Oh hi there

This week has been all about The Tasting Club for us; it's a concept we've been working on for a long time, and are pretty excited about! All things start as simple ideas, and as we begin to talk about them with people we trust, they slowly become a reality. The first step toward this particular reality started with Mike Murphy at Kokako, but the second person who's been key to making this dream come true is Caroline Paynter. She's a very good friend of ours, and has been contributing to gather & hunt from day one, she even stars in our scribbles video. Affectionately known to her friends as Sparrow, this is a girl who cares a lot about aesthetics. Her attention to detail is incredible. We don't want to give too much away, but Caro's the person who is turning The Tasting Club into something unforgettable. When you walk into Kokako next Tuesday morning, you'll know what we mean. If you can't make it, don't worry, we'll take plenty of photos (and some video as well!)

My day job is a creative assistant at Textilia, a textile house specialising in beautiful upholstery and drapery, but I’m also a designer, meets stylist, meets event concept thinker-upperer..

If we gave you the day off tomorrow, what would you do?
Go for an adventure to the Vitrine on an inspirational hunt to find something new to covet – it never fails to impress me with all its beautiful European treasures!!

Who makes the best coffee in Auckland?
As drinking coffee is one of my favourite things to do, choosing one place is quite hard. I would have to mention the ever lovely Kokako in Grey Lynn, and the eighthirty roastery at the top of K Rd - which is also amazing. My current morning haunt though is Coffee Supreme on Douglas St. I love that they have a different variety of coffee on offer to try each day so you're never likely to tire of it, and the new branding is gorgeous!

What’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten in this city?
A Little and Friday vanilla and raspberry cream doughnut, I'm salivating just thinking about it!!! (I challenge anyone to eat one in a dainty fashion, it's near impossible, but well worth the mess!!)

Pick a book and park you’d like to read it in, anywhere.
I have a confession to make... I'm not much of a reader, but in saying that I do have quite a talent for browsing magazines and blogs. So ideally I would pick a selection of fashion and art magazines and acquire a wee rowboat to float around a lake in, whilst jotting down ideas gathered from said mags in one of my new favourite things, my moleskin sketch book. I'm particularly inspired by Kinfolk magazine at the moment, they create beautiful food events similar to The Tasting Club, and I hope to create something equally as beautiful for Auckland and Aucklanders!

What are your favourite online places to find inspiration?
I have so many favourites, one of them being SimplyGeorgeous Occasions, a fantastic Melbourne events company. There's also the ever-changing NotCot; a great place for anything design related which generally forwards me to other inspiring blogs and online spaces. The Cool Hunter has a fantastic amount of info to keep you up-to-date on international design happenings.
   
What are your favourite places in Auckland to find inspiration?
I like to drift along sandy Takapuna beach with a delicious gelato in hand on days when the weather permits, or wander through Douglas + Bec, the Vitrine, or The Department Store - in particular the SimonJames concept department. I love the space at Imperial Lane too, the brick walls are like laneways in Melbourne, and so it makes me feel as if I'm on a trip away which is always nice!!

What event do you dream about creating, the biggest most ambitious thing you can possibly imagine.
I've always had a love for food, and so naturally my ideal event has to incorporate that in some way. I love the idea of throwing a large obnoxious party - The Great Gatsby meets Marie Antoinette - excessive cakes and treats surrounding champagne towers, beautiful floral arrangements everywhere, dancing and a six course dinner with matching wines under the stars.

I think the Wintergarden at the Domain would be the perfect venue, as it has the art deco extravagance of the glass house and botanicals all around. I imagine all the guests will be dressed up for a ball, sipping champagne cocktails with candied rose-petals in the glasses, the lighting will be low, with a string quartet in one corner creating an amazing atmosphere before a band comes out after dinner to encourage the dancing. The dinner would be served out in the courtyard under the stars (on one of Auckland’s balmy summer nights with no rain please!).

Caro's event conception and styling work is something I expect we'll all start to see more of. In the meantime, she's starting a blog to record her inspiration, and her pinterest is always a lovely place to visit. We can't wait to show you what she's created for The Tasting Club at Kokako, and we can't wait to work with her again on the next one!

Thanks Sparrow, you're a true gem.