For the last couple of years Old House Vineyards has been placed second in the competition with fruit grown on their vineyard in Old House Road and turned into delicious wine by winemaker Pat Stowe. Owners, Ian Bathgate and his wife Jeanne relocated from the U.K. with their two sons several years ago and bought a former Spencer Hill vineyard.

This month, folks, we are exploring the theme of dichotomy. It’s a very cool word and I don’t often get to use it in casual convo. It also rhymes with lobotomy but that’s not particularly relevant.

This month, folks, we are exploring the theme of dichotomy. It’s a very cool word and I don’t often get…

was great to be able to order click-and-collect or contactless delivery food when we were under level 3 conditions and I hope you supported your local restaurants and takeaway businesses, they worked hard to ensure we were able to enjoy their food in a safe manner.

We also know how much the hospitality sector hurts during Covid lockdowns so when Level 3 restrictions kicked in we decided to do what we would do at home, buy at least two or three click & collect meals each week from a restaurant, café or takeaway place in Christchurch to support the sector. I hope you’re doing the same in Nelson.

Harry’s Fish Shop has become one of our favourite places to buy lunch, we love the hand-crafted nature of the takeaway food, everything is cooked fresh by a couple of chefs rather than being pre-made and put into a self-service cabinet.

Carrying on with my theme of asking some of my favourite local chefs to give me a tasty yet simple recipe you can cook at home this week’s recipe is supplied by Aaron Ballantyne, Head Chef at Hopgood’s & Co.

Last year Carol Shirley from Beachside Conference and Events Centre and Gourmet Catering shared several of her favourite baking recipes on her Facebook page so I asked her if she would send me a couple of her favourites to share with you.