The Foehn winds across the alps have been steadily drifting through this November which is always a fair indicator we are in for a nice hot summer. The farm is looking stunning, as it always does with the terrific spring growth we experience in November. Our Daffodils and Tulips are finally making way for the roses and other summer flowers to come out. Our swimming pool has just been turned up for the summer and the kayaks and mountain bikes dusted off and tuned up for the longer warm days. The Horses have safely made the trek back across the plains ready to ride on for another summer.

This winter our Executive Chef Derek Allomes competed in the South Island Salon Culinaire competitions held in Christchurch. Derek’s event ‘Main Course & Dessert’ gave competitors 90 minutes to produce just that (a main and dessert). Derek remarkably produced a Horopito Rubbed Rack of Merino Lamb atop Parsnip Purée served with Fondant Potatoes, Roasted Portobello Mushrooms, Feta Infused Vine Tomatoes and a Port Wine Jus. For Dessert, Derek managed to put together a Banana & Valrhona Chocolate Terrine with White Chocolate Ice Cream served with Hokey Pokey and Tuile Wafer with a Vanilla Bean Anglaise. Derek achieved remarkably well gaining a silver medal in the event which is quite outstanding considering it was his first competition in five years.

This summer Derek is joined in the kitchen by Damian Thorn who spent the past eighteen months in Antarctica working in New Zealand’s Scott Base. Together with our new Sommelier James McMenamin, who returns home from some of Melbournes finest restaurants. The boys have got some exciting ideas for the kitchen and cellar which we look forward to savoring soon. Joanna in Mountain Spa is joined by Christele Gardys who spent six months over the winter in Thailand practicing Thai massage so is a great new asset to the Spa team.

The last weekend in November is always celebrated with local color at our nearest town Cass. The Mayor of Cass, Mr Barry Drummond, has been the sole resident at Cass for more than seventeen years. During this time an annual cricket match between the local residents and a misfit team of railway staff, battle for the celebrated trophy (a beautifully mounted Mini Minor steering wheel… which is a whole other story). With current standings sitting at eight games to seven in favor of the Railway staff, it is anyone’s match this year. This year also sees the introduction of Cass’s Chip & Putt golf course which Barry has looking really quite remarkable, so we anxiously wait for the official opening early next year…. So keep an eye out for that!