Auckland Diner's Diary: November 2016

Market Stalls

• [Added 30 January 2017: Nitro Cow - serving gelato cooled with liquid nitrogen at various markets]
• [Added 1 April 2017: Holy Smokes BBQ - charcoal grilled Manila style barbecue at St Johns and Silo Park]
• [Added 30 December 2017: Rockabilly Bakes - sassy cupcakes and cake pops at various markets]
• [Added 6 January 2018: Pipo's Lechon - Filipino whole roasted pig and other roasted meats with homemade sauce]

City Openings

• Dr Rudi's - rooftop bar and restaurant in the Viaduct, with on-site brewery, food with a view, and two bowling alleys accessed via an escalator
• Shaka Bowl Poké Shop - three surfer friends have opened a High Street store to sell the traditional Hawaiian street-side raw fish salad, after perfecting their recipes at markets
• Ryo 漁 - Japanese izakaya in the Mid City complex
• Suzaku 朱雀 - ramen stall in the IMAX foodcourt
• High Five - cafe and bar on High Street
• Sugarpuff Pastry - this maker of celebration cakes has opened up a store on Federal Street next to French 83
• Beard Papa's - a second branch of this Japanese cream puff vendor has opened on Queen St (actually opened in December, but I took too long to write this post!)
• [Added 2 January 2017: Metro Cafe - cafe on Hobson Street with a photographer's art gallery under way]
• [Added 21 January 2017: Queens Cafe Bistro - modern European cuisine on the second floor of Queens Arcade, with an Italian head chef who has worked at Michelin starred restaurants]
• [Added 22 January 2017: Atlas Bar and Eatery - global food & eclectic dining from chef Eddie Fong at the Ironbank building on K'Rd]
• [Added 30 January 2017: Penpen Xian Restaurant 富记盆盆鲜 - second branch of this Chinese hotpot restaurant has opened on Upper Queen Street]
• [Added 4 October 2017: Hello Mister - second branch opened downtown in the AMP Tower]

Fringe Eats - Ponsonby and Herne Bay

• Augustus - French bistro from Chris Rupe and family (of SPQR fame), in the old Ponsonby Post Office building, named after the postmaster murdered in 1920
• Osteria del Pane - Italian eatery in Herne Bay, a new venture from chef Robert Aylwin of Bonz Cajun Kitchen
• Miss Istanbul - "true Turkish kebabs" and street eats at Ponsonby Central, from the Nazar Group (actually opened in December, but I took too long to write this post!)

Fringe Eats - Newmarket

• Champ Canteen - Newmarket eatery from the family behind RAD Cafe, offering not only exotic coffee, but also donuts and toasties with childhood-inspired fillings like spahetti and sausages
• Billy Cafe - pan-Asian eatery in the Xerox building in Newmarket, from the owners of High Street clothing boutique Parlour
• Tucks & Bao - Asian fusion restaurant in Newmarket with seven types of bao, opened by Benedict Hefford and competitive eater Nela Zisser
• Garden Wholefoods - "Vegetarian whole foods eatery with organic coffee, house made sodas and juices"
• Master Dumpling 蔡家小館 - dumpling joint next to Cafe Monet
• Gong Cha 貢茶 Newmarket - this bubble tea vendor has opened another branch on Broadway

Fringe Eats - Mount Eden

• Olly - doughnut cafe and art gallery inside The Crystal Palace cinema in Mount Eden, owned by recent mayoral candidate Chloe Swarbrick, her partner Alex Bartley Catt and their friend Bryan Anderson, with plans to open up a shared office space upstairs
• Wah Fay 華煇酒家 - Chinese restaurant in Mount Eden, with mostly Cantonese food from Hong Kong-trained chef Mr Da Wah who has cooked classical Chinese dishes in Auckland for 25 years

Not Much Further

• Seabreeze - Westmere cafe from local Brodie McDonald, at a prime location overlooking the ocean, where Meola Kitchen used to be
• Bowl and Arrow - this paleo-friendly smoothie bowl vendor has found a permanent home in the new Orakei Bay Village
• The Corner - Remuera gastropub where The Villager used to be, with a menu from ex-La Cigale chef Lou Adams, brought to us by ex-marketing manager Patrick Kean and "King of Britomart" hospitality Lucien Law (Ebisu, Seafarers Members’ Club and Ostro)
• Billy - cafe at Northcote Point with good cabinet options in addition to the menu
• Lao Sze Chuan Restaurant 蜀壹蜀贰 川菜馆 - Sichuanese restaurant in Balmoral, where Dragon Bowl used to be
• LYJ Food 老友记 - Chinese restaurant in Balmoral
• [Added 8 September 2017: MS Coffee - Vietnamese eatery in Morningside]

