EAT DRINK & BE MERRY

The Beautiful Little Garden

Eat and dine where you couldn’t get any more local.

It’s an indication of the loyalty of the close knit community of patrons of Little Garden that when covid lockdown happened they were more concerned about the well-being of its owner Chris, and manager Leyla, than about the lack of their regular morning coffee.

Now as we wallow in our post-covid economy, the cafe is back refreshed, up and running, and enjoying its well-earned reputation as “the little cafe that could”.

Set just around the corner from the hustle and bustle of Ponsonby Road, the now licensed cafe at the top of Franklin Road, has morphed from Agnes Curran nearly 20 years ago, later to Fred's, and now to Little Garden. This name reflects the renaissance from a previously functional courtyard to one full of flowers, plants and embellishments matching the sunny and welcoming disposition of the cafe's Iranian manager, Leyla.

Ownership of this intimate cafe has always attracted exotic personalities and its current management is no exception. Since taking over the business just “pre-covid”, the owner Chris, has madeover the interior, adding a fire and bringing back the large centre table supplementing the other smaller ones spread around the room where the effervescent Persian, Leyla, holds court. Popular with the morning commuters who call in for their first coffee of the day, then followed by daytime punters sitting at the large picture window overlooking “the strip” through to the late afternoon locals who call in for a tipple in the garden courtyard or to chillax in front of the fire in the main room, this cafe has all of its bases ticked.

Where Agnes Curran’s famous signature dish was lamingtons, amongst the highlight dishes of Little Garden, is the mountainous lemon meringue pie with its bright yellow tartness peeking out from a snowy mountain of white meringue, along with enormous fluffy cheese scones and oversized sausage rolls. Accompanying the ever popular and sultry Atlas coffee bean, there is plenty of choice from the select menu either to banish the coldest of winter blues or to accompany that relaxing glass of chardonnay before the walk back home.  PN

LITTLE GARDEN, 179 Ponsonby Road, www.facebook.com/littlegardencn

Our new friends at The Brewers Room will have you spoilt for choice with their carefully curated range of craft beers…24 on tap to be exact.

In the spirit of supporting local business, their beers largely originate in New Zealand from the tip of the north to the bottom of the south. When you come to Ponsonby Central, you come for the experience and nothing could be truer of The Brewers Room. They have the perfect food to compliment your tipple of choice with a range of house-smoked meats and seafood a-plenty; including the signature newsprint wrapped fish and chips.

What’s on at

Ponsonby Central Car Park

She’s almost ready! The highly anticipated underground car park for Ponsonby Central will be ready for unveiling in September. The lid is on and we are bounding towards the finish line.

Light Up Ponsonby 5 – 9 Aug

We are a proud supporter of Light Up Ponsonby in August. Visit us to see our lighting display as well as activations and lots of food specials for the market day on August the 8th.

Vintage Fashion Market – 30th Aug

This year we are standing behind sustainable fashion choices with our August market. From the creators of Junk & Disorderly, their vintage fashion market will be held in the Sapphire Room on Sunday 30th August. If you’re a vintage clothing lover, this is a day not to be missed.

454 GREAT NORTH RD GREY LYNN

STAY IN STYLE WITHOUT TAKING A VOW OF POVERTY.

So Much to Enjoy

There’s a lot to enjoy at The Hunting Lodge. This contemporary winery stretches across a beautiful 80-acre property just a 35 minute drive down SH16 from Auckland City.

Their family (and dog) friendly Lawn Bar is an idyllic spot to kick your feet up and sample through The Hunting Lodge’s award-winning wine, or Liberty Brewing beer. Here, you will find sharing style platters, woodfired pizzas and more delightful casual dining options.

If you’re looking for something a little more, head across the lawn to the restaurant. Des Harris and his team will have you feeling at home in no

time in this cosy refurbished 19th century villa. With a range of different carefully curated set menu options at an affordable price, you’ll find yourself booking your next visit soon after leaving.

It’s worth casting your eyes over ‘The Barn’ before your departure – a rustic blank canvas space for the perfect function or wedding. The comfortable yet chic barn can also be requested by larger dining groups looking for a private space for those undisturbed over-due catch ups.

Back your backyard and plan your trip to The Hunting Lodge today. It’s the perfect destination to escape the city.

P.S. Keep an eye out for their glamping tent packages to come.

What’s On? Reds & Roast Lunch – A celebration of The Hunting Lodge’s largest ever range of red wines (The Barn). Bus available to and from Auckland CBD before and after event.

$40 Three Course Set Menu (The Restaurant)

Fathers Day around the Firepit (The Barn). Tickets go on sale 10 August.

Legend has it that IPA was the answer to the problem of providing beer for the British Troops in the East. The voyage to India could be tough on perishable beers.

In the 1780’s a London brewer sent a heavily hopped beer called October Ale to India. The long journey transformed the beer into a wonderful drink and gained the name Indian Pale Ale (IPA).

Craft beers second biggest growth period was during the 2000’s with IPA’s as the most popular craft beer style in 2011: the beer that was invented in Britain for the Indian market, revived by Americans, and by brewers worldwide, including brewers here in New Zealand.

