Right now, the Our Kitchen team are scattered in various directions – feet up, drink in hand, soaking up the sun, our minds wandering a long way from product development (we hope!). Other than Kate, who managed to turn us all green with envy with her family holiday to Thailand, we are all holidaying in New Zealand this year, enjoying all the spoils of a kiwi summer.

It must seem a little peculiar to our Northern Hemisphere readers that just as we pack away the Christmas decorations for another year and enjoy a break from work with family and friends we are also fully into the heat of summer, basking in the sun by the beach, at the batch or beside the lake. I am secretly a little envious of a festive season blessed with thick woolens to layer over swollen tummies

Yum Cha is always a feast for the senses; a perfect way to be adventurous.  The concept of eating lots of little dishes, tasting a variety of flavours and textures definitely appeals.  And as the trolleys are whipped past you one after another there is no time to agonise over the decision – just grab one of everything and give them a try!

In every culture food is the way to nurture and nourish one’s family, celebrate and commiserate, welcome new friends and farewell others; it is through food we can express love and share sorrow.  A universal language that requires no translation, people eat – it’s how we come together!

Last year I took a Christmas time-out.  I am not ashamed to admit that I sulked, plotted and stayed at home in Dunedin rather than making the journey up to Christchurch to visit both of our families.  I was just so looking forward to having a selfishly solitary Christmas.