10 hours ago
Date night with A mid-week! We went to Feriza's at Wynyard Quater I'd been waiting to go to since it opened a few months ago.
The fashionable restaurant has stylish deep green walls with golden brass table accents and warm velvet deep blue and dusty pink chairs and couches that's both welcoming and forces you to consider your outfit before entering its doors.
Spontaneous lunch at Goodness Gracious, a neat little bagel place in Eden Terrace. For a moment we thought we'd have to go away because the place looked full - it always does - but luckily there was one last table for us towards the back.
The service was great, attentive and full of smiles. The food and coffee were so good, and I hadn't even realised I was hungry. Having only just found out how difficult it is to make bake bagels, I have a new respect for all bagel eateries. It's only a small place but has such a charming interior. Would definitely come back, next time for an afternoon bite.
Goodness gracious
2a New North Rd
Eden Terrace
Auckland 1021
Flat dinner nights are pretty rare occurrences at our household considering we have pretty different schedules. We like to have dinners at different times of the day, plus we have different diet requirements. But since we also like to discover new restaurants that seem to pop up at an increasing rate in Auckland these days, the last few flat dinners have actually been outside making these discoveries together. The next flat dinner out is planned for early August, place yet to be decided. The last one was on an equally rainy but definitely warmer day a few months ago, at Ebisu.
The restaurant was already full when we got there. The only tables available were:
- by the door with the cold wind rushing at us with each swing
- by the DJ with the music cranked up enveloping us so we could hardly hear across the table
Ah well. We chose a few dishes, turning up the cellphone light to investigate better its presentation in the dimly lit interior.
Dainty portions consciously laid on trendy plates didn't quite make for full bellies at the end of the evening, but we did leave with inspirations to recreate a few dishes later on.
Good for cosying up on chilly evenings, best to book ahead if possible.
An hour and a half of non stop catching up over two glasses of spicy chais. The cafe was full, both inside and outside. Full of babies and prams! In the late afternoon the kitchen was due to close very soon but we were here just to chat today. Talking of future plans, anxieties over hopeful adventures ahead, filling in on how each other was going. The cafe waiters in matching stripy black tops and denim blue aprons come around to fill up our empty clear mustard yellow water glasses. Worries that I may not have been the best of friends lately somewhat subdues because you don't seem to have set a grudge on me for being a little absent the last few weeks. We leave with a hug and promises to catch up again soon, without a doubt. See you, Winona.
Authentic Turkish breakfasts are hard to find in Auckland but I found a lovely Turkish lunch place near work recently. Turko is a small cafe near Victoria Park Markets so it's perfect for a lunch out with the colleagues. I got a mezze plate. All of the dishes were of generous portions. Vegetarian friendly!
All you mamas and papas with young kids who need less stairs and more private corners and kid friendly menus, here is a place for you.
All you freelancers who have the freedom to work anywhere where there's good coffee and lots of plugs and free wifi, here is a place for you.
For everyone else, this place is still for you because Crave is almost everything.
Crave is a community cafe in Morningside, a huge warehouse like place with two stories that is great for brunches as well as for dinners. It has a tiny toy shop, artisan displays, and working spaces. I have two very different friends of mine who frequent this place, a young mother of a very active and prone to distraction 2 year old boy, and a very single young professional guy. They both love the vibe of the place, its friendliness and its acceptance for people of all walks of life, young and old.
To my friends with young kids who still want to go on a date with their partner, with or without the kids, this would be the place to come to.
Happy long weekend to those in New Zealand!
Wondering if we will be going to any Latin American countries in the next three weeks...
I would love to go to Peru to taste some authentic fresh ceviche, those delicious raw tuna salads, though my non-seafood eating husband might have a hard time.
When you are on Ponsonby road you are always spoilt for choice but also overwhelmed with the choices because there are so many good places you could go. However if you are looking for a non fussy place with good vibes and cool music options, I would recommend you to stop by here, Conch kitchen & bar.
Great for a first Tinder date or a regular with your long time partner.
Last date place before all the guests arrived for our wedding.
Kiss Kiss is a fusion Asian eatery dressed in pink kitsch-ness off Dominion Road. It's a younger sibling of similarly popular, and blue-er, Chinoiserie in Mt Albert.
A step inside Kiss Kiss I had the impression I was transported to a beach side cafeteria while on holiday - was it the picnic tables and huge colourful beach umbrellas over us?!
A cool glass of house beer and bao buns make for quick and easy date meal.
Kiss Kiss is a fusion Asian eatery dressed in pink kitsch-ness off Dominion Road. It's a younger sibling of similarly popular, and blue-er, Chinoiserie in Mt Albert.
A step inside Kiss Kiss I had the impression I was transported to a beach side cafeteria while on holiday - was it the picnic tables and huge colourful beach umbrellas over us?!
A cool glass of house beer and bao buns make for quick and easy date meal.
Still reminiscing about the pumpkin and walnut sourdough sandwich I had for lunch today at Allpress cafe on Drake St.
It was warm, a little bit gooey