While we’re decking the halls, we’re also dreaming of inspiring table settings to sprinkle some festive sorcery over the holiday season. Like its infamous Medusa motif, once you fall in love with Versace’s enchanting tableware, there is no return.
The dinnerware first adorned our tables in the early 90s, under the creative direction of the late Gianni Versace who believed that Versace “is a lifestyle and it should be an all-embracing decision for those who choose to adopt it”. The Rosenthal and Versace collections, with a wide range found at The Studio of Tableware, are a mesmerising embodiment of such stylistic principles.
The Le Jardin de Versace collection captures an enchanting garden in dreamy pastel shades and an abundance of blossoms, berries, insects and ornaments. Picked by the Versace Milan studio to playfully symbolise a summer symphony, these exclusive designs make for a modern al fresco Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.
The I Love Baroque range reflects Versace’s fascination with glorious epochs — at once classical and extravagant. Reinterpreting the heritage of the Maison with refined decorations of the Baroque and Neoclassical eras in signature tones of black, white and gold, the eye-catching designs will enrich any Christmas Eve dinner with a sense of excitement.
For the main event on Christmas Day, we entreat you to entertain with Versace’s centrepiece Medusa collection. In elegant red with hints of precious gold and black, the opulent patterns delight the beholder with their true beauty. While the Medusa is the complete match for festive colour schemes, the iconic collection will continue to hold your gaze long after the festive lights’ last twinkle.
Proving the magic of an ice cream cake never diminishes, no matter what age and stage of life one might be at, Island Gelato Company’s spectacular creations make for an impressive (and delicious) sweet treat to share with loved ones.
The popular gelateria, which has four locations in Auckland including a Ponsonby road store opening imminently, is renowned for its sensational scoops that use only the best ingredients in its range of 70-plus flavours.
True to form, the gelato cakes are delightful to look at and delightful to eat, with the range encompassing mouth-watering flavours like Banoffee Pie, Espresso Martini, Summer Bombe Alaska and even a vegan Chocolate Praline Crunch.
Peanut Butter & Jam, Yes Ma’am.
Just in time for Christmas, Island Gelato has also created two, limited-edition festive flavours that combine intricate construction and premium ingredients with plenty of whimsy. The first, cheekily named Rum Rudolph Rum, comprises gelato layers of rum ‘n’ raisin, hazelnut and chocolate praline, with candied hazelnuts and a rum mousse centre.
Jingle Bell Rocks, on the other hand, is a very-berry medley of gelato layers that include roast cherry jam, white chocolate and coconut flavours, plus cherry and strawberry sorbet and is finished off with a white chocolate and cherry rice crispy base.
Jingle Bell Rocks.
Available for pre-order from the store’s website from the 6th of December, these festive gelato beauties are to be made in limited numbers while the rest of the flavour range is ongoing. We dare say you don’t even really need a specific occasion to order one — when a cake looks (and tastes) this good, it becomes an opportunity for celebration in and of itself.
The team behind some of Auckland’s most popular eateries has delved into a delicious new venture: pizza. Named Green Door Pizza, the new opening is the brainchild of David Lee and Oliver Simon of Gochu and Good Dog Bad Dog, along with Tom Hong (co-owner of Lee’s Newmarket eatery The Candyshop) and Oliver Rennie.
The focus is on New York-style-meets Napolese pizza, with a sourdough base that results in a perfectly crisp, puffy crust. Green Door’s chef Rennie (previously a chef at Gochu) also worked at famed Melbourne restaurant Leonardo’s Pizza Palace so he certainly knows his way around a pizza oven. In keeping with every one of this team’s venues, the menu at Green Door boasts delicious ingredient combinations that don’t skimp on flavour.
You’ll find classics like a margherita and pepperoni, alongside a mushroom pizza with shallots, raclette vincotto and thyme, and a very appealing mortadella combination with fresh mozzarella, olives, roasted red peppers and guindilla chillies.
During alert level 3, Green Door Pizza was available as a pop-up pick-up joint from The Candyshop in Newmarket, serving whole pies to take home. Now, its new location is on the ground floor of Commercial Bay and the focus is on individual slices plus moreish sides, and a drinks offering encompassing natural wine and beers on tap.
New flavours appearing on the menu as the Commercial Bay location opens are a vegan ‘melanzana’ (smoked eggplant, cavolo nero, confit garlic and almond cream), a ricotta and zucchini, a fennel salami with pickled fennel, and a Hawaiian with smoked speck and pickled pineapple.
