Auckland Diner's Diary: June 2017

Mobile Stalls

• [Added 1 October 2017:Delicious Goal - stall at the Glenfield night market, with what seems to be robot knife-shaved noodles]
• [Added 1 October 2017:Ugly Hotdogs - handmade hotdogs, encrusted with a choice of noodles, nachos, breadcrumbs or cornflakes]
• [Added 6 December 2017: Village Cafe - food truck and social enterprise from chef Maria Hunt in Māngere East, with support from the Ākina Foundation]

New in the City - Eye Opening Eats

• Giraffe - Viaduct restaurant from Simon Gault after a 2-year hiatus, so named by his daughter, with such unusual dishes as pigtail lettuce cups and dehydrated beef tendons
• The Chamberlain - Britomart gastropub where TSG used to be, with chef Oliver Fitton offering us deep fried pies and bacon nuggets, and handmade sausage made in-house

New in the City - Asian Flavours

• Huami 花蜜 - "a taste of old Shanghai" at SkyCity, showcasing cuisine from across China, including Canton, Sichuan, Huaiyang and Beijing, with signature dishes such as wood-fired Peking duck from NZ's first wood-fired duck oven and sustainably sourced seafood, delivered by a seasoned team (opened 1 July)
• Cinta Malaysian - a new branch of the Malaysian restaurant is now downtown in the PwC building
• Dumpling Box - dumplings, gua bao and crepes for takeaway on Commerce Street, somewhat bigger than their Elliott Street shack
• [Added 4 July 2017: Hà Nội Corner - "authentic Vietnamese cuisine" including phở, bánh mì, fresh hot bánh cuốn and many types of bún at Queens Court (officially open 1 July)] 

New in the City - Coffees, Cakes and Cocktails

• Daily Daily Coffeemakers - small K'Rd coffee bar with stroopwafels and other treats
• Custom Lane - coffee and bites, including Doornut donuts, and cocktails in the evening, in a revamped laneway by the Grand Mercure hotel downtown, featuring tiki artwork from Owen Dippie
• Satya Chai Lounge - K'Rd outpost of the Satya South Indian restaurant empire has been transformed into the second chai lounge from Sammy Akuthota, with mouthwatering snacks as well as craft beer and cocktails
• Talulah - tiki bar above The Chamberlain on Tyler Street, with an extensive range of drinks in theatrical glassware, made with fresh juices, custom made syrups and Caribbean rums
• Aura Seaside - cafe by day, bar by night with a European vibe at Viaduct Harbour
• Minnie's - espresso bar at the Auckland Fish Market, named after Minnie Casey, Alfred Sanford's first fishing schooner
• [Added 2 September 2017: Mojo Coffee has opened another branch at The University of Auckland]

Fringe Openings - Ponsonby / Herne Bay / Grey Lynn

• Honeybear - Indian Burmese-infused eatery at Ponsonby Central with a short menu including a (huge) $7 dosa, where you are expected to eat with your paws, from acclaimed hospitality duo Mark Wallbank and Che Barrington (The Blue Breeze Inn, Chop Chop Noodle House, Moochowchow, Woodpecker Hill)
• The Halcyon - Bohemian Herne Bay bistro from the experienced trio behind Auckland favourite Ponsonby Road Bistro (Melissa Morrow, Blair Russell and Sarah Conway), where Andiamo used to be
• Annabel's Wine Bar - neighbourhood wine bar from childhood friends Henry Temple and Oliver Scutts at the Three Lamps end of Ponsonby Road, with a simple European menu and of course international and local wines by the glass
• Beatrix - Owner Mariette van Steensel brings a taste of the Netherlands to her Herne Bay cafe, with a European breakfast smorgasboard, as well as cabinet food and homemade buckwheat granola (opened 30 May)
• Honeybones - Grey Lynn cafe on Richmond Road
• Burger Lab - burger joint offering the classics and some new creations in Herne Bay, with aioli made with sous vide egg yolks
• Malay Parlour - Malay fusion dishes in Ponsonby, with a modern menu linked to KK Malaysia's

Fringe Openings - Parnell

• Simon and Lee - cosy cafe with tasty Korean influences in a former carpet warehouse in Parnell, brainchild of David Lee (Major Sprout and Dear Jervois) and Ollie Simon (Supreme Coffee and Six Barrel Soda Co.)
• Goodness Gracious - Parnell branch of the Eden Terrace bagel joint, with much the same menu from owner Greg Cornes and chef Steph Ahdo
• [Added 8 July 2017: Crunch Tower - Casa Del Gelato in Parnell has relaunched, expanding beyond freakshakes to insta-worthy desserts using eggette waffle cones]

More Coffees and Cakes

• Duck Duck Goose - cafe and catering in Rosedale with colourful lattes and freshly baked donuts
• Moustache - the popular milk and cookie bar has opened a third branch at Orakei Bay Village in their 1979 Bedford bus
• [Added 30 July 2017: Oasis Cafe - Howick cafe with such items as edamame toast and dairy-, sugar- and wheat-free breakfast jars]
• [Added 8 September 2017: Table Talk - Remuera cafe from the people behind Mint Cakery]
• [Added 30 December 2017: Oasis Cafe - child-friendly Howick cafe with gluten-free options, bruleed drinks and dairy-free and sugar-free smoothies]