Out and About

• Mars Salt and Sweet - foodstore in Point Chevalier run by film caterers Marvel Kitchen, with such goods as local honey, organic eggs, organic spray free cherimoya, and gelato from Charlie's Gelato Garden
• Huckleberry New Lynn - East West Organics and its Ethos Cafe are now part of the Huckleberry family
• Source Cafe - Pakuranga cafe celebrating local manufacturers and grocers
• Xacuti - Indo-Portuguese restaurant in Howick has moved from degustations in Picton Street to a cafe and bistro at the Uxbridge Arts Centre

Coming

• Vodka Room - Russian-inspired eatery and bar in Ponsonby, spanning two storeys (early Dec)
• Little Luscious - Luscious Cafe is setting up shop in Ellerslie, opening very soon
• Lord of the Fries - this vegetarian and vegan fast food business from Melbourne will open up a second Auckland branch at St Kevins Arcade (Thursday 15 December)
• En 縁 - teppanyaki and izakaya opposite PappaRich in the IMAX building
• The new Orakei Bay Village will soon see Farro Fresh, Brothers Beer (brewery and oyster bar), Espresso Workshop (roastery and bistro), a sushi restaurant and a Mexican chocolatier move in
• Yang Guo Fu 楊國福 麻辣燙 - malatang in the IMAX building where Esquires used to be
• PappaRich is opening a Sylvia Park branch (early 2017)
• Chinese restaurant at the bottom of the Sky Tower

Other

• A community fridge has popped up in the new Griffiths Gardens on the corner of Mayoral Drive and Wellesley Street West, and people will be able to leave or take food 24/7 until Christmas
• El Sizzling Lomito has opened a butchery at the back of the restaurant, so you can buy Argentinean cuts of free range meat
• Huckleberry has opened new stores in Herne Bay and New Lynn, bringing its count up to ten
• The Jefferson whiskey bar has installed a ballerina-pink Juniper Room popup in its front room for the next few months
• Sidart has renovated and extended its dining space
• SushiPac now sells quinoa sushi
• [Added 2 January 2017: Fresh Catch is a new business delivering fresh fish by subscription] 
• [Added 21 January 2017: Farro Fresh in Grey Lynn now has Organic Mechanic's Om kombucha on tap, as well as Kokako Organic Coffee nitro cold brew]
• [Added 1 March 2017: Alberton Market Days - market on the second Sunday of the Month, from November until April, from the former organiser of the Sandringham Farmers Market]

Auckland Diner's Diary: October 2016

New in Town - Something Special

• Culprit. - first restaurant of ex-Depot and Federal Delicatessen chefs Kyle Street and Jordan Macdonald, with "New American" food offered yum cha-style on trolleys, available at three seating times at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm from next week, where The Black Hoof used to be on Wyndham Street
• Miann Britomart - second store of the dessert restaurant is in Britomart, with more of a chocolate focus than its nearby Fort Street sister, for which a Valrhona hot chocolate blend which is exclusive to the store has been created

New in Town - Burgers and Wraps

• Lord of the Fries - first overseas venture of the Australian vegetarian fast food joint has opened in a shipping container at No. 1 Queen Street
• Velvet Burger Federal Lane - fifth store of Velvet Burger has opened at Federal Lane, where Mi used to be, but going through to Victoria Street
• Acho's - this former market vendor has now found a permanent spot in St Kevin's Arcade, serving Japanese sharing dishes such as steamed buns and mapo eggplant
• The Raw Kitchen - after relauching the Ponsonby and Newmarket stores as WELL+GOOD, The Raw Kitchen has opened a new store at the City Works Depot, serving all manner of healthy offerings, including salads, wraps, raw sweets, smoothies, coffee and milkshakes
• Istanbul Shawarma - shawarmas and pizzas near the library, previously on Queen Street

New in Town - Food on the Go

• Indochine Express - takeaway Vietnamese lunches from Indochine Kitchen are now available from a little corner of Canterbury Arcade
• Jango Mumbai Street Food - Elliott Street container stall serving Indian snacks and chai
• Double Dutch Fries - market vendor of Dutch-style hand-cut crispy frites now has a permanent spot on Elliott Street

