I know, I know, I am super late on the bandwagon, but I finally made it… and I am so glad I did! It was everything I imagined and more.
Cotto originally opened as a handmade-pasta pop up, but two years later they still occupy the same spot. Why, you may ask? Well, the team behind Cotto serve incredible Italian-inspired food. And some of the most flavourful dishes I have tried in Auckland. And the best part? Ordering 10 plus dishes between four will only cost you around $45, including a cocktail/beer/wine. Such a steal!
Their menu is designed to be shared and is split into four sections by price – $5, $15, $20 and $10. Two of our group were vegetarians, but when looking at the menu, all I wanted to eat were the vegetarian dishes so this worked out really well. Everything we ordered was spot on. And full of cheese. Absolutely brilliant, because cheese is life. Below are all the dishes we savoured:
$5
Farinata
A delicious crispy bread made with chickpea flour, olive oil and water and topped with sea salt, rosemary and sage.
Heirloom Tomato and Shallot
We decided these were the best tomatoes we had eaten all summer, plus it was the perfect starter to our feast that awaited.
$15
Spinach and Goats Cheese Dumplings with Fried Sage
Think big buttery dumplings with generous fillings and topped with crispy fried sage leaves. This dish left me oohing and aahing for the duration of the night. These are seriously the real deal.
Smoked Chickpea Mozzarella Chips with Almond Aioli
Another highlight of the night! Give me a plate of these any day and I will be one happy gal!
Fried Eggplant with Roast Tomato Basil and Whipped Ricotta
My least favourite dish of the night, however, would have eaten the whipped ricotta on its own… may or may not have dipped my Farinata bread into it too… dreamy!
$20
Basil Gnocchi with Zucchini, Stracciatella and Pinenuts
Soft and fluffy gnocchi and oozing with stringy cheese…! Really enjoyed this dish and could have happily eaten another plate or two.
Ravioli with Spinach, Buffalo Mozzarella, Tomato and Dried Olives
A lovely simple dish, but quite a small portion for the price.
$10
Chocolate Nemesis with Salted Caramel
A very rich chocolatey dessert, so best shared with your fellow dining companions!
Affogato
I have never ever ordered affogato for dessert before, because hey, you can make this at home… but hello dreamy… we left with some huge grins on our faces!
Panna Cotta with Mascarpone Plum and Grappa Sorbet
If you are dining at Cotto in the near future, order their Panna Cotta as your choice of dessert and you will not be disappointed. The panna cotta was perfectly set and melt in your mouth. A beautiful dessert and one of the highlights of the night!
Food aside, service was efficient and the meals arrived in a well staggered manner. The atmosphere is lively, with great music and at times noisy, but the vibe cosy. Note they don’t take small group bookings, so be prepared to not be seated upon arrival, however you are welcome to sit at the bar while you wait… definitely recommend ordering a Spritz or two!
Thank you Cotto for an incredible foodie experience – I cannot wait to go back x
You can probably tell from my Instagram feed that I love FRIED CHICKEN.
Whenever I am craving comfort food, Pizza or Fried Chicken comes to mind. We are blessed with many eateries serving EPIC Fried Chicken around Auckland, so I thought why not share with you all my top places to get your Fried Chicken Fix! It was difficult narrowing this list down to my Top 12… may need to write another post, but hope you enjoy!
Honourable mentions go to: Poong Ra in East Tamaki, OBar in CBD, Seoul Night in Fort Lane, and Orleans (previously in Britomart and now at Auckland Airport).
#1 Sneaky Snacky
If you’re like me and love a good burger, a good donut, oh and Fried Chicken, then you are going to love Sneaky Snacky. They serve American style burgers with a Korean flare. Order their EPIC Hot Chicken Donut Burger ($16) for the ultimate foodgasm – think succulent juicy Nashville hot chicken paired with dill mayo, pickled cucumber, and American cheese.
And the best part? The bun is a fresh homemade donut!!! Choose sugar glazed or plain; I recommend sugar glazed if you love that sweet/salty combination. Also, don’t leave without ordering a side of MSG fries – yummy! Note: It gets verrrrry messy. So much so they provide you with gloves, which is super fun!
I first tried My Fried Chicken literally a day before we were going into NZ’s first Lockdown – could not have asked for a better meal! Had read so many good things about this eatery so was very excited to try. At the time, they had four variations of fried chicken to choose from. I ordered three pieces of their Hot n Sweet As Fried Chicken for $13 – chicken pieces were huge, and it hit the spot! Highly recommend. Also ordered their Garlic Bread (Korean street food style), which is brushed with butter and has a garlicky cream cheese filling… you will not regret ordering this!
Since writing this post, they now offer 9 variations! Including: THE OG (original crispy fried chicken), MAPLE (maple, butter, garlic, Korean soy), SWEET N SOUR (Korean style sweet & sour sauce), HOT N SWEET (new style Korean sweet chilli), YANG NYEOM (old fashioned Korean sweet chilli), SUPREME (yang nyeom, mayo), CLUCK SOY (Korean style dark & sweet soy sauce, garlic), THUNDERBIRD (Korean version of extreme hot & spicy) and MYTOS (cheesy snack). They all sound SO DELICIOUS XXX
I have recently tried their Chicken Burger which was amazing. HUGE piece of chicken, with sauce and pickles. Simple, yet delicious.
Address: Ponsonby Central, Takapuna & Mission Bay Open: Monday to Thursday, 11am-9pm, Friday to Saturday, 11am-11pm, Sunday, 10am-9pm Socials:Website / Instagram
#3 Pocha
Pocha in Chancery was on my foodie list for ages; I only tried it for the first time in 2021, and it totally lived up to the hype! We ordered the Ban Ban Chicken – half original / half coated battered chicken wings and drumsticks in Pocha’s spicy sauce, served with radish pickles and jalapenos. Their chicken is seriously juicy, super tender on the inside and their spicy sauce just explodes in your mouth. Perfect with one too many bottles of Green Grape Soju and Korean Cass Beer.
