Over the last week in Auckland, no doubt many of us will have taken full advantage of being able to see friends and loved ones, one bubble at a time in an outdoor space. Whether that be for a stroll, taking children for a playground playdate or a picnic, reconnecting with our people face-to-face does wonders for the soul after nearly eight weeks of isolation.
Speaking of picnics, should you wish to bring along something truly special to your next one, then Park Hyatt Auckland has you sorted with its incredible afternoon tea boxes. Available every weekend, Friday to Sunday, there are various options catering to both concise and larger gatherings (up to 10 people, of course).
Each box contains a scrumptious selection of sweet and savoury treats, similar to what would be served for Park Hyatt’s famous Afternoon Tea in non-lockdown times. The individual offer, $55 per person or $29 per person for children, comes with a combination of five sweet and five savoury treats, plus a choice of tea, with vegetarian options available.
Should you be breaking bread (so to speak) with a group of four or more, then the offering only gets more indulgent. The ‘luxe picnic’ for four includes a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne, for $290, while the ‘extravaganza picnic’ for 10 comprises a truly indulgent selection of treats — plus two bottles of Champagne to really take things up a notch. In both boxes, expect the likes of parmesan éclairs and bacon & egg quiche; salmon & dill sandwiches and ham brie & chutney rolls; strawberry shortcake, dulcey honey petit gateaux; salted caramel chocolate tart… and more. A choice of tea for the group is also included.
If you’re anything like us, you’re already salivating at the thought of this delicious selection, so we suggest you ready the picnic blanket, check the forecast for a sunny day and place your order here. Park Hyatt requires 24 hours notice before pick-up at The Pantry between 12pm and 2pm Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 99 Halsey Street.
To celebrate, we have one Extravaganza Picnic Box to give away to one lucky Denizen, worth $630. Feeding 10 people, it contains a mouth-watering selection of savoury and sweet treats, plus refreshments — the perfect way to take your level 3 picnic to the next level.
Founded in 1952, Danish design company BoConcept has been a leader in the realm of contemporary yet timeless, minimal yet customisable furniture for decades. Thanks to its core tenets of meticulous craftsmanship, utmost attention to detail and exceptional materials, the global furniture retailer has not only grown to hundreds of stores spanning six continents, but has done so without compromising its reputation for excellence and design with integrity.
That the company’s designs are able to be personalised is also central to its offering, with around 80-to-90 percent of its furniture able to be adapted for size, colour, components or material. Individuality joins functionality to create long-beloved pieces, integrating within (and enhancing) a wide variety of lifestyles and aesthetics.
BoConcept recently tapped The Design Chaser’s Michelle Halford to style a few of its pieces in her incredibly chic living space, including the Modena sofa and the Bermuda footstool. Given her love of the Scandinavian aesthetic, the interior stylist, design consultant and influencer has long been a fan of the brand, and the aforementioned versatility also appealed greatly when it came to selecting a size of sofa and finish of fabrics.
Left: BoConcept’s Bermuda footstool. Right: The Modena sofa’s rounded edges pair beautifully with those of the Bermuda footstool.
With its organic yet refined silhouette and softly curved edges, the Modena sofa was designed by Morten Georgsen to bridge the gap between casual comfort and elevated elegance. Halford, who chose to upholster both the sofa and the Bermuda footstool in BoConcept’s Lazio fabric, loves that the sofa complements her existing Danish-designed pieces while refreshing the space.
A textural bouclé, Lazio is the perfect tactile finish for minimalist forms, delivering a hefty dose of dimension and softness. With the warm, white shade of the Modena sofa and grey-undertoned beige for the Bermuda footstool, the overall effect is peaceful, sophisticated and tonally cohesive, with plenty of interest from varying textures and shapes — perfectly in keeping with the aesthetic both BoConcept and Halford hold dear.
As a bastion of Italian cuisine, the humble, hearty pizza never fails to delight both the eyes and the stomach. While there are many establishments serving up laudable renditions of arguably the greatest gift Italy ever gave the world (followed closely by pasta, Peroni and gelato), we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites — available via takeaways during Auckland’s level 3 lockdown.
