Auckland Diner's Diary: August 2017

Bubble Waffle Craze

• [Added 16 September 2017: Degree Celsius | °C - flavoured egg waffles, eggette cones and cold drinks at the Auckland Night Markets]
• [Added 16 September 2017: Eat Bubble Waffle 雞蛋仔 - eggette food truck at the Botany Town Centre]
• [Added 9 October 2017: bubbles - more bubble waffle ice cream, this time from a little store in Newmarket]

Central Eating

• Inti - named after the Incan sun god, this game-changing restaurant headed by executive chef Javier Carmona serves up ancient Hispanic cuisine by the Chancery, with such exotic ingredients as ants and crickets, huitlacoche (a fungus that grows on ears of corn) and Incan potatoes
• Seven - bar and eatery on the rooftop of the Seafarers building, with pan-Asian delicacies from Ebisu’s head chef Fred Wong
• The Paddock - British and Irish dishes including beef Wellington and the traditional Scotch egg, at Elliott Stables
• Fry Baby - Belgian fries and sauces using hand-cut Pukekohe agria potatoes fried in refined coconut oil at Snickel Lane
• [Added 16 September 2017: Waiwera Hotel - "Old English Club Lounge & Bar" on Drake Street]
• [Added 4 October 2017: K Street Food - Korean street food on High Street]
• [Added 9 October 2017: Okay Takeaways 大家樂快餐店 - Chinese snacks and roast meat as well as fish and chips on Symonds St]
• [Added 11 December 2017: Namaste Infusion Kitchen - Indian eatery on Hobson Street]
• [Added 4 May 2018: Cookie Cafe - Allpress coffee and cabinet food at Sugartree Lane]
• [Added 5 May 2018: Soo Yum - Taiwan snacks at Sugartree Lane]

Fringe Openings - Ponsonby

• Lei Cafe - colourful "Poly style cafe" from brother and sister duo Saione Greer and Natasha Finau, with French Poly Toast, Pani Popo and more on the menu
• Poké Bar - first international outlet of the Californian franchise serving the Hawaiian raw fish salad
• The Rocket Store now has a bagel bar serving Best Ugly Bagels with both sweet and savoury toppings

Fringe Openings - Other

• Mix - Asian fusion kitchen in Kingsland with such dishes as Korean style ribs, cumin lamb, baos, dumplings and Peking duck
• Ivy & Bean - Mount Eden cafe with sandwiches, salads, sweet treats and of course coffee
• Luv A Pie - the supplier of handmade pies has opened a retail lunch bar on Upper Symonds Street in Eden Terrace
• Uptown Alley - coffee shop from Uptown Freehouse
• Makana Confections - new store in Newmarket from the boutique chocolate maker with factories in Kerikeri and Blenheim

Hungry Up North

• Glasshouse - cafe in Northcote with an Asian bent
• Songket Malaysian Cafe - Malaysian cuisine in Northcote with flat noodles made in-house
• The Taste - Thai takeaway in Devonport 
• Jamaica Blue - eighth store of the coffee franchise in NZ has opened in Browns Bay
• [Added 5 December 2017: Dear Coasties - pet-friendly cafe in Orewa with brunch favourites as well as superfood lattes]

Further Food

• Hare and Turtle - cafe in New Windsor with hot sandwiches and cinnamon buns, from band members turned Best Ugly Bagel makers, turned cafe owners, where Sweetie Cafe used to be
• Small Fry - "next level sambos", cakes and coffee from Miss Changy at the Te Tuhi gallery in Pakuranga
• Food Inn - Indian takeaway in Sandringham with dishes such as Lucknowi biryani, Dragon Chicken, Bombay Chowpatty, Banjara Mutton, and Daal Do Rangi
• [Added 1 October 2017: Miss Bao 小食代 - Chinese and European takeaway in Epsom]
• [Added 5 Dec 2017: Wang Da 旺达美食 - Chinese restaurant in Balmoral]
• [Added 1 January 2018: Flying Pan - Asian takeaway in Mount Roskill, with food such as Thai roti and pad thai]
• [Added 14 January 2018: Food Inn - Indian eatery in Sandringham, with items such as Lucknow chicken biryani, gobi manchurian and Goan egg masala]
• [Added 3 May 2018: Little Hinge - cafe in Maraetai]

