Auckland Diner's Diary: October 2017

Food Trucks & Pop Ups

• Panhead - Wellington brewery is popping up at the Viaduct until March 2018, offering inventive brews with a small American-inspired menu
• Otherside - vegan food from Ellie Barron and Jordan Macann's colourful truck
• [Added 30 December 2017: Hey Bagel - market stall selling all manner of bagels]
• [Added 1 January 2018: Hong Kong Station 香港站 - puffle cone ice creams as well as flavoured eggettes at various markets]

City Openings - Hungry Time

• Monstera - K'Rd deli with takeaway food, from brother-sister duo Tama Moore and Kahu Harrison
• Beast & Butterflies - Asian food collides with Pacific fare at the M Social hotel near Princes Wharf, with chef Scott Gaskin leading the 150-seat space
• Kuro - izakaya on Lorne Street from Hansik restaurant
• The Shucker Brothers - oyster bar at the Ferry Terminal, not just with fresh oysters, but also crab doughnuts, salt cod croquettes and kokoda (opened Friday 3 November)
• [Added 6 December 2017: The Streatery - street eatery inside the Niesh Lounge on Symonds Street]

City Openings - Sweet Treats

• Uncle Tetsu - light and fluffy Japanese cheesecake vendor from the international chain has opened in Auckland, with a visit from the man himself
• Tart Bakery - second branch of the vegan-friendly bakery has opened in St Kevins Arcade
• Sweet Lady Cake and Clay Pot Rice 小爷煲仔饭 - eatery selling cake and claypot rice on Queen Street in town
• Island Gelato - the Waiheke gelateria is opening a second shop at the Ferry Terminal (opened Friday 3 November)

Fringe Eats - Parnell

• Asian Ruby - Vietnamese restaurant where Shanghai Lil's used to be, from chef David Đức
• Han - modern Korean restaurant at The Rise, from Min Baek and Grace Kwon of the Uni-Ko food truck
• Kaiaroha - organic vegan cafe and deli at The Rise with nut cheeses in a temperature-controlled cheese cave
• Next Door Bistro - family-friendly Parnell eatery with food ranging from crayfish tails to deconstructed banh mi, from the people behind Foundation on George next door

Fringe Eats - Ponsonby & Herne Bay

• Hyde Kitchen & Cellar - Ponsonby eatery from restaurateur Erin Palmer and business partner/Head Chef Blair Johnstone, with game meat on the menu
• Archie Cafe - toast and bagels at a multi-purpose retail space by Mr Toms, with Barkers menswear and a barbershop under the same roof
• [Added 11 March 2018: Daisys of Jervois - cafe in Herne Bay with French pastries, sandwiches and sweet treats like ice cream in a matcha waffle cone]

Fringe Eats - Newmarket, Grafton & Mount Eden

• The Wine Cave - upmarket wine retail showroom and tasting venue in Newmarket, with 435 wines, 60 spirits and a selection of craft beers in the main showroom, more exclusive wines in the VIP wine vault, and a warehouse function space, co-founded by Joe Wang, former sommelier at Auckland’s prestigious Northern Club
• Beakers and Jars - cafe in Grafton with burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and healthy options
• 蘭香閣 Lan Xiang Ge Shanghai Cuisine - Shanghai cuisine in Newmarket
• Golden BBQ 金唐燒臘- Cantonese roast meats in Mount Eden where Mount Eden Fisheries used to be, not to be confused with Golden Barbeque Noodle House 千里香 across the road in Eden Quarter

New in the North

• Yeah Bowl - new poke shop in Takapuna, from Phil Cui of food truck Project Paco
• Beam Cafe - Milford cafe from the owners of Fika With Me, with Chinese-Kiwi fusion food, including eggs bene on spring onion pancake, and egg bubble waffle
• Lake Dumplings 赖客餐厅 - dumpling shop in Takapuna has put up new signs in the space formerly known as Like Cafe 赖客小吃
• Nitro Cow - food truck vendor of liquid nitrogen gelato now has a permanent new home in Takapuna, selling their flash-frozen cream as well as egg waffles
• Nanam - Filipino eatery from chefs Jess Granada and Andrew Soriano, with the help of Soriano’s brother Ryan, has grown up and moved from Royal Oak to Takapuna (opened 2 November)
• [Added 7 December 2017: Fred Thomas Cafe - cafe in Takapuna with the usual favourites on the menu]
• [Added 30 December 2017: The Meeting Room - "retro espresso" in Beach Haven, with a Local Harvest shelf for swapping produce]