Had heard many great things about their Almond Krunch Fried Chicken, so went for a visit recently to try this – it was SO SO GOOD. The texture of the Almond Fried Chicken is like almond cornflakes… could seriously eat a plate of this every day!
Address: 2A/48 Courthouse Lane, Chancery Square Open:Monday to Friday, 11.30am-3pm, Sunday to Thursday, 5.30pm-2am, Friday to Saturday, 5.30pm-4am Socials:Website / Instagram
#4 Peach’s Hot Chicken
Love love love Peach’s Hot Chicken. First tried Peach’s Hot Chicken back when they were a food truck. Enjoyed their Fried Chicken Burger with fried chicken thigh on a brioche bun with aioli and pickles and Pimento Mac n Cheese. Their fried chicken is always super crunchy, and tastes so damn good.
I visited their previous restaurant in Panmure a few times and always ordered the same dish – Fried Chicken Waffles – thick fluffy waffles, drizzled in chilli maple syrup and garlic butter. Ooh la la, it is EPIC!!! Add a side of Tater Tots, Mac n Cheese and a craft beer and you are good to go! #BreakfastForDinner
Since writing this post, they have moved to a larger premises and are now located at 2 Queens Road, Panmure… counting down the days until my next visit!
Located in St. Kevin’s Arcade (and more recently Mount Eden), Lowbrow. serve finger licking chicken! Their chicken is free range Bostock so you know it is going to be good! We love ordering a bucket of their wings – either the Lowbrow Original which is their unique OG flavour or the Hot Spice (hot flavour with a sour hit). There is also two hotter flavours: ‘Numb & Spicy’ and ‘Firecracker’ if you are feeling daring.
I have also tried their OG Chicken Sando (both in the restaurant and also via Ubereats) which includes an original fried thigh, American cheese, iceberg lettuce, sweet and spicy pickles and mac sauce. YUM!!!
Lowbrow. are also my forever favourite stand at the annual Auckland Fried Chicken Festival! (More details about the event below).
Address: St Kevin’s Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road New Store Alert: 130 Main Highway, Ellerslie Open: Sunday to Thursday, 12pm – 9pm, Friday to Saturday, 12pm – 10pm (Closed Mondays) Socials:Website / Instagram
#6 Gochu
In 2020, Commercial Bay and its amazing food hall opened, including Gochu, a modern Korean eatery, which happens to be the perfect place for a late dinner (after one too many tequilas next door at Ghost Donkey). I had heard many good things about their fried chicken… let me tell you it did not disappoint!
We ordered a few dishes, but Jason’s Fried Chicken, But Spicier (like, a lot spicer) was the top of our list. Super crunchy and juicy chicken, and the sticky glaze a killer. Beware, it is also bloody spicy, so order a nice cold beer to help you through it. Worth every bite.
I don’t know who Jason is, but I love him a lot.
Address: Level 2, Commercial Bay Open: Monday to Sunday, 11.30am-late Socials:Website / Instagram
#7 Ziggle
Ziggle’sKorean Holy Spicy but Sweet Fried Chicken is the bomb.com.
Crispy chicken, delicious marinade and VERY spicy… so you are going to need a lot of soju or soda to help you get through it!
Since my original visit, they launched their burger menu – love their OG Fried Chicken Burger, which is perfect with one too many beers.
Ziggle have recently opened a third store in Panmure (same road as Peach’s Hot Chicken), so you can now get your fix around Auckland, with another store in Manukau opening soon!
Address: 97 Karangahape Road and 374 Great North Road, Henderson New Store Alert: 139 Queens Road, Panmure Coming soon: Manukau Open: Monday to Thursday & Sunday, 11.30am-9pm, Friday to Saturday, 11.30am-11pm Socials:Website / Instagram
#8 Hello Beasty
Hello Beasty serve the crispiest Karaage Chicken I have ever had, in my opinion. Perfectly tender, seasoned, and served with a flavourful red dragon sauce – a must order when you dine at Hello Beasty!
On my second visit to Hello Beasty, a friend and I had their Karaage Chicken and Heart + Soul cocktail for afternoon tea – an ideal situation!
Address: 95-97 Customs Street West, Viaduct Harbour Open:Every day, 11am to 11pm Socials: Website / Instagram
#9 The Candy Shop
Go here for one dish only – Gochujang Korean Fried Chicken.
Yes, there are other dishes you can order at The Candy Shop, but as they have been a bit hit and miss in the past (although as I write this I am yet to try their croffles!), I generally just order their Gochujang Korean Fried Chicken as it has never failed me, with its crunchy, sweet, salty, and slightly spicy flavours. It is sticky and saucy… just how I like it.
Accompanied by tteokbokki (Korean fried rice cakes and super delicious), it is the perfect dish for brunch or lunch!
As well as being obsessed with Fried Chicken, I also love Mexican food, in particular the food at Mexico, which has many branches around Auckland, and New Zealand.
My favourite dish on Mexico’s menu is, and always will be, the Mexico Fried Chicken. Flavourful, spicy and finger licking good! Served with the perfect sauces, chipotle and jalapeno mayos. On Tuesday’s, you can get a Mexico Fried Chicken Taco and your choice of margarita for $15 (or soda for $12) – delicious as a light lunch or pre-dinner snack!
Address: Several branches, my favourites are Britomart and Ponsonby Open: Monday to Thursday & Sunday, 12pm-9.30pm, Friday & Saturday, 12pm-10pm Socials:Website / Instagram
#11 No.1 Chicken
So much love for No.1 Chicken who are dangerously located just down the road from my house! They serve Korean Fried Chicken, full or half bird, bone or boneless, original, seasoned or spicy.
I must admit, I have only ordered one item off their menu (many times!) – their Seasoned Cup Chicken, which is essentially a Hot Chips-esque cup filled with bite sized pieces of crispy fried chicken. It is not spicy, but seasoned well, and a little sweet. I believe it is the perfect takeaway or walking snack in Newmarket.
In 2021, No.1 Chicken also opened a second branch on Queen Street opposite the IMAX Centre… YAY !!!
