Tucked away on Devonport’s Wynyard Street, a stone’s throw (practically) from the water, sits Lily Eatery — the area’s newest drop-in for a delicious breakfast or lunch. Established by husband and wife duo Jason and Lily Ng, the latter boasts an impressive resume working in some of the best kitchens around Wellington and Auckland including Matterhorn, Baduzzi, Clarence Road Eatery and Stafford Wine Bar, making her — beyond being the inspiration for eatery’s name — the driving force behind its flavoursome fare.
Despite the fact that her family is originally from China, Lily was born in New Zealand and grew up with a fascination for Western food — particularly French cuisine. It’s a fascination she has weaved into her new venture via a cabinet of beautifully cooked pastries and treats, including an outstanding custard loaf. An impossibly fluffy filling is ensconced in a crunchy, buttery crust and piled with poached plums that cut through the sweetness to deliver the perfect balance of sweet and tart. “It’s my favourite,” Lily tells me, and I can see why.
The menu is at once simple and sophisticated. Anchored by fresh ingredients, the dishes express the skill of the chef herself through their complex, interesting flavours and expert execution. Lily explains how she wanted to focus on seasonal, bright ingredients like the herbs she sourced weekly from Eat Your Greens and the in-season plums she was getting from a local source. Setting down the corn fritters Lily revealed that, because most of her family eats gluten-free, many of her menu items have been made to follow suit. The gluten-free fritters were light where you’d usually expect a more grunty, batter-like texture, and made for a dish that wasn’t too heavy but punchy when it came to flavour. The salmon was a similar story. Cured overnight and accompanied by fried eggs, sumac, and eggplant chutney it offered an appealing interpretation of earthy, Middle-Eastern flavours and was the ideal size to satiate our lunchtime cravings.
Though the interior is distinctly industrial with open space aplenty and rough, concrete floors, the experience of eating at Lily Eatery felt cosy and personal. If you’re in the area or are looking to eat somewhere slightly further afield, this new opening is one to try.
Reuben Bonner — Founder & Organiser, Wondergarden Festival The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time is the ultimate mystery adventure written in such a simple, wondrous voice that it is hard not to feel endeared to Christopher John Francis Boone, the story’s protagonist. He is a 15-year-old amateur detective who is hell-bent on finding who in God’s name has speared his next door neighbour’s dog, Wellington, with a garden fork! This book serves as a poignant reminder of how different we all are as human beings, and how we should be patient and compassionate of those around us following a different path. Christopher — who has Asperger syndrome and is ensconced in his own reality — has just as an important quest to complete (finding Wellington’s killer), as we might with our daily lives getting the bills paid, the children fed, or replying to a list of unanswered emails. It’s easy reading, but very fulfilling and shrouded in mystery and intrigue, and is also peppered with some excellent humour.
Max Patte — Artist I’ve read all sorts of books on art, artists and the art market but The $12 million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art is hands down my most dog-eared, underlined and loaned out book on the shelf. More than any college tutor or trip to a gallery, this book helped me really understand and appreciate what happens to a work once it leaves the studio; how the lasting success of that work is influenced and controlled; the role of the dealer, gallery and collector; who sets the value and what makes it rise. With tales from the auction house, mega dealers, private jets and inside trades, this is a fascinating and engaging look at the phenomenon of an unregulated, sometimes murky and constantly surprising art world. It’s the book I wish I’d read at school.
Paul Huege de Serville — Founder, Servilles Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish was a book that definitely changed my perspective. After listening to the author (an entrepreneur and founder of the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization) and reading his book it gave me a deeper understanding about culture, value systems and structures that help you get clear pathways to run a business. Before that, I used to operate mostly by instinct and past knowledge, so keeping that and adding his way gave me lots of clarity in our business.
Peter Cullinane — Founder, Lewis Road Creamery I’m not a big fan of business texts, I much prefer learning by example. The stand-out book for me is Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. It’s not a lesson in how to be a kind spirit but it is the best insight into the singular attitude that created the world’s most successful company. Steve Jobs believed everything was important, from the biggest ideas to the smallest details. He was relentless in his pursuit of perfection. For him, business was personal. He created a business that reflected what he wanted, not what others might want. This biography is a riveting read.
Karen Walker — Founder, Karen Walker When I was 12, I discovered Evelyn Waugh and devoured everything he wrote, but it was his satire, his scathing, sneering reflection upon the English sitting-room, that I especially loved. Through his lens, he questioned and ridiculed the establishment but also, somehow, despite the curled lip, showed his love for it. This was an embrace with a slap, a pinch, a shin-kick thrown in for good measure and that really appealed to me. He questioned automatic, given, expected respect. He challenged and poked fun at the establishment and I loved that. And don’t even get me started on Brideshead Revisited, which still makes me weep!
