Cafe chat:

Press Hall has its first Indian restaurant – Indian Alley.

Owners Neha and Sushant Chandna are out to provide Wellingtonians who come to the Willis St food hall with a very different sort of curry.

‘‘Spicy, rich, flavourful and diverse are terms that are frequently used to describe Indian food,’’ says Neha.

‘‘What we are trying to achieve is to serve that rich cultural diversity on a plate, with consistent flavours, by using real ingredients.

‘‘Try our jalfrazi meat curry, which is a combination of vegetables and meat – you won’t find this authentic mix at other restaurants. When it comes to vegetarian food, our malai kofta is also a must-try.’’

For those who can’t make up their minds, or are simply after a curry feast, Indian Alley also does a buffet selection.

Upstairs at Press Hall, 78 Willis St, central Wellington

The quintessential Kiwi summer activity of picking your own fruit is back, and strawberry season at Penray Gardens is now under way.

One of the region’s most popular pick-yourown spots, Penray Gardens, is just an hour’s drive from the city, and has a range of fresh, affordable produce to hand-pick.

Strawberries are the main drawcard and, with the season having just kicked off late last month, make sure you get in before they’re snapped up. You’ll find plenty of other fruit and vegetables as well. Take your pick from chillies, lemons, limes, grapefruit and more.

You can also buy Penray’s gourmet sauces, relishes and dressings, all made fresh on-site, as well as Christmas gift boxes and baskets.

1199 State Highway 1, O¯ taki