Address: 40 Remuera Road, Newmarket and 6/350 Queen Street Open: Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday, 10.30am-9pm, Friday & Saturday, 10.30am-9.30pm, Closed Monday Socials:Instagram
#12 Tiger Burger
Last not least, Tiger Burger. My sister and I first tried Tiger Burger back in 2016 when it first opened and LOVED our burgers – she ordered the Vegetarian Crispy Shiitake one and my pick was the Kimcheese, with a grilled beef patty, sautéed kimchi, aged cheddar and chili mayo. The buns also tasted like doughnuts… not complaining!
Fast forward to today, I have since dined at Tiger Burger’s eatery and have ordered their burgers through the Delivereasy app… more specifically their Gang-Jeong Burgerwith double fried free-range chicken thigh, chili-soy glaze, pickled radish, shredded lettuce and gochujang mayo.
My oh my, this burger is melt in your mouth delicious.
Side note: You know how takeaways somehow taste different, I suppose when they are not piping hot out of the oven, or the bun/pizza gets a little soggy on the way to your house? Well, let me tell you, Tiger Burger’s Gang-Jeong Burger tastes bloody amazing every time we order it via takeaway – yeeyah!
Held annually, the Auckland Fried Chicken Festival is the perfect event to get your Fried Chicken fix!
Last year, I was #gifted four tickets to attend the festival with my friends (thank you Food Truck Collective) and post about my experience on social media, link here. Highlights of the day were the OG Hot spice wings from Lowbrow. (mentioned above), Vietnamese style fried chicken from Nom Nom, Morepork smoked fried chicken wings and BBQ Fried chicken and waffles with spiced maple syrup from Morepork BBQ. YUM!!!
Highly recommend attending the festival this year – stay updated by checking out my Instagram page for all of the details (generally mid-year).
I was recently invited to dine at the newly refurbished Andy’s Burgers & Bar, so I took along two of my burger and cocktail loving friends to check it out. Located in the SkyCity complex, Andy’s Burgers & Bar have a slick new fit out (love the geometric tiles!), an updated menu and a new QR code ordering system. And the best part? Robots!!! Friendly service robots (namely Bella & Buzz) who bring your order right to your table.
We really enjoyed our night at Andy’s Burgers & Bar and can guarantee everyone will love something on their menu, whether it be their EPIC burgers, famous wings, or loaded nachos with a side of Mac ‘n’ cheese. Although the restaurant is connected to the main gaming floor, and it does get noisy due to the live sport on the big screens, don’t be put off by this. This casual burger joint serves tasty burgers, excellent cocktails (or a Traffic Light Float for the young ones), plus the service is welcoming and friendly. Not to mention, Bella and Buzz were great servers. A very cool and unique experience for both the younger and older generation!
Dreaming of Capri ($16) with Malfy Rosa, grapefruit juice, watermelon syrup, lime juice and grapefruit bitters. Our favourite cocktail of the night!
Mrs. Andy’s ($16) with Gin, elderflower, apple juice, orgeat syrup, butterfly peaflower, rhubarb bitters. Another stunner of a cocktail – would definitely order again.
Dreaming of Capri and Mrs. Andy’s Cocktails
Long Island Ice Tea ($20) with Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, Cointreau and lemon juice. My flatmate who drinks these regularly was very impressed with this concoction!
Dreaming of Capriand Long Island Ice TeaCocktails
TO SHARE:
Andy’s Famous Wings (1/2kg $31) with honey, soy and sesame seed glaze. Finger lickin’ good!
Mac ‘n’ cheese ($9) and Bacon & Jalapeño dipping sauce with a side of corn chips ($15). Best accompaniments to our burgers!
Mac ‘n’ cheeseBacon & Jalapeño dipping sauce, side of pickles, corn chips and Mac ‘n’ cheese
THE BURGERS:
Tower Burger ($32) with Smashed aged beef, layered with cheddar cheese, Andy’s Nashville style fried chicken, bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, red onions and Alderson’s pickles. The Tower Burger was EPIC!!!! Huge though, best shared between two people (or one very hungry foodie).
Tower Burger
Classic Burger ($21) with Smashed aged beef, maple bacon, lettuce, tomato, American mustard, Alderson’s pickles, cheddar cheese and Andy’s burger sauce. A solid burger packed with tasty morsels inside… the maple bacon being the highlight!
Classic Burger
No room for dessert, however, they have a Lemon Meringue Pie and Pecan Pie which I am eyeing up for next time!
Thank you Andy’s Burgers & Bar and SkyCity – we cannot wait to re-visit! Ad/gifted experience x
Address Level 2, SkyCity, Corner of Federal and Victoria Streets Open Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 11.30am-3:30pm, 4:30pm-9pm, Friday & Saturday 11.30am-3:30pm, 4:30pm-late Website / Instagram / Facebook
Introducing Supie, an online membership-based supermarket with access to over 4,400 products!
While I enjoy going to the supermarket, I have a slight obsession in that I usually visit more than three times a week. I tell myself that I need to keep up to date with all the lastest products hitting the shelves, when really it is just an excuse to buy food and drink products that I do not necessarily need. Sometimes I even forget about what foods I have bought and this leads to food waste – something that I am trying to curb. So, thank you Supie for helping me on this journey!
Supie founder Sarah Balle grew up on a vegetable farm in Pukekohe where she saw edible produce being wasted. Fast forward to June 2021, Supie launched into the Auckland market and has been ever popular since. Supie’s everyday mission is to create a better tomorrow, by hand-selecting each product for their online supermarket. They are working towards a more sustainable way on how we buy and sell food in New Zealand, by making socially conscious decisions in everything they do, as everything we do today will affect all of our tomorrow.
How it works involves signing up, either as a Supie Member or a Supie+ Member. A Supie membership is free, but you do have to pay a flat rate delivery fee of $15. If you sign up for a Supie+ membership, you pay $99 a year, and receive free delivery for orders over $70, plus priority delivery slots, complimentary packaging, 2-10% cashback on all products, exclusive deals and discounts, and free product samples. $99 divide by 12 months is $8.25, so you will save money on the delivery fees, as well as receiving more extras in return.
