Enter through a garage roller door off New North Rd into a room with a couple of scattered beanbags, and an inviting space for four-legged friends.

The typically demotic title introduces three world-soiled siblings, children of a dangerously attractive and totally untrustworthy refugee from Nazism who's credited with making New Zealand aware of real coffee and really modern buildings.

Salman Rushdie has written his funniest novel in years - but beneath the jokes lies an uncomfortable truth, discovers Gaby Wood.

The tone of Salman Rushdie's latest novel is like a chocolate with a nut centre, beguilingly sweet on the outside but with a hard core.

Canvas editor Michele Crawshaw shares highlights from tomorrow's Canvas magazine.

Spanish hams hang from hooks to add to the authentic feel of this central Auckland restaurant.

A writer and sometime stand-up comedian, Verity writes on life, love and a bit of everything.

Syrah might be very sexy, but it is high maintenance. There are few places where this rising star will reach its full potential - but the North Island's east coast is definitely one of them...

Director Geoff Murphy talks to Greg Dixon about fighting bureaucrats, making a film industry, the madness of Hollywood and why he doesn't rate Peter Jackson.

The service was just right. Friendly, helpful and we didn't have to wait long for our meals.

Tim Winton's new 'meandering memoir' tells how a nature-obsessed kid grew up to become a fierce environmental activist. The famed Australian author talks to Linda Herrick.

It's the divorce strategy that launched a thousand headlines, and plenty of scorn besides. But is the woman behind the concept - famously adopted by Gwyneth Paltrow - proof that it can work asks Anna Maxted.

The creator of popular detective series Prime Suspect has created the back story of tough investigator Jane Tennison, writes Stephen Jewell.

Un-cool mums know there are more important things in life than their own egos, writes Verity Johnson.

Got a hard to please overseas visitor coming? Take them to Ostro for a fine dining night out.

Singing for the Queen, toppling Lorde ... what's next for opera superstars Sol3 Mio? They talk exclusively to Alan Perrott about taking on the world.

Miami, America's subtropical paradise, is awash with surreal but intriguing contradictions - and is all the more enjoyable for it, says Gareth Wyn Davies.

Cate Blanchett, the new face of Armani, talks neurolinguistics, marital compatibility and clothes with Lisa Armstrong.