For a party at home or before a night out you need some suitable sustenance to help the mood along.

Intriguing new research into the effect of music on our palates may have us re-thinking our dinner party tunes.

1. Wine: Splashes of colour, a multitude of interpretations (2 comments)

Makes 6 2 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus extra to fry the burgers 2 cloves garlic, minced 1…

Serves 8 1kg medium sized prawns, peeled and cleaned but with the tails intact 3 tsp fresh green chilli, finely chopped 1…

Makes 24 small to serve with drinks or 12 larger Dough 2 tsp active dry yeast 250ml lukewarm water 2…

The latest London venture of New Zealand-born restaurateur Margot Henderson features a healthy dose of Kiwi flavour.

1. Kiwi chefs put NZ on menu

If you think skipping your morning tea and toast will help you shed a few pounds, you could be mistaken. Researchers claim…

1. Are Kiwis too busy for breakfast?

This is a big weekend for many people with roots in India. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is actually not until November…

1. My Auckland: One Tree Hill

Makes 32 200g unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 Tbsp golden syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup plain…

1. Indulging cookie monsters (+recipes)

Katherine Butler is sick of restaurant concepts. Why can't we just eat, drink and talk?

1. Shelley Bridgeman: Does alfresco dining leave you cold? (27 comments)

Short and sweet The gambolling lambs are making their…

1. The best spring flavours (+recipes)

Asparagus is springing up in the shops, heralding…

1. Recipe: Crumbed asparagus with coriander salsa

Serves 4 300g asparagus, trimmed 1/4 cup plain flour 2…

Makes 12 1 cup ground almonds 1/2 cup plain flour…

1. Recipe: Passionfruit and coconut icecream cake