An unique Christmas beside the sea.

Brunch beachside.

After a year of perpetual motion Pip and I opted out of family Christmas and headed north to spend two days on our own, reflecting on the year and starting to recharge our very empty batteries! Our idea was to forage for our Xmas kai and revel in the essence of what it is to have Christmas on a Pacific island, so far removed from northern hemisphere traditions and winter weather which makes sense of all the roasting and feasting that goes hand in hand with the festive season. Joining us were Mcgregor and Chalky, the newest member of the family (belonging to Pip's mum), who managed to get filthy dirty within minutes of hitting the beach!

Christmas morning dawned fine and warm, Pip and cousin Mark hefted a very heavy table off the deck to set it by the creek and beach. As we brunched on our own kiwi verson of huevos rancheros made with eggs from local hens, washed down with NZ bubbles, followed by brownie and divinely creamy Piako yogurt with mango, the orange nasturtium plucked from grasses above the tideline, we felt super privileged to be able to experience such difference.

Later we took out kayaks and collected rock oysters and pipi's (surf clams) for Christmas dinner, I have to make my Dad's pink cocktail sauce to go with an oyster or two (it's a nostalgic taste I love)....my recipe is given a big kick with a good hit of vodka and lemon....the pipi's were steamed and eaten Eastern Seaboard style dipped in melted butter...once again all washed down with more bubbles. The surprising piece de resistance was my take on Maggie Beer's lime, coffee and walnut meringues. I switched the recipe by using coffee, lemon and almonds, dreamy pillows of espresso flavoured crunch sandwiched by coffee butter cream...this time washed down with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot we'd kept all year to drink when we finally felt we could celebrate being back in NZ!

For the coffee, lime and walnut meringue recipe follow this link.
Substitute quantities of lime zest and nuts for lemon zest and chopped slithered almonds if you wish.  Make sure espresso is cold when adding to egg whites, Maggie's tip, fold in the zest, nuts and then espresso at the very end and fold in gently so there are still ribbons of coffee running through the meringue mixture. Bake on baking paper and make quite big dollops. Recipe makes 10 largish meringues. I have doubled recipe without a lot of success, meringues were smaller and less puffed when baked on two or three racks at same time.

Merry Christmas to one and all. x

Rugby World Cup Opening

Opening night of the Rugby World cup Auckland was buzzing. It was a lovely day, suddenly warm. Because of traffic blockades along the waterfront I rode my bike to work. Homeward bound I was hailed by  the very handsome Tamati, TVone weather man extraordinaire and Simon Dallow arriving at the Viaduct to start their nights commentary.! I guess my fishnet stockings might have been a standout but anyhoo after a cheery conversation I peddled on to prepare for our guests. Slow roasting in the oven all day was a ginormous shoulder of pork. My recipe of the season, Nigella Lawson's 'Porchetta', is too die for. Smothered in fennel seeds, fresh rosemary, fresh bay leaves and ground cloves this ancient Roman recipe is served between soft white ciabatta buns.

My version of Porchetta: 

2-5 kg shoulder pork, bones and butterflied. (I have taken bone out myself with sharp knife, butterflied it  you can pound it flat with a meat mallet or rolling pin then stuff  and tie up with string: For larger piece of pork you can increase amounts. Best results with fresh rosemary and bay.

3 tblspn olive oil

1 large onion

3 cloves garlic

2 tblspn fennel seeds

2 large sprigs of rosemary, chopped finely

4 fresh bay leaves

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp salt

8 black peppercorns

Ciabatta or other soft white buns. 

With pestle and mortar or in grinder chop all herbs and spices. Heat 2 tblspns oil and fry finely chopped onion until just soft, don't brown it, add all ingredients and fry lightly. 

Take half mix and stuff the meat. Roll up and tie with string.

Rib outside with rest of mix, massage into meat. You can cover with gladwrap and leave in fridge for 24 hours.

Bring to room temp before you cook for min 40 mins. 

Oven at 180, cook meat for 4 hours. if its getting too black at 3 hours cover. Remove from oven tent for an hour. 

