Some of our favourite recipes...
Chicken XO spring rolls. Truffle infused mash
Succulent chicken thigh meat combined with the chilli and umami punch of XO sauce in a crispy golden wrapper makes these chicken XO spring rolls something you will fall in love with. And the truffle mash provides a wonderfully creamy counterpoint. …
Asian flatbread
It resembles a pizza, but I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to call it one. This flatbread is topped with flavours from North-East Asia. The natto, kimchi, and yuzu kosho bring complex fermented notes to complement the classic tomato and cheese. …
Mushroom and spinach dumplings in a málà broth
Dumplings are a great way to package flavours and differentiate them from their surroundings. Here, umami packed mushroom and spinach dumplings sit in a spicy, lip numbing, yet very tasty broth. …
Pork tenderloin with passionfruit and mango salsa. Blackberry balsamic reduction
The tenderness and succulence of pork tenderloin cooked sous vide style is awesome. Paired with a mango-passion fruit salsa and blackberry balsamic reduction, this dish was truly delectable. …
Pork tenderloin with passionfruit and mango salsa. Blackberry balsamic reductionRead More
Duck, roast pumpkin and bean tortilla wrap. XO sauce.
Drawing on some technique from Mexico and some flavours from Hong Kong, these duck tortilla wraps are as bold as they are complex. …
Duck, roast pumpkin and bean tortilla wrap. XO sauce.Read More
Soba salad with natto, kimchi, okra, and poached egg
A salad to surprise and challenge your guests. As healthy as it is tasty, you will feel good after eating this soba salad. …
Soba salad with natto, kimchi, okra, and poached eggRead More
Udon noodles in a mushroom curry broth
Udon noodles in a curry broth is a typical combination at udon noodle bars. This recipe gives that tasty broth a whole lot more character with the addition of both fresh and dried mushrooms. …
Stromboli with red peppers, pancetta, chorizo, and camembert
If you enjoy pizza, especially making your own, then do yourself a favour and try this red pepper stromboli. Essentially thin crust pizza dough rolled up with some select ingredients and baked. …
Stromboli with red peppers, pancetta, chorizo, and camembertRead More
Crispy smashed potatoes. Mushrooms, pancetta, and wilted spinach. Poached egg.
Weekend brunches with family or friends feature heavily in “moments that matter”. A great culinary experience, such as with this crispy smashed potato recipe, really enhances those moments. As does a good coffee, a Champagne, or a Pinot Noir. …
Crispy smashed potatoes. Mushrooms, pancetta, and wilted spinach. Poached egg.Read More
Corn soup with a paprika drizzle
Based on a French influenced Japanese dish called corn potage (コーンポタージュ), this soup is rich, creamy, and naturally sweet, with a good amount of spice coming from the paprika drizzle. …
Grilled eggplant, spinach, and quail eggs on soba noodles
The luxurious, velvety texture of the grilled eggplant, spinach, and soft boiled quail eggs are a worthy accompaniment for the classic soba noodles and tsuyu broth. …
Grilled eggplant, spinach, and quail eggs on soba noodlesRead More
Corn and green onion waffles with three dips
Succulent sweet corn and umami packed green onions are encased here in crisp waffles. While delicious on their own, the three dips add their own very distinctive dimensions. …
“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”
A selection of our past favorites...
Seared scallops on caramelised fennel. Black garlic drizzle.
Caramelised onions are great. Caramelised fennel is even better – the anise flavour coming through amongst that delicious sweetness. A black garlic and balsamic sauce tops the scallop, bringing some balancing sour and umami notes to that sweetness. …
Seared scallops on caramelised fennel. Black garlic drizzle.Read More
Seared scallops with roasted garlic sauce on mash spiked with black pudding
An appetiser’s purpose… stimulate your appetite and leave you wanting more. The rich and complex flavours in this dish certainly had people hungry for more. Seared scallops are great any time any where. The black pudding spiked mash – delectable! And the roasted garlic sauce – more please! …
Seared scallops with roasted garlic sauce on mash spiked with black puddingRead More
Lamb, marinated and grilled, on a roasted eggplant and garlic puree.
