While it might seem like everything now has its own ‘international day’ of celebration (seriously, there’s even a World Ice-Cream-for-Breakfast day), when it comes to Champagne, we rarely need an excuse to pop a bottle of the best (but it sure does help). So, on Friday, October the 28th — the date of this year’s official World Champagne Day — we will be raising a glass to the effervescent drink that has long been imbibed to mark all of our most important milestones and celebrations, and heading to one of our favourite Auckland spots to do so.
Hosting a convivial celebration at which its impressive wine list will rightfully take centre stage, Faraday’s Bar in Parnell is the only place you will want to find yourself next Friday. Kicking off at 12pm and running until 10pm, this intimate, exquisitely-appointed spot (nestled in the corner of luxury department store, Faradays) will be pouring flutes of exceptional Champagne, and offering complimentary chocolate pairings with every glass of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2012, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2008 and Ruinart Rosé served. Moreover, those in attendance from 5pm to 8pm will be treated to the smooth stylings of live jazz, curating the perfect Friday night vibe.
Given that the Champagne and chocolate pairings will only be available while stocks last, and we anticipate this to be a very popular occasion, we recommend securing your spot for World Champagne Day at Faraday’s Bar now, by booking a table here, or by calling on (09) 217 1017. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out.
Since opening in Birkenhead earlier this year, it’s been rare to find a moment in time where Duo Eatery isn’t packed — in the best kind of way. It is perhaps a testament to owner Jordan Macdonald’s unassailablecareer in Auckland’s hospitality scene. A formative force in creating the likes of Culprit and Lowbrow, earlier this year he joined forces with his wife Sarah,(of Masterchef fame among many other talents)to create what would fast become one of the most popular eateries in Birkenhead, capturing the hearts (and the stomachs) of the neighbourhood in a big way. It’s been so popular, in fact, that the kitchen recently expanded the offering from brunch and lunch to a dinner service too, and we’ve got all the details.
When we initially met with the Macdonalds earlier this year, they assured us delicious brunch wouldn’t always be the main offering at Duo. Now, the eatery has procured a liquor licence and an impressive wine list, transforming into an intimate, elevated bistro once the sun goes down. Having amassed an extremely loyal following, partly thanks to their considered use of high-quality produce and artisanal products, and partly for their sophisticated fit-out of what used to be a butchery, dinner feels like the final missing piece for this neighbourhood mainstay.
Evenings at Duo are a decidedly slower affair than during the day. The menu boasts a curated selection of snacks to share alongside smaller and larger plates that can either be kept for one or shared around the table. The lamb ribs, for instance, which come with a Sicilian olive gremolata and smothered in apple glaze, are best when shared between friends. But we wouldn’t blame you if you were to keep the oyster mushroom gnocchi with cavolo nero and celeriacall to yourself. And, of course, any dinner here isn’t complete without a serving of stracciatella, fried Jerusalem artichoke and salsa verde for the table. Local, artisanal produce features heavily on the menu, including bresaola from Cazador, whipped curd from Clevedon Buffalo and tomatoes from Curious Croppers, and the chef will often use seasonality as the starting point for his culinary vision.
Bone marrow, sourdough, parsley, shallot, caper.
To match all this delicious food, Duo’s wine list is a master stroke. It is Jordan’s pride and joy, filled with bottles to which the chef himself has attached some kind of personal meaning. Comprising a curation of surprising wines from New Zealand, Australia and France, alongside an impressive line-up of natural varietals, the drinks offering is rounded off with a few zesty cocktails, including a passionfruit margarita and a housemade, yuzu-infused vodka fizz.
With Duo Eatery’s nighttime sessions firmly underway, it always becomes a question of what’s coming next? We have it on good authority that a summer cocktail hour is a possibility on the horizon, but until that happens, we will be watching this space with interest.
Dinner service: Wednesday — Friday, 5pm until 9pm.
