The executive chef of dine by Peter Gordon at SkyCity answers your cuisine questions.

Asparagus is making a welcome return to the shelves as the season gets under way.

Kelly Young uses fruit flavours in a tasty main dish and favourite dessert.

The executive chef of dine by Peter Gordon at SkyCity answers your cuisine questions.

Fresh seasonal produce makes for some lovely looking - and tasting - dishes.

These oily pears have steadily grown in popularity. By Grant Allen.

Although I like the theory of chilled soups, in practice they can be a bit effete - except gazpacho. It's almost a liquid salad - totally refreshing. With apologies to Andalusia, I've added some avocado to this traditional dish.

Avocados are superb salsa ingredients. Their creamy green character and smooth texture is enhanced with colour and taste when combined with stronger flavours.

Try these three salads as mini-entrees, expand one into a side dish, or build them up with a few more ingredients to make a summer main course.

It's a method of cooking favoured by some Asian countries and is a wonderful way to keep healthy while enjoying fabulous flavour.

You know that spring is truly here when asparagus appears.

Asparagus can also be barbecued. Prior to firing up your grill, cook some scrubbed new season potatoes (skin on) and cut into chunks.