“I’m personally not a fan of asparagus rolls.” Vicki Ravlich-Horan, the ‘Nourish lady’ herself, addresses a group assembled for an intimate cooking demonstration. “Of tinned asparagus anyway,” she clarifies. If there is one way to get the attention of a dozen Kiwi ladies, it’s to tell them you’re sharing your secret for reimagined asparagus rolls.
And what better place to learn how to create bougie appetisers that impress guests than in a home designed for entertaining. The apartment we’re in is dressed to perfection for just such an occasion. A kaleidoscope of spring blooms, colourful linens, and crystal glinting in the sunlight. The tantalising aroma of toasted nuts in the air and some upbeat tunes set the scene for an afternoon filled with food and fun.
The party relaxes in the chairs set around the table or the breakfast bar – front row seats to the action in the entertainer’s kitchen. But first things first (after popping some bottles of bubbles with a cheer and a stray cackle) are the introductions. Half live here at Awatere Village and the rest are their guests. Yet despite some unfamiliar faces, they all start joking with each other early on as we make our way around the room, giving our names and describing our signature dish.
“Roast pork belly,” says Maggie, “with lots of crackling on top.” There are murmurs of approval, and someone pipes up to say she’s coming over to her place for dinner. “It’s manners to wait until you’re asked!” Maggie teases back, everyone laughing at the playful exchange.
This simple ‘starter’ has each woman come alive with either passion, humour, or nostalgia, as they recount their special dishes. Some are family secrets passed down from generation to generation, others are tried-and-true crowd-pleasers for lazy summer barbecues or morning tea with friends, and there’s an admission from one that the only thing she can make is scrambled eggs!
And then it’s into the cooking. We marvel at Vicki’s forgiving pastry, made with sour cream, that rolls out smoothly across the stone benchtop, unfloured, without sticking. It’s entrancing to watch as it’s cut into strips and artfully spiralled around fresh asparagus stalks, along with the salty element of some pancetta.
There is a pause in the flow of tips and tricks as there is a flurried search for the oven tray. “I’ve hidden things away and now I don’t know where I’ve put them! Too many cupboards,” Vicki narrates, as she hunts for the elusive tray. “So, it’s not just an old age thing – hurrah!” comes a remark from the audience, earning another round of chuckles from the table.
Vicki holds the audience captive as she churns out the next three offerings: buttery caramelised onion and feta quichettes, followed by paper-thin olive oil crackers, finishing with fragrant homemade dukkah. There’s a constant stream of pro pointers as all the while she juggles rolling and cutting pastries, trays going in and out of the oven, spices toasting on the stovetop, and grinding away with her trusty mortar and pestle (which we’re informed is a great way to relieve some stress).
In no time, everything has come together and it’s on to the sampling. There’s a collective agreement that the posh asparagus rolls are making it onto the Christmas menu and that we might all now be addicted to the irresistible crunch of the moreish lavosh-style crackers.
Snippets of overlapping chatter reveal glimpses of individual lives. Gwen’s apartment is a regular stop for friends and family for a home-cooked meal, and she also finds the time to churn out delectable treats for charity. Lynette has been here just five weeks at Awatere, and although she has a busy life outside the village volunteering, she’s starting to dip her toes in and mingle. Lois has to say her goodbyes to rush off to perform an urgent job as a Justice of the Peace. And several ladies are discussing Awatere’s wine club and a recent visit from an expert at Takapoto Estate vineyard.
As Vicki leaves her post behind the bench to join the comfortable scene in the dining area, she comments on the surprising amount of space. Her family has a tradition of Sunday family dinners, and accommodating a table that seats 12 is a must, she tells us. We agree fitting everyone here would be a “piece of cake” and somebody jokes that anyone else could be “put out on the balcony,” which has us in giggles again.
Even as things wind down, the room hums with easy conversation. Here, friends and strangers have been brought together by common threads or happenstance – whether it was the spark of learning something new, a shift in life’s seasons, a love of food, or fond memories of favourite haunts in Hamilton that are woven into the fabric of their lives.
But one thing is clear: at Awatere, the recipe for a good life still includes great food, good company and plenty of room to gather.
Awatere Retirement Village
1340 Victoria Street, Beerescourt, Hamilton
This is a paid partnership with Nourish and Oceania