A weekend of inspiration with the Discovery Tempest Edition

People often ask how we find our inspiration for the recipes that pack the pages of dish — and the answer is simpler than you might think. International travel and local restaurants stimulate our taste buds, and our creativity, social media and global trends spur our imaginations, but the most common source of inspiration is local, seasonal produce — the bounty on (or near to) our own doorsteps.

When my friends at Discovery offered me the chance to experience the latest Discovery Tempest Edition, it provided the perfect excuse to hit the road and head to the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market for a dose of motivation. And so it was that I set off on a wintry Saturday, just as the sun was rising, venturing north up State Highway 1.

The day before I had quickly and easily set up my phone in the Discovery, so that Google maps directed the way — with absolutely no sense of direction, I wanted to be concentrating on the drive, not the route. The day before I had pulled a muscle in my neck (ageing is not for the faint-hearted as they say), but as I settled into the supremely comfortable driver’s seat, I felt the tension slip away. Cocooned in luxury, and with Stan Getz joining on the stereo, I watched the sun come up and settled into the experience.

For those familiar with the route, you’ll know Matakana is just an hour out of Auckland and it is an exceptionally pleasing drive. With little traffic on the road, I revelled in the quietly powerful hum of the engine, the kilometres slipped by, and before I knew it I was pulling into the market to meet regular dish photographer, Josh Griggs.

Early punters slowed their pace as they approached the stalls, admiring the sleek lines of the seven-seater Discovery with its premium matt finish as they passed. Coffees in hand we then strolled through the picture-perfect market, stopping to chat with the producers, sampling their wares as we meandered through. Sweetly pungent smoked honeycomb, invigorating turmeric and ginger ‘turbo tonic’, densely seedy freshly baked bread and decadently delicious doughnuts all found their way into my market bag before we loaded up on farm fresh veges.

It was a treat to talk with the producers, each eagerly explaining their wares — the provenance and inspiration in their production. Locals arrived early while ‘townies’ appeared later, young and old, all pottering, chatting and laughing as they enjoyed the winter’s morning.

Back in the car park, the Discovery boot opened at the push of a button and my shopping haul disappeared into the capacious interior. Parked just by the market’s outdoor doggy day care I would have liked to pop a pooch (or four) into the boot along with the produce, but resisted the temptation and headed back to the country roads to continue the day.

Rain threatened but never quite appeared as I explored the area further — heading just a few minutes away to Brick Bay, home to both the well-known sculpture trail and restaurant, The Glass House. Pretty as a picture, it was easy to see why both are a drawcard to locals and visitors throughout the year.

As I started the journey back into Auckland, my mind buzzing with new recipes, I could feel my confidence in driving the Discovery increasing, already feeling familiar with the sleek interior and easy-to-understand state-of-the-art technology.

Although I could have easily accommodated a throng of friends and family on my jaunt, there was something luxuriously delicious about enjoying my drive solo — just me, the Discovery, an open road and Stan Getz.

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