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The next time you get a whiff of spring in the air, why not gather together a few friends and head out to Bracu and try their special Lady Lunches Alot Luncheon. Set amongst 30,000 olive trees on the Simunovich Olive Estate in the Bombays, Bracu provides a relaxed and elegant setting. The Lady Lunches Alot Luncheon is a set three-course menu that costs $44 per person and includes a glass of Deutz Rose, or there is the a la carte menu created by leading chef Peter Thornley to choose from. Bracu also hold regular special events such as cooking classes and wine club gatherings. 49 Main Road, Bombay. Phone: (09) 236 1030 or go to www.bracu.co.nz
Fiji Fundraiser
Do your bit to help the children of Fiji and join some of New Zealand's leading sports people at the Accor Race to Survive to Cure Kids charity dinner on Tuesday 2 September. Phil Kingsley Jones will MC while the likes of Monty Betham, Ruben Wiki, Shane Cameron and Lisa Tamati will be there to help with the auction. Tickets $135 per person. Phone: (09) 523 4736
Fire and Ice
Join Trelise Cooper, Petra Bagust, Geeling Ng and the city's most fabulous at the annual Fire and Ice Gala Dinner on September 4. The event, to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Trust, is going all out this year and will be set in a Big Top tent with circus performers. Plus there will be an auction for prizes which include original Crowded House lyrics, front row tickets to Karen Walker's New York Fashion Week Show, a guitar autographed by Paul McCartney and an artwork by Cristina Popvici. Tickets $250 per person. Phone: 0800 227 828 or go to www.curebreastcancer.org.nz
Hats Off to That
Another fashion and food charity combo taking place this week is The Hilton Tea Dance which will see an auction of hats and fascinators created by the likes of milliners Kevin Berhan, Dollie Vardin and Urban Turbans. The aim is to raise money for Variety - The Children's Charity and along with Champagne Mumm and a high tea there will be the chance to dance and watch Nerida Jantti and Monty Betham show off their Dancing With The Stars moves. Saturday 30 August. Tickets $65 per person. Phone: (09) 520 4111 or go to www.iticket.co.nz
Hit The Road
For those thinking of embarking on their own big wine adventure, The Mad Keen Wine Buff's Road Trip (Random, $34.99) is a helpful companion. This new guide penned by wine tour expert Phil Parker, takes you through the country's main wine regions, with brief profiles of the wineries, highlighting notable wines as well as places to stay and refuel on fine local fare on your travels. There are also some useful suggestions for several weekend itineraries in each region that take in a selection of cellar doors. Animal-loving wine appreciators should also lap up the inclusion of some of the vineyards' resident dogs and cats.
Gluten Free
If you suffer from coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, and apparently that's one in every 100 New Zealanders, look out for the new Freefrom range of savoury and sweet biscuits, pizza dough and muffin and cake mixes. Freeform is available at Woolworths, Foodtown and Countdown stores. Also new on the shelves are the new gluten-free Gummi Bears, which are also free of sugar and artificial colours. Good for kids of all ages.
Wine Lessons
For three days, September 2-4 , the place to be if you have an earnest interest in wine is The University of Auckland's Epsom campus for some seriously thought-provoking lectures. The talks focus on wine production and include: Terroir: A Master Narrative of Winescapes; Following the Grape from Land Investment to Hangover; and Making Wine Regions in New Zealand: Assembling Narratives of Place. 12 noon-1.30pm. $40.50. Phone: (09) 373 7599 ext 87831