Once signed up, you build your grocery order – choosing products, expertly curated and hand-selected from only the best growers, food producers and from your favourite brands. Supie has personal shoppers who sort, pick and pack your order with care and then the products are delivered to your door! Their packaging is recyclable and reusable which means that you are doing your part to better the environment. In my view, it is a win win for everyone.
I was invited to try out Supie for the first time, so jumped at the challenge. I had heard only good things about Supie. For this order, I was excited to try out Supie’s ‘Deal Bundles’. These vary, as do the prices, and it is one of the main reasons that I will continue with Supie.
The two deal bundles I chose are below:
~ Seasonal Produce Bundle ~
For $15, I received the following: Green beans, 3 courgettes, patty pan squash, bunch of baby carrots, King sweetie capsicum, sugar snap peas, 2 corn cobs, asparagus, eggplant, 9 baby golden gourmet potatoes, 2 nectarines and 4 apricots, strawberries and cherries. The produce was super fresh and all in season – yum!
~ Winter Roast Bundle ~
For $13, I received the following: Half-crown pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, 3 x each of purple kumara, Beauregard kumara and sweet potato, parsnips, red and brown onions and garlic.
HOW GOOD ARE THEIR DEAL BUNDLES ?!?!
Roasted Vegetables from Supie! (Basil is homegrown)
Supie also has ‘No Waste Deal Bundles’ which range from frozen meat, to milk and bread. These focus on reducing unnecessary food waste by providing heavily discounted groceries as they are past their use by date.
I also ordered some essentials for the week, highlights included Best Ugly Everything Bagels, Chantal Organics Tomato Pizza Sauce and Paneton Ready to Bake Pizza Bases (can confirm their bases are the best I have tried!), Serious Cookies, Kumatos (similar to normal tomatoes but sweeter), and Avocados, plus much more!
The Avocados have been amazing. I ordered an ‘Avocado Bag’ which was 4 avocados for $2.79. They ended up giving me 6(!) and I loved that some of them were ripe and some were not. This meant that I could have one for lunch the next day (on Freya’s bread with Kumatos), and save the rest for the weekend and the following week. Below is one of my favourite lunches – simple, yet delicious!
Another awesome thing about Supie is when you click on a product, say the Avocado Bag, it gives you a description of the product, plus a ‘Message from Producer’ including where the product is grown, and nutritional and storage information. Very useful and interesting!
My first order total came to $152.83 (the fruit and vegetables, and some of the branded products, worked out to be cheaper than the supermarket) and can confirm the produce has lasted more than a week!
Would highly recommend trying out Supie! If you are interested, they have given me a discount code to share with you all. Use the code GEORGIE10 for $10 off your order (minimum spend $100). I can gurantee you will love it… especially their wonderful Bundles!!!
Georgie x
Disclaimer: I received a voucher code from Supie for this order (ad | gift)
With New Zealand back in Lockdown 3.0, this means more time for baking and getting creative in the kitchen! My favourite things to bake are cookies, brownies, slices and more recently, rocky road.
The world-famous Lotus Biscoff has finally landed in New Zealand (available in New World and Pak’nSave supermarkets) and I was recently sent some of their biscuits and spread to try… very exciting!!! (ad/gifted).
Lotus Biscoff will take your coffee experience to a whole new level, with its unique flavour (using an original recipe created in 1932, and baked in Lembeke, Belgium), crunchy bite and iconic shape. Their biscuits and spread taste like caramel gingerbread… the perfect excuse to use in baking!
While I had plans to make Biscoff Stuffed Cookies, I settled on Rocky Road instead. This delicious and decadent recipe only has five ingredients – Lotus Biscoff Spread and Biscuits, Butter, Nestle Milkybar Gold Chocolate (similar to Caramilk) and Marshmallows – these cuties were purchased from Japan Mart.
Recipe below – enjoy!
How cute are these marshmallows?!
Lotus Biscoff Rocky Road
Ingredients
3 x 170g blocks Nestle Milkybar Gold, chopped
50g unsalted butter
125g Lotus Biscoff Spread
100-200g Mini Marshmallows (totally up to you!)
250g packet of Lotus Biscuits, chopped
Method
1) Line a square 20cm baking tin with baking paper and set aside.
2) In a large bowl, melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave, stir until smooth.
3) In a separate bowl, melt the Biscoff Spread in the microwave for 30 seconds or until runny. Add to the melted chocolate mix and stir.
4) Once combined, add the marshmallows and chopped Lotus Biscuits and fold together. Pour into the baking tin and spread evenly. Refrigerate overnight to set.
5) The next morning, cut up into squares, serve, eat and enjoy!
Held at the Auckland Showgrounds over four days (Thursday 29 to Sunday 1 August 2021), The Auckland Food Show showcases the best in food, drink and kitchen equipment from product owners around the country.
There is so much to sample and buy at The Food Show, plus you get the opportunity to meet and talk with the owners behind all your favourite brands, and sample new and existing food and drink products. There are also fabulous specials on the products – see below for my favourites!
Ticket entry (purchase here) also includes cooking demonstrations by some of your favourite culinary stars at the Cooking Theatre! There will be 19 sessions over the four days, featuring Samir Allen (of Gemmayze St, one of my favourite restaurants), Michael Van de Elzen, Josh Emett, Two Raw Sisters, and many more. Check out the timetable here.
Mazda Food Show Shuttle
The Food Show and Mazda have partnered to bring you the Mazda Food Show Shuttle! Simply head to the designated pick-up point to be kindly delivered to one of five drop-off points closest to your car, for an optional gold coin donation to Auckland City Mission. More details here.
THURSDAY – PREVIEW DAY 2021
This year, I was invited along to a VIP breakfast on the Preview Day, held at the venue before the show started (ad/gifted experience). We enjoyed coffee, breakfast foods (highlights were the Pure Delish granola and yoghurt, and Marcel’s blini with Aoraki Salmon). At lunch, we had a glass of Selaks sparkling wine, and also tried Waitoa Beer, along with a range of lunch dishes to choose from. Special mention to the gluten free brownie! At the end, we took home a wonderful goodie bag.
Check out my favourite stands and show specials below, and of course, all the foodie photos!