This season, eye-catching sequinned pieces are delivering an alluring dose of glamour to our after-dark attire. From luminous shirts that stand out on their own to mini-dresses best paired with a tailored blazer and sky-high heels for a subtle hint of brilliance, these garments will have you incorporating sequins into every outfit you can this season.
From left: Isabel Marant Peonia top from Workshop. Metallic shirt from Burberry.
From left: Rhinestone mini-dress from Prada. Embellished dress from Chanel.
Nowadays, a table is more than just a functional piece of furniture, acting as a centrepiece for those who love to host. A number of new tables are being rendered in a variety of exquisite materials — two to take note of are the ever-trustworthy timber and sleek marble. The latter is moving out of the kitchen and into the dining room, its undulating veins and tonal varieties bringing depth and intrigue to a typically simple, utilitarian space. Destined to be the darling of any dinner party, read on to discover the structures we have our eyes on — whether you prefer a minimalist, grand, or industrial feel for your space.
Marble table by Patricia Urquiola for Molteni&C. from Dawson & Co.
Sengu Table by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina from Matisse
Linha dining table by Marcio Kogan / Studio MK27 Design for Minotti from ECC
Mondrian dining table by Jean Marie Massaud for Poliform from Studio Italia
Intervalle dining table by Guillaume Delvigne for Ligne Roset
Translated to English, tiramisu literally means “pick me up” or “cheer me up”, and we can vouch for the fact that this delicious Italian dessert certainly lives up to its name. Although it requires only a few elements, the dish is actually harder to execute than one might think. The espresso-infused sponge needs to be moist without becoming soggy, the aroma and taste of the liqueur must be present but not overwhelming, and the mascarpone needs to be fresh and in proportion to the rest of the cake. That said, a few places around Auckland have gotten tiramisu down to a fine art, and these are some of our favourites.
This rendition features an amaretto crumb for some extra crunch to contrast against the creaminess of the mascarpone and also incorporates delightfully rich Valrhona chocolate. The generous portion is made for sharing, although we don’t blame you if you keep this one to yourself.
Prego’s version of this dessert is a tried-and-true classic, much like the restaurant itself. Served neatly in a glass so you can observe the seductive layers in all their glory, it’s almost compulsory to finish your Prego feast with this beloved treat.
At Remuera favourite Spiga it’s hard to secure a seat at the best of times, not least because of its irresistible tiramisu, which comes layered in a glass dish with cocoa wafers. If you’re lucky, co-owner Taryne Napolitano will pour you a digestif to enjoy at the end of the meal.
A staple on the menu since Baduzzi opened its doors in 2013, this tiramisu is a masterpiece. Stacked sky-high, with soft sponge soaked with Baileys and amaretto, it’s a satisfying feeling indeed when you crack into the sweet, biscuity shell.
Owner Luca Villari has been perfecting his personal recipe for many years, resulting in a tiramisu that’s a triumph of Italian flavours and served with a scoop of gelato.
Served in a small glass filled with layers of light mascarpone and bittersweet sponge cake, the notes of espresso are especially strong in Pasta & Cuore’s version, which makes it perfect for those who enjoy a light texture but intense flavour.
Far from the hallmarks of a traditional tira, Little Bird’s virtuous iteration is one we could gladly indulge in throughout the week. The creamy, plant-based cake is one of their most sought-after raw treats, made with cashews, coconut, and the always essential, coffee.
Trust saccharine magicians Duck Island to conjure up the dreamiest, creamiest tiramisu ice cream that captures all its beguiling flavours in one scoop. While flavours store-to-store often change, this is one to keep your eye out for.
Inspired by Italy’s osterias and boasting some of the best pizza in town, it’s no surprise Grey Lynn eatery Lilian does a damn good tiramisu. Nothing fancy, just a traditional tiramisu done really, really well.
At the tempting price of just $10, it’s hard to resist Cotto’s clever take on tiramisu. Served as ice cream, with a little chocolate amaretto cookie on the side that’s perfect for dipping, crumbling or simply enjoying on its own.