With two forks pull the meat apart and pile onto buns. I have made a loose gravy from pan scrapings, sieved it and drizzled over pulled meat. 

Serve with caramelized onions and a smokey bbq sauce on bun.


Its a super simple way to feed a lot of folks and perfect for our party. I greeted guests with a refreshing St Germaine and champagne cocktail.

St Germaine Cocktail

Over ice in a tall glass pour:
1 part St Germaine
2 parts Champagne or local Methode
curl of lime zest
top with soda water 

Highlight of the evening were the Waka (canoes) entering the Viaduct. The precision paddling,heart stirring chanting and glorious displays of feather cloaks, moko and ornate waka prows and paddles brought tears to the eyes of many on our balcony.

Later we had a grandstand view of one of THE most spectacular fireworks displays, equal to the wonderful events we'd seen in New York and Montreal.

Spring on the Volcanic Plateau

Driving through the central north island in spring is just gorgeous. Pips birthday was our excuse to put the city behind us and head for the hills. Literally! Our destination a 50 acre farmlet on the Napier Taupo highway with views to Mt Ruapehu and mirror calm Lake Taupo. Highlights of our weekend were hand feeding two orphaned lambs (now named by me...Rammy Lamb and Baby Lamb! though their  ultimate destination in life is to be lamb chop and lamb roast.....eeerrrrr!) The two are such dear little creatures, I took them for a walk one morning, they skipped along at my heels on the sheep tracks. They learnt how to climb hills and jump down hillsides leapng about just like the other lambs in the very snobby flock who totally ignored our orphans!  Life is very hierarchical in the paddock! especially if your Mum has ditched you for your twin.

Friend Chrissy had set up her cute cottage for our stay and we quickly put a match to the pine-cones and hit the spa pool steaming in very chilly air while the house warmed up.

With Chrissy at the helm of her four wheeler we fed out hay to new born calves and pregnant cows. Each morning we'd collect eggs from the hen house, there is something super special about poaching a warm egg fresh from the nest. Chrissy's Orpingtons are round glossy birds, two cheeky cockerels had just been consigned to the pot just days before we arrived, despatched by my friends the pile of freshly plucked feathers testament to their Good Life philosophy. Chrissy named her 2010 calves Freezer One and Freezer Two!! and was not impressed with me naming our orphan lambies!

Rammy Lamb on left, Baby Lamb on right. Both wear lamb coats to keep warm in the below freezing temps at night.

Skiing at Whakapapa on two gloriously warm sunny days, skiing straight on to the lifts and making the most of the spring conditions reminded me how wonderful Mt Ruapehu is with its towering pinnacles and magestic views out to Mt Egmont and Taupo.

Chrissy Simmen, Taupo interior architect and designer is a fabulous chef as many in the lakes area know from her days as caterer and deli owner. Visiting her lovely home in Taupo, with views back up the lake to the mountain was a pleasure. Spring had sprung in her back garden with gorgeous yellow pansies, taking their cue from the golden Wattles, daffys and gorse on the hillsides, soon to be replaced by masses of red poppies running riot in her veggie garden later in the season.

Living Downtown Auckland!

View of Viaduct Harbour, Downtown Auckland City and Sky tower from our Balcony

Finally, after 15 moves  and 8 months since leaving our Toronto apartment (that's schlepping suitcases, boxes and life's accoutrement) in and out of friends and family's houses, we have an apartment in Auckland City. After the sale of Piccadilly Place we had two gourmet stints with friend Susie in Mission Bay then two months in a fab house in Remuera where we recouped, regrouped and revived our spirits surrounded by birdsong and glorious views of Auckland Harbour and Rangitoto Island. Sunrise to sunset the changing moods of the scene inspired and uplifted.  