Favourite Stands (A-Z) + Show Specials:
Aoraki Salmon
Discovered Aoraki at The Food Show last year and have been in love ever since! Freshwater king salmon from Aoraki / Mount Cook and tastes heavenly. Highly recommend their hot smoked salmon. They also have a great show special!
Show Special: $12 hot smoked salmon (or 2 for $20), $8 cold smoked salmon 100g (or 2 for $14), $14 cold smoked salmon 200g (or 2 for $24) RRP: $16 hot smoked salmon, $10 cold smoked salmon 100g, $17 cold smoked salmon 200g
Bach Brewing started as a passion for better tasting beer and longer weekends. My favourite of their beers is the Watermelon Wheathead wheat beer! Also love their EPIC can art, especially on their ‘Beyond the Clouds’ can.
Aotearoa’s premier hard kombucha. Three refreshing flavours, including Ocean Booch (Peach & Chilli – reminded me of a chilli margarita), 90 Mile Booch (Grapefruit & Ginger) and Raglan Booch (Berry Lemon Sage).
Show Special: 3 cans for $15, 6 cans for $28 RRP: $5.49 per can [exclusive to Farro]
One of my favourite breweries in NZ!!! Head to Behemoth to sample some of their delicious beers – my forever favourite is their Freedom Waffles Cream Ale.
Also, visit their stand and go in the draw to win a Prime Cut Night Experience at Churly’s valued at $300!
Chatham Island Food Co is a small, locally-owned business located on the remote Chatham Islands. They produce premium seafood (crayfish, paua, Kina and more) and deliver direct to your door. Head to their stand where Geoff and his daughter Emma are cooking their beautiful Blue Cod. They are not selling their seafood at the Food Show, but you can purchase it here.
If you love fresh fruit and vegetables, then definitely check out this zone. Meet the growers behind all the fruit and vegetables sold at Countdown, including: AS Wilcox Inca Gold Potatoes, FreshWest capsicums, Kaipara Kumara, King Avocado, and Turners and Growers – all with delicious tastings! Highlights included the orange capsicums, broccolini and Envy apples.
Culley’s
Was a bit disappointed with the Culley’s stand as they were only selling two of their sauces – Picklenaise and a BBQ one. However, their Picklenaise is my favourite sauce so was happy to buy two for such a great price!
Dish, an excellent foodie magazine, have a subscription show special ($40 for six issues), which comes with a bottle of wine and a wonderful goodie bag. A must at the Food Show!
Elysian Foods is a small, family run business based in Wellington, producing Mediterranean dips and delights! Have tried all of their products – my favourites are their Elaiasalata (creamy olive dip), Tzatziki (yoghurt dip) and range of olives.
Show Special: $11.50 for 2 dips, $18 for 3 dips RRP: Elaiasalata $7.49, Tzatziki $5.99
Farrah’s is one of my all time favourite New Zealand brands. I regularly use their Mexican meal kits which are SO delicious. They have the best tastings at The Food Show – mini tacos with all the added extras, and a great show special too!
Show Special: $2 Spice Mixes (or 3 for $5), $5 Meal Kits (or 3 for $12) RRP: $5.50 Meal Kits (on special), $2.50 Spice Mixes
They make freeze dried fruit, slices and powders. My favourites are their raspberries which I sprinkle on cakes or add in brownies. Tastings include trifle and mini cupcakes.
Show Special: $5 for fruit and icing, 5 fruit for $10 RRP: $10.49 for slices, chunks and powders
One of my favourite NZ products and the most divine chutney you will ever eat. I love spreading it on pizza, adding it to my meals or just eating it out of the jar. This is a must try at the show!
Show Special: $12 per jar, or 2 jars for $20 RRP: $14 per jar
Delicious homemade gluten free crepes, hot cakes and blini. These are so convenient as all you have to do is re-heat and then add your toppings! I like maple syrup, caramel sauce and whipped cream.
If you haven’t been to Hello Beasty yet, then you are seriously missing out! I must admit, I’m very late to the party, but thanks to my boyfriend’s love for the restaurant, we had a date night here recently… it was everything I imagined and more. Here are five reasons why I love Hello Beasty and why you should visit pronto!
1. The Service, Ambience and Layout.
From the moment we walked in, service was welcoming and friendly, not to mention, excellent throughout the night, with the usual things I look out for – drinks and food arriving promptly, water glasses topped up regularly, and wait staff attentive and always on hand to explain the dishes and make suggestions. Kudos to Emma Rogan, co-owner (along with award-winning chef and husband, Stu Rogan) who was running front of house the night we were there – she was friendly, professional and lovely to chat with.
We were seated in Hello Beasty’s open-air courtyard overlooking Market Square – the best spot in my opinion and great for people watching too! Loved the indoor/outdoor flow, with a large open kitchen and the opportunity to sit at the bar for drinks and/or for a solo dinner. The restaurant was buzzing from the moment we arrived (even though it was early-ish) and for the entire time we were there.
While the food was outstanding (more below), there was this one cocktail that immediately caught my eye when perusing the menu. Introducing… Heart + Seoul. The cocktail is made with Hwayo Soju 25% (a Korean spirit I am fond of), vanilla and rhubarb shrub, lemon and egg white foam. It was a delicious cocktail, with a lovely sweet/sour combination, and hints of marshmallow. It reminded me of childhood when you were free to do anything… and get away with it!
3. The Mouthwatering Food.
Hello Beasty’s menu brings together fantastic New Zealand produce and takes inspiration from the cuisines of Korea, Japan and China. Dishes are designed to be shared and feature Snacks, Raw + Cold Cuts, Potstickers + Buns, Small Plates, Bigger Plates, Hibachi, Extras and Desserts.
Below is what we ordered on the night, and all come highly recommended:
Fresh NZ Oysters – shucked to order and served with fresh wasabi and pickled ginger. Let me tell you, oysters and fresh wasabi is a game changer!
Steamed Nikuman Pork Hock Buns – these reminded me of pan-fried mini Baos, served piping hot (beware!) with Japanese black vinegar and chili jam to dip in to your heart’s content.