Around and About

• Five - restaurant and bar in Mission Bay, from an award winning chef
• Mr Zhou's Dumplings 周记饺子馆 - new branch of the dumpling house has opened in Mount Eden, this time run by Mr Zhou's wife, serving not just dumplings but also sizzling pork, hand pulled noodles and other dishes
• PappaRich - another branch of the Malaysian franchise has opened at Sylvia Park mall
• The Brook - bar & kitchen in East Tamaki
• [Added 23 July 2017: Hungry Head Cafe 太和麵家- Hong Kong style cha chaan teng in Burswood]
• [Added 30 July 2017: The Curry Master - Indian restaurant in Birkenhead, where Indique used to be]
• [Added 2 September 2017: Spicy Palace 渝膳煌 - Chinese restaurant in Epsom, where Mambo Italiano used to be]
• [Added 9 September 2017: 小天府 串串香 Xiao Tian Fu - chuan chuan xiang dining in Balmoral, where food on skewers is cooked at the table in spicy broth]
• [Added 1 October 2017: Kahye Manila - Filipino cafe and eatery in Panmure, with such dishes as bansilog, pork isaw and ube with leche flan]
• [Added 4 October 2017: Jing An Shang Hai 静安上海菜馆 - Shanghai food in Rosedale]
• [Added 4 November 2017: Fortune Beijing Duck Restaurant喜福来 北京烤鸭 - Beijing duck in Botany, where Kanda used to be]

Coming

• Ain't No Taco - tacos, salads and drinks on Upper Symonds Street (opening early July)
• Feriza's - fresh handmade gozleme and takeaway coffee at North Wharf (opening July)
• Ace Kitchen & Espresso - Mount Eden deli(?) using organic meat, free range pork and halal chicken
• KFC - Fort Street branch of the global chicken brand
• Bowl and Arrow - soon opening another branch at the St Georges Bay Road food precinct in Parnell

Plan from Colliers

Other - New Restaurant Offerings

• Everybody Eats is a three course dinner on Monday nights at Gemmayze Street, where you pay whatever amount you like
• Oum Pillaiyar Trader is no longer selling groceries as it focuses on its Sri Lankan takeaway business
• Ostro celebrates its 4th birthday by relaunching with a new menu and a new look interior

Other - Changing Food Options

• New rules around minced meat got chefs all fired up (and chef Daniel Fraser took the Duke of Martinborough's signature burger off the menu), until the uproar caused the MPI to back-pedal
• Zen Lunchbox - new lunchbox delivery service
• The New Lynn Night Market has closed after 4 years

Other - Supermarkets & Retail

• Foodstuffs is launching a new chain called Fresh Collective by New World, with a focus on fresh produce
• The former owner of the upmarket Nosh Group supermarkets (Veritas) is suing the new owner (Gosh Holdings) over late payments, as stores shut down and suppliers go unpaid, leaving staff in the lurch
• My Food Bag has moved into a new building in Parnell, with a floor dedicated to their Development Kitchen
• Countdown has started selling low-carb potatoes

Other - Big Brands

• Goodman Fielder is closing two pie factories in Auckland, with the Irvine's line moving to the Ernest Adams factory in Palmerston North, while production at Hot Plate will be consolidated to Goodman's larger Quality Bakers Auckland facility
• The Cadbury chocolate factory, the fourth largest employer in Dunedin, will close after 80 years in operation, according to company owners Mondelez International, with production moving to Melbourne as 70% of its products are exported - a crowdfunding campaign to buy the factory has been withdrawn
• McDonald's has teamed up with Kiwi company QuiverVision to introduce an interactive augmented reality experience as part of its Despicable Me 3 promotions
• Coca-Cola has launched Coke No Sugar, designed to be "the best tasting sugar-free Coke" after previous attempts in the form of Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and Coke Life (Coke with Stevia)

Events

• The Dans Le Noir blind dining experience at Rydges hotel is on until 31 August
• Nights at the Gallery (6, 13, 20, 27 July) - dinner series at the Pah Homestead, with a three-course menu from Homestead chef and food columnist Sam Mannering and ex-The French Café chef Brian Choi
• Oaken's Truffle Festival (17 - 30 July) - experience regional, national and international truffle varieties via a lunch and dinner menu, four Chef's Tables events and a Wine Series event at Britomart restaurant Oaken
• [Added 8 July 2017: Urban Street Fest (Thursday 27 July) - indoor street food market in Henderson]
• The Food Show (27 - 30 July) - annual food and wine event at the ASB Showgrounds, with tastings, discounted products, street food, and demos from celebrity chefs
• Auckland Restaurant Month (August) - unique dining events and special meals at participating restaurants, as well as a Street Eats market at Shed 10 on Saturday 19 August
• Britomart Progressive Dinner (17 & 24 August) - four restaurants in one night, with two itineraries to choose from
• Le French Festival (Saturday 26 August) - French festival at Shed 10 culminating in a dinner at three "longue tables" (blue, white or red)