New in Town - Watering Holes

• Lovebucket - little bar at the back of the K'Rd Food Workshop, with cocktails on tap and enticing bar snacks
• REC - record store by day, with sandwiches and filter coffee, this Britomart venue transforms into a bar at night, with DJs and bands from Thursday to Saturday
• Caretaker - New York style cocktail bar downstairs from REC, paying attention to details like hand-carved ice and fresh-pressed juices
• [Added 1 March 2017: Halo - bar and restaurant near Myers Park]

Fringe Feeds

• Po' Brothers - pan-Asian Ponsonby Road restaurant from the team at Kingsland's @Bangkok, with such items on the menu as soft shell crab salad, pork belly skewers, crispy chicken skins and deep fried bao with matcha ice cream and red bean paste
• Lac Viet - Vietnamese restaurant opposite the Ponsonby Road Foodcourt, with dishes such as beef stew with noodles, pho and papaya salad
• Frasers - beloved 18-year-old Mount Eden cafe has revamped itself into more of a bar and eatery (minus outdoor chairs), with a new menu on the way
• [Added 9 November 2016: Tao Restaurant - Chinese fusion in Newmarket]
• [Added 30 November 2016: The Humble Villager - cafe with "old fashion" food in Epsom]

Suburban Charm

• Lord Kitchener - Sandringham local at Warings Corner, named after a British Army officer who supposedly cured himself of malaria with a cold pint and good sleep
• Woodworks Cafe - this Avondale cafe is back after being gutted by an electrical fire 18 months ago, but without a dinner service
• Sarap - Filipino restaurant in New Lynn, with dishes like bulalo and jackfruit/banana turon and ube ice cream
• Kibōきぼう - Japanese restaurant in Panmure, whose name means "hope"
• Yu Tea 御茶 - Taiwanese milk tea (with googly eyes!) and snacks in Henderson
• [Added 9 November 2016: White Cloud Spur - South African brand icon arrives in Albany]
• [Added 2 January 2017: Sudoku Traditional Hot Pot 九宫格老灶火锅 - Chinese 9-gridded hot pot restaurant in Epsom, where No. 1 BBQ used to be]
• [Added 21 January 2017: Apron Empowered - vegan treats at Westfield Albany]
• [Added 2 June 2017: Moloko - Meadowbank cafe with a Russian twist, serving such items as sirniki ricotta pancakes, Russian pies, and pelmeni]

Coming

• Shaka Bowl Poké Shop - little High Street eatery specialising in Hawaiian raw fish salads (opening 8 November)
• Olly - art, coffee and donuts at the historic old Crystal Palace in Mount Eden, from former mayoral candidate Chlöe Swarbrick
• Snickel Lane - you might snicker at the name, but the upcoming laneway between Commerce Street and Fort Street promises plenty of foodie openings, starting with a coffee bar from Altezano Brothers and a Spanish tapas eatery this November
• The Grounds - five-star family dining from Benjamin Bayly (The Grove, Baduzzi) at the Whoa! Studios park, which also includes a huge inflatable obstacle course and water slide, and a 'one of its kind' in Australasia crochet play net by Toshika Horiuchi MacAdam (opening in December)
• Hobson Indian Takeaway - Indian street food on Beach Road
• Sugarpuff Pastry - little corner store on Federal Street for French-inspired pastries and celebration cakes
• Still unnamed French Mediterranean restaurant from Chris Rupe of SPQR, in the old Ponsonby Post Office building

Other Food News

• Celebrity chef Robert Oliver is equity crowdfunding to open Kai Pasifika, a restaurant to celebrate Pacific Island cuisine
• My Food Bag has launched a new product called My Express Bag, which comes with pre-cut vegetables and pre-mixed spice blends and sauces, so you can put dinner on the table in under 30 minutes
• The guys behind Brothers Beer have opened Piha Beer, a brewery based at the Piha Bowling Club
• Social enterprise Eat My Lunch has expanded into Wellington
• Best Ugly Bagels has also opened in Wellington
• [Added 3 April 2017: Vege Bouquet delivers edible bouquets around Auckland]

