Review: Polpetta

How’s this for a concept? Choose your protein; choose your pasta base; choose your sauce. So simple and it works SO well! We were delighted to stumble upon this innovative pasta bar during our time on New Plymouth and we could see why it has such a good reputation. I got good vibes from the…

Review: Alessandro’s

Havelock North’s diverse array of international food continues to flourish and is only bolstered by the popularity and quality of Alessandro’s. It has recently moved (upsizing due to its success) and is now located across the road and down the alleyway from the beloved Pipi restaurant, probably its greatest competition for delicious Italian food in…

Review: Cayle

By day we know it as the Village Green Cafe, but by night, this popular local spot turns into an Asian fusion restaurant. Cayle serves both tapa style dishes as well as bigger plates, so it is a good idea to go with people you don’t mind sharing with.  I think the ambience of the…

Review: Hunger Monger

Hunger Monger had been recommended to me many times, by many a friend, before I actually made it there. I needed a perfect spot for a Friday night date after I picked Andy up from the airport at 8pm and it made sense to eat somewhere in Napier so that it wouldn’t be too late…

Recipe: Leek and Potato Tarts with Pistachio Pastry

I was looking for a challenge this week and wanted to make something really delicious that I had never made before. Usually I would choose something sweet to make, but I am well aware that our kitchen is not as well equipped as I would like in order to get super technical. This recipe was…

Recipe: Sourdough

I have gone and done it. I have joined the craze that is making sourdough. In lock-down. Cliche? Probably. But that does not make it a bad idea. Perfecting sourdough is actually quite the art and what a better time to practice than when I have oodles of time and a 10 kilogram bag of…

Recipe: Hearty lentil soup

I’m not going to lie, soup can be SO boring. I love soup fresh from the stove, but usually I find that when it is heated as leftovers or worse, from a can, it is a meal that I don’t have much appetite for. Not this recipe though, this one is more of a stew….

Recipe: Chickpea and Peanut Soup

Peanut soup? I know what you’re thinking. But think about it, everyone loves satay and why shouldn’t it be in soup form? Also, West African people actually use peanuts/peanut butter to help thicken up their soup, so I promise it is a legitimate concept. Using peanut butter is a great alternative to using cream and…

Recipe: Easy homemade ramen

Ramen is one of my favourite things in the world. Three weeks in Japan and I can honestly say I didn’t get sick of ramen, in fact, I think I grew to love it even more. It’s one of those frustrating dishes that has always seemed like it should be easy (and cheap) to make,…

Recipe: Kale and Quinoa Salad

I’ve always found that when I make salads at home, they are rarely as nice as the ones I would buy in a cafe. This recipe truly changes that finding, and I would even go as far as saying that this kale salad recipe is nicer than almost any cafe bought salad I’ve ever had….