India Pale Ale (IPA)- Modern IPAs have a strong, hoppy and bitter taste and contain higher levels of hops, which give this style of beer more of a citrus and floral flavour profile. These characteristics make IPAs incredibly refreshing.

Ales - A pint of ale has been around since medieval times and is regarded as a major source of nutrition and hydration. Ales are brewed by fermentation for shorter periods of time and produce a fruity flavour and scent profile.

Hazy Beer - This ale is hazy because it is not filtered like other beers and is infused with twice the hops later in the brewing process, which adds to the haze and fruity aroma.

Amber Ale - Amber ales is a label describing most create distinct flavour tones.

beers that were neither pale ales or dark beers. Amber ale adapted into a unique style of its own with a pronounced caramel toffee flavour caused by adding additional malts to the mix.

Brown Ales - Modern day brown ales are all temperature tank for longer periods of time with

about the rich, nutty, caramel flavours created by adding a variety of darker specialty malts.

Porters & Stouts - Porters and stouts have been a proud British beer staple dating back as far as 1677. Favoured for its seductively creamy 25% discount voucher on a Brewers Room Tasting

head, they carry the perfect balance between bitterness and sweet hints of coffee on the nose and palate.

Wheat Ales - Beer can also be brewed by substituting barley with wheat, which was a as the origins of beer itself. The higher protein content of wheat beer gives this ale style a light and cloudy appearance. Sour Beer - Sour beers are brewed to hold a tart, sour or mildly acidic taste. This sour characteristic comes from wild yeasts and bacteria during barrel storage. Fruit is added during the aging process to

Lagers - This style of beer is brewed using a similar process as with ale but using a chilled a specialty lager yeast, believed to have originated around the 15th century.

Our selection of 24 craft beers are waiting for you at The Brewers Room in Ponsonby Central. To welcome you on this journey of discovery, we have a common brewing technique dating as far back

Box with 8 tasting glasses of craft beer. Our brew crew will guide you through this tasting experience.

Like and follow us on our Instagram and Facebook for latest updates and events and for our upcoming Quiz Nights.  PN

THE BREWERS ROOM, Ponsonby Central, T: 09 302 0937, www.thebrewersroom.co.nz

As I write, our white magnolia tree is in full hearty bloom and my wife has a bunch of miniature daffodils sitting on the coffee table – wafting sweet fragrant promises of longer days and warmer temperatures.

Disclaimer: I was an August baby. A tail-end boomer hatched in 1956 in the heart of the Manawatu in Palmerston North. Don’t judge me. But I do admit that John Cleese once described good ol’ Palmy as a Twin City with Chernobyl. So, anyway spring has always been a significant time of year for me, particularly the month of August, where coincidentally I share the birthday month with my dog, my wife, my step-daughter, and my late mother.

Anyway, here are some great wines for imbibing as the days lengthen and mornings become more bearable.

Chateau Marsyas Blanc (Chardonnay/Sauvignon) Bekaa Valley Lebanon 2013 - $44 An intriguing wine from a very ancient wine-producing region. TBH it’s a bit of a chameleon. Aromas of wine gums, with a tad of Turkish delight and passionfruit. In the mouth, assertive resin-like tannins kick in straight away but then fade to open up with canned peach, clover honey and a hint of vanilla, then go back to the start with an astringent, dry finish. What a journey. Great with raw oysters, or Hapuka. Available: Dhall & Nash Wines.

Invivo X SJP Sud de France Rosé - $20 Sourced from a family estate winery in Provence, France, this is another of Invivo’s ‘celeb’ labels; the first being the GN – Graham Norton sauv blanc. This time, the wine is endorsed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Not Sav And The City – but this time a rosé. To be honest, I was a tad cynical about the branding, but this is truly a fabulous rosé style. It’s fragrant and fruit-led with strawberry, raspberry and cranberry flavours. a hint of toffee apple and just a nudge of sweetness. Lovely match for lightly spicy Asian foods. Available: Invivo wines

Fox Le Petit Chardonnay - $27.99 A light and elegant chardonnay that reminds me of summer with aromas of toasty oak and citrus. Easy drinking aperitif style. Palate of rock melon, grapefruit and butterscotch, with a lovely toasty yeasty long finish - fabbo as an aperitif white wine or with seafood. Available Foxes Island Wines, Williamson Avenue., Farro, and Herne Bay Cellars.

Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2016 - $100 An Epic North Canterbury pinot noir. Pegasus Bay nails it again with this superb wine. Smells like spice drawer, poached plum and vanilla with a tad of pot pourri. Silky and generous with flavours of dark chocolate, cherry, poached plums and a hint of Glühwein. Great with duck, mushroom dishes and Beef Wellington. Available: Vino Fino, Fine Wine Delivery Co., Caros, Pegasus Bay wines.

Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley ‘Maestro’ Merlot/Cab/Malbec 2016 - $52 And another stunner from Pegasus Bay. A blend of 60% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 10% malbec - from vines that are over 30 years old. Aromas of fruit cake, black berry fruits and spice. On the palate – mocha, toasty vanilla with black currant and plum pudding. Medium tannins with a lengthy finish. Definitely a keeper that will reward cellaring for another 5 years at least. Food match – hearty beef or tomato based dishes with lots of garlic and spice. Available: Vino Fino, Pegasus Bay wines. (PHIL PARKER)  PN

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