Auckland Diner's Diary: April 2017

K'Rd Pop-Ups

• ¡Vamos! (19 - 20 May, further dates TBC) - taco pop-up at St Kevin's Arcade, from Dan Freeman, Brandon Harper and Kyle Myburgh
• Cotto (from 4 May for 12 weeks) - handmade pasta pop-up at 69 bar, from Hayden Phiskie and John Pountney who previously hail from the beloved Grey Lynn Italian eatery, Delicious
• [Added 10 May 2017: Judge Bao vs Lovebucket (11-13, 18-20 and 25-27 May) - contemporary Chinese food pops up for three weekends at Lovebucket bar]

Market Stalls

• 88 Spices - Malaysian food like laksa, curry puffs, chicken satay and yam cake at the Clevedon Farmers Market
• Nom Nom - Bánh Mì style sandwiches and more, at various markets including the Coatesville and Glenfield ones
• Bow and Tie - specialty coffee from an espresso bicycle, generally at Ellerslie train station, though they've also been out and about
• [Added 22 October 2017: Allen's Char Kuay Teow - market stall selling the popular Malaysian street food]
• [Added 3 February 2018: Bite Me - food truck with burgers and fusion food from chef Craig Scholten and CC at various farmers and night markets]

City Openings - Cafe Culture

• Between - K'Road cafe from Anna Lee of High Street's The Shelf, so named because of its location between two Rockshop outlets, and the food which bridges Asian and European cuisine
• Middleton - "classy" eatery in the lobby of a refurbished high rise in the middle of town, with weekday brunch options and a bar menu after 3pm
• Bones - hole-in-the-wall one-man coffee bar on Vulcan Lane , with a mural by freelance artist Cinzah Merkens, from Hunter McLeod and Kristal Hale of Fort St’s Cargo Coffee

City Openings - Other

• 1947 Eatery - "Indian culinary journey" with cocktails on Federal Street, where Miami Grill and Handi used to be
• 縁 En Izakaya and Teppanyaki - Japanese restaurants opposite Pappa Rich in the Sky City Metro building, with a bit of fun and theatrics at the teppanyaki table
• 가야 Kaya - Korean restaurant on Lorne Street, where Tony's used to be
• BBQ Duck Cafe - third branch of the Cantonese style eatery has opened in the lane connecting Swanson Street and Queen Street
• Got Pasta - market vendor of fresh pasta now has a permanent location on Elliott Street
• Better Burger - third branch of the burger joint has opened right at the Britomart Train Station, despite their original store being only metres away
• [Added 5 May 2017: The Lantern Alley - modern Asian food on K'Road, including giant soup dumplings]
• [Added 1 July 2017: Paper Crane - Asian fusion food halfway between North Wharf and Victoria Park]

Food on the Fringe - High End

• Kai Pasifika - tastes of Polynesia at Auckland's first fine dining Pacific restaurant, from award-winning chef Robert Oliver, where Ika used to be at the top of Mount Eden Road
• Gerome - high end Greek restaurant in Parnell, where Iguaçu used to be, with a 4.2 metre charcoal wood fire grill and rotisserie custom made in Perth for head chef James Kenny, who trained under Gordon Ramsey

[Added 14 May 2017:

Food on the Fringe - Cafe Charm

• Harlan Pepper Food Co - cafe in Kingsland with Instagrammable dishes that also cater to those on a vegan or gluten-free diet, from Hemi Gibson and Todd Lawrence, who already have two award-winning cafes in Hamilton
• Elisabeth - dessert spot in Kingsland where you can get coffee till late, with a multicultural menu from Rosh Java and husband Upul Hettiappu, including bakhlava crumble and fairy floss hot chocolates

]

Food on the Fringe - Cheap Eats

• Pedro's House of Lamb - takeaway lamb shoulder and potatoes in Ponsonby, from Christchurch restaurateurs Pedro and Iñaki Carazo
• 重慶小面 Chongqing Hot Noodle - Chongqing hot noodles opposite Eden Noodles Cafe in Mount Eden
• 八十八度 重庆小面 Chongqing Noodles - More Chongqing noodles, next to Viet Kitchen in Mount Eden, where Mr Pot used to be (actually opened in February)
• 金頂山 Golden Summit - Chinese eatery where King's Dumpling used to be, next to Videon in Mount Eden

Bayside Dining

• Ampersand - casual 120-seater bar and eatery with a "coffee alley" in Orakei Bay Village, a collaboration between Mikey Newlands (ex-Bracu), his sommelier partner Amanda Rogers (ex-Sidart) and Espresso Workshop’s Andrew Smart
• Bird on a Wire - third restaurant for the free range chook specialist has opened in Orakei Bay Village
• L'Oriental Fusion 鑫光盛宴 - Asian fusion restaurant in Mission Bay

More Cheap Eats

• Paradise Takeaway - this Indian dining empire is taking over Sandringham, with a new takeaway venue in between its main and buffet restaurants!
• 馮師傅蘭州拉面 Yong's Hand Pulled Noodles - fourth branch of this Lanzhou pulled noodle eatery has opened in Balmoral, where Cafe Manchuria used to be
• 一麻一辣 Hot & Spicy Pot - this malatang has shifted up to the other side of the road to where Tanoshimu Yakiniku used to be

Northern Delights

• Poké Poké - Hawaiian salad bowls from a former pharmacist at Fortieth & Hurstmere in Takapuna
• Rothko - restaurant and bar helmed by Jarrod McGregor (ex Orphans Kitchen) within the multi-million dollar Sculptureum art garden in Matakana, which also has an exotic bird aviary and a live rabbit exhibition, brainchild of Auckland-based lawyers Anthony and Sandra Grant
• [Added 10 May 2017: Frankie's Argentinian BBQ and Pastas - Argentinian steaks, sandwiches and pizzas in Takapuna]

Coming

• Marllie's - Dominion Road cafe from Mark and Billie of the Madison Cafe Group, where Onslow Bar & Eatery used to be (opening in May)
• The Grove - not to be confused with the fine dining restaurant by St Patrick's Square, this is a $9.1 million expansion of the dining lane at Sylvia Park, with six new restaurants, a new square and a dining pavilion, including Britomart Hospitality Group's Mexico and Better Burger (opening in December)

Other

• The Hobsonville Point Farmers Market has relocated to the Fabric Bay building next door  [Updated link on 22 October 2017 from https://www.facebook.com/hobsonvillepointfarmersmarket/posts/1608987949125215]
• Maori cuisine is in the spotlight in a new TV show Tradition on a Plate
• Rice Runner wants to deliver East Asian food for your lunch
• [Added 11 May 2017: The food delivery space grows even more, with NZ Post partnering with Menulog to deliver meals]

Events

• Taste of Puketāpapa (26 April - 7 May) - try signature dishes from various eateries for a chance to win free dining for a year
• Swiss Market Day (Saturday 6 May) - annual celebration of Swiss food and culture in Penrose
• [Added 5 May 2017: Gypsy Supper (Tuesday 9 May) - three-course vegan dinner at Gypsy Caravan, as part of their vege focus throughout the month of May]
• [Added 12 May 2017: Orphans Kitchen x The Tasting Shed (Friday 19 May) - 2-course breakfast collaboration at Orphans Kitchen]
• Russian Days (Saturday 27 May) - Russian experience in Western Springs
• Winetopia (9-10 June) - wine tasting event at Shed 10
• Hiakai (14-18 June) - 8-course tasting menu for traditional Māori cookery in a tent in Kumeu