Epolito’s, Grey Lynn Merging traditional Italian flavours with New York’s signature thin-crust pies, the pizza at this Grey Lynn local demonstrates what beauty can be born when cultures collide. The East Side (artichoke, lemon and parmesan) and On Madison (black olive, roasted garlic and feta) are two of our favourites, though any flavour will do you right.
Spiga, Remuera The sensational new Spiga restaurant (tucked behind the Remuera shops) is offering its authentic Italian feasts via takeaway. As well as classic pizzas, we recommend trying the little bit different, but oh so delicious, freshly sliced prosciutto served with deep-fried pizza dough balls.
Dante’s, Ponsonby, Takapuna, Queen’s Rise, Eastridge Dante’s Pizzaiolo (specialist pizza chefs) take their wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza seriously — they look for a super light, fluffy crust made from good sourdough with crispy and charred spots. First in Auckland to receive Italy’s prestigious Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) prize, their takeaways will take dinner to the next level.
East Street Hall, Auckland Central Modern canteen and club East Street is used to bringing the good vibes on location, but they are switching things up this lockdown by offering a classic takeaway pizza menu. Pre-orders will be taken by landline from 4pm each day, with more delicious details on their Instagram.
Non Solo Pizza.
Non Solo Pizza, Parnell A neighbourhood favourite for over 25 years, Non Solo Pizza welcomes all with open arms — and nothing feels like a virtual hug, in the meantime, more than one of its delicious pizzas. Our top pick is the Porchetta with slow-cooked pork, roasted mushrooms and rosemary.
Umu, Kingsland This eatery’s sourdough pizzas hit the spot every time. Petite enough to eat a whole one to yourself (although, they’re definitely not stingy), the exceptional dough and beautifully fresh ingredients will help to ensure you don’t feel ultra weighed down afterwards.
Lilian, Grey Lynn The perennially busy Grey Lynn osteria always draws a crowd for its delicious food and beverage offering, and its delightfully doughy pizzas are a large part of this appeal. We love the signature prosciutto, grape, parmesan and thyme, or the mushrooms provolone, pesto, pinenuts and oregano.
Farina, Ponsonby Ponsonby Road corner cutie Farina has been an enduring go-to since it opened in 2014, and while its menu of pasta dishes and ‘secondi’ like cotoletta are filled with delicious bites, it’s the pizza we’re highlighting this time. Farina’s Napoletana pizzas are all delicious from the first bite to the last.
Francesca’s Pizzeria, Point Chevalier Makers of truly authentic Italian pizza, the finest dish on the menu might just be ‘Francesca’s Choice’. Layering tomato, mozzarella, spinach, salami and eggplant on a light, wood-fired base then finishing it all with a sprinkling of chilli, we recommend grabbing one to go or perching up at the window to enjoy.
The Master and Margherita.
The Master and Margherita, Grey Lynn Chef Ivan Janic specialises in perfectly wood-fired, Roman-style pizza at Surrey Crescent outpost The Master and Margherita. Thinner and wider in diameter than their Neapolitan counterparts, these 15-inch sourdough beauties have a pillowy crust yet aren’t super doughy overall, which lends a welcome lightness.
Toto Pizza, CBD When the occasion calls for a metre-long pizza (and this lockdown does), there’s no one else we would turn to but the doughy dab hands, known fondly as Toto’s. Go for a half-and-half or a full metre of one flavour for takeaway — we like the never-fail Boscaiola (the truffle, mushroom one) or the Parma (prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, parmesan and basil).
Prego, Ponsonby Purveyors of all things delicious and Italian, these culinary maestros certainly don’t drop the ball when it comes to their pizzas. The hefty selection has something for any craving; a particular must is the bianca with truffle mushrooms, white mozzarella, ham, rocket and grana padano.
