A very special cocktail party at the Langham Hotel

Recently I went to a very special cocktail party at the Langham Hotel in their new Great Room. The food was just as spectacular as the venue!

Kohu Road Ice Cream and the Sustainable Business Network co-host Simple Pleasures

A great way to spend an enjoyable and gourmet winter evening!

The Langham Hotel: The story behind the glamour

I was invited to a special afternoon tea at the Langham in Auckland recently to celebrate the 145th anniversary of the London Langham Hotel, her illustrious Mother. From the moment I stepped into the elegant lobby softly lit by a huge chandelier, the cares of the world suddenly seemed quite remote. In honour of the [...]

How to eat your way around the Bay of Islands

We drove to the winterless North for a long weekend recently, through rolling countryside and small towns, listening to Bob Dylan songs. It rained all the way up, and the forecast was for worse to come. Should we have stayed at home? We reached our destination, historic Opua, once a thriving port that serviced coastal [...]

Yosemite National Park: Take care! Bears are after your food!

We left Monterey very well fed but keen to get to Yosemite National Park to see the sights and do some hiking. Our destination that day was the Big Creek Inn Bed and Breakfast, conveniently located only 2 miles from the Yosemite South Entrance. We avoided hamburgers and fries by stopping for lunch at a [...]

Kiwis eating out in America (Part One)

I never got to taste a slice of the multiple layered black forest cherry cake at Rosine’s in Monterey last week. We admired the selection of their luscious cakes on the way in but we were far too full after eating the main course to order cake for dessert. Judging by the number of customers [...]

A Steak in Guinness Pie Recipe for St Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day is coming up this Wednesday on March 17, the one day of the year when the Irish kick up their heels and paint the town green. And anyone’s welcome to join in the fun. Its one great day to party! All in honour of St Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland who [...]

Happy Birthday Mr Dilmah

Sometimes we deserve to be pampered. And that’s how we felt as we sat in comfortable chairs around small tables and were waited upon in the Partington’s Lounge at the Langham Hotel which was lit gently by crystal chandeliers. The occasion, a special afternoon tea to mark Dilmah’s 21st anniversary in New Zealand, was graciously [...]

Sri Lankan Fish Curry at the PD Yacht Club

If you are one of those lucky Kiwis flying to Port Douglas these holidays you should visit the PD Yacht Club and sample Chef Simon’s Sri Lankan Fish Curry. Not a searing hot one like many Sri Lankan Curries are, but pleasantly warm and tasty. It went down well with a few glasses of wine [...]

Eating in Hanmer Springs

We’re back from a long weekend in Hanmer Springs. Our first port of call when we arrived in the afternoon was Mumble’s café. The coffee was good and we also indulged in a hearty BLT sandwich and a large triangle of ginger crunch. It was not too crumbly and not too sweet with just enough [...]

« Previous Page — Next Page »