CHURCH ROAD GWEN ROSÉ
Inspired by the famous and highly popular rosés of Provence, France, Church Road Gwen Rosé is an elegant, dry and pale salmon coloured Rosé. Refreshing in flavour and finely textured by nature, this wine has been crafted and named to honour Gwen, the wife of the brand's pioneering winemaker Tom McDonald.
Following its launch in September this year, Gwen has already risen to popularity thanks to its delicate flavour balance and sophisticated aura. The introduction of Gwen builds on the Church Road’s legacy of crafting high-quality wines from Hawke’s Bay fruit. Combining Hawke’s Bay Merlot, Tempranillo and Malbec, Gwen boasts fresh acidity and lively strawberry and floral notes, with underlying subtle stone fruit richness.
The bottle is emblazoned with a poem extract on the front label; an ode to Church Road's dedicated pioneering winemaker Tom McDonald and his beloved wife, Gwen. An ideal drop to imbibe at refined gatherings with friends, to enjoy while at home or out for drinks. A versatile and food friendly style of rosé, ideal as a refreshing aperitif, yet well suited to a range of lighter, fresher dishes, particularly where an element of umami features. Try with sashimi dishes or freshly shucked oysters. Pop in the fridge for a minimum of 45 minutes, and serve. RRP$25. Visit Church-road.co.nz.
FARRO
The pomegranate salsa adds vibrant, fresh flavours that work so well with the lamb.
BUTTERFLIED LAMB WITH POMEGRANATE SEED SALSA RECIPE
Serves 8-10
1 Fresh Meats butterflied leg of lamb
Marinade
8 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
½ cup pomegranate molasses
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Pinch of sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
Salsa
1 pack pomegranate seeds
1 small Lebanese cucumber, diced into small cubes
6 mint leaves, finely chopped
1. Mix all the marinade ingredients together. Pour half of the marinade over the lamb. Set aside the other half and keep it for the salsa later. Allow the meat to marinade for at least 20 minutes, or overnight. You can cook this dish in the oven or on a BBQ – depending on the weather.
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Advertise with NZME.2. Oven Method: Preheat oven to 200C. Use a fry pan that can go into the oven. Place a little olive oil in a fry pan and heat until just starting to smoke. Place the lamb in the pan and leave to sear for five minutes. Turn the lamb over and then place the pan in the hot oven to bake. Cook to your liking. Allow approximately 20 minutes for medium-rare.
3. BBQ Method: Heat BBQ or grill to a medium-low heat. Place lamb on heat and turn after 10 minutes. Continue to cook until cooked to your liking. This generally takes 25 – 30 minutes depending on how you like your lamb. Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
4. While the lamb is resting, make the salsa. Place the other half of marinade in a small bowl; add the pomegranate seeds, cucumber and extra mint.
5. Serve the lamb on a platter with some of the salsa scattered over the lamb, and the remaining salsa served on the side.
This easy-to-make hot potato salad is packed with flavour. You can use mild or spicy chorizo to suit your taste.
HOT POTATO SALAD WITH CHORIZO AND BEANS RECIPE
Serves 6-8
1 red onion, roughly chopped
1 dried chorizo, sliced (spicy or mild)
1 bag small red potatoes, cut in half
3 Tbsp garlic aioli
1 bunch Italian parsley, roughly chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
Strip zest and 1 Tbsp of juice from a lemon
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 bunch green beans, trimmed with ends discarded
1. Place potatoes in a large pot, cover with water and add a teaspoon of salt. Place on stove top, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are cooked, then drain.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a fry pan, place over heat, add onion and sauté until soft.
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Advertise with NZME.3. Add chorizo and gently fry until golden.
4. Put 3cm of water in another pot, add a little salt, bring to boil and add beans. Cook for 2 mins and then drainPlace potatoes in a bowl and fold through aioli and chorizo mix.
5. Mix crushed garlic with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the lemon zest and juice, then fold through the beans with the chopped parsley.
6. Scatter the beans over the potato mix.
FESTIVE ROCKET FENNEL POMEGRANATE SEED SALAD RECIPE
Serves 6-8
2 small fennel bulbs
1 large bag of rocket
1 pack pomegranate seeds
2 lemons, zest and juice
1 clove garlic, finely crushed
3 Tbsp olive oil
Freshly ground pepper and salt
1. Finely slice the white ends of the fennel bulbs, discard the rest. Wash the fennel.
2. Place fennel slices on your serving platter, top with olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, season with a little salt and freshly ground pepper, toss and leave to marinate until serving time.
3. To serve, place rocket on top of fennel, gently fold through the marinated fennel and sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds.
