Spring at the Market
After a long cold winter, spring is always eagerly anticipated. And this is just as true for our growers and producers. As the days get longer and warmer, some seasonal favourites, like asparagus and strawberries, will start to pop up at the market. Irene Cummings from Greenfern Asparagus says, “Being a seasonal stall holder, I […]
Best Dressed Salads – Back to Basics with Brad
Words Brad King, Images Brydie Thompson The onset of spring means that the ground is starting to warm, and here at The Falls Retreat, we get a tad excited knowing that our kitchen gardens will start to become more plentiful. We love to showcase our homegrown organic garden produce throughout our menus, and we […]
Poaching an Egg – Harriet’s How To
Words Harriet Boucher, Images Brydie Thompson As a chef, people are always asking me for cooking tips. One of the most common queries is how to poach eggs. So, to start off the ‘Harriet’s How To’ segment, I am going to dive right into world renowned chefs’ take on perfect poachies. I was taught by […]
GO FISH!
Recipes: BRAD KING | Images: BRYDIE THOMPSON Nothing beats the taste of freshly caught fish and it always makes for an easy, nutritious meal. Nature’s bounty! At The Falls Retreat, our paddock to plate ethos definitely extends to the sea, where we look to source a variety of sustainable seafood for our menus. Being located […]
Water Saving Tips
Hamiltonians, along with all New Zealanders, thirst for water increases dramatically over the summer months. As there is no significant increase in stormwater, it is believed this increase in use goes into our gardens, lawns and keeping cool. Regardless of whether we are in a drought or not, this huge increase in demand puts a […]
Eat Well, Travel Often
Words & Images: Amber Bremner I’ve been very fortunate to travel overseas regularly, both with and without children. We are vegetarian and veer towards a fully plant-based diet most of the time. That’s an easy choice to make at home in New Zealand, but can be a challenge when travelling. Of course, countries with an […]
Autumn Fun with the Kids
Words: Vicki Ravlich-Horan | Images: Ashlee DeCaires Looking for a fun activity with the kids this autumn or Easter break? Give these cute leaf animals a go. Start with a walk in a local park. This is a great opportunity to get out in the fresh air and get close to nature. Once you have […]
CLEAN & GREEN
Words: Vicki Ravlich-Horan | Photography: Ashlee deCaires The bathroom flies under the radar where plastic waste is concerned, yet after the kitchen it is possibly the biggest source of waste. Having a look at the contents of your rubbish bin will give you ideas of where you could start making changes. Creating a system in […]
Planning that Special Day
Wed in Waikato is a curated group of wedding professionals based in the Waikato with a dual purpose—to help ease the stress for couples planning their special day and to network with their industry peers passionate about weddings to ensure we have the best there is here in the Waikato. Who better to ask for […]
The Perfect Brownie
Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan Images Ashlee DeCaires This winter I embarked on a selfless project. It consumed my weekends and counteracted my efforts at the gym. Thankfully the result was not just wasted lunges and grateful family and friends (who benefited from the tests), but what I think is the perfect brownie. That’s right, I pulled […]