Taking cues from a quintessential tiramisu, Amano’s espresso and mascarpone trifle features a tempting crumb on top, adding welcome texture to its soft, cushy layers.
If you’re attending a function at the elegant Viaduct Harbour establishment and lucky enough to indulge in the Italian Banquet courtesy of Executive Chef Anthony Price, dessert is one course that shouldn’t be missed. Tiramisu here is utterly indulgent, with each enticing layer more divine than its predecessor. Served in a small but sumptuous portion, it’s enough to keep you wanting more.
Bringing loved ones together over good food and drink is always a pleasure but often a chore, particularly when we’re overwhelmed by the arduous work (and mess) of entertaining. So for moments when we’d like to impress our guests with an impeccably presented tipple, we’ve discovered the Quarterpast Classic Cocktail Mixer kit, a simple yet sophisticated way to serve cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks at home.
Making the art of bartending rewarding, Quarterpast is a brand best known for elevating your at-home beverages. Its latest Mixology Bases range harnesses the punchy flavour of cold-brewed, real fruit, removing the need for you to source and muddle fruit and herbs. Essentially, cocktail making from your kitchen has never been simpler.
Quarterpast has combined the best of its Mixology Bases in its new Classic Cocktail Mixer kit. The curated quartet of Tahitian Lime & Mint, Cranberry & Lime, Crisp Apple, and Triple Peach means the world is your oyster when it comes to creating your preferred concoction. Whether you desire a gin fizz, spiced apple mule, cosmopolitan, or peach shrub, the Classic Cocktail Mixer kit is your personal guide to making drinks with an exceptional punch, and even better, it includes a recipe book and jigger.
All you need are fresh garnishes and a little help from your liquor cabinet — but don’t fret if you’re abstaining from alcohol, as the Mixology Bases allow you to make delectable mocktails and sodas. For those not versed in the world of mixology, the recipe book includes ingredient substitutions and ways to finesse your presentation — not only will your drinks taste great, but they’ll look fabulous too. You should also note that Quarterpast’s Classic Cocktail Mixer kit makes the perfect gift for a host, being a discreet and easeful way to lend a hand.
So, in a bid to prove just how simple it is to whip up a cocktail with the Quarterpast Classic Cocktail Mixer kit, we present a jalapeño mule recipe that promises to impress every single time. Cheers to that.
Quarterpast Tahitian Lime & Mint Jalapeño Mule
A Jalapenô Mule is the perfect cocktail recipe to impress your guests. It’s punchy, a little sweet, and simple to make.
Ingredients:
30ml Quarterpast Tahitian Lime & Mint 30ml vodka 50g cucumber (quartered) 10g pickled jalapeños 100ml soda water 100g ice Fresh chilli Mint springs
Method:
1. Add Quarterpast Tahitian Lime & Mint, Vodka, quartered cucumber, and jalapeños to a vessel.
2. Muddle the mixture to a fine pulp, then strain over a cup with ice.
3. Top with soda water and stir gently to combine.
4. Garnish with chilli and mint.
Follow Quarterpast on Instagram and Facebook for more recipe inspiration.
As we leave behind the wrath of winter’s glacial weather and move into spring’s warm embrace, it’s an opportune time to level up your shoe game. With footwear often an afterthought, we recommend building your outfits from the shoe up to guarantee a polished, impeccable fit every time.
Whether you uplift your attire (and mood) with a modern clog, try a neutral-toned sneaker for a classically casual feel or adorn a sophisticated slip-on for optimum comfort, creating a versatile footwear collection has never been easier. For all your seasonal shoe inspiration, here are the best new men’s styles sure to put a spring in your step.
From left: Track Trainer from Balenciaga, Mito Low Top Sneaker from Dadelszen, Compassor Sneaker from Moncler.
Givenchy Fall 22
From left: Exaggerated Check Cotton Sneaker from Burberry, Beverly Hills Slip On from Louis Vuitton, Common Projects Original Achilles Slip On from Workshop.