Katsu Sando – think crumbed chicken breast, shredded white cabbage, kewpie mayo and tonkatsu sauce in a toasted soft milk bun. Mmm… My partner said they used to serve a Crumbed Pork Loin Sando which was his favourite dish on their menu. While he said this one wasn’t as good, I thought it was still tasty nonetheless!
KFC Korean Fried Cauliflower – FOODIE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT. There’s something about gochujang that just makes everything taste better. Hello Beasty’s Korean Fried Cauliflower is very moreish (perfect batter and crisp) and I would happily order it over Fried Chicken any day. Big tick for the spicy gochujang glaze and roasted sesame seeds. YUM.
Karaage Chicken – Possibly the crispiest Karaage chicken I have ever had, perfectly tender and seasoned. On my second visit to Hello Beasty, a friend and I had their Karaage Chicken and Heart + Soul cocktail for afternoon tea – ideal situation. Served with a flavourful red dragon sauce.
Wild Caught Australian King Prawns – cooked on the Hibachi grill and served with garlic and kombu butter (amazing) and prawn oil.
Spring Onion Flatbread – served with green koji, BUT better mopped up with the garlic and kombu butter accompanying the prawns. Heavenly.
Sadly, no room for dessert. However, I am currently eyeing up the ~Kkwabaegi~ twisted donuts with miso caramel and chocolate fudge sauce.
4. The (Pink) Decor / Design
If a restaurant features anything pink, then of course I am going to fall in love with it. You can probably tell from my ‘gram and my ‘gram’s featured highlights (thanks to Jules of The Style Aesthetic for customising them pink for me), that I LOVE PINK. There are not many restaurants around Auckland that feature pink in their decor, expect for Wu & You and Something & Social.
Walking into Hello Beasty, I loved the vibrant decor. The first thing that catches your eye is the giant pink neon Maneki-neko on the back wall, commonly known as a ‘beckoning cat’ believed to bring good luck to the owner. My heart melted. Not only is it super cute, but it glows throughout the whole restaurant – I would love to have this in my own place one day! Aside from this, I also loved their menus and branding, designed by co-owner Emma – check it out here.
5. The Location.
Conveniently located in the Viaduct, Hello Beasty is in a prime spot. It is a great place for date night, dinner with family and friends, or even a few cheeky cocktails before you head out for a night on the town. Even though it does not have direct harbour views, book a table in their open-air courtyard and I can guarantee you will have a fun evening.
Thank you Hello Beasty for an incredible experience – we cannot wait to come back! x
Hello Beasty Open Every day, 11am to 11pm Address 95-97 Customs Street West, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland Notes Definitely book a table! Socials:Website / Instagram / Facebook
Our table all set up outside Mexico Britomart, featuring Juanita
You can probably tell from my social media that I absolutely love dining at Mexico. Read more about Mexico here, here and here.
It is one of my favourite eateries in Auckland, for its vibrant and fresh Mexican cuisine, extensive tequila list and super funky and delicious Frida’s margaritas.
Two weeks’ ago, Mexico launched their new Spring Menu and it is full of new dishes, new flavours and features fresh, locally sourced seafood and free range proteins. The best part? They have added a whole new Fried Chicken section, namely “Mexico Frita” which includes their original Fried Chicken, and the new Savoury and Spicy Popcorn Fried Chicken. Plus, Fried Cauliflower for the plant based amigos. YUM.
Ceviche has returned in their “Specialities” section, and also features three new dishes – Cumin Spicy Crispy Squid, Crispy Fried Chicken Burger and Slow Cooked Pork Belly Skewers. Drooling yet?!
And for all you margarita lovers, there are new Frida’s Margaritas flavours, including Watermelon and Green Apple, Blueberry and Yuzu and Pineapple and Ginger.
Between six of us, we ordered quite a F E A S T!
SNACKS:
To start, Guacamole with housemade corn chips ($14) for the table while we waited for a few friends to arrive.
SOFT SHELL TACOS:
Pan Seared Achiote Prawn ($8) with smoky crème, ensalada de col (coleslaw), radish and pickled pineapple. [Loved this taco!]
Braised Pork Belly ($8) with pumpkin mayo, agave, green onion, apple chutney and crackling. [Four of our group ordered this taco and said it is the best taco they have eaten at Mexico!]
MEXICO SPECIALITIES:
Ceviche ($20) a fresh coconut salad with cherry tomato, red onion, lime mint granita and pomegranate. [Very refreshing! Loved the lime and mint granita (something I have been seeing a lot on MasterChef recently!)]
Slow Cooked Pork Belly Skewers ($26) with pumpkin mojo, apple yoghurt, fennel and crackling. [These were EPIC and the highlight of our meal. So so juicy and melt in your mouth! Side note: Served as three skewers, however they are generous enough to be cut into two portions each.]
MEXICO FRITA:
Three-Way Fried Chicken Platter ($30), featuring:
Mexico Fried Chicken with jalapeño mayo and chipotle mayo – not to be missed!
Savoury Fried Chicken with remoulade, citrus and cornichon (pickles)
Spicy Popcorn Fried Chicken with BBQ habanero mole, sesame and cornichon
[Highly recommend their Fried Chicken Platter – my favourite is their Spicy Popcorn Fried Chicken, plus it is the perfect dish when sharing with a group!]
QUESADILLAS:
Braised Beef Cheek ($19) with smoky cheddar, green onion, pumpkin and salsa borracha. [Not totally sold on this one… recommend the Pulled BBQ Jackfruit combination instead!]
FRIDA’S MARGARITAS:
Pineapple and Ginger / with sherbet chili rim and pineapple garnish. Order this when you’re mostly Baby Spice but have a hint of Posh Spice in you.
Watermelon and Green Apple / with vanilla sugar rim and mint garnish. Order this when you’re on the verge of an adventure, especially if it’s tropical… [Our favourite margarita out of the three].
Blueberry and Yuzu / with vanilla sugar rim and blueberries. Order this when everyone is onto dessert but you still have some drinking to do.
Sadly, we did not have any room for dessert.
