Movers and shakers

From the menu

Caroline Jones has issued Life with a challenge. She believes the best cheese scones in the country are sold at Hokitika’s Ramble and Ritual.

‘‘Whenever I head over to Hokitika, I try to get there in time to get one, but they sell out quite quickly in the morning and the cafe doesn’t open in the weekends.

‘‘The smell while they are cooking them is phenomenal. I really doubt they would give you the recipe, but could you try?’’

We asked the Ramble team and they were more than happy to oblige.

500g grated tasty cheese

600ml carton of buttermilk

A pinch of cayenne pepper

600g self-raising flour

1 teaspoon salt

Mix cheese, buttermilk and cayenne together.

In a separate big bowl, combine flour and salt. Add cheese mixture and mix together using a butter knife.

Once mixed, finish off mixing by hand and divide into 12, and place on to a lined baking tray.

Bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius, fan bake.

Ramble and Ritual 51 Sewell St, Hokitika. Open 7.30am to 4pm weekdays. Want the secret behind your favourite restaurant or cafe dish? Email life. style@stuff.co.nz with From the Menu in the subject line and we’ll do our best to track it down. fare that celebrates the flavours of the coastal enclave including smoothie bowls, poke bowls, gelato, and grilled cheeses. Friends often deliver local fruits and vegetables, so the menu can claim to offer the best of Akaroa. The sweet toast, for example, comes heaped with Akaroa stone fruit, greek yoghurt and local honey on brioche.

74 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa

The first Banks Peninsula Festival will take place on February 22.

It’s an all-day event at Orton Bradley Park, and will showcase produce and professionals from Banks Peninsula and beyond.

Local wineries will be out in force, Cassels & Sons will serve award-winning brews from their beer bus, and the Blue Smoke Stage will host local musicians, alongside 40 crafts and food stalls.

A demonstration tent will host a ‘‘mystery box cookoff’’ with judges from top restaurants such as 5th Street.

Tickets are available from Eventfinda.

Orton Bradley Park, Marine Drive, Charteris Bay