This week’s small pleasures #476

I can’t really believe it is almost the end of January already and only 5 weeks until we head to the other side of the world. Before that, there is a lot going on from the theatre, to a visitor next month to a couple of dinners out.

Cook Book Club: January

When I saw Jo’s cookbook challenge for January – Scandinavian summer – my mind turned to Swedish midsummer, to strawberries … More

This week’s small pleasures #475

Today is the Wellington Anniversary holiday, so those of us who live in and around the capital, it has been a long weekend. This will mean a 3 day working week for me too – a small pleasure in itself.

Eat, drink and be merry…or more holiday eating

Regular readers know I love food. I enjoy cooking (for me, chopping vegetables is an exercise in mindfulness), reading about food, listening to podcasts on the latest in nutrition. It isn’t just about eating, it is about trying new things, enjoying old favourites, being happy with the simple and appreciating the art of good cooking.

This week’s small pleasures #473

As I type this, it is a glorious sunny summer day. We have been blessed with (mostly) good weather so … More

The year in food

2025 certainly offered up many wonderful eating experiences, starting with our trip up to Hawke’s Bay in January where we enjoyed lunch at Craggy Range Winery, and excellent food at fish restaurant Hunger Monger and Central Fire Station Bistro in Napier.

This week’s small pleasures #470

The news is one relentless horrific, crazy or awful story after the other at the moment, so looking for the … More

Cook Book Club: December

Summer is here, the holidays are approaching and Christmas is round the corner. It is also time for Cook Book … More

This weeks small pleasures #469

Here we are on Monday evening. The working day is over, dinner has been eaten (pasta with courgettes and a … More

A seat at the table: an early Christmas treat

On Thursday, we headed out for a celebratory feast for my name day (St Barbara is the patron saint of explosives and firearms amongst other things….). It was also an evening celebrating 10 years of Noble Rot Wine Bar and also them acquiring local Truffle Wine Imports.