Di Vino Bistro, Parnell The generous selection on offer at this Parnell favourite can make for a difficult dining decision. But with no bad choices on the takeaway menu, there’s really no going wrong. If you do prefer a little guidance, however, the Napoli hits the mark, every time.
Green Door Pizza, Newmarket New York-style-meets Napolese pizza, with a sourdough base that results in a perfectly crisp, puffy crust is what you can expect to get at Green Door Pizza. 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 chilli.
From left to right: Al Volo Bar Pizzeria Cucina, That’s Amore.
Al Volo Pizzeria Cucina , Mt Eden With their 150-year-old family recipe in tow, the team at Al Volo have been serving undeniably fantastic Neopolitan pizza since they opened in 2004 — and it has even been voted among the best in the world. We can’t go past the signature eponymous pizza, a lesson in the beauty of simplicity with buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh rocket, olive oil and parmesan.
That’s Amore, CBD Boasting one of the most extensive (and delicious) pizza menus in the CBD, That’s Amore brings a dose of Italian flavour to Courthouse Lane. You might have trouble choosing a flavour, but you’ll have no trouble eating these moreish and approachable pizzas.
Papa’s Italian Eatery, Kingsland When a pizzeria has been operating since 1984, they must be doing something right, and Papa’s Italian is one such place. From its colourful corner site on Sandringham Road, Papa’s is offering takeaway pies in both classic and more ‘guilty pleasure’ flavours, like apricot chicken and Hawaiian.
Elmo’s, Ponsonby Now that Ponsonby Road eatery Elmo’s is offering fresh pizza deliveries to our door, we have set our sights on its menu of wood-fired pizzas, from a classic Margherita or pork and fennel sausage pizza, to a vegan rendition with hemp sausages and cashew cheese.
For those that feel ready to get back into an exercise routine, a surefire way to get moving — and motivated — is a real-life group class or one-on-one training. A number of boutique fitness experiences are helping us get back into the gym by offering boutique, safely distanced sessions outside the studio door.
Left to right: Studio Box; Playground Fitness.
Studio Box Kick-starting things off, Studio Box is offering its high-octane body-and-mind workouts in an outdoor group class called Studio Outdoor. Held in the car park of its Newmarket location, each class can accommodate up to nine attendees from different bubbles. For those who would like something a little more private, Outdoor PT offers one-on-one or two-on-one training sessions, with boxing pad work and functional strength training.
Core Collective Elite reformer pilates practitioners Core Collective are getting into shape with a new initiative, The Pilates Garage. The team has set up eight socially distanced reformers in a vintage garage space in City Works Depot. The beginner, intermediate and prenatal classes are available at drop-in rates when booked through the Mindbody app. Being outside but undercover means you can tone up rain or shine.
Playground Fitness Known for its personalised group training experiences, Playground Fitness is taking things up a notch with its Outdoor Bootcamp. Offering its favourite classes — including Sweat and Lean & Mean — in the courtyard outside its Morningside studio, the nine-person classes promise to challenge you as you connect with others again, from 2-metres apart.
Left to right: Sweat Yoga & Hot Pilates; Fitness All Together.
Sweat Yoga & Hot Pilates Focussing on fluidity in motion and fluidity of mind, Sweat is taking its yoga and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes outside to its car parking area in Newmarket. It’s recommended that you bring your own mat — but weights, bands and yoga props are available to use on-site. Again, their favourite classes are available to book on the Mindbody app, with nine spaces per class.
Basecamp Power Yoga Creating a sense of community through movement, Grey Lynn-based Basecamp Power Yoga is taking over the communal Scrap Yard parking lot. The Lot Series has a timetable of classic classes, including power yoga, yin and Aoraki flow, so you can refine your form with real-time, non-glitchy feedback.
FAT Over lockdown, FAT has lived up to its acronym (Fitness All Together) and welcomed over 500 new people to its virtual exercise classes aiming to strengthen the mind and body during these challenging times. Now, it’s taking things to the next level with in-person, socially distanced HIIT classes for up to 10 people at a time at Silo Park.