Much like Good Dog Bad Dog, Green Door Pizza centres on a beloved food group and takes it to the next level, in terms of quality, flavour and execution. Now that Commercial Bay has opened its doors again, and hospitality can trade in-person once more, we know where we’ll be for a lunchtime slice or three.
While beautiful, coloured gemstones always catch our eye, one ring in particular has us entirely entranced. This 8.63ct cushion cut lagoon tourmaline ring from Sutcliffe Jewellery is so heavenly it comes with two shining halos — made up of sapphires and an 18ct white gold diamond pavé, which reflect the ring’s own brilliance for what seems to be an infinity.
The dress ring was entirely handmade, and is a completely new design for Sutcliffe Jewellery. It captures the essence of the lagoon tourmaline. Only seen in the evocative tones of blue and green, with strikingly intense light-to-dark saturated colours, this gemstone is having a spellbinding ‘moment’ in time.
The clever halo design gives a sense of depth to the diamonds as they appear to curve inwards and bow to the tourmaline. Meanwhile, a black rhodium plating is applied to the sapphire halo to further define a hypnotic scalloped edge.
The Sutcliffe philosophy is simple: Great stones need great rings. As a second generation craftsman who once cut his teeth (and some extraordinary diamonds) in London’s prestigious Hatton Garden district, Brent Sutcliffe is one of the country’s most skilled craftspeople in the realm of fine jewellery. He creates showstopping bespoke rings with such meticulous attention to detail, to look upon them is to discover a whole new world of possibilities.
Catch the light, and a little envy, with the most captivating gold jewellery of the social season. From Chopard’s Happy Diamonds centring on a yellow gold ring to Tiffany & Co’s garden party-inspired Vine earrings — layer whatever takes your fancy. Shop the new season styles below:
Christopher Esber Reversed Magnum Hoop from Muse Boutique, Roberto Coin Love in Verona Wide Yellow Gold Bangle from Partridge Jewellers, Christopher Esber Linked Bracelet in Gold from Muse Boutique.
With the arrival of loosened restrictions around dining in local restaurants coming this Friday, to say we’re excited is an understatement. The calibre of Auckland eateries is such that, while we’ve enjoyed special takeaways that wouldn’t normally be available, it’s seemed an utter travesty that we can’t enjoy a meal on-site as they’re meant to be served.
We’re also looking forward to more people having the chance to try eateries that were freshly opened this year when we were plunged back into lockdown, and one of the destinations that should be at the top of your list is Bar Magda.
Having just opened in June, Bar Magda’s location downstairs on Cross St, one over from Karangahape Road, means it’s delightfully off-the-beaten-track — which didn’t stop word from quickly spreading about this unique and delicious destination. Founded by chef Carlo Buenaventura, Craig Thompson and Matt Venables, the bar and restaurant centres on Aotearoa’s seasonal produce through a Filipino lens, and a thoroughly thoughtful drinks menu.
From left: Preserved kohlrabi; Lamb ribs cooked over coals, green sambal, soft herbs.
Inside, Bar Magda envelops visitors upon entry in a warm, red-tinged glow. Seating 52, the space is divided into three zones — there is a more intimate dining area near the open kitchen, and then a bar and dining space through a glass door that also has standing room (for when alert levels are even lower), tables and bar-leaners.
Should you sit down to eat (and, you should), you’ll be served dishes with contemporary fusion flavours to the fore. Seasonally driven yet inspired by Buenaventura’s upbringing in the Southern Philippines, the menu comprises sharing plates that can be ordered a la carte, and also set menus, from a pre-theatre selection for $55 a head, or different tiers of “Magda Feasts”.
It is divided into three main sections: “to start”, “something cold”, and “something hot”. Often there will be a sour-sweet, sour-salty or sour-spicy element that cuts beautifully through creamy, richer flavours.
Must-try new dishes include green-lipped mussel escabeche with green garlic and fennel on the “something cold” menu; charred carrots, beetroot relish and chifa sauce, charcoal beef steak with soy butter and scallions, and grilled chicken and duck liver parfait with smoked cherries, chicken skin and marbled Viennese brioche are stand-outs in the “something hot” section, as are the signature lamb ribs with soft herbs and green sambal.
Should you just be dropping in for a drink and a quick snack, the bar food menu reinterprets the main offering into more tapas-style dining.
From left: Barbecue cauliflower, almond kolma; Watermelon and strawberry, gracias dios mezcal, yellow chartreuse.
Drinks-wise, find plenty to wet your whistle. In the cocktail realm, a selection of lesser-adopted aperitifs offers something different. These include Rinquinquin, a peach liquor, French aperitif Suze and various vermouths. Otherwise, categories of stirred, seasonal, and crowd-favourite cocktails offer something for everyone, plus digestifs. The wine list is concise, championing small or family-owned vineyards and natural, organic wine, as well as excellent more traditionally-made drops. Classic pours are on tap courtesy of Hallertau beer and there are rotating beer specials from microbreweries.
