Auckland Diner's Diary: April 2016

Market Munchies

• Manok - "wing and potato" mobile vendor, appearing on occasion in places like the Food Truck Stop
• [Added 23 July 2016: Guerrilla Grill - grilled cheese sandwiches at multiple markets, using bread from the Crafty Baker]
• [Added 1 October 2016: Earthspot - food truck with organic baking and burgers, salad bowls, smoothies, and homemade chai on the menu, generally at Milwater or Browns Bay (officially opened on 30 March, though they gave out free hot cross buns a couple of days earlier)]
• [Added 2 October 2016: Pasta Masta - pasta seller at various markets]
• [Added 30 November 2016: Lili Gourmet - crepes made from organic flour]

Eats Around Town

• Lobby Bar & Eatery - food and wine in Vulcan Lane, from the team from the Gin Room upstairs
• Lucky Lucky Dumplings - pop-up dumpling house above a strip joint on K'Rd, with head chef Yukio Ozeki from Ebisu
• Boracay Garden - Filipino restaurant in Viaduct Harbour with a large menu
• Taco Joint - container stall at The University of Auckland, basically a mini version of Mexicali Fresh
• [Added 5 June 2016: Shaky Isles - a new branch of this cafe has opened at The University of Auckland]
• [Adde 23 July 2016: &Co. Co-operative Kitchen (Colab Kitchen) - cafe at the bottom of the new Fonterra building on Fanshawe Street, showcasing what dairy can do]
• [Added 3 September 2016: Zhou's Alley 周家胡同 - little Chinese eatery in Durham Street East, with noodle soups]

Capital Coffee

• L'affare Melrose - Wellington institution L'affare has opened a cafe in Newmarket in a former industrial warehouse, with fresh, vibrant food for breakfast or lunch
• Red Rabbit - this Wellingtonian coffee roaster has relocated to Auckland, with a pop-up in Parnell offering coffee and salted caramel cookies from Wellington's Leeds Street Bakery, until their cafe next door is ready

City Fringe Openings

• Locānta - Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Cooking in Grey Lynn, from two husband and wife duos, one of whom is behind the Tasca eateries
• The Raw Kitchen - new branch is a takeaway store in Newmarket, with both healthful salads and raw cakes
• Onslow - family owned bar and eatery in Mount Eden, where Peasant used to be, with sharing plates and small dishes designed by experienced head chef Pip Wylie

News in the North

• Ramen Lab - ramen seller at the bottom of an apartment block in Takapuna, with NZ free range charsiu pork and a vegetarian option
• Burger Burger & Fish Fish - new branches of these popular eateries have opened side by side in a hybrid restaurant at Fortieth & Hurstmere, and in a space larger than the original Ponsonby Central stores
• Beretta Pizzeria - pizza joint in Takapuna formerly known as Blunderbuss

A Class of Its Own

• Kiss Kiss - cafe by day, Chiang Mai-style dining hall by night, the latest venture from the owners of L'oeuf and Chinoiserie is a welcome addition to Balmoral
• [Added 14 July 2016: Timbuktu Nomadic Deli - deli on Waiheke Island with street food from around the world, frozen and cook at home meals, and vegetarian, vegan and local artisan products]

Right at the Edges

• Jin Jin - contemporary Asian-inspired eatery in Matakana
• The Goodness Kitchen - clean eating cafe in Pukekohe, next to The Goodness Grocer store run by the owner's brother

Movable Pop-ups

• Ghetto Soul - these food experimentalists headed by former Depot and Major Sprout chef Ethan Botha bring us street food from around the world, such as Louisianian creole jambalaya and South African boerewors. Their next event is Hip Hop Burg at the Late Night Diner (6-7 May).
• Hundred Acre Food - pop-up patisserie from former My Kitchen Rules contestant Dan Freeman

Other

• Good Grocer - Hipgroup has opened in grocery store in Kohimarama, including an onsite butchery, with local and seasonal produce delivered each day, as well as stocking Milse's gelato sticks, bread and ready meals; apparently refillable macadamia milk bottles are on the way
• Huckleberry Parnell - Organic grocer Huckleberry has opened a new branch in Parnell, in the Saatchi & Saatchi building
• Hallertau has opened a biergarten

Coming

• True Food and Yoga - "wellness hub in an inspirational setting" on Tamaki Drive, where Hammerheads used to be, from Masu's Nic Watt and his wife Kelly, with local, nutrient-dense food, as well as two yoga studios (mid-June)
• Burg'z - organic burgers at Elliott Stables

Events

• Jafa by Night - this successful pop-up bistro is offering a series of degustations (11-14 and 18-21 May) before shutting up shop to re-open in a permanent location
• The Dinner Crowd - a series of Friday night winter dinners at Homestead (27 May / 17 Jun / 22 Jul / 19 Aug 2016)
• [Added 9 May 2016: Break Bread (Saturday 28 May) - stories and food to bring refugees and Kiwis together]