Kcore Kcore’s High Performance Pilates provides a results-based workout to give you a leaner figure, fast. Not one to let a lockdown get in their way of feeling — and sharing — the burn, the team have now set up an outdoor Kcore studio with the necessary Reformers. Classes can be found undercover in the Victoria Park Markets.
The origin of the humble hamburger is hotly contested. Was it the quite literal smash patties stored in the saddles of Genghis Khan’s horsemen, or the Wild West’s ‘Hamburger Charlie’ who would serve up one-handed beef sandwiches for cowboys in the 1880s? Despite the tenuous links to the past, one thing is for sure — the perfect burger has proliferated through popular culture, from Pulp Fiction’s iconic ‘Royale with cheese’ (it’s what they call a quarter pounder in France) to Rick and Morty’s love of a saucy burger.
Burger Geek takes its appreciation of burger society seriously. While each item on the menu takes its name from a gaming or pop culture moment, a lot goes on behind the scenes to create the sensational burgers from scratch — and it has a wide audience. Following on from its successful outpost in Eden Terrace, a new Burger Geek has opened in Grey Lynn.
The Broli Burger.
The story of Burger Geek starts with the exalted smash patty. Co-founders Peter and Pene Barton brought their take on these delicious creations to Auckland five years ago, as its popularity took off with their contemporaries. Export quality Wagyu and Angus beef is ground on-site daily, then smashed to perfection on the grill. They’re so good, all of Burger Geek’s beef burgers are served as double patties.
In keeping with its cultural references, The Swanson burger would make Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson proud, with beef, bacon, bourbon bbq sauce and onion packed in. On the other hand, the Krabby is an above-water take on the Krabby Patty from beloved burger-flipper Spongebob Squarepants, which adds a far-from-soggy combination of cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard and aioli.
The team is kept busy making Burger Geek’s own sauces and condiments, while the buns are sourced from local bakers. “We pride ourselves on the fact our food is made in-house and we use really high-quality ingredients,” says Pene.
Sidled alongside the hero burgers (which include vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options) are sides including hot wings, bacon end croquettes (with house-cured and smoked bacon), and mac n’ cheese balls (made with deep-fried three-cheese macaroni and cheese). A staple of the Burger Geek diet, fries served with rosemary salt and garlic aioli goes with all of the above.
While the hoped-for opening date of the new Grey Lynn eatery coincided with the nation’s move to a level 4 lockdown, it is now safely open for takeaways in level 3.
The Bishop Burger.
Over the five months prior to opening, the Bartons worked with hospitality-focused interior designers Millé to keep the fit-out cohesive across its two eateries. Features include brick walls, a print from pixel art collective eBoy and a 30m blue neon sign, which travels from under the outdoor signage, along the roof and down into the plant-covered courtyard. While the Grey Lynn location has more of a restaurant-style fit-out (seating 30 when it is safe to do so) Burger Geek still wants to serve up fast and casual fare, with kiosks to allow for easy self-ordering.
Gone are the days of fast food with no personality. Like our favourite TV shows we return to time and again, Burger Geek Grey Lynn is one lively burger joint we’ll want to repeat often.
Opening hours: Takeaway dinners only during level 3 Monday to Sunday: 5pm — 9pm
Inclement spring evenings (and ongoing lockdowns for some of us) call for compelling watching material. Currently, there are some brand-new shows, and much-awaited returning seasons, that are taking centre stage within the cultural zeitgeist. Make sure you’re in the loop, by streaming the best shows everyone’s talking about right now.
