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Fans of the inner-city cafe Ima's will be delighted to know that it has re-opened at 57 Fort Street under the new name of Ima and Ibn (which means mother in Hebrew and son in Arabic). The cafe, previously on Shortland Street, has always been a stylish domain which attracts the city suits and creatives with its yummy Middle Eastern inspired fare. Ima and Ibn is currently open for breakfast and lunch from Monday to Saturday, with plans to start dinners shortly. Ph: 300 7252.
Dobar Tek!
Croatian chef Predag Jankovic will be taking over the kitchens at the Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana for the next two Saturdays (August 23 & 30) to create a special buffet based on the foods of his homeland. Drawing on the traditions of Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia along with influences from Hungary, Italy, Greece, Germany and the Middle East, you can bet it will be a taste sensation and loads of fun with live music by international guitarist Grete Fischer. Tickets are $65 per person. Phone: (09) 422 9601 to book.
Sweet Vanilla
Finding good quality vanilla for cooking can be difficult, but here at Viva we love the Heilala Vanilla range - particularly the new paste which is a combination of vanilla seeds and vanilla extract. It's easy to use in baking, mix it through cream or creme fraiche for a dessert topping or use it to make home-made icecream. Yummy.
Heilala actually started out as an aid project to assist a village to build a plantation in the Vava'u Islands in Tonga. The vanilla is grown in organic soil on coconut husk frames. Paste $20 from Farro Fresh. Phone: 570 7071.
Daily Tapas
Here at Viva we love Bellota - Peter Gordon's groovy Spanish tapas and wine bar beside SkyCity in Federal St. It's the perfect place to meet friends for a drink before or after a show in town or, because the tapas are so good, you can make a meal of it. The great news is that Bellota has just announced it will now be open seven days a week. So why not spend a wet Sunday afternoon working your way through the Spanish riojas and trying the new seasonal additions to the menu Peter updated on his recent return home from London?
Turning Japanese
Keeping with the trend for international flavours, head to the Freemans Bay Community Hall, 52 Hepburn St, this Saturday (August 23) for Taste of Japan: Japan on Stage. This free event runs from 10am-4pm and is a festival of food, drink performing arts and music.
A Good Dram
Lovers of whisky will be delighted to know that for a mere $375 they will be able able to pick up a bottle of the new Chivas Regal 25-Year-Old blend created by master blender Colin Scott from Scotland who has been in New Zealand to promote the release. The blend harks back to the first ever export of Chivas Regal blend, which was shipped from Aberdeen to New York in 1909. Chivas Regal 25-Year-Old is available in individually numbered bottles from New Zealand DFS stores.
Win with Nigella
UK celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, current face of the Twinings tea advertisements, has created a fantastic book for those of us who live life on the run. Called Good Food Fast it is full of mouth-watering ideas for great meals after a day at the office or when time is short. The good news is we have five copies of this book, worth $80, to give away, along with two packets each of Twinings Earl Grey, Lady Grey and English Breakfast. To enter, write your name, address and phone number on an envelope and send it to Twinings & Nigella Competition, Viva, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close August 27, winners announced September 3.
