A Grand Caper

Words by Vicki Ravlich-Horan, Images by Ashlee DeCaires Throughout the Mediterranean, capers grow wild. I remember my first visit to Sicily and having a lush caper bush growing with abandon down a rocky wall pointed out to me. After that, I saw them everywhere. And this is something I point out to my hairdresser, Paul […]

BEETROOT CHUTNEY

Recipe Brad Kine Image Brydie Thompson Autumn is always a time of abundance, be it the wonderful in season fruit or your bursting vegetable garden. Falls Retreat know this only too well with their massive garden that not only provides super fresh picking for the plates that come out of the kitchen but as a […]

TARAKIHI CRUDO WITH LABNEH, FENNEL & PICKLED APPLES

  Recipe and images by Fiona Hugues The weather where I live, not far from the sea, is still great for a jaunt in the boat and luscious pale pink fillets of freshly line-hooked bountiful species are happily often ready and waiting in my fridge. We prefer to eat fish raw these days, or crudo […]

ZUCCHINI & CUCUMBER PICKLE

Falling for Autumn Recipes Brad King, Images Brydie Thompson Autumn is always a time of abundance, be it the wonderful in season fruit or your bursting vegetable garden. Falls Retreat know this only too well with their massive garden that not only provides super fresh picking for the plates that come out of the kitchen […]

Book Review – Eat Up New Zealand, The Bach Edition

Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan Peter Gordon describes Al Brown’s book Eat Up New Zealand – The Bach Edition as “a gem of a cookbook, full of childhood memories and insights into our culinary future”. I have to agree with Peter that it is a cookbook full of nostalgic recipes. It is, in fact, these recipes (cinnamon […]

Pickled Carrots

These quick and easy pickled carrots are great. We have served it here on a bao bun with a slice of pork belly. It is also nice on traditional roast meat sammies or on a platter with cheese and cured meats, adding both a pop of colour and texture. 1–2 large carrots ½ cup rice […]

Small Batch Pickled Tamarillos with Oven-Roasted Pork Shoulder

Pickle tamarillos ahead of time, as they are best eaten after two weeks of being submerged in the pickling liquid. Makes 1 large jar 3 whole cloves ½ small cinnamon stick 2.5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 500ml red wine vinegar 200g sugar a pinch of flaky salt pared rind of 1 small orange, […]

GRAPE – ness

In 1817 novelist and poet Thomas Love Peacock wrote, “The juice of the grape is the liquid quintessence of concentrated sunbeams.” And as I nurse a fresh throbbing wasp sting on my hand, I can’t help but agree. Harvesting a few bunches from my own vines for this shoot was not without risk, such is […]

Turning Up the Heat with Picnicka

The food at Picnicka, in Downtown Tauranga’s Thirty Eight Elizabeth, is simple, nourishing, and meant to be shared.  The menu plays with the contrast between raw, smoked and grilled dishes featuring distinct worldwide flavours. Head chef Ryan Allen shared with us his Pickled Chillies recipe – the perfect solution to your abundant chilli harvest this […]

Fizzing for Kimchi

As we bid farewell to the final shreds of summer, the veggie garden rewards us with its autumn harvest. Here at The Falls Retreat, this means we are into pickling, preserving and fermenting mode as we attempt to capture all of nature’s goodness and utilise this glut of fresh produce. As we head into the […]