With our minds set on buying a home, we had a close call in Orakei, where I fell for a garden apartment with sea views...however the body corp. didn't fancy our four pawed friend (the million dollar dog and first class traveller Montreal Mcgregor!) living in their hallowed enclave (it really wasn't that smart!!!) so we were nixed before the deal was done and had to move on mentally and physically from that idea. After trolling both for sale and rental market we became quite despondent of ever finding somewhere suitable where doggies were kosher! Friends suggested looking at the city for an apartment, (I was not at all keen, thinking I'd had enough urban grit in TO and NJ). Long story short we were ushered into a Viaduct marina pad with views across the water to the North Shore and across the city to the Sky Tower. We snapped it up on the spot.

 

Our new home at The Stratis at Lighter Quay taken from Loch at south end.

Stratis building looking north toward new Viaduct Events Centre and footbridge, neighbouring KPMG's World Cup window, Sky Tower, Details of Stratis complex, marina at front and back with a Loch at north end to allow boats to escape.

The real scoop with this whole deal is that our pad is glass from floor to ceiling, is situated right on the water at the Viaduct, has a fab views from covered balcony which has aforesaid seamless sliding glass doors for inclement weather! Along with that comes pool, spa, sauna and gym so we are in total pig heaven!! A short stroll to the end of the street we have the NEW Wynyard quarter, with fish markets, gourmet shopping and restaurants plus the spanking new drawbridge across the viaduct to downtown! Waking to the sun on the water and yachts at our door is what we hoped living in Auckland could be!

Sunrise from our balcony dining room

Interior of apartment week one looking a bit shambolic!

What more could two weary repatriating citizens need. Well...possibly jobs and we have these too. Pip is Operations Manager for Sulco Tools in Wiri, Auckland. An NZ owned company that's been around for 50 years or so.He's loving that and its getting him around the country again which could just see the return of his contributions to the this blog! I am happily ensconced in Parnell being an office walla....girl Friday...well Monday to Friday...at software co. Prism Software, just taken over by an American software co. EFI (NASDAQ listed). Though not using any creative skill sets or a single god given talent day to day I find I am extremely happy nonetheless!!

Dog and me reflected in wharf art ships funnels

 So there you have it. Its taken nearly eight months to get our feet on the ground here. We are living a very different life to the one we came home to take up, but as fate has these things, its probably what is meant to be!

 

North Wharf. Jack Tar pub and The Conservatory bar with rattan swing seats on North Wharf

Wharf art and container house

The Wynyard Quarter and North Wharf abound with restaurants and bars, its great to see Aucklanders strolling over the new foot bridge to explore the parks and dine wharf side! Indian street food at Urban Turban, cool alfresco bar The Conservatory is an instant hit and we ate en famille with my sons Matt and Nick and niece Emma at Jack Tar  last week and will no doubt get to try them all in good time. 

 

The new Wynyard Quarter at the end of our street. You just can't get away from the Sky Tower or Pohutukawa trees. Wharf art, clever Native planting and the bright red Trams bring families and tourists. Stunning Viaduct event centre with huge timber recliners invite people to picnic or lounge in sun. The new footbridge in action. My new foodie mecca the Auckland Fish Market is across the road from the wharf. NZ spiny crayfish are a delicacy and super pricey.

Auction in April, Moved in May and Jolly in June!

Corks popped this week to celebrate Pip beginning his new adventure with Sulco Tools Ltd in an operations role. Meanwhile I'm doing a stint temping at Prism NZ Software for another month.

We are on the move again early July (give us a shout if you know of a 'house-to-sit'!) so have begun to scan the 'rental' and 'residential sales' about town.

Goodbye to our old home.

After six years away it was such a pleasure to have 8 weeks living in Kohimarama, the garden was at its best and we all fell in love with Persimmons from our groaning tree at the gate. Long evening walks on the beach and early mornings in the park make this our perfect area to live. James at the wine shop, the friendly Indian couple at my veggie store, the fish & chip shop for fresh fish, the Store, Kohi Cafe for sublime breakfasts with the best view in the bays, the Berkley cinema at Mission bay, the dog walkers at the park and beach, they all add up to familiar village life. A very good life.

Friends Rowan and Jim from Hoboken, USA, visited us just days before we moved house. Surreal to see our Hoboken family in enzed. The kids loved the spa pool and the short visit flew by too quickly.