A new book by Nicole England, Resident Dog is a beautifully realised photographic journey through some incredible homes via the dogs that inhabit them. Through her lens, England gives a unique perspective on aspirational houses that, while breathtaking by themselves, are given life when explored with their most important resident as the guide. Showcasing magnificent architecture and inspirational interiors, the 25 residences that make up the book are juxtaposed with the curious, endearing and idiosyncratic personalities of their pooches, showing how a home is always about more than just four walls and a roof.
Cookie theLabradoodle’s favourite part of the Brisbane home he lives in is the back garden. Or the rooftop, where he will often sit and take in the views of the city skyline.
Charlie, the laid-back Spoodle, is resident of this five-level, Melbourne home. Modelled off a 1960s case study, the house is bathed in natural light and boasts a colour scheme that allows his cocoa-toned curls to blend seamlessly into his surroundings.
Left:
The minimalist aesthetic, natural wood floors and raw concrete walls of this Melbourne residence get a touch of much-needed warmth from its four-legged resident, Canela.
Right:
Eric is the cheeky Yorkie who lives in this Sydney penthouse. Despite the home being surrounded by beautiful gardens and an abundance of nature, Eric doesn’t like getting his paws wet, preferring instead to enjoy it from the comfort of the living room.
With a black and white coat that makes him almost melt into the monochromatic background of his Sydney home, Skipper is the Border Collie with an enthusiastic personality that affects all who enter this contemporary abode.
Resident Dog is currently sold out online but will be available again from March with the second print.
Champagne and cocktails served from the Dior-decorated bar set the celebratory tone as we gathered underneath the handbag-laden walls of Dior’s Queen Street boutique in honour of its Cruise ’19 collection launching in-store. Admiring the new pieces and picking favourites from the bold prints and patterns characteristic to the collection, we shopped and socialised while the DJ (dressed in Dior) underscored our evening with a lively set from behind her decorated booth.
Check out all the action from the event in the video below.
Finding the perfect premises in which to house a business can be a long and arduous task. But when Denizen’s Editor-in-Chief Claire Sullivan-Kraus laid eyes on an unassuming warehouse in Auckland’s Victoria Precinct, she knew she had found something special. With its discrete ivy-covered street frontage, soaring ceilings, and spacious upper and lower levels, she recognised a space with immense potential.
Having published and edited design magazines for more than a decade, Sullivan-Kraus knew that the outcome of this conversion needed to unequivocally reflect the ethos of the Denizen brand. A floor plan and concept was developed to create an impactful space that presented two major points of visual interest.
Housing the publishing operations of Denizen in the building’s mezzanine floor, the large cavernous downstairs area was converted into a social hub for hosting and entertaining clients, conducting photo shoots and facilitating inter-office conviviality in the form of shared staff lunches and Friday afternoon cocktails.
Keeping things light and bright was pivotal, so Resene’s Half Copyrite paint provided a fresh finish on the floors. Furthering the sense of vastness in the double height space, the low-sheen finish of Resene Uracryl prevented glare and provided the ideal blank canvas for the thoroughly contemporary furnishings.
A long-standing passion for the industrial look of Crittall window frames led to the decision to create a steel framed glass boardroom that would become the office’s epicentre, an impressive room to host client presentations and meetings. With a desire to keep the space relatively informal, textured walls and artworks were used to imbue the room with an inviting warmth.
The boardroom’s built-in cabinetry, displays an eclectic collection of tchotchkes and books helped to curate a more relaxed atmosphere, with the final result offering a distinct departure from the traditionally austere corporate boardroom.
Left: Samsung’s Frame Television displays beautiful works of art in near perfect resolution. Right: The deep charcoal staircase, achieved using Resene Masala, creates an interesting focal point when juxtaposed with the white flooring and walls. Knoll’s Platner Table and Chairs and classic Fortuny floor lamp make an impact in the small meeting room.
Being the backdrop for many of Denizen’s most important meetings, a screen was a necessity for the boardroom and Samsung’s Frame television offered a revolutionary way to integrate the television into the room’s design without requiring a compromise on style. When not in use, the 55-inch TV displays works of art in near perfect resolution, while its built-in sensor works to balance the screen brightness and colour to create the impression of a naturally illuminated canvas. The screen artworks can be updated at the click of a button, to suit changing moods and styles.