Pop-ups & Markets

• Cloudy Bay Sail Away (19 October - 16 November) - month-long pop-up  at 46&York in Parnell offers a four-course tasting menu from chef Sam Mannering, with matching wines from Cloudy Bay in a transformed setting
• Lobster & Liquor (every Wed - Sat till December) - Ostro's City Terrace and the NZ Rosé Co are hosting a Britomart pop-up offering lobster rolls and frosé
• La Cigale Market is making Britomart a second home from 12 November, greatly expanding the existing City Farmers Market with the stallholders from La Cigale, as well as some completely new vendors. The Britomart market will also be open on Sundays.
• The Auckland Night Markets has started at Sylvia Park again, now on Sundays
• Green Bay Street Food is on every Friday from November, with a monthly vegetarian/vegan event called Double V
• The Mt Albert Market is trialling a Viva Las Veges vegetarian/vegan night every Saturday night from 12 November, following the success of their Friday night Street Food Station events
• Auckland Night Noodle Markets (30 November - 4 December) - started almost 20 years ago in Sydney, the Night Noodle Market will be offering hawker-style food at Victoria Park for 5 nights
• [Added 2 February 2017: Te Atatu Night Markets - monthly Friday night market in Te Atatu, with local produce and food trucks galore]

Other Events

• Te Matuku Oyster Festival (Saturday 5 November) - rescheduled from 15 October due to weather, this Waiheke Island festival at Rangihoua Estate’s olive grove offers fresh oysters, celebrity chefs, and entertainment
• Pith by Mini (Saturday 5 November) - New York dorm-room chef Jonah Reider pops up in Auckland in collaboration with KitchenAid, bringing his supper club Pith to a 40m2 apartment, for one day only
• Baking Classes (5 & 6 November) - The Bread & Butter Bakery and Cafe is offering an Introduction to Bread Baking and Introduction to Sourdough Baking in Grey Lynn
• Urban Street Fest (Thursday 10 November) - indoor street food market, this time in Grafton
• Federal Street Festival (11 - 12 November) - food and festivities from the Federal St restaurants
• Kai Auckland Hui (Sunday 13 November) - talk food politics and/or have a community meal in Three Kings
• Coconut Grove (Thursday 1 December) - celebrating Auckland's Pacific food, culture and history on K'Rd
• La Longue Table du Chef (Saturday 3 December) - Auckland's biggest French street dinner will see 120 people seated at one long table on Upper Vulcan Lane

A Bite in Brief: Satya Spice and Chai Shop

We came here because we were checking out the Sandringham Street Festival, and came across the intriguing little entranceway next to Satya Restaurant while hunting for chai.

Alleyway entrance to the chai lounge.

The menu was mainly taken up by drinks of various forms (including chai, craft beer and cocktails), but also had a selection of Indian, Indo-Chinese and non-Indian street food.

Part of the menu - there were also 30+ types of craft beer.

The setting was cozy and casual, with a natural look from the upcycled furniture made from coffee sacks, pallet boxes and tree trunks. Edison bulbs and plants on planks hung overhead. From other people's pictures, it appears quite magical at night with fairy lights too.

A hidden hideaway in Sandringham village.

The service was engaging and informative - the person who looked after us not only told us about the specials and provided details about the menu items, but shared interesting things like:

• his parents own the four Satya restaurants
• the chai lounge has been around for about 6 months (the spice shop somewhat longer, and the restaurant next door has been there for 16 years), but it had a quiet start as it didn't have all the signage out the front
• he decorated the place over the space of a month while his parents were on holiday, with help from his friends (one of whom works at a landscaping business and another at Allpress coffee)
• the reason there are Chinese-sounding items such as fried rice is because India and China are close to each other, and Chinese immigrants have influenced Indian cuisine
• idli and dosas are traditionally eaten for breakfast

We were also invited to take a look at the spice shop in the next room, a corner of which was being used to cook our food. Apart from spices and teas, you could also buy idli and dosa batter from the fridge!

Spice shop area.

What we had included:

• Spiced buttermilk ($2) - this was a savoury and refreshing drink, seasoned with coriander leaves and spices

Spiced buttermilk.

• Masala chai ($1 small, $2 larger) - we ended up ordering another one of these because we loved the blend of flavours in this milky tea

Masala chai.

• Vegetable manchurian ($12) - these freshly fried balls were delicious! The sweet soy flavour of the brown sauce went well with the spicy and gingery bites.

Vege manchurian.

Overall, we were stoked to have stumbled upon our first chai lounge in Auckland, where you can relax, snack on tasty food, and choose from a wide selection of drinks. Others have even apparently played a game of carrom there, but we don't need entertainment to entice us back for another visit!