Squid Game Having launched on Netflix two weeks ago, Squid Game has swiftly taken the world by storm and is on track to becoming the most-watched series on the platform, ever (even trumping Bridgerton). The South Korean series is brutal and addictive, following 456 people who are miserably drowning in debt, who get the chance to compete on a ‘game show’ where they have to play nostalgic children’s games to win a huge amount of money. There’s a twist, though, which is that every single player will be killed in their hunt for the prize — except the winner. While the general premise is not exactly new (Japan’s Battle Royale walked so The Hunger Games could run, so Squid Game could… swim?) the terrific performances, excellent art direction and talent of respected filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk make this a much-watch. Watch on Netflix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRuVWHnQlV8
Scenes From a Marriage Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain give two of the best performances of their career in this intimate and devastating portrayal of a marriage falling apart at the seams. The limited series is based on famed Swedish filmmaker Ingar Bergmann’s 1973 series of the same name, and has audiences across the globe captivated as the nuances of a contemporary American couple navigating life together are laid bare. Watch on Neon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwVLObz0MGs
Clickbait A thoroughly modern thriller; Clickbait follows the Brewer family as husband and father Nick Brewer, beloved by those around him, is kidnapped. Videos of Brewer start to appear online, being held hostage, and as they go viral his family is forced to reconsider who they think he is. Full of jaw-dropping twists and turns, Clickbait explores the widening divide between real life and online personas, asking whether we truly know those closest to us. Watch on Netflix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyF-EQVs9mU
Hit & Run Intrigue, secrets and lies form a tangled web in this gripping, geopolitical espionage thriller. A man finds himself caught in a crossfire of death and deception after his wife is killed in a mysterious hit and run incident in Tel Aviv. He travels to the U.S, which is where the killers have fled, to find out who did it and why, only to start uncovering far more than he knew before about his wife and their life. Watch on Netflix.
The Morning Show — Season 2 Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are back in their respective roles as news anchors Alex and Bradley, dealing with the fallout of season one’s #MeToo-centric drama. This time, we are reintroduced to the duo on New Year’s Eve, 2019. Bradley is still on the news while Alex has left the network and is holed up in a cabin in Maine, writing her memoir. Everyone’s feeling optimistic, excited for the new year, but then someone sneezes and stories about a new, very contagious respiratory virus start to surface… Watch on Apple TV+.
Sex Education — Season 3 The beloved British dramedy is back, and we are once again immersed in the world of Otis Milburn and his fellow students at Moordale Secondary School. This time, a new headteacher has arrived (played against type by Jemima Kirke) and she’s there to salvage the school’s reputation after it has, supposedly, become a little too liberal. Just as charming as its predecessors, season 3 of Sex Education will have you giggling even as you ponder the thought-provoking issues it deftly raises. Watch on Netflix.
What We Do In The Shadows — Season 3 Based on Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s eponymous film, What We Do in the Shadows follows four dysfunctional vampiric flatmates — this time on Staten Island — in a mockumentary style. The third instalment sees their familiar realise his destiny as a Van Helsing descendant, while remaining loyal to his unabashed, undead masters. Watch on Neon.
Forget pale, boring button mushrooms in a supermarket bag — these grow-your-own fungi double as living sculptures, not to mention they are absolutely delicious. While there have been several edible pandemic hobbies that have swept the globe, from baking banana bread and sourdough to whipping coffee and stirring up feta-laden pasta, the interest in growing and harvesting mushrooms has also grown hugely over periods of lockdown.
That’s where grow-your-own mushroom kits come in, like these from local company House of Fungi. Owned by a small urban farm in Auckland, these DIY mushroom growing kits come in three varieties, including pretty pink oyster mushrooms. It’s not hard to see the appeal — for one, it’s incredibly easy. All you need to do is open a packet, mist with water and watch them grow. It’s also a beautiful and interesting process to watch evolve over time, with the oyster mushrooms’ delicate layers appearing almost otherworldly with their intricate pleats.
House of Fungi’s at-home kits produce at least two harvests of tasty mushrooms to enjoy, so we suggest researching new recipes in which to include them (mushroom pasta, anyone?). They would also make a thoughtful gift for the nature lover in your life, and a fascinating project for children to get involved in. Either way, you’ll be reaping the rewards of more than just a tasty meal when it comes time for harvest.
Motivation to exercise manifests in many forms. Perhaps it might be envisioning those post-workout endorphins, the feeling of moving your body or the delicious meal after a sweat session. If you’re living in one of New Zealand’s current, more restricted alert levels, exercise is a critical part of looking after your mental health — even if it’s just that daily neighbourhood walk (now able to happen with a friend, even better!).
