Take an armchair trip to Clova Bay, a remote outpost in the Marlborough Sounds. Your host is Marion Day: writer, photographer, foodie and former “Crazy North Islander” who, with husband Steve, purchased a 2.5 hectare lifestyle block there in 2009.
A medley of history, photos, recipes and musings, Passion is like an extended episode of Country Calendar - indeed, Marion and Steve’s property has featured on the long-running rural showcase.
It’s peppered with engrossing anecdotes such as the drowned pooch who was resuscitated by mouth-to-mouth; the magpie who was hand-reared and became a beloved pet; the various settlers who carved out a living and created communities in this isolated and stunning part of the country; and plenty of poetry besides. As the pair do their own hunting, fishing and gardening, Day’s delicious recipes celebrate the region’s bounty: the likes of Slow Roast Duck, Kingfish Spread, Venison Proscuitto, Marinated Mussels… Passion is a hearty and heartwarming celebration of rural life which may well entice city-dwellers to reconsider their options.
Reviewer: Stacey Anyan
AM Publishing New Zealand