Back & busy in Auckland

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It's so wonderful to be back in New Zealand – land of blue skies, unimpressed people (I mean that in the kindest way) and fantastic primary produce. Foodies and writers love getting together at signings, festivals and events because otherwise we would never see each other. Writers spend their whole day on their own in a room. I was doing a signing at the great Women's Bookshop in Ponsonby and re-met Karen Holdom who has written a great book called The End and the Beginning about a boy's second world war experience. It's riveting and beautifully written. If we didn't have people like Carol of The Women's Bookshop and all the other passionate NZ bookshop owners supporting us, God knows what would become of us – we'd be drinking ourselves into oblivion. 

India tour – 7 to16 March 2027
 

India is just one of my most favourite places in the world... even after more than 25 vists it still takes my breath away. That said – it can be challenging, which makes it the PERFECT destination for a small group tour. Everything is done for you....all you need to do is get yourself to Delhi Airport and we'll take it from there. My wonderful manager Diggi has the patience of a saint and has been managing my tours since 2008. We start in yellow Delhi, move on to blue Jodhpur and finish in pink Jaipur. We visit shops where you can buy these gorgeous fabrics and clothes covered in flowers, birds and delicate curves. We also do block-printing and tie-dyeing workshops, eat in top restaurants, hug elephants, delve into jewellery and wander around the dessert in jeeps looking for rugs. Once you have experienced Indian hospitality, your life is changed forever. So – if India's on your bucket list why not take the leap into this luxurious tour.
India fashion and textile tour 7 – 16 March 2027  – full details HERE 

Basque Country tour – 26 June to 2 July 2027

The Basque tour is half in the chic seaside city of San Sebastin in Spain and half in the beautiful fishing village of St-Jean-de-Luz in France and is 100% distinguished by its incredibly sophisticated cuisine. San Sebastian has the most starred restaurants in Europe. And the wine! Txakoli is the slightly sparkling dry white wine from the mountains on the Spanish side which happens to go very well with the addictive pintxos (Basque tapas). On the French side, the rich red Irouléguy matches perfectly with the spit roasted lamb we eat in a cave in the mountains. Did I tell you my tours are exciting? We visit the Guggenheim museum, have a wild fish cooking class, buy lots of espadrilles and find out how the best anchovies in the world are produced. The last night bash is in a starred restaurant with singing, dancing and dressing up 
 Basque Country gastronomic tour 26 June – 2 July 2027 – full details HERE

Book News

Recipes From The Supper Club has hit the shelves and I'm doing a few launches in Auckland. All free, all welcome – come one, come all.

  • Sunday 25 October 5.30pm - Soho Wines Waiheke Island. More details HERE

  • Friday 30 October 4.00pm - Farro Newmarket, 480 Broadway. More details HERE

  • Thursday 12 November 6.15pm - St Heliers Library

The Supper Club

My Supper Club in central Auckland, held most summer Wednesdays and Saturdays, is a situation where guests access their sartorial zone, grab a box of chocolates, a bunch of flowers or herbs from the garden and rock up to my apartment. I cook what I feel like cooking with an eye to what's in season – asparagus in summer, lamb in spring, brussel sprouts in winter. We network, tell stories and eat sun-drenched food on my floating terrace. We all, whether we have come on our own or with friends, enjoy the slow, sensual ritual of togetherness. To find out more or book go HERE. 

Here's my top tip – eat more olive oil, it makes you young and beautiful and you will get to heaven in good shape. Fry with it, drizzle with it, poach with it, make cakes with it, rub it on your body. In the South of France, Jeanne Calment who lived to 122, said 'because I have eaten olive oil and rubbed it into my body every day of my life, I have only one wrinkle and I'm sitting on it'. Enjoy the spring flowers, trees, birds, lambs and vegetables.

Peta