Autumn 2016
The Manse newsletter: our blogging pig, wine and food news, staying in shape, a delicious recipe, and more...
|
|
Staying in Shape
When staying at The Manse you can keep up with your daily routine and enjoy a yoga session before you go out and enjoy Hawke's Bay. Experienced yoga instructor Susan Kitson will provide the session on the terrace (weather permitted),with a beautiful relaxing view and the odd chicken, or inside the fitness room where other equipment is also available for guests to enjoy..
|
|
|
|
A Kiwi Experience
When family members from Gary and Dietske recently came to visit NZ for their first time, they had a wonderful time. Starting off with a tour in Auckland from TIME Unlimited Tours, they were immersed in New Zealand culture and had a wonderful time with enthusiastic tour guide Sophia. One of the highlights was an introduction to typical New Zealand food and drinks like L&P, Peanut Slab, Pineapple Lumps, Milk Bottles and Hokey Pokey Ice Cream. On their way to The Manse they stopped at Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton and Orakei Korako. The last week of their New Zealand trip they spent on the South Island with a camper van. They were very impressed with the help they received from passers-by when their camper van broke down. New Zealand is forever in their heart.
|
|
|
|
Hawke's Bay Chefs Cookbook
|
Gary was invited to share one of his delicious recipes for this inspiring book. The book showcases individual recipes, colourful photographs and bios from each chef, many of whom have garnered culinary awards over many years. They have worked overseas, and have chosen to return to Hawke's Bay, bringing with them skills, talents and dedication to their craft, adding to the rich diversity of cuisine in Hawke's Bay.
The underlying principle behind this initiative is to future fund trainees, apprentices and youth to successfully compete in National cookery competitions and help to further their careers in hospitality throughout the region, nationally and internationally. Of course Gary said YES to this wonderful initiative.
|
|
|
A Pig with a Blog: Meet Mickey
Our guests love Mickey, our Kune Kune pig. He must be the most photographed Kune Kune in New Zealand. He’s quite a character and to keep his fans up-to-date, we have set up a blog about The Manse from Mickey’s point of view. To read the latest from Mickey click hear
|
|
|
|
|
▪ Winter F.A.W.C!
F.A.W.C! is a delicious event series of "out of the box" food and wine experiences, set in stunning locations throughout Hawke's Bay, New Zealand twice a year. Winter F.A.W.C! is happening between 3 and 26 June 2016.
This year we offer a special package: Stay 2 nights at The Manse during a F.A.W.C. event and receive a The Manse goody bag with The Manse produce, a bottle of wine and complimentary limousine transport to your F.A.W.C. event. When booking online, quote “F.A.W.C.” in the comments box.
To know more about Winter F.A.W.C!, visit the website or click here
▪ Little cheese firm hauls in 12 medals!
Origin Earth is a Hawke’s Bay based and owner operated dairy company. Established in late 2010 the company has grown to produce fresh milk, pot set yoghurts and a range of cheeses. During a recent 2016 New Zealand Champion of Cheese Awards Origin Earth won a stunning 12 Awards! |
|
|
Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Association chairman Michael Henley said in a recent interview with the Hawke's Bay Today that he had no doubt there was another ‘fantastic’ vintage on the cards. "Not many regions in the world can claim three in a row”, he said. Alpha Domus winemaker Barry Riwai, said a combination of fine climate and lighter harvest quantities provided the indicators that 2015 had produced another winning vintage. We can't wait to try them!
|
|
|
Did you know we often get asked by guests about the native animals in NZ. They are very surprised that we haven’t got foxes or snakes or any of the animals you can find in Australia. What you do find in NZ is the Praying Mantis. The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. They normally eat moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects, but are mostly famous for the notorious mating behavior of the adult female, who sometimes eats her mate just after—or even during—mating. Yet this behavior seems not to deter males from reproduction.
|
|
|
Did you know Hawke's Bay as a region is producing more export apples than the whole country was five years ago.
|
|
|
Did you know there are lots of things to do at the Manse or nearby. We name but a few: Cooking lessons from Gary, Golf lessons from Gary, Fly-fishing across the road at the Ngaruroro river, Clay bird shooting from the veranda, 4-wheel driving at the Ngaruroro river, Dinner with a winemaker, Visit to a saffron plantation across the road, Visit to a brewery: there are two breweries within a 5 minutes’ drive, We have 9 wineries within a radius of 10 minutes, A yoga lesson in the fitness room or on the terrace, Hire a bike and ride past the vineyards, Follow a heritage trail, Sheep herding at a 4.000 acre working farm, Red deer hunting (not fenced) and wild pig hunting in a 40.000 acre forest. And this is just a selection.....
|
|
We had an influx of guinea fowls. Guess what will be on the menu the next season! The first nest of babies (keets) went down from 10 till 2. It was clear the mother was new at this game and didn’t quite know how to care about the keets. The next subsequent nests were more successful. The whole family joined into raising the newly bornes and we now have 30 guinea fowl. They operate as a very tight family and go on walk abouts, have communal cleaning sessions and love to lie in the sunshine.
Like turkeys, guineas are Galliformes, a group encompassing all chicken-like birds. But while chickens are members of the pheasant family, turkeys and guineas each have a family of their own. Native to Africa, they are known for traveling in large, gregarious flocks. Guinea fowl were introduced into Europe by 15th century Portuguese explorers, and then arrived in North America with the early settlers. There are seven species of guinea fowl, of which the "helmeted pearl" is by far the most common, and certainly the weirdest looking, with its oddly shaped helmet, white, featherless face, bright red wattles, and gray polka-dotted feathers.
We can't imagine life without our guinea fowl. They are an invaluable source of chemical-free pest control and a source of endless entertainment and the family bond is quite touching.
|
|
|
As you may know, at The Manse we are very keen on keeping everything as pure, fresh and organic as possible.
We’ve recently changed our bathroom amenities into organic and pure products.
They have been specially formulated for The Manse by a local organic producer in Hastings. These products contain no sulphates, glycol, alcohol, or synthetic dyes or perfumes, just the way we (and our guests) like it.
|
|
|
|
Our Favourite Summer Recipe for 2016
|
|
|
|
This was one of our favourite dishes this summer at The Manse, and proved very popular with our guests. The inspiration for this came from a recipe I saw on Master Chef Australia this season....I've added my take and truffle to the recipe and this is a must try recipe....it's absolutely sumptuous....
LIGHTLY SMOKED CHICKEN THIGH SERVED WITH SWEETCORN AND MISO,TRUFFLE COOKED MUSHROOMS AND A CHICKEN GLAZE...
|
|
|
The ingredients and method for this flavoursome recipe can be found on our website. Please click here
Wine match for this: I would serve a nicely chilled Pinot Gris or Chardonnay with this.
Eet Smakelijk, bon appetite….
Gary.
|
|
|
|
|