Store Details

Satya Spice and Chai Shop
515a Sandringham Road, Sandringham
(09) 845 8451

Auckland Diner's Diary: September 2016

Market Stalls

• South Ceylon NZ - Sri Lankan street food, with their first market day at the Mount Albert Market
• Tacos Los Mijotes - taco vendor which will be at the Otahuhu Food Festival
• [Added 30 October 2016: Uni-Ko - "unique Korean flavour" at various markets, with such dishes as spicy pork pancake, vegan bibimbap, and Korean fried chicken]

Eats in the City

• Kindred - a "modern creative dining space" at Wynyard Quarter from the Wiley Boys
• The K'Rd Food Workshop has opened where the Bacio night club used to be, with the following vendors:
• Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar - new flagship store with the fitout built by hand and a limited edition cookie cup to celebrate
• El Sizzling Lomito - Argentinian steak sandwiches (vegetarian option available) from Corradino Anselmi of Ponsonby Central's El Sizzling Chorizo, with hand cut meat which will soon be available for purchase from a butcher's window at the back of the restaurant
• Popped - flavoured popcorn using GMO-free, Gisbourne grown, mushroom-shaped popcorn
• Holm - new cafe and workspace hybrid on K'Rd, with sandwiches and pastries from next week, and coffee comes in espresso, FETCO, Kalita (“like a flat bottomed V60”) or Chemex
• Al's Deli Brewhouse - the O'Connell Street cafe has moved next door into the new brewhouse, with their own craft beer, cider, craft gin and vodka, traditionally brewed root beer, cocktails, and breakfast along with their usual menu
• O'Connell St Bistro has finally re-opened, with the menu refined during the chef's seven months' paid leave 
• &Sushi - second branch of the spot for pretty sushi has opened at the City Works Depot where Weirdough & Tuck used to be
• Curator Espresso Bar - cafe opposite the Art Gallery with nitro cold brew on tap
• Bocado - takeaway near the Viaduct selling "pillow-like flatbread" they call "bocci"

Fringe Food

• Burger Geek - burger joint in Eden Terrace with house-smoked bacon, "smash grilled" Wagyu and Angus patties, and stellar sides
• Morepork BBQ - American BBQ joint in Ponsonby with meat 100% wood fired in a custom made smoker, tasty sides, homemade sauces and an in-house chocolatier
• A'meza - Asian fusion restaurant in Mount Eden with such dishes as pandesal, purple kumara soup and prawn beignets
• Saigon - Vietnamese restaurant in Kingsland
• Food Truck Garage - third branch opened in Ponsonby largely intended for takeaways, headed up by Anthony McNamara, former head chef at Waiheke’s Oyster Inn
• Kopio - Malaysian restaurant has returned to Parnell after the owners decided to retire, then changed their minds and opened up in Takapuna due to trading restrictions
• Kowi Chicken - new branch of the Korean fried chicken takeaway in Mount Eden Village, where Bonzo Burgers used to be
• [Added 3 November 2016: Andino - Peruvian restaurant in Parnell]

Thirst Things First

• Nusantara Indonesian Tea Cafe is popping up in Grey Lynn from 10 October
• Karajoz Coffee Company has opened a shot bar at their roastery in Eden Terrace, with a custom built viewing station
• Drummer Boy - Millers coffee and toast across from the Portland Public House in Kingsland
• Pineapple on Parnell - opulent cocktail lounge and bar in Parnell
• [Added 5 October 2016: Tantalus Estate - vineyard on Waiheke Island with a brewery and a new restaurant designed by Cheshire Architects]

Out and About

• Crave Cafe in Morningside has moved across the road - new building, new menu, new staff, and will be open for dinner from 27 October
• Marua Road Cafe - industrial chic cafe in a new development in Mount Wellington with coffee beans freshly roasted thrice weekly next door
• Bald Eagle Diner - American diner in Mission Bay from the owner of Dos Amigos next door
• [Added 30 November 2016: Cuff Cafe - cafe, bistro and patisserie in Howick, by Moldavian chef Eugene Sokolovski and his wife Suzanna]
• [Added 7 December 2016: Yummy Yummy Chicken - more Korean fried chicken, in Mount Wellington]
• [Added 4 May 2017: Paradise Buffet - Paradise Indian Food in Sandringham has opened a 2-storey buffet location around the corner]
• [Added 2 July 2017: Yu Tea 御茶 - Taiwanese bubble tea, snacks, meals, desserts and drinks with googley eyes in Henderson]

