Do you go through cooking phases? I do. My latest one has been Khao Pad Krapao, pronounced ‘cow pat’ which is rather unfortunate for us English speaking people. It’s fried rice with basil – that’s the ‘krapao’ part – and it’s delicious. What makes it so special is the Thai basil. I have a plant sitting on my kitchen bench begging to be used every few days, and I’ve been happy to oblige. Making this meal brings back wonderful memories of our numerous visits to Thailand although it loses some of its authenticity when eaten without car fumes.

Thai basil tastes quite different to the basil that goes so well with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and olive oil. But it comes from the same herb family. That’s right: herbs come in families just like vegetables. Basil belongs to the mint family (real name – lamiaceae). Its brothers and sisters include lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory and thyme. No, I haven’t forgotten that other essential Thai herb, coriander.

“The food and wine here is as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world,” announced the Mayor of Hastings, Lawrence Yule, as he welcomed New Zealand’s food writers to his region. Three days of tasting and three kilos later, I think I agree! My pantry is now over-flowing with yummy Hawkes Bay food with not an added colour or preservative in sight. On my bench sits Damson Plum jam, paste and liqueur. The paste goes really well with blue cheese and the liqueur is the best product I came across during the three days. It brings back delicious memories of sipping walnut aperitif each night before dinner at the French farmhouse we rented at Mercadiol, a hamlet just south east of St-Julien-de-Lampon, in the Dordogne region. (If you want to see a picture look at Stephanie Alexander’s book “Cooking and Travelling in South-West France. She stayed there too! ) I can’t wait to re-create the memories on a warm, sunny Kiwi evening – if one ever happens!

I’m on my way to the opening cocktail evening for the Food Writers Conference in Napier. The hotel lift opens at my floor and I stop, speechless, as Richie McCaw [current All Black captain] and a couple of his Canterbury Crusaders teammates smile nonchalantly out. No room for me – these boys are big! What am I doing wobbling off to eat and drink tonight? I should be in the gym chiselling my body like these amazing specimens. The momentary motivation passes as we enter the whitewashed historic Hawkes Bay Club, just a stone’s throw from our hotel.

“I’ve just walked into Brad Thorn’s stomach!” my friend Jenny from Beef and Lamb New Zealand says as we munch on large green Orcona jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and sprinkled with smoked paprika. “Those boys are big!”