A special event in Hawke’s Bay with celebrated chef Danielle Alvarez
For two days from October 13, top chef Danielle Alvarez is hosting a culinary event to remember at luxury lodge The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in the Te Awanga countryside. The esteemed Sydney-based chef was formerly head chef at Merivale restaurant Fred’s – and is now the new culinary director at Sydney’s most iconic venue, the Sydney Opera House. Having taken a sabbatical between roles, she wrote her cookbook Recipes for a Lifetime of Beautiful Cooking – and this event is in celebration of the upcoming November release. Book in to stay the weekend at Cape Kidnappers and you’ll be treated to a cocktail hour meet-and-greet with Alvarez, a one-hour demonstration and talk, a five-course tasting menu of some of Alvarez’s favourite dishes and much more. At around $2000 per person for two nights’ accommodation and the weekend’s activities, it’s a splurge – but an up-close culinary experience you’d never forget. October 13-15, 2023. More details here.

Pals reveals the flavour inside its new “the beige one” can
New Zealand RTD company Pals is known for its cheery pastel-toned cans – but the latest release will complement any neutral lover's party outfit. The company originally released a fake ad for “the beige one” on April 1, saying it had run out of colours – but got such an enthusiastic response that they decided to launch it for real. The new flavour has been revealed as a summery mix of vodka, pink guava, lime and soda – and is made without artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives. drinkpals.co.nz

Ten dollar Negronis and $2 oysters every Sunday this month at Rooftop at QT
It was officially Negroni Week (a Campari-led promotion) between September 18 and 24, but Rooftop at QT is keeping the party going until nearly the end of this month. Every Sunday until October 29, the sixth-storey bar is holding Sunday Club presented by Campari. Head up for great views and Negroni specials (we’re talking $10 a pop), $2 oysters and a bespoke menu created to complement the iconic cocktail – all soundtracked by DJ sets between 4pm and 8pm. More details here.

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Williams Eatery releases own-brand instant coffee
If you want to take a taste of Williams home with you, the Auckland cafe has recently launched its own brand of instant coffee in collaboration with local coffee manufacturing specialists New Ground. Covered in sunny yellow packaging and containing five cups’ worth, the instant coffee boxes are available to purchase at the Wynyard Quarter venue and would make a great gift – for yourself or someone else. G03/85 Daldy St, Auckland. williamseatery.co.nz

Masterchef NZ winner Sam Low releases debut recipe book
Released this week, Modern Chinese is Sam Low’s first cookbook. It contains over 70 recipes inspired by the nostalgic, traditional classics that the 2022 Masterchef NZ winner ate while growing up in a diasporic Chinese household. Low's included everything from sauces to snacks, rice and noodle-based dishes, dumplings, and ways to cook vegetables, seafood and meat. There are also desserts, and Low has outlined a detailed guide to how to build your Chinese ingredient pantry so you can easily reach for what you need. Read more about the new release, and find a recipe for fragrant, spicy steamed salmon in chilli bean sauce here.

Food and moves with Dine & Dance at Satya Chai Lounge, Auckland
From this Saturday, K' Road's Satya Chai Lounge will host a variety of chef and DJ residencies, combining food and music for a multi-sensory dining experience. The four events will be taking place on October 7, 14, 21 and 28, and will encompass a ramen and Japanese pop, jazz and disco night; a Singaporean chicken and rice night with a side of funk – and more. Find the line-up details and purchase tickets from undertheradar.co.nz

An in-demand patisserie pop-up, Wellington
Experienced pastry chef Maxine Schekter has several esteemed venues on her CV including Logan Brown in Wellington, Gateaux Thoumieux in Paris and London’s The Fat Duck and Sketch. She’s created Sugar Flour, which offers in-depth patisserie classes from a professional kitchen in Newlands. Schekter is holding a collaborative event with Ruth Guthrie of Golden Bay-based pop-up patisserie Fix on Friday, this Saturday at the kitchen on Stewart Drive – and they’ve planned to make about 1000 pastries for the day. Head along from 10am for treats such as brown butter cookies with Valrhona chocolate, and pistachio yuzu gateaux. To make the day even sweeter, each baker has made a special cookie – with 100 per cent of the profits from these to go to Women’s Refuge. Saturday, October 7. From 10am-12pm or sold out. 7A Stewart Drive, Newlands.