If an animal is going to be sacrificed for our enjoyment, we really need to prepare it in a way honors that life. The marinade, method, and roasted eggplant puree really do accentuate the wonderful and unique qualities of the marinated lamb. …
Lamb, marinated and grilled, on a roasted eggplant and garlic puree.Read More
Juicy chicken breast on a carrot salad and white bean puree
On a purée of white beans, yogurt, and roast garlic sits a sweet and sour salad of carrots, raisins, and walnuts, and some very succulent slices of chicken breast. Drizzled on top of the chicken is a balsamic honey reduction. …
Juicy chicken breast on a carrot salad and white bean pureeRead More
Black quinoa and pesto with roasted vegetables
Earthy colors and flavours dominate this dish. The black quinoa and basil pesto form a mossy earth base for the autumn colored roast vegetables, sautéed mushrooms, and pine nuts. …
Balsamic glazed octopus on a black garlic and anchovy puree
I have eaten octopus at Japanese restaurants – pondered those big tentacles at the fish market – eaten Vietnamese style stir fried baby octopus many times – marvelled at the giant squid at the Te Papa museum in Wellington, New Zealand. This glazed octopus is the synthesis of those experiences. …
Balsamic glazed octopus on a black garlic and anchovy pureeRead More
Scallops on a kimchi fritter with sesame mayo
Synchronicity. The three components of this dish, scallops, kimchi fritter, and sesame mayo, complemented each other so well. The combination was so delicious, my guests wanted seconds. I had to remind them it was just the appetizer. …
Grilled pork belly skewers on mashed potato salad
These sweet and succulent grilled pork belly skewers sit on a mashed potato salad enhanced with umami packed katsuobushi (bonito flakes), roasted garlic, and spring onions. …
Confit egg yolk on soba noodles with XO sauce
An appetiser should excite the palate. And this confit egg yolk on soba noodles with XO sauce does just that. Umami packed, sumptuous yolk, and an edge from the chilli. Delectable. …
Tempura mussels and octopus on pickled daikon. Soy mustard drizzle. Sea grapes.
Plump and juicy New Zealand mussels in a light crispy tempura batter, on a bed of crisp white radish (crisp in both taste and texture). The sea grapes reinforce the seafood theme and add their own “bubblewrap” effect. …
Tempura mussels and octopus on pickled daikon. Soy mustard drizzle. Sea grapes.Read More
Scallops wrapped in pancetta on a mushroom risotto
Salty sweet pancetta wrapped scallops are so delicious on their own, but when combined with the umami packed mushroom risotto, this dish exceeded all expectations. …
Chilli oil
This chilli oil – vegetable oil infused with spices, chilli flakes, and Sichuan pepper, is a truly wonderful condiment. It enhances everything from soups, to dumplings, to pizza. …
Paua Fritters
Paua is a shellfish that is found in New Zealand. It is a member of the abalone family. Unlike species of abalone found elsewhere, the surface of the paua is black, and it generally has a stronger taste. Like abalone, if not cooked correctly, it can be very tough. This traditional…
Mussels grilled with roast garlic and butter
The mussels are grilled with roast garlic and a little butter. Roasted garlic has a subtle sweet taste that complements the mussels rather than overpowers them. To balance the sweetness, the balsamic vinegar adds a little acidity. …
Black bean, black rice, and black garlic tortillas
This dish invokes some mystery for me. Black beans, black rice, and black garlic provide a dark backdrop to colour and light of the red peppers and fresh mozzarella. …
Recipes by Style
Something vegetarian? Something with an Asian influence? Find a recipe from the selections below.
Still working on making it worthwhile for you to leave your email address…
If you do, we promise not to send you any lame/unhelpful content, but if you disagree it’s simple and painless to unsubscribe.