Coming Soon

• Nanam has closed its doors in Royal Oak but promises a new door will open in November
• Sproutsy Family Eatery will be opening in Royal Oak
• Soul Thai will also be opening in Royal Oak
• More branches of Poké Bar are due to open in Sylvia Park (October) and Queen Street (in the new year)

Coming Later

• Australian craft brewery Little Creatures has selected Catalina Bay at Hobsonville Point to be its first New Zealand home (late 2018), in the 1500 sq. m. Sunderland Hangar which will also have a dining hall with premium fish and chips and an all-day cafe
• Commercial Bay, the downtown site of the PwC Tower under construction (due 2019), will have food accounting for 25% of a three-floor retail space, including
• Harbour Eats - food hall with about 700 seats and a "wall of fire" for all thing BBQ
• Saxon + Parole - Auckland branch of the acclaimed New York eatery known for "meat-centric eats" from Michelin-starred chef Brad Farmarie
• [Added 4 May 2018: Sugartree Lane in the city block bounded by Union, Cook and Nelson Streets, is looking for retailers, cafes, bars and service providers, and will have rooftop dining in stage 3 of its development]

Closed

• The iconic Fish Pot Cafe at Mission Bay has closed after 30 years of service
• [Added 29 December 2017: The owners of Burger Queen in Mount Albert have decided to retire after 15 years]

Other

• Tui Flower, a food hero to some of New Zealand's most influential chefs, has died at 92
• Gratis Free Store redistributes quality unused food from local eateries on Mondays at Holm on K'Rd
• Auckland Night Markets has relaunched at Sylvia Park and opened a second Hamilton market
• The Lucky Taco has launched Lucky Street Meal Kits, with recipes from Auckland's finest street food eateries
• [Added 8 September 2017: NJK 生活達人 Asian Supermarket has a moved down the road to a new location in Newmarket]
• [Added 5 January 2018: Sweet Haven is selling Filipino sweet treats to order] 
• [Added 5 January 2018: She Bakes Dough is also selling Filipino delights, including ube cream cake, ensaymada rolls, and Pinoy classic egg pie, as well as glazed donuts, cupcakes and cinnamon rolls] 

Events

• Kellogg's Cafe Pop-Up (30 August - 5 September) - five cereal-inspired dishes at Aotea Square, with proceeds helping support the Auckland City Mission
• The Vegan Truck Stop (Thursday 7 September) - plant-based street food at La Cigale in Parnell
• BCD - Beer, Chicken Donut (8-17 September) - deep fried chicken and donuts in a collaboration between Judge Bao and The Pie Piper
• Sabato Market Day (Sunday 10 September) - food trucks, parmigiano cracking, "meet the maker", and British Alpine baby goats at the carpark of the gourmet food store
• Breaking Fast with Mimi Gilmour Buckley (Wednesday 13 September) - light breakfast, coffee and discussion with the founder of Burger Burger, Fish Fish and Mexico at L'affare Melrose in Newmarket
• Sidart North to South (Thursday 14 September) - Sidart celebrates its 8th birthday with a special collaboration between Chef Giulio Sturla of Roots and Chef Sid Sahrawat of Sidart, using foraged ingredients
• Seasons, Sustainability and Minimal Waste Lunch (Wednesday 20 September) - five-course zero-waste lunch at Amano as part of Britomart's Better September
• The Chocolate and Coffee Show 2017 (23 - 24 September) - celebration of chocolate, coffee and other treats
• Otahuhu Food Festival 2017 (Saturday 30 September) - annual event in Otahuhu with over 100 food stalls
• Green Bay Street Food (Saturday 30 September) - monthly West Auckland street eats event returns, this time on a Saturday
• Beer and Bacon Festival (Saturday 30 September) - event from the Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen with bacon beverages, as well as a bacon eating championship with prizes
• Festival Italiano Day (Sunday 1 October) - free community street party in Newmarket, as part of the Italian festival month organised by Dante Alighieri Italian Society of Auckland
• Koto One (Monday 2 October) - annual fundraising event for Koto, a non-profit organisation for disadvantaged Vietnamese youth, held at Sen Vietnamese Kitchen & Bar
• Taste of Auckland (16-19 November) - annual event showcasing signature dishes from Auckland restaurants, at Western Springs