Cleverly-designed activewear can make it exponentially more enjoyable to work out, not to mention it can often slightly improve your performance by proxy — for example, that convenient pocket in your leggings that fits your phone perfectly, thereby providing music to spur you on as you run.
While loud logos and bright shades have had their day in the sun, so to speak, we’re gravitating towards more a more refined and elegant look; neutral colours, streamlined silhouettes and pared-back finishes. There’s no denying we’ve all become very familiar with leisurewear this year, but now we’re looking to update our wardrobes with more functional pieces that will help us want to get moving again.
Clockwise from top left: Girlfirend shell trail shorts available from Matches, Nagnata Check-Back Racer from Muse, Anine Bing drink bottle from Superette, Nagnata Lucid Sweater from Muse, Tree runners from Allbirds, Flight Mode Leggings from Louis Vuitton, Isabel Marant Tyron Cap from Workshop, Bala weighted bangles from Superette, 365 organic cotton hoodie from Pangaia, Nuxx Technical holdall bag from Saint Laurent.
Clockwise from top left: Hooded anorak from Dior, Vaara Juno Soft Touch Bra from Workshop, Aje Athletica Embossed Classic Logo T-Shirt from Aje at Commercial Bay, Dynamic Legging from P.E Nation, Frisbee from Prada, Air Zoom Pegasus sneakers from Nike, Bondi Born Nyla top from Mode Sportif, DiorAlps Shorts from Dior.
It might not be the first thing you think of when designing your dining room, but choosing the right chairs to sit around a dining table can really make or break the space. If you opt for something too bulky, it will be all that anyone notices. A flimsy style, on the other hand, will almost certainly lead to a lot of uncomfortable shifting.
In pursuit of the perfect balance, we have found some of the best dining chairs around. With their refined, tubular legs and sculptural construction, these steel-framed chairs are not only sophisticated in a subtle, understated way but will prove practical and comfortable for any drawn-out dinners or long lunches.
The gilded works by Auckland-based artist Monique Lacey are a striking exercise in opposing notions — while their appearance is that of contorted metal and stone, they are crafted from cardboard. Here, Lacey delves into her process.
How did you get started with your practice? My background is in interior design, but I started painting abstract artworks in 2009 after a friend suggested I take a class. For me, making has always been a happy place. I then decided to do a Masters at Whitecliffe, which was where I came to sculpture through a process of experimentation. I like the idea of transforming an ordinary, humble material into something else, and so eventually I landed on cardboard boxes.
Terms Of Entanglement, 2021, cardboard, plaster, resin gold paint, 500 x 840 x 460mm.
What do you like about working with cardboard? As a sculptural material, it’s very giving. My work utilises destructive gestures in order to create, and the process can be quite cathartic at times. I’ll lean on them, sit on them or stand on them, whichever way works for that particular piece. It can be playful or aggressive — if you have a bad day, a good sucker-punch goes a long way. There is an element of control to it but the material will do what it wants to do. You can’t overthink it, because then it becomes contrived.
Where do you garner inspiration for the titles of your works? The titles of my pieces are very important to my work. My last show at Scott Lawrie Gallery [Lacey’s representative gallery in New Zealand] was called Bipartiss Solucius, and it was inspired by political ongoings when I was in the States — especially when Trump was around. They’re a little humorous as well. If you’re trying to convey a message, sometimes humour goes further than a blunt instrument.
Full of Hot Air, 2020, cardboard, resin, pigment. bronze pulver, 1200 x 900 x 400mm.
How do you decide on colours? On many levels, my practice is quite reductive, I set tight parameters around my work. As I prioritise form, I find that colour can interfere. The metallics lend a nice juxtaposition to the work; the lowbrow cardboard against the gold, which is associated with value. I like to create an element of deceit in my work — in gold, at first it appears it could be a metallic object, whereas underneath it’s just made of cardboard.
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