Northern Delights

• Magnolia Kitchen - seller of macarons and beautiful cakes now has a cafe in Silverdale, though it doesn't officially open until 10 October
• Bondie Designer Cupcakes - cupcake business at local markets and fairs now has a store in Takapuna, with a long queue on opening day
• [Added 7 December 2016: Kuzina - Mediterranean cafe and bar in Orewa, with executive chef Servet Kaplan coming from a family of chefs]
• [Added 2 July 2017: Fresh Bite 尋味鮮 - Chinese seafood restaurant with a great design and fitout in Rosedale]
• [Added 2 July 2017: Love Spicy 辣尚癮串串香 - chuan chuan xiang skewers cooked at the table in Rosedale]

Coming

• Little stalls in town
• Jango Mumbai Street Food on Elliott Street
• Beard Papa's cream puffs on Queen Street
• ChiWay 有姿有味 - Chinese restaurant on Durham Street West where Fruitlife used to be (from 3 October)
• Po' Brothers - Asian eatery in Ponsonby (opening early October)
• Lovebucket - "haute dive bar" from Hallertau brewery at the K'Road Food Workshop
• Amano is expanding to become an Italian-inspired restaurant next to its current bakery, and has installed a flour mill to make fresh bread and pasta
• A Russian-inspired restaurant is opening soon in Ponsonby
• Queen's Rise, a new development on Queen Street due to open early next year, will have nine eateries including a mix of a "breakfast bar, potato joint and watering hole" called Potato and Me

Other

• Robert Oliver will be crowdfunding to develop a Pacific restaurant called Kai Pasifika
• Sweet Val's is selling their business, including their 1970’s Holden Kingswood Ute, mixers, liquid nitrogen dewar, recipe notes and more
• Ortolana is offering Cork and Fork BYO Mondays with a special dish each week to go with your wine
• Open Table is closing for two weeks for the new owners to renovate
• Docs tea and coffee club - seems to be some kind of cafe at George Court which is also the scene for reality TV streamed on Mercury Lane Live?

Events

• Taste of Takapuna (month of October) - restaurant specials and a chance to win a $500 experience
• [Added 5 October 2016: New Zealand Cheese Month (month of October) - celebration of our country's cheese, with in-store tastings and events such as Sabato's Market Day on Sunday 16 October where there will be baby goats, a dairy goat milking demo and cheesemakers such as Jill Whalley from Mt Eliza Cheese who will be talking about NZ’s raw milk revolution]
• The Art of Food (8-16 October) - food-related art and events in Parnell, including a Waiters' Race on Sunday16 October and a chance to win a $250 dining voucher
• Argentinian Inspired Feast (Sunday 9 October) - feast at The Sugar Club hosted by Peter Gordon and Argentinian chef Pablo del Rio of Siete Cocinas
• [Added 6 October 2016: StreetARTDego (Wednesday 12 October) - as part of Late Night Art, five street food vendors collaborate with renowned artists to produce edible works of art]
• [Added 5 October 2016: EHN x The Oyster Inn (Thursday 13 October) - oyster degustation on Waiheke Island, including such unusual offerings as beef and oyster pie and an oyster stout]
• [Added 5 October 2016: Te Matuku Oyster Festival (Saturday 15 October) - oysters, celebrity chefs, and gourmet eats on Waiheke Island]
• Otahuhu's Ethnic Food Festival (Saturday 15 October) - street food in Otahuhu with over 100 stalls
• Souk Auckland (15 - 16 October) - Lebanese cultural event finally seems to be happening in Onehunga after being postponed several times
• Diwali Festival (15 - 16 October) - celebration of Indian culture at Aotea Square
• [Added 6 October 2016: "Got Milk?" (Saturday 22 October) - milk industry dinner during peak milk production month, asking some great questions, hosted by Scarecrow]
• [Added 6 October 2016: "A Vegan Affair" (Sunday 23 October) - for their third season, The Cult Project is presenting plant-centric menus, kicking off with this vegan meal]
• Sandringham Street Festival (Saturday 29 October) - live music and street food in Sandringham
• MexFestival (Saturday 29 October) - Mexican fiesta at The Cloud with song and dance, exhibitions and food!
• Vegan Food Fair II (Sunday 6 November) - over 100 vendors selling vegan food and products
• Taste of Auckland (17 - 20 November) - signature dishes from Auckland's top restaurants at Western Springs
• Meatstock Auckland (25 - 26 February 2017) - music and meat festival has come across the ditch from Sydney