A destination to prioritise for both date night and group catch-ups; a convivial beverage or a full, sit-down meal, Bar Magda’s distinctive yet versatile offering will impress long after you’ve left the building.
For the month of December, Bar Magda is offering a 10 percent discount on any meals booked Monday to Wednesday.
To celebrate Bar Magda’s reopening and new menu, we’re giving away a two-course set menu meal for a party of six, to be enjoyed on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
Non Solo Pizza has been a beloved Parnell neighbourhood institution for over 25 years. Now, its convivial charm has arrived in the inner city with the opening of sister venue Bar Non Solo.
Located in the refurbished space that previously housed The Deck at Ostro, Bar Non Solo initially cut its metaphorical opening ribbon on the 13th of August — the next week, we were plunged into a four-month lockdown. Anyone lucky enough to slip in a visit in that first weekend would agree, this new venture is set to be a roaring success. Now, with hospitality able to host in-person customers once again from Friday the 3rd of December, we know where our first stop will be.
Having dialled up the vibe of its suburban counterpart to offer a party-ready space that’s perfect for after-work drinks, pre-dinner snacks and lively nightcaps, Bar Non Solo is a well-heeled inner-city destination indeed. Step out of the level two lift, and a brand new entranceway welcomes you, with Ostro revelling in its prime waterfront spot to the left, and Bar Non Solo taking in the lights of Britomart to the right.
Find a menu brimming with Italian bites and cocktails.
With Paul Izzard and his award-winning team taking care of the redesign, Bar Non Solo’s space feels both spacious and welcoming, with varying sizes and heights of table catering to everyone from couples on dates to groups of friends catching up. Continuing Ostro’s dark green palette, albeit with a deeper, more olive-tinted hue, are leather banquettes and covered stools, plus charming tiled tabletops and painted wood consoles.
The drinks list focuses on Italian cocktails (including a negroni on tap), spritzes, digestifs and wine, while Savor Group Executive Chef Chris Rendell has reinvented Non Solo’s menu to have more of a small-plates focus. Find pasta, antipasti and salumi among the various sharing dishes, as well as the eatery’s famous pizza (an impressive pizza oven has been installed).
The menu includes NSP favourites pasta and pizza.
Non Solo’s legendary Aperitivo hour is another thing this bar has in common with its Parnell sister; running Wednesday to Saturday from 5 — 7pm, expect free bar bites, flowing Peroni and spritzes. On Friday evening, the plan is to kick things up a notch with a selection of the best DJs in town on the decks — all helping Bar Non Solo to bring the spirit of Italian nightlife to Britomart.
Some anticipated tables are still available to book for varying group sizes, while booking is mandated under the traffic light system. You’ll be sure to find us here, enthusiastically soaking up the atmosphere all summer long.
Video at top of page was filmed in August 2021 before lockdown restrictions.
With a long history of partnerships in Christchurch, ECC has opened the doors to a new Showroom at the shopping destination that is Victoria Street in the city’s centre. Following the opening of the brand’s Architectural Lighting Showroom in 2019, just around the corner on the same street, this proudly refined and meticulously considered store space was the natural evolution for ECC.
Bringing the world’s leading lighting and furniture brands exclusively to New Zealand, the new curated space is designed for exploring. Family-owned and operated since 1909, ECC is currently run by third-generation Mike Thorburn with sons Richard and Andrew. Their current range includes contemporary and timeless classics many design aficionados will know well.
Made in Italy, the stand-out brand Minotti blends tradition and technique with clean lines, comfort and impeccable attention to detail. For a feel-good factor, the Netherland’s Linteloo has the right balance of structure and softness, with a hefty dose of Dutch design, for furniture that is a joy to live with. Meanwhile, another Italian brand, Magis, incorporates cutting edge technology, and creativity, into its smart designs. Other furniture labels include Giorgetti, Henge, Glas Italia and Piet Boon.
For lighting, look to those that spark new design ideas. The iconic Flos provides legacy lamps that are a testament to timeless design with technical excellence. Vancouver and Berlin-based Bocci brings sculptural glass lighting, while Melbourne based Christopher Boots is a conduit for the material and metaphysical exploration of quartz crystal light fixtures. Other leading lights include Astro, Marset, Tom Dixon and Gervasoni.
With such highly regarded brands in its new showroom stable, ECC has every element of a design-oriented home covered, from floor to ceiling.
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