All posts tagged: gelato

Duck Island Ice Cream – Ponsonby

Published by

DUCK ISLAND ICE CREAM HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN AUCKLAND.  When I found out that Duck Island Ice Cream were planning to open a branch in Auckland (their original store is in Hamilton), I was head over heels!!! And then finding out that the store would be located on Ponsonby Road, literally a five minute walk from my flat… well I was jumping with joy all over the place! I first tried Duck Island Ice Cream at the end of 2017 when they featured at Taste of Auckland. Since then, a few friends and I have taken a roadie down to Hamilton, mainly to have brunch with a few bloggers and of course, to check out Duck Island’s original store too. I tried their Hot Cross Bun and Custard Square flavours, which tasted exactly like the real thing.  Cherry & Coconut / Peanut Butter / Peppermint View this post on Instagram Finally made it down to @duckislandicecream’s original shop in Hamilton⚡️ I got their Hot ❌ Bun + Custard Square flavours and both tasted exactly like the real thing❣️ …

Auckland Fish Market

Published by

I absolutely love seafood. Oysters, mussels, prawns, hoki, kina, gurnard, crayfish, whitebait, clams, flounder, scallops, tuna, snapper, paua – you name it.  I would eat seafood for every meal if I could… maybe just not for dessert as that is reserved for my other favourite food – chocolate. So, when I was invited to the official opening party of the Auckland Fish Market last Monday, I was super excited! Most of you will already know, but for the last nine months’, the Auckland Fish Market in Wynyard Quarter has undergone renovations, to include eight new eateries, a courtyard bar, a world class fishmonger – Sanford & Sons and seating for 400 inside and out, making it an ideal dining destination for Aucklanders and for tourists alike.  The newly refurbished Auckland Fish Market is a celebration of New Zealand seafood – in fact it sells the widest range of the freshest seafood available, straight from the boats to your dinner table.  At the opening party of the Auckland Fish Market, we sampled freshly shucked TeKouma Bay oysters, fish sliders from Market Galley, swordfish, green …

Auckland’s Best Street Food

Published by

  I absolutely love street food. We are very lucky in Auckland as we are spoilt for choice when it comes to street food. There are many food trucks and stands offering a wide variety – think bao, dumplings, fried chicken, vegan burgers, tacos, sushi in cones, egg waffles, milk and cookies and gelato to name a few. Below, I have rounded up my favourite food trucks and food stands around Auckland, so that you can go out and enjoy them as much as I do! JUDGE BAO Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post – 5 Reasons Why I Love Judge Bao. Everything I wrote in the post remains the same – the owners, Debbie and Jamie are so down to earth, very welcoming and passionate about their product. Their bao is delicious and I enjoy trying their new creations and love seeing them at various food festivals and markets. Judge Bao make soft and fluffy Chinese steamed buns filled with mouthwatering tofu, pork belly or beef (and sometimes fish and chicken), fresh herbs …

Bottomless Brunch at The Lula Inn

Published by

Last weekend, I strolled down to Auckland’s Viaduct to have brunch. But not just any old brunch…. Bottomless Brunch at The Lula Inn! Here is the lowdown of what is included: 2 hours of Bottomless Brunch – check out the menu here. Choose a brunch meal, plus receive unlimited Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, Prosecco, Pineapple Mocktails and Citrus Boost Sodas. Access to discounted food and drinks (additional to the cost of the brunch) on the day, like $15 espresso martinis and $10 cocktail of the day. Live music / DJ set while you brunch! Sounds awesome doesn’t it? I was there for the monthly NZ Bloggers Brunch Club event, where a bunch of bloggers meet up and brunch together! The thing I love most about these events is meeting other bloggers whom you follow on social media, but otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to meet.  I arrived around 11am, took my seat and started with a cocktail… a Bloody Mary! While this is not usually my drink of choice, it was surprisingly good. But, it was so spicy! At the …

Night Noodle Markets

Published by

Over the weekend, I headed down to Victoria Park to check out the Night Noodle Markets. Held annually, this event celebrates mouthwatering Asian street food from around the country. This year, the Night Noodle Markets are being held over 10 days (Friday 1st to Sunday 10th December). There are 20 street food vendors to choose from, with dishes ranging from $5 to $15 each. I love the variety of the food too – think dumplings, BBQ’d meat, summer rolls, ramen, bao, loaded fries, spicy karaage fried chicken, pakoras, roti rolls, donburi, poke bowls, noodles, gelato, deep fried ice cream and smoothies in pineapples. Check out my foodie highlights below:  Hoy Pinoy – it was my first time trying Hoy Pinoy at this year’s Night Noodle Markets and they did not disappoint! They are a Filipino BBQ vendor, selling juicy pork and chicken on sticks. My favourite is the Inihaw na baboy – BBQ Pork Belly.  House of Dumplings – handmade dumplings in a variety of flavours. My favourites are their Nepalese Spiced Lamb and Korean …