Moving out of our old home in Kohi was tough, especially when we felt jobless and homeless at the time. So many good times to remember and leaving our wonderful neighbours made it all the more poignant. Still it was timely to go .... and while I worked my temp job son Matt and Pip put muscle to the fore and hefted our north American furniture back out of the house and into a truck.

With all our worldly goods in storage we had a lovely week with friend Susie in Mission Bay before taking up residence in a super house in Remuera for 8 weeks. Spirits lifted instantly at first sight of the miraculous harbour views encompassing an arc from Whangaparoua Peninsula to the Coromandel ranges. Eternal night owls and early morning wakers we've witnessed sunrises over Auckland so gaudy and brilliantly orange and mauve they seem surreal. Midnight and the moon hangs low over Rangitoto shining a silver stream of light over the water while beacons blink red and green in the shipping channel.

Its a time to refocus and re-group after a churning five months trying to settle back into life downunder.

Bridal Fashion Week at the Museum

We had front row seats at Bridal Fashion Week under the copper dome at the top of the War Memorial Museum. Not quite New York Fashion Week but fun none the less! I visited with my newly engaged god-daughter and the 'mother of the bride' to check out the latest and greatest in bridal couture from Cymbeline of Paris, Ruben Perlotti of Barcelona and locals Jane Yeh, Vinka Design, Annie Bonza were the best.

We loved the Annie Bonza gown hand painted with New Zealand native plants and flowers, the white gown that was a mass of organza flowers tied with black at the waist and the ethereal pink feathered dress which floated like a divine cloud as the model walked.

Time out at the Beach.

Lovely summer weather, sunrise over the ocean, sunsets over the hills behind, swims in the surf and surfing the net for a job. We've taken time out this week to get back to nature Coromandel style. Pip and Vicky created this delicious vivid dinner of chicken tagine and red cabbage slaw spiked with kaffir lime leaves.

Gathering shellfish is one of my favourite beach 'to do's'. While my friend and I dug for pipi's  at low tide, Pip swam across the harbour inlet to gather cockles (clams).

 Recipe for Feijoa Frangipane.

 For those who are not familiar with this fruit, feijoa taste a little bit like a guava or some say a cross between a guava and a pineapple.
Ingredients

• 225g sweet short crust pastry or about 8 sheets of filo buttered between every second layer
• 125 butter
• 125g castor sugar
• 125g ground almonds
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 6-8 feijoas or 12 if you wish to add fresh slices after baking

Method

1. Prepare 6 individual loose bottom tart tins or one large tin by greasing them and then dusting them with flour.
2. Pre heat oven to 170°C
3. On a floured surface roll out pastry thinly to fit tart tin
4. Make the frangipane filling by creaming the butter & sugar together until light and fluffy.
5. Gradually beat in the eggs one at a time.
6. Fold in the ground almonds and spread the frangipane mixture over the tart base.
7. Peel and slice the feijoas and arrange over the frangipane mixture.
8. Sprinkle some castor sugar over the feijoas.
9. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the frangipane is golden and risen slightly and is like sponge to touch. Smaller tarts will only require 25-35 minutes.
10. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream or mixture of whipped cream and greek yogurt.

House completed and on the market! Phew!

Entrance and courtyard on North side of House

At the end of a whirlwind seven weeks of making over the house our container of flotsam and jetsam arrived from Toronto and was quickly swallowed up by Piccadilly Place.

Pip was amazing taking on multiple roles from builder to electrician as the job evolved. We had professional help where needed and sweated through the hottest weeks of summer like a couple of labourers!

Sitting Room, Kitchen, Family Room with Eastern Deck area.

Bathroom, Loo on Main floor of House.

Master Bedroom.

Bedroom Three is west facing.

Bedroom Two on North side of house.

Stairwell and Laundry on lower level.

Media Room, Second Bathroom, Bedroom Four on lower level.

Garden and Driveway. 

You can find the link at Ray White Kohi. Auction date is April 19th at Kohi Cafe.