Name – Simon Farrell-Green; Job – Writer; Lives – Beach Haven, Auckland
Christmas style
Very casual and very slow, involving lots of eating and drinking.
What I’ll be doing this Christmas Day
Christmas lasts for several days around here – we spread it out a bit so that we can relax and then generally we spend most of our time in the kitchen or at the table. This one is incredibly special because it’s our son Ira’s first Christmas. He’ll be six months old so won’t really know what’s going on but it’s a great excuse for buying cool baby stuff!
What types of food I’ll be enjoying
I tend to keep things really simple and fresh and – most importantly – easy: lots of salad, boiled new-season potatoes and asparagus (if the season lasts that long). The Weber is important: I’ll probably butterfly a chicken and then blend up Moroccan spices as well as bunches of coriander and parsley and preserved lemon and olive oil, then stuff it under the skin before putting it over the charcoal.
My tips for a stress-free Christmas
Don’t try too hard. It’s meant to be casual and easy; standing there with a pile of cookbooks trying to impress everyone just makes it hard – there’s nothing wrong with a really simple feast.
Special traditions
Trifle is one: my late grandma was always in charge of trifle and now Mum (aka Granny) has taken over the tradition – though hers has more brandy, it must be noted. Spending Christmas Eve day on Waiheke with Mum is a newish one – we go over and relax and spend time with each other rather than watching the clock. We stay the night and then head back to the city for a late lunch with my partner Hannah’s family. And for 20-odd years – ever since I worked in a butcher’s shop as a teenager – I’ve bought my godfather Derek half a kilo of cheerios. I can’t remember why.
My favourite thing about Christmas
That sense of stopping and slowing down and enjoying family, and knowing that you’ve got a couple of weeks holiday ahead.
My pressie wish-list
I’ve been dropping hints about a Hario kettle for my Chemex, but my darling wife thinks $100+ for yet another piece of coffee paraphernalia is outrageous, so I’m not holding my breath. Ditto the stand-up paddle board.
Three songs that are on my Christmas playlist
• ‘Morning’ from Beck’s Morning Phase
• ‘God Emoji’ from Silicon’s Silicon
• ‘I Wanna Go’ from Summer Heart’s About a Feeling
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