Remix’s spring awakening: Inside our Modern Muse launch lunch at NZFW

On day two of New Zealand Fashion Week, and to mark the launch of Remix’s spring Modern Muse issue starring Maia Mitchell, we gathered local creatives, tastemakers, and friends for lunch at FISH Restaurant, at Hilton Auckland. Amidst the chaos of fashion week, it was a moment to slow down against the backdrop of the Waitematā harbour and seasonal sun, raise a toast to the season ahead, and reflect on the issue-to-be. 

The lunch was a warm welcome to everything we love about the coming season: light yet indulgent dishes, floor-to-ceiling windows framing the sparkling harbour, alongside bright red tulips and curated wine from Hancock’s Family Merchants — the kind of afternoon that makes you forget the lingering chill outside and fully embrace the promise of spring.

As conversation turned to notes on the morning’s show — Caitlin Crisp making her debut solo show in the coveted opening slot — Chef Riccardo Catarsi delivered a standout Italian seafood-focused menu with local produce at its core, inspired by his coastal upbringing in the vibrant port city of Livorno. 

FISH offered a refreshingly casual approach to fine dining, with Catarsi coming out personally to walk guests through the three main courses on offer. A roasted red snapper paired with local mussels in a delicate white wine marinara broth; a hand-crafted tortellini folded with creamy mascarpone and finished in a luxurious truffle sauce; and finally, tournedos rossini — a roasted beef tenderloin topped with pan-seared foie gras and a rich red wine reduction.

A standout of the afternoon, however, was dessert: the Come Una Caprese, a sweet reinterpretation of the classic caprese salad, featuring a delicate mozzarella sorbet, candied cherry tomato granita, and a crisp basil crumble.

Polished yet relaxed, the venue set the scene for Remix's Portia and Anna to share a first look into the new issue, starring an exclusive, colour-driven shoot featuring two Volkswagen T-Rocs and pieces by Caitlin Crisp. Guests were invited to take pictures with the T Roc in Celestial Blue parked outside the Hilton — an ode to colour coming back into the conversation this spring after a winter of monochrome wardrobes and streets lined with white, black and silver cars.

We're endlessly grateful to the team at the Hilton Auckland and FISH Restaurant for their generosity and exceptional hospitality, and for creating a space that felt like the perfect haven to welcome in the season ahead.

Guests were also treated to a special surprise, thanks to our friends at Penhaligon’s, who gifted each guest with the newest fragrance from their Potions and Remedies range — Bold Blend, a fresh, invigorating aromatic spicy scent, with notes of peppermint, clary sage, and violet leafs perfectly encapsulating the natural, earthy green scents of blooming spring flora with a surprising crispness.

Special thanks to our guests and sponsors for helping bring the afternoon to life, and to Felix Jack for capturing it all so beautifully.