Further for Food

• Mission Bay Pavilion - Italian-influenced seafood dishes in the old Stonehouse used by missionaries to Melanesia, project by Lucien Law of Savor Group (Seafarers, Ebisu, Azabu and Ostro)
• Lorong Eatery - Malaysian street and hawker food in Panmure from chef Sean Ping, including satay over charcoal every Sunday
• Taco Loco - Brazilians Marcelo Bianchessi and Roger Moraes behind the Mexican food truck have opened a cantina in Mount Albert, where Sprout used to be
• Papaya Thai Kitchen - Thai food in Epsom
• Kookiehaus - market vendor of cookies now has a permanent home in West Auckland, selling not just cookies, but also "kookie dough shakes & deep-fried kookie dough"
• [Added 6 December 2017: Domain Eatery - Henderson gem with galettes, fried chicken waffles and burgers, as well as Pasifica-influenced items]
• [Added 27 December 2017: Ladybird - cafe at Airport Oaks with fusion food, desserts and catering]
• [Added 3 February 2018: Manna Kitchen - Filipino food in Te Atatu, including whole pig and pork belly spit roast to order, and halo halo]

Coming

• Monstera - second branch of the deli is coming soon to Ponsonby Central
• Panda Cheese Tart 潘达芝士挞 - Chinese brand of cheese tarts with panda designs will be opening on Queen Street
• Kiin - Thai food (?) in Mount Eden where Kahlua Artisan Bakery & Cafe was briefly
• Fryday 炸翻天 - Taiwanese XL fried chicken and bao on Dominion Road in Mount Eden
• Exciting, innovative food experience in Mount Eden, where Blend used to be
• Hangi Master - food truck from Rewi Spraggon will park up on Queens Wharf in the summer
• Williams Eatery - all day eatery at Wynyard Quarter, from Charles Williams and his brother Patrick (mid-January)
• Mad Mex - Mexican chain will be opening a branch in the Datacom building at Wynyard Quarter as a joint venture (early 2018)
• New development at Long Bay will have a supermarket and five restaurants

Closed/Closing

• Ceremony - Connor Nestor and Charles Williams have closed their community-focused cafe to focus on their next projects
• Olly - pitstop for doughnuts, art and coffee has closed due to issues with the Crystal Palace building
• Clooney - high end restaurant is closing after 11 years after an argument between owner Tony Stewart and chef Jacob Kear

Other

• The market at Hobsonville Point has been relaunched as Catalina Bay Farmers Market
• There's a new community food pantry in New Lynn
• The Grocer's Market is taking over Nosh's Mount Eden store, after the former upmarket supermarket chain was placed in receivership in July  (opening 8 Nov)
• Auckland dining institution SPQR is for sale
• Scandibunz is delivering Swedish cinammon buns, including a gingerbread variety from 1 Dec
• [Added 5 January 2018: Cuisinay is offering homemade Filipino dishes such as spicy gourmet tuyo, beef kare-kare, crispy lechon kawali, and cuchinta and has been in business for at least a year]
• MPI is cracking down on unregistered cooks, including online food sellers

Events

• Botanical Bazaar (1-5 November) - "sensory cocktail and food experience exploring the flavours of far-off lands" from Bombay Sapphire, at the Fresh Factory in Eden Terrace
• Pop-up series at Gypsy Caravan
• Alt Cuisine (Monday 6 November) - collaboration between Conor Wiremu and Alok Vasanth, the respective head chefs of Ponsonby's Orphans Kitchen and modern Indian restaurant Cassia
• Ételek at Gypsy Caravan (Tuesday 7 November) - modern Hungarian Jewish food from Adam Wolfers
• Feleoko Vegan (Wednesday 8 November) - full plant-based set menu from Tongan head chef Touvai ‘Tee’ Poloniati
• Vegan Truck Stop (Thursday 7 November) - vegan-only food trucks at La Cigale in Parnell
• The Bearded Clam @ Crosstown Burger Spot (Friday 10 November) - burger duo Adam Crickett and Ryan Kneebone of The Bearded Clam is taking over Goodness Gracious Parnell with their cheeseburgers, chilli cheese fries, and fried chicken
• Taste of Auckland (16-19 November) - annual event showcasing signature dishes from Auckland restaurants, at Western Springs
• German Christmas Market at Green Bay (Saturday 25 November) - annual German Christmas Market returns to the Green Bay Community House
• Night Noodle Markets (1 - 10 December) - pop-up market which started in Australia 18 years ago is returning to Auckland for 10 days of Asian hawker-style food at Victoria Park
• Jingle and Mingle (Wednesday 6 December) - festive progressive dinner at four Britomart restaurants (The Store, Ebisu, Amano, Ostro) for one night only
• Brazilian Day Festival 2018 (Saturday 27 January) - annual celebration of Brazilian culture, food, music and dance at Rocket Park in Mount Albert
• Meatstock Auckland 2018 (24 - 25 February) - music and barbecue festival at the ASB Showgrounds