To introduce a textural element to the large feature wall, we used Resene’s Rockcote Clay Plaster Decor. Beautifully fine with built-in marble dust that glistens when exposed to ambient light, the hand-applied, hand-finished plaster boasts a velvety smooth, suede-like finish that immediately injects the space with a tactile warmth. Aside from its obvious aesthetic qualities, this natural clay plaster is non-toxic and free from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) making it ideal for the long-term health of the building’s occupants.
The office kitchen is fully equipped with a full suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances
Designed purely with entertainment in mind, the expansive kitchen offers a complete fleet of innovative, Fisher & Paykel appliances — including a 127 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cabinet, an integrated CoolDrawer™, an Induction Cooktop and Built-In Oven, and an integrated double DishDrawer™ dishwasher — ensuring that Denizen remains well-equipped to host any event in style. The majority of the kitchen’s functional elements were housed behind large, bi-folding doors allowing for a swift transformation to hide any unsightly mess, should an unannounced visitor arrive.
Cementing the project’s underlying objective of creating an office that reflects the Denizen brand, the practical spaces, refined aesthetic, inherent functionality and purpose wrapped tidily in a glossy facade have resulted in the ideal space to call home.
At last week’s Heroes Gala, we were lucky enough to have acclaimed photographer Olivia Kirkpatrick onsite with a professional photo studio to create beautifully crafted snapshots of what proved to be a night to remember. Encouraging guests to pose for their very own portrait moment, it was with great skill and tireless patience that Kirkpatrick wrangled the keen masses into sophisticated poses to capture the finer details of everyone’s carefully curated getups.
All of the photos from Olivia’s studio are available to view and download here.
It was in the spirit of revelry and with a generous dose of black-tie glamour that we all packed into Shed 10 last Thursday night to celebrate our 2018 Denizen Heroes. Women in flawless finery and jaw-dropping threads, and men looking as suave as a Fred Astaire film celebrated with gusto, four individuals who have been striving (and succeeding) to help the community in their own ways.
Delicious Chivas cocktails like the Chivas Collins and Signature X, kept every whistle wet, while those preferring to opt for a more pared back concoction, sipped delicious drops of Chivas’ 18 Yr and Ultis whisky, neat. Flutes of Perrier-Jouët champagne served on trays were also distributed to the jovial crowd.
Following the formalities, where our deserving Heroes received their awards, The Sweet Mix Kids drew us to the dancefloor in droves, spinning their crowd-pleasing tunes until it was time to depart, everyone thoroughly happy and exhaustively entertained.
PHOTOS Jared Donkin & Holly Sarah Burgess | 30 May 2018
Photographers Jared Donkin and Holly Sarah Burgess were in attendance at last week’s Heroes Gala to ensure no outfit went un-snapped and no moment un-captured. Expertly catching every celebratory second and every angle of the guests’ captivating attire, the resulting photos offer a glimpse into the charming evening of conviviality that was the 2018 Denizen Heroes Gala.
All of Jared’s photos from the night are available to access here
Many know Mimi Gilmour as the powerhouse hospitality name behind a number of Auckland’s most popular restaurants including Burger Burger and formerly, Mexico. Her entrepreneurial spirit has seen a new breed of casual dining emerge with more than half a million diners known to pass through her doors each year. While hers has become an iconic tale of a businesswoman crushing it in the hospitality industry, what many don’t know is how Gilmour is using her position to encourage young people to gain employment and develop an excellent work ethic. With a goal to be the best workplace for under-25s, she is committed to creating an engaged and energetic workforce via a programme called BB University which will create positive growth by way of incentivised financial opportunities and an unprecedented support network. Gilmour is leading by example and is positioning the hospitality industry as a viable career path for young people.
To read more about the inspiring journey of this entrepreneurial Hero, pick up a copy of the latest Denizen magazine, available now.
Brittany Teei is the founder of KidsCoin, a ground-breaking software that teaches children financial literacy at home and in schools, particularly in disadvantaged communities. When her career as a professional tennis player ended, the 27-year-old decided she wanted to help kids learn about money and build self-confidence. To do so, she created the software programme that allows them to complete ‘real-life’ lessons in accordance with the school’s curriculum. After winning the DigMyIdea Maori Innovation Challenge in 2015, she was able to launch a pilot programme and KidsCoin took off.
As she continues to refine the programme and establish partnerships, her focus is on cultivating large clients in the public and private sectors and building relationships with iwi. She has already been approached by social enterprises around the world who are interested in implementing the software. Teei believes that teaching kids how to manage their money will empower them as well as help them to avoid poverty traps later in life.
To read more about this innovative Hero and her impressive foray into the digital realm, pick up a copy of the latest Denizen magazine, available now.
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