SOUND BITES

FOCUS ON COLD BREW

Wyld Focus Coffee with Adaptogens is an interesting blend of cold-brew Fair Trade coffee and functional lion’s mane mushrooms (for mental clarity and focus), also known as adaptogens that help the body adapt to stress and support the immune system. Fortunately, the coffee doesn’t taste like mushrooms, but fully appreciate the fact it has no sugar or dairy. $4.99 per can, drinkwyld.com

F O O D & D R I N K N E W S

Sound bites

All the ingredients for kitchen and entertaining success MAKE A MINT

Mint and dark chocolate is a winning combination so it’s great Kiwi chocolatiers Donovans After Dinner Mint Squares are available now. The soft mint fondant centre encased in 60 percent dark chocolate is a lovely after-dinner or after-lunch treat. $5.99, donovanschocolates.co.nz

GOOD READS

Around the Kitchen Table by Sophie Hansen and Annie Herron (Allen & Unwin, $45) A collab with food writer Sophie and her art-teacher mum Annie, this combines their passions for food and art making “ good things to cook, create and do – the whole year through” . It may sound a bit mismatched but there are fun recipes such as Herb Jam or Strawberry and Pecan Streusel Cake and art projects like how to execute a beach watercolour or a monochromatic collage. Postal Bakes by Lucy Barton (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) Lucy Barton has been baking treats and posting them for a while now. The baking she’s included in this book is robust enough to withstand a bit of rough-handling from the postie. Along with advice about how to package the baking up there are some delicious recipes including Fig, Ginger and Black Cherry Christmas Cake, Lemon and Rose Battenbergs and a killerlooking Kids’ Party Brownie, with lolly inserts.

Around and around

Haier’s oven with Rotisserie is a brilliant way to do a Sunday roast. The rotisserie accessory means the meat rotates slowly, helping to keep it moist. Then, use the meat probe to check the temperature so you know when it’s cooked to perfection. The oven also has 10 functions, including the Pastry Plus option to get your pastry perfectly brown, both top and bottom. $1649, haier.co.nz

COOL FRIDGE CHIC

Fancy a fridge in a different colour – or even multiple colours? With Samsung’s Bespoke French Door Refrigerator, you can. With interchangeable panels in a Glam Gloss finishing including white, pink and navy and a Cotta Metal finish in charcoal and white, you can make the fridge the star of your kitchen – or match your colour scheme perfectly to your fridge. Who’d have thought keeping your milk cold could be so stylish? $6899, samsung.com