“We’re a long way from the sea — but luckily, we know a couple of good fishermen who frequent the waters around Stewart Island. We trade lamb or Swifty beer for fresh fish and the occasional cray, and when we do, this chowder is on the menu. It’s one of Carlos’ most requested dishes: rich and creamy, loaded with mussels, prawns, chunks of fresh fish (and cray if we’re lucky enough)…”

Are leeks underrated? We think so. They don’t have the sexy wow-factor of, say, asparagus or sugar snaps or watermelon radish. But they can be incredible, especially when you braise them and make them the hero of a dish – as we have here. Braising really brings out their gentler, sweeter side, and their texture becomes meltingly tender too. The key to these leeks is in the preparation...

Mussels. So simple to cook, so delicious to eat and so darned good for you. An excellent source of lean protein, iron, selenium, iodine and omega-3 fatty acids, we should all be eating them more. There’s so much healthy stuff lurking in those shells…