Fisher & Paykel’s new Auckland Experience Centre is setting a formidable precedent, giving fans of the brand a tactile, interactive and beautiful space in which to experience the full potential of its products. And although this is not the brand’s first Experience Centre, the Auckland showroom is undoubtedly its most impressive.
In the global markets where Fisher & Paykel trades, ‘Designed in Aotearoa New Zealand’ is a core part of its message. This building is a tactile embodiment of this ethos, and one that for New Zealanders, exudes a sense of pride in our story.
Great brands communicate clearly through experiences, through people, and through the environments they create. And in this environment, which is the result of a partnership between Fisher & Paykel’s experience design team, led by Jaron Ansley, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Alt Group and Knight Associates, when you go through the door, every physical element and human interaction resonates with the brand’s connection to place.
From the basalt threshold sculpture that ‘breathes’ in time with the tides of Ōkahu Bay to the monumental trunk of 4,000-year-old swamp kauri, and the incredibly elemental material palette that includes West Coast black sand and rammed earth sourced from Muriwai, it’s an unparalleled design approach – and the finish is remarkable.
Ansley says it has also been designed to feel more like a luxury home, with the intention being to showcase Fisher & Paykel products as they might appear in real life. It is an ambitious space that reinforces the brand’s commitment to luxury product creation. Not only does it highlight the best international and local design, where Boffi, Arclinea and Henrybuilt sit alongside local names like Simon James and Nodi, it also emphasises Fisher & Paykel’s position as an industry leader.
The result is spectacular — a remarkable expansion that highlights the truly global potential of Fisher & Paykel’s unique design, serving up interior inspiration in spades. And given that the Experience Centre really has to be experienced firsthand, we highly recommend you discover it for yourself.
Fisher & Paykel’s Executive VP of Design and Brand,Mark Elmore, tells me that the space is just as much for local architects and designers and those with a general interest in luxury appliance design, as it is for more conventional customers.
“Our customers often fall into two groups — design lovers and food lovers”, he shares. “We cater to both here. Visitors can experience a space that allows them to understand how products are beautifully designed for varied and bespoke environments.” And thus, within the Experience Centre, you will find three impeccable kitchens, each equipped in different ways to showcase the potential of Fisher & Paykel appliances (as well as a smaller, apartment-centric counterpart), and at the heart of it all, The Social Kitchen. Designed to play host to a raft of industry-focused dinners at which insiders and customers are able to experience Fisher & Paykel products first-hand, and currently helmed by two full-time chefs, The Social Kitchen brings Fisher & Paykel’s philosophy to life in beautiful surrounds.
Alongside the three hero kitchens, the aforementioned apartment kitchen, and the addition of an outdoor kitchen that showcases Fisher & Paykel’s North American appliances (namely gigantic grills), there is also a range of more interactive spaces within the Experience Centre. Take the Plan & Choose Studio, for instance, that prompts intimate and collaborative focus groups to come together and consider how different products might be employed, allowing for both designer and client to make truly considered choices.
These innovative spaces are accompanied by product galleriesthat compare the most recent additions of Fisher & Paykel products side-by-side, to allow one to make the fair and just comparisons necessary when investing in these vital pieces. Designed with Boffi’s minimalist approach, the galleries include a series of laundry and closet solutions alongside a butler’s kitchen — providing inspiration for the most purpose-built areas of one’s home. Here, some of the most exciting additions coming to the brand’s stable can be found, such as the Fabric Care Cabinet. Best seen as a home dry cleaning alternative (and harnessing eco-friendly technology), it sanitises, steams and cleans clothing, all in one swift operation. Strategically stacked next to sleek new washers and dryers, the Cabinet is certainly a chic solution to our laundry woes.