Auckand Diner's Diary: August 2016

Novel Pop-Ups

• Melt - you could argue that Manuka smoked cheddar is not raclette, but it's not stopping this food truck from taking over social media with videos of their molten cheese sandwiches
• Retro Rolls - Thai-style rolled ice cream pop-up at the Lim Chhour Food Court, made in front of you within minutes
• Jimmy the Cook - Jimmy "the Fish" Gerard is serving seafood and more in the back corner of the Grey Lynn Returned Services Club
• The Kitchen c/o SkyCity has opened a stall on Federal Street in front of SkyCity, which will apparently be there for 10 weeks
• [Added 28 September 2016: Toastie Bros - gourmet cheese toastie vendor at the Britomart Farmers Market which always sells out]
• [Added 30 September 2016: RAWE - organic smoothies at a variety of markets]
• [Added 5 October 2016: NuNu's Street Munch - food trailer serving street food such as Sri Lankan kotthu roti]
• [Added 5 October 2016: tried & true - Julie Le Clerc’s small batch production boutique bakery with handcrafted desserts using natural ingredients]

Feeds in the City

• 69 - cocktail lounge on K'Rd with Polynesian street food and late night gourmet fast food using local produce
• Twelve - Korean fusion restaurant with a modern interior near the Chancery
• Poke Time - Hawaiian stall at the IMAX food court, presumably with raw fish salads
• Nata - Portuguese bakery on K'Rd
• Bake and Beans - a second branch of this Indian bakery has opened on Hobson Street
• [Added 17 September 2016: The Original - modern NZ pub at the Viaduct, where Snapdragon used to be]
• [Added 17 September 2016: Armani - cafe on Lorne Street with fruity shishas, Middle Eastern platters, roast chicken and burgers on the menu]
• [Added 17 September 2016: Wobblyheads - contemporary Indian food for casual stand-up dining or takeaway from a little shop on Customs Street West]
• [Added 30 November 2016: Ensalada Cafe - what I thought was a salad bar chain has opened a cafe on K'Rd, with an international menu, as well as Filipino cuisine, including adobo, sisig, snapper escabeche, bicol express, beef salpicao, pork sinigang, breakfast dishes (tocilog, longsilog, tapsilog) and desserts (halo-halo, leche flan)]
• [Added 2 July 2017: The Chestnut 慄子食堂 - Taiwanese snacks from little store inside a dairy on City Road]

On the Fringe - Ponsonby and Parnell

• Pasture - small 25-seater restaurant with a fixed 6-course menu (unless it's Sunday when there will be a rustic menu) using local and seasonal produce, with a focus on sustanability and traditional techniques such as fermenting, pickling and preserving, offering a unique dining experience from chef Ed Verner and wife Laura, in the alleyway behind Hattitude in Parnell
• The Kitchen by MR TOMS - brand new restaurant at the back of the popular MR TOMS bar in Ponsonby, where head chef Tom Williamson can flex his culinary skills
• Cuba Libre - colourful Caribbean-inspired rum bar in Ponsonby, with "the best cuba libres and cubanos in town"

On the Fringe - Mount Eden and Newmarket

• The Midnight Baker - the alternative Freedom Loaf now has its own toast cafe in Mount Eden, with a menu free of gluten, wheat, dairy, and also 95% vegan and refined sugar free (opened 1 September)
• Eiffel en Eden - this French cafe has a new premise in Mount Eden since its original location in Three Kings is being demolished
• The Good Home - this chain of pubs has now opened in Mount Eden
• Sip Kitchen - new branch of this North Shore cafe has brought its smoothies and salads to Newmarket
• [Added 27 March 2017: Soul Sushi - Newmarket sushi store that also serves hot dishes]
• [Added 2 June 2017: Sparrow Cafe - Newmarket cafe that also does catering and can meet most dietary requirements]

On Point

• Spilt Milk - cafe in Point Chevalier with Vietnamese and vegan options, where Coco Cafe used to be, from the owners of Okra Espresso Lounge

Shore Goodness

• Devon on the Wharf - all day eatery with a Mediterranean slant from the Nazar Group (Nomad, Deco, Bodrum Kitchen)
• Madame Jojo's Foodstore - this deli has opened a new branch in Milford
• Petal Cupcakes - the original Newmarket cupcake store has opened a new branch in Takapuna
• [Added 7 September 2016: Moxie - hearty food, fine wines and craft beers in Birkenhead]