However, if you do, order their Triple Xocolate Brownie, a vegan dessert served with Little Island ice cream, coconut, mint and strawberry granita which now has a permanent spot on Mexico’s menu. I was lucky enough to try this dessert back in August when it was first released, and can confirm it is moreish and will look great on your ‘gram!
Aside from the tasty food, I love dining at Mexico because I love being surrounded by the decor! Think colourful walls covered in memorabilia from Mexico, including artworks of Frida Kahlo and influences from Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), plus loads of cacti. It is definitely one of the most fun restaurants to visit in Auckland!
If you are not able to get to Mexico in Britomart, there are six other locations in Auckland – Ponsonby, Ellerslie, Takapuna, Silverdale, Auckland International Airport and Sylvia Park. Plus, there are restaurants in Hamilton, Wellington, Petone, Christchurch and Tauranga.
I was sent a voucher to dine at Mexico, however all opinions are (and always will be) my own.
If there was one word to describe Cocoro, it would be… well, to be honest, it would be many words. Exquisite. Superb. Spectacular. Faultless. Sensational. Perfection.
In March of this year, I was invited by Pamu New Zealand to dine at Cocoro, one of the three finalists in the nationwide ‘Pamu & Cuisine Deer Milk Ice Cream Competition 2020’ where chefs were tasked to create their very first Deer Milk ice cream dessert.
You may have heard of Deer Milk… it is like the caviar of milk. Rich and creamy, yet fresh and light. Fun fact: it is actually double the fat and double the protein of regular cow’s milk, making it the creamiest milk you will ever taste. It is also the first of its kind and is made by Pamu on their farm near Queenstown.
Co-Owner and Head Chef of Cocoro, Makoto Tokuyama’s creation was Deer Milk with Shio Koji Ice Cream Manuka Smoke, inspired to reflect Pamu’s deer farm on a Spring morning.
The combination of deer milk with shio koji (salt fermented rice) creates an umami rich ice cream flavour to represent a safari. The ice cream then sits on a layer of daifuku rice pastry for a unique Asian texture. The earth of the scenery is represented by the sesame and red bean crumble as the soil, sesame praline as the rocks, deer milk cheese as snowballs, yuzu powder and deer milk powder as snow, sansho (Japanese pepper) biscotti slices as fallen wood bark, crispy buckwheat noodles as wood twig, green tea tempura bits as the grass, while the Manuka smoke represents the morning fog. The foraged fresh herbs and edible flowers enhance the image with colours and the aroma from nature.
Cocoro’s dessert is the most S P E C T A C U L A R dessert I have ever seen and eaten. It is decadent and daring – to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy all the unique flavours, but all the elements in the dish balanced well. The deer milk ice cream on glutinous rice pastry was the highlight of the night!
Before being wowed by Cocoro’s dessert, we first indulged in their “Omotenashi”, a Japanese word which essentially means to wholeheartedly look after guests. If you choose to experience their nine course degustation, then Cocoro will provide you with the upmost incredible hospitality.
On a Wednesday night, we arrived at Cocoro about 5.30pm and left just before 10pm. While it was the longest dinner I have ever had, the whole experience blew my mind, from the beautifully presented and superb dishes, to the wonderful service and ambience. If you ever get the chance to dine at Cocoro, choose the “Omotenashi” and you will not be disappointed. Below are the dishes we savoured:
Course 1: Chef’s selections of ‘Zensai’ appetizers Our first course of the night was ‘seasonal welcome snacks’ from the kitchen – a glossy lacquerware box arrived at the table, whereupon our waiter opened the doors to reveal three mini shelves with delicate plates of appetizers. We loved the deep fried Kingfish with ponzu, and rolled venison with kawakawa sauce – a very elegant start to our evening!
Course 2: Sashimi of Market Fish
Next, a platter of fresh assorted sashimi, served with South Island fresh wasabi and three different dipping sauces – ponzu, soy and sesame.
Course 3: Raukaka Bay Blue Paua ‘Chawanmushi’ Followed by ‘Chawanmushi’ which is essentially an umami packed Japanese savoury egg custard, and in Cocoro’s case, made with Raukaka Bay Blue Paua. It was served in beautiful Japanese tea cup, and the Chawanmushi itself was silky and delicate.
Course 4: Hokkaido Scallop Gratin
We loved the presentation of this dish – a single scallop, dissected, served in its shell on a bed of pebbles (reminded me of my childhood when my grandparents would take my sisters and me to rock pools to look for various sea creatures), accompanied by a fabulously creamy sauce made up of soy, miso and gochujang, topped with crispy breadcrumbs, fish roe and seaweed powder.
Course 5: Ora King Salmon Reconstructed “Chazuke”
My favourite dish of the night! Our waiter arrived at the table holding a black tea pot… she then poured this over our reconstructed rolled salmon sashimi dish, and Manuka wood-smoke filled the air! Check it out here.
Course 6: “Kurobuta” Berkshire Pork Belly
Our last savoury course of the night was a juicy, flavourful and tender pork belly served with gyoza fried dumpling, courgette, cabbage, wild foraged greens, housemade tartare, ginger and plum tamari sauce. Delicious.
To Finish: Feijoa sorbet with G O L D leaf and Sake chocolate ganache squares, followed by the most beautiful dessert we have ever eaten – Pamu Deer Milk and Shio Koji Ice CreamManuka Smoke.
A huge thank you to Pamu New Zealand and Cocoro for a night we will never forget!
One of my other loves (besides food) is T E Q U I L A!
I mostly like it straight, and of course, in Margaritas – my favourite cocktail! Since travelling around Mexico two years ago (including visiting the Jose Cuervo Distillery in the town of Tequila and learning about the history and how it is made), my passion for all things Mexican (hello calaveras!) has grown and I am an even bigger fan of the spirit.
So, when the opportunity arose to collaborate with Mexico by organising a Margarita Masterclass with HerraduraandEl Jimador Tequila, we were in! Plus, the idea of becoming a master in the fine art of making and consuming margaritas simultaneously sounded like our type of evening, so why not share it with 37 other like-minded people, namely content creators, bloggers, foodies, and business owners!