Ultimately, Fisher & Paykel’s new Experience Centre offers a rich source of inspiration for the modern home. Whether you are a designer, an architect or just someone looking to reimagine their space, we recommend booking yourself in for a guided tour (complemented by a cup of delicious Kawakawa tea) or a full Mastery of Temperature experience that highlights exceptional local ingredients and award-winning wines. From its thoughtful design concept to its holistic, interactive nature, Fisher & Paykel’s new Auckland space is proving why this brand remains perpetually at the forefront, serving as a reminder to think more ambitiously when it comes to our own homes.
Peter Fell’s coloured concrete is cutting-edge. Credited with developing a unique method of adding colours to concrete using iron oxides, Peter Fell is able to supply its concrete in a wide variety of shades — from bright and vibrant to pared back and pastel. Now, it is to this innovative brand that we turn again, seeking concrete in calm, earthy hues that give our interior spaces a more grounded feel.
Motivated by the amount of time we have spent in our homes over the last few years, a collective desire to bring peace and tranquillity into our spaces has seen a rise in soothing tones like taupe, sand, nude and clay. And considering that Peter Fell offers over 80 colours to choose from, including Neutral, Sandstone, Terracotta, Brown and Stone ranges, tapping into this trend has never been easier.
Here, we round up some examples of how subtly-coloured concrete can be used effectively to create utterly serene domestic spaces. Trust us, you’ll never look at this material the same way again.
If you’re looking for a way to escape the every day, we’ve got just the thing. Our selection of new coffee table books is perfect for losing yourself in another world. They will keep you entertained for hours and allow you to delight in exploration, all without leaving the comfort of your home. From beautiful imagery to intimate details and untold stories, here are six inspiring coffee table books to acquire now.
Riva Aquaramaby Michael Verdon Capturing all the glamour, luxury and drama of the Riva Aquarama — Carlo Riva’s iconic wooden speed boat that has become so synonymous with the ‘la dolce vita’ optimism of early-60s Italy — this exciting new tome is an exceptional tribute to the most stylish sea-faring vessel you’ll ever come across. Published to mark the 60th anniversary of the Riva Aquarama, the book offers everyone their very own piece of the Riva dream, and showcases why this boat has become so universally loved.
The Architecture of Chanel by Peter Marino Highlighting the intersection of Peter Marino’s architecture and Chanel’s renowned aesthetic, this fascinating and beautiful book delivers an in-depth look at buildings designed by Marino for Chanel in cities like Chicago, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Nanjing, New York, Miami, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.
Gold: The Impossible Collection by Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter Natural splendour meets extraordinary human craftsmanship in this beautiful book that showcases 100 of the rarest and most precious treasures rendered in gold throughout human history. From ancient artifacts to modern creations, here, gold is the hero in all its dazzling, indestructible, mythical power.
1000 Design Classics by Phaidon Highlighting the iconic pieces that have filled the interiors of some of the world’s most incredible spaces, this new release serves as part coffee-table-tome, part encyclopaedia of design. Featuring era-defining furnishings and the pioneers of the styles we covet today, this book is a must for anyone with an interest in design.
Elvis and The Birth of Rock and Roll by Alfred Wertheimer Packed with photographs of era-defining crooner, Elvis, this book offers an intimate look at the singer just before he became a household name. Extraordinary in scope, the photographs were taken by Alfred Wertheimer, who, in 1956, was tasked with trailing a then-21-year-old Elvis at the naissance of his career and as a result, was offered intimate access to his life, capturing crucial portraits of a man on the brink of superstardom.
Alaïa Afore Alaïa by Carla Sozzani, Olivier Saillard Offering a never-seen-before look at one of fashion’s most enigmatic personalities, this intriguing coffee table book documents the story of Azzedine Alaïa before the 1982 fashion show that put him on the map. Despite being lauded by many as a fashion genius, little has been written of Alaïa’s background and upbringing — from his native Tunisia to his time in Paris to finally bursting onto the scene in New York. Here, through interesting interviews, private photographs, archival materials and anecdotes from friends of the designer, this book delivers the untold story of a legend in unprecedented detail, and is sure to be of interest to any fan of fashion.
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