In today's Bite: Winter warmers for summer?

Thai flavoured skinless sausages. Photo / Bite magazine

Find all your favourite bits from today's Bite magazine online. Follow the hyperlinks in Jo Elwin's editor's letter and lose yourself in bite.co.nz.

This fickle weather is messing with my appetite - a day-long hike requiring hot soup and a bath rather than the mediterranean salad and swim on offer; the barbecue (usually the one that needs a good hot soak at this time of year) is still sparkling clean because a roast chicken is ticking more boxes than grilled.

Spice and chillies are top of the ingredients list right now. Because of their warming and cooling effect you can plan a meal that will demand the appetite's attention regardless of what the elements throw at us on the day.

Barbecued chicken and prawn & pineapple salad. Photos / Bite magazine

Ray McVinnie has included some hot stuff in his prawn and pineapple salad, Thai flavoured skinless sausages and barbecued chicken with spicy dipping sauce. There is heat in some of his no-cook meal ideas too. In the meantime I invite you to join me over at bite.co.nz where I have curated a collection of summer warmers - now there's something I have never written before.

Also in bite this week:

• Peter Gordon on his food hero Tui Flower

• Monday night: radish and yellow or green tomato salsa

• Allyson Gofton cooks winemaker's steak - a classic French bistro dish

• Kombucha: Mikki Williden wonders what all the fuss is about

• Louise Thompson asks what you are prepared to give up to achieve what you want in 2017?

• Produce report

- bite.co.nz