Gold Coast Eats

Published by

If you are looking for a short, relaxing break, then I highly recommend the Gold Coast. There are beautiful beaches, shopping, and of course, many places to eat and drink. The last time I visited the Gold Coast was 6 years ago, before my obsession with food started, before I even had Instagram or my blog. On that trip, we enjoyed going to the theme parks and beaches. Fast forward to this year, I have made a few trips to the Gold Coast – mainly to relax, try out the food scene and for the first time, visit Byron Bay and the surrounds. Below, I list my favourite eats in the Gold Coast and beyond. I have listed them by area, so it makes it easier for you when you visit the Gold Coast! Enjoy! Main Beach Local & Co First things first, BEST Nutella Thickshakes EVER!!! Secondly, after reading great reviews on TripAdvisor and the fact that Local & Co was just round the corner from where we were staying in the Gold Coast, …

5 Reasons Why I Love GIAPO

Published by

  GIAPO. The best ice cream in New Zealand. Here are five reasons why I love GIAPO (and why you should try their ice cream!): 1. Owner Gianpaolo (Giapo) Grazioli. Giapo is the creative mastermind behind all the wondrous ice cream creations. He is very passionate about his ice cream and is the most enthusiastic person I know! You will often find him at the store, talking to customers and/or taking orders. Not many hospitality owners do this around Auckland, so I think this is pretty awesome. Also a special mention to Giapo’s wife, Annarosa, who is lovely, kind and always a joy to see at the Giapo store. 2. The ice cream flavours and the different options to ‘hold’ your ice cream. The menu at Giapo is extensive, with many flavours to choose from. All of the ice creams are gluten free, with four being vegan – definitely something for everyone! Their ice cream is different to that of the normal ones you would get at a dairy or supermarket – Giapo’s are like works of art. …

Miann Britomart

Published by

Heads up dessert lovers, chocoholics, and gelato stick/macaron fans, Miann has just opened up their second store in Britomart!

If you are any of the above, then I guarantee you will love Miann, a sophisticated dessert bar and patisserie in Auckland CBD.

Queenstown Travel Diary

Published by

Last year, my older sister moved to Glenorchy, so we decided to spend Christmas and New Years in nearby Queenstown. I was super excited as it was my first time travelling to Queenstown and I couldn’t wait to experience all that it had to offer. I love that there are so many things to do in Queenstown, and that everyone is catered for, whether you are into adventure sports, being out on the water, tramping, trying new foods, keeping active or just relaxing by a beautiful lake (I especially loved Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka). Check out the list below of my favourite foodie places (with recommendations), shopping, and activities in Queenstown and beyond: EAT 1. Fergburger – undoubtedly Queenstown’s most iconic foodie experience! However, be prepared to wait over an hour (or more) for your burger, but it is definitely worth it! Recommended: I loved the Bombay Chicken burger, washed down with a Speights beer 2. Patagonia Chocolates – I fell in love with this place while in Queenstown. Situated on the waterfront, they sell mouthwatering ice cream, desserts, hot and cold drinks, and of course, homemade chocolates. Definitely head to …

Miann

Published by

2015 is definitely the year of desserts. First there was Milse, which although it opened in 2013, it forever remains my favourite restaurant, for their ever changeable desserts and exciting creations. It is also where I can go and order dessert for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and not feel weird about it. Then came the Sweet Cuisine Dessert Pop Ups. Like a sit down dinner, but instead of a ‘normal’ three course meal, you were served three courses of desserts. This brought a whole new level to dessert dining. And now, there is Miann. A sophisticated dessert bar/patisserie serving beautiful gateaux, gelato on sticks, handmade chocolates, and stand out macarons. The mastermind behind creating all these delectable desserts is pâtissier, Brian Campbell. With 15 years’ work experience under his belt, including having held the position of head chef at Milse and starting up his own company, namely Sweet Cuisine (you may recognise his dessert pop ups around Auckland), Brian has done great things for Auckland’s foodie scene. More recently, he and his wife, Roselle, have opened up Miann on Fort Street. My friend and I visited Miann earlier this week for lunch. Walking in, the fit out is dark and intimate, but …