Pre-order your Christmas free-farmed ham or turkey, or get more menu inspiration at Farrochristmas.co.nz, or visit one of Farro’s six Auckland stores.
SMITHS CITY FURNITURE
Give your outdoor area a spruce up this summer with the stylish range of dining and lounge settings available from Smiths City. Ideal for entertaining friends, or to enjoy delicious barbequed feasts on during the warmer months, the range extends to a number of key pieces to suit any lifestyle and fit within any outdoor space.
Consider the Delphi Modular Suite, crafted from sustainably sourced and produced hardwoods. For added design flair, add an outdoor mat — like the Limon Hokitika or a few colourful cushions to your seating area. Delivering on comfort, style and affordability, the Smiths City outdoor range is built to last thanks to the use of durable, quality materials. Delphi 3 Piece Outdoor Dining Suite, RRP$1999, and Delphi Modular Suite, RRP$2399.Visit one of Smiths City 32 stores nationwide, or see Smithscity.co.nz.
SMITHS CITY UMBRELLA
Utilising a cantilever umbrella on your patio or deck offers maximum versatility to any space. This easy-to-adjust umbrella allows you to achieve the optimal height and placement for the best protection throughout the day with a simple slide out functionality. Excalibur Belize Square Cantilever Umbrella 2.8m Grey, RRP$1599. Limited stock. Visit one of Smiths City 32 stores nationwide, or see Smithscity.co.nz.
SMITHS CITY BBQ
The range of Char-Broil barbecues available at Smiths City have been designed with a number of different lifestyles in mind. Available in a number of sizes and differing levels of cooking performance, these hot-off-the-grill options are sure to suit everyone's needs while cooking outdoors and entertaining this summer.
Built using high-quality materials, every Char-Broil barbecue is user-friendly and reliable, but still offers plenty of cooking power, so you can impress family and friends with your grilling prowess. Char-Broil Signature Tru-Infrared 4 Burner Gas Grill, RRP$1599. Visit one of Smiths City 32 stores nationwide, or see Smithscity.co.nz.
KINGS PLANT BARN PLANTS
Find fresh inspiration for your outdoor living spaces at Kings Plant Barn, with a range of plants set to make your decks or patios a more joyful place for dining and relaxing. Patio pots are all the more beautiful when potted with hydrangeas, fragrant gardenias or star jasmine. Inject a hit of colour with vibrant petunias or tropical impatiens.
If you don’t consider yourself much of a green thumb, opt for low maintenance seasonal perennials or flaxes that offer maximum visual impact with minimal fuss. Keen cocktail makers will delight over dwarf limes, feijoas or lemon tress — that serve triple purpose as a plant offering colour, structure, and fruiting ability — great for summer drinks.
For instant impact, choose from the Kings Patio Botanics range, with pre-potted plants ready to go with vibrant colours and modern pots, ready to transform your patio or deck. Visit one of Kings Plant Barn's eight Auckland stores, or see Kings.co.nz.
MICHELLE HALFORD OF THE DESIGN CHASER
"The way I approach styling an outdoor space is to see it as another room. How will it be used? For dining alfresco and hosting dinner parties? A place to relax with a book and coffee? Whether it will be used for lounging, dining, or both, it's important to consider how you want the space to function.
When it came to styling this outdoor space, I had plenty of room to combine the two. A blank canvas complete with stunning views of the countryside, the shape of the deck lent itself beautifully to modular furniture and for cohesion, I chose a dining table and bench seats in the same finish as the sofas. To define the areas and provide comfort underfoot, I placed an outdoor rug underneath the dining table. Being exposed (we all know the dangers of NZ's harsh sun) an umbrella was a must. For the finishing touches I added a mix of outdoor plants, some beautiful tableware and a few extra scatter cushions for a touch of graphic fun and added comfort."
Stylist's tip 1: Decide how you are going to use your space, taking in to account the size. These are both important factors when it comes to choosing furniture. Create separate spaces for different purposes, such as a place to read and relax, and a place for dining.
Stylist's tip 2: Use plants to bring the space to life. For added interest, choose a variety of plants in differing heights and have fun with placement. You could display a large plant as the hero on its own, then place smaller plants in pairs or clusters. House them in different shaped pots, sticking to one or two colours to create a seamless look.
Stylist's tip 3: Choose durable furniture that will withstand harsh elements, and provide coverage from the sun by way of an umbrella.
Stylist's tip 4: Have some fun with your outdoor space. If you're hosting a family get together or dinner party beautiful tableware can be as much of a talking point as the food! Rather than following trends, inject your own style and personality by choosing quality pieces that you love, that you know you will have for a very long time.
Photography / Babiche Martens Styling / Michelle Halford Food Styling / Ashleigh Cometti. With special thanks to The Studio of Tableware.