Branding New

• These Days - Cassette Nine has repurposed its space into a casual bistro, offering "wonderful food in high places" on Vulcan Lane
• Ocean and a Rock - "Euro-Asian fusion and molecular mixology" at Jafa Cafe in Grey Lynn
• The Archive Bar & Restaurant - a new addition to Mudbrick on Waiheke Island, born from a sculpture by a local artist

Cheap and Cheerful

• Mama Flavour 媽媽味 - Chinese restaurant in Eden Terrace with some interesting menu items
• Bab Deng Deng - Korean fusion food in Mount Eden
• [Added 30 October 2016: Pani Puri - Indian street food at Botany Town Centre with vibrant branding]
• [Added 3 November 2016: Piknik Takeaways - takeaway Filipino food and fish 'n' chips in Onehunga]
• [Added 9 November 2016: King Tut Restaurant - Egyptian food in Otahuhu]
• [Added 22 January 2017: Jojo Burrito - burritos and sides in One Tree Hill]

Other

• Whitford Food Depot - gourmet grocer in Whitford
• Caro's Wines - this wine merchant returns to Grey Lynn, with a minimalist tasting space upstairs
• Soul Bar & Bistro has been refitted
• Frasers is being renovated
• The Roaming Dive's food truck is being sold, to focus on the catering business
• Hell Pizza has launched the Baked brand of supermarket frozen pizzas, currently in Wellington but to be rolled out around the country
• Domino's has demononstrated pizza delivery by drone but others say it is completely unfeasible and just a publicity stunt
• Boy & Bird has been sold to new owners

Coming

• Food Truck Garage Ponsonby - third branch of this healthy fast food vendor is coming to Ponsonby (opening 1 September)
• A'meza - simple food and Asian flavours "at the table" on Dominion Road in Mount Eden, from Daniel Nguyen who mentored the owners of Nanam (opening 2 September)
• Azon - modern Filipino restaurant in Parnell, from 2015 MasterChef NZ finalist Leo Fernandez (opening in September)
• Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar - new flagship store will be at the K'Rd Food Workshop (which will also have Hallertau Brewery, El Sizzling Chorizo, and a new gourmet popcorn offering)(opening in September)
• &Sushi - new branch opening at City Works Depot, where Weirdough & Tuck used to be
• Burger Geek - "locally sourced real burgers" on Upper Symonds Street
• Nice Dumplings - Chinese dumplings and buns on Upper Symonds Street, presumably another branch of the place in Lorne St
• Velvet Burger - new branch opposite Sky City, where Mi used to be
• Kowi Chicken - Korean fried chicken will be in Mount Eden, assuming it's the same as the takeaway in Pakuranga
• Cafe Saigon - Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Kingsland, where Loop used to be
• Bald Eagle Diner - American diner in Mission Bay
• Goodness Gracious will be opening a second branch in Parnell by the end of the year
• As yet unnamed eateries
• European bar and brasserie at the old Ponsonby Post Office
• Bar and eatery in a former public toilet block near the Viaduct

Events

• Urban Street Fest (Thursday 1 September) - new Thursday night street food market in Kingsland
• Foodspace A4 Downtown (Fridays 2, 9 16, 23, 30 Septermber) - food trucks downtown every Friday in September from 11:30am - 9pm
• Symposium of Gastronomy (2 - 4 September) - "A group of academic, professional and amateur gastronomers" get together to "explore the way food, art and artifice combine and play with our senses"
• Chocolate and Coffee Show (3 - 4 September) - 3rd annual showcase of chocolate producers and coffee roasters at The Cloud
• Sabato Night Market (Thursday 8 September) - street food and live music in Mount Eden
• Mexican Independence Dinner (Thursday 15 September) - taste authentic Mexican food like pozole in this celebration at Besos Latinos
• Souk El Auckland (24 - 25 September) - showcase of Lebanese food and heritage [Added 24 September 2016: now pushed out to 15 October]
• Festival Italiano (25 September) - Italian festival with food and entertainment in Newmarket
• Otahuhu's Ethnic Food Festival (Saturday 15 October) - street food galore in Otahuhu
• Auckland Diwali Festival 2016 (15 - 16 October) - performances, street food stalls and fireworks in Aotea Square to celebrate ethnic diversity and experience Indian culture