On a chilly Thursday night, we arrived at Mexico in Britomart and were led upstairs to their super cool Mexican-style function area (complete with handcrafted artwork and murals, skulls and even a religious lady who I hope would forgive me by the end of the night for one too Tequilas). Paloma in hand, we took our seats and eagerly awaited for the night to begin…
Our activities for the night included a Tequila Tasting with Herradura, learning how to make the perfect Margarita with El Jimador Tequila (then onto Frida’s Margaritas), and eating all the delicious food from Mexico’s kitchen. Check it all out below, and if you have any questions about the event, please feel free to ask! x
Our first activity of the night was a Tequila Tasting with Herradura (an ultra-premium, 100% agave tequila, crafted using only the most mature blue agave). Thanks to Herradura for not only sponsoring bottles of their Plata, Reposado and Ultra Anejo for us to SIP on (who else just likes to shot it?!), but who also granted us with good luck (“Herradura” meaning horseshoe and the sign of good luck and fortune)… I for one am having a seemingly great week!
Our host, Ryan, took us through the history of Tequila, and why it is so much more than cheap shots at 4am! My favourite Tequila of the night was the Ultra Anejo – tastes like vanilla and caramel! If you like Bailey’s, then you are going to love this!
We were then treated to an interactive Margarita Masterclass, thanks to the number one selling Tequila in Mexico – El Jimador – made of 100% blue agave Tequila. Can confirm Friday was a blur!
Mexico’s Restaurant Manager (and expert barman),Ollie, got up front and showed us how to make the perfect Margarita. Recipe below:
Using a “jigger” (15ml/30ml measurer), pour your ideal measures for El Jimador Reposado Tequila, Lime and Sugar Syrup into a cocktail shaker.
Fill with Ice until 3/4 of the way up. Then, SHAKE until your arms are sore.
Hold the shaker in your hand you write with and strike it with your other palm. After a few of these, the cocktail shaker should dislodge enough to be pulled apart.
Pour into a sugar rimmed glass and ENJOY!
Repeat x 1,000… because one is never enough and your friends will love them too!
Ollie needed a volunteer shaker and my name was screamed out (I’m looking at you Sarah!), so up I went to shake my tail feather in front of everyone. It was super fun and hands on, which I loved!
Armed with cocktail shakers, bottles of El Jimador Reposado Tequila and a table full of mixing ingredients, our guests then created their own Margaritas. Salud!
We also got a chance to make their famous Frida’s Margaritas (if you go to Mexico, definitely order one!) My all-time favourite is the Raspberry & Yuzu, plus other memorable mentions go to: Blackberry & Coconut… perfect for when you want a delicate start to a debaucherous night Strawberry & Guava… perfect for when Margaritas are the only thing on your to-do list Black Plum & Cinnamon… perfect for when you need a worthy subject for your next Instagram post…
As well as making one of my favourite cocktails in the city,Mexicoalso serves mouthwatering food, inspired by the streets of Mexico. Read more about Mexicohereandhere. Below are the dishes we enjoyed on the night:
To start,Salsa Roja and Guacamole with Housemade Corn Chips
All guests also went home with a FAB Goodie Bag. We cannot thank our generous sponsors enough who provided product for the bags, in particular: Mexico (Frida’s Margaritas and Taco vouchers), El Jimador (mini El Jimador Tequila bottles), Herradura (key rings), Tio Pablo (Totopitos – Tortilla Chips), Culleys(Mexican Seasonings), Delmaine Fine Foods (Red Kidney Beans) and Something to Crow About (Mexican Chilli & Lime Roasted Seed Toppers).
If you are interested in coming along to our upcoming #NZContentCollective events, follow us onInstagramand join ourFacebook Group to ensure you don’t miss out! If you are also looking for a relaxed place to talk about content creation or are interested in starting an Instagram, Facebook or Blog, feel free to contact us. There are some great events being planned… hope to see you there!
* Disclosure – we received a generous discount from Mexico for the Tequila Tasting and Margarita Masterclass.
Last Saturday, Laura, Evo and I enjoyed ‘Bottomless & Social’at Something & Social, an all-day modern bar and eatery, brought to you by the team behind the award-winning Pilkington’s, located in Westfield Newmarket’s Rooftop on Broadway.
‘Bottomless & Social’ is Something & Social’s NEW Bottomless Brunch, which kicked off last weekend and is running every Saturday and Sunday… for 6 W E E K S! For the brunch, we were seated in their courtyard – the sun was shining, live music playing the the atmosphere was fantastic. Tickets are reasonably priced at $45 and include a 2 Hour Bottomless Package, with five drink options to choose from:
Grapefruit Splash (Squealing Pig Pinot Gris, Grapefruit and Lime Juice)
English Rose (Sparkling Rose and Elderflower Syrup)
Estrella Damm Beer
Moscow Mule Vodka Cocktail
Cranberry Vodka Cocktail
The crowd favourite was the Moscow Mule! It was perfectly balanced and we loved drinking this in the sun! We also loved the fact that you can drink any of the above during your brunch – you are not limited to one or two choices (unlike other places).
Smashed Avocado on Sourdough with Haloumi and Free Range Poached Eggs
Free Range Eggs on Sourdough with Bacon
Brioche French Toastwith Cinnamon Sugar Dusting, Whipped Mascarpone and Maple Syrup
Laura ordered the Smashed Avocado, while Evo and I ordered the Brioche French Toast. We also received a complimentary Free Range Eggs & Bacon… to complete the meal experience! Every dish was D E L I C I O U S and we were so happy with the portion sizes – definitely bang for your buck!
If you’re keen on a Social Saturday or a Sunday Session, then I would highly recommend you book ‘Bottomless & Social’ at Something & Social – can guarantee your friends will love it! Plus… who can resist their P I N K signage and design? Swoon.
All the details… Something & Social Date: Saturdays & Sundays (from Saturday 7 March to Sunday 19 April 2020) Time: Two sittings, 9am till 11am and 11am till 1pm Tickets: Purchasehere. Address: Rooftop on Broadway, Westfield Newmarket, 309 Broadway, Newmarket Socials:Instagram / Facebook
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