresh chilli and a drizzle of EVOO for the ultimate example of tasteful simplicity.
The Poni Room’s grilled octopus with potato
Grilled octopus with potato, muhammara, and ginger-spring onion relish from The Poni Room Commercial Bay hotspot The Poni Room serves its tasty octopus dish with crispy and fluffy roasted potatoes, a Middle Eastern red bell pepper dip called muhammara and a zesty relish — ideal when washed down with a glass of rosé from the restaurant’s ample selection.
Octopus sashimi ceviche with ‘Myoga’ ginger from Cocoro Cocoro chef and owner Makoto Tokuyama’s ceviche dish sees delicate slices of slow braised octopus served with Japanese Myoga ginger, giving the dish a dimension of earthy zest and showcasing the tenderness that this seafood is capable of achieving.
Izu’s chargrilled octopus
Chargrilled octopus with cauliflower, capsicum and ponzu from Izu Papakura-based modern Japanese restaurant Izu is all about utilising the freshest local ingredients for a memorable and beautiful eating experience, and its octopus dish is no different. A light and delicate yet still satisfying addition to the menu, chargrilled octopus meets roasted cauliflower and capsicum, topped with a fresh ponzu dressing.
Takoyaki from Nishiki If you’re a bit tentative about wrestling a whole tentacle, consider Nishiki’s takoyaki as the perfect gateway dish. A street food favourite in Japan, takoyaki is a sort of dumpling which sees tiny bits of octopus swirled through a savoury batter and cooked into deliciously crispy balls. Enjoy topped with sticky, sweet sauce, Japanese mayo and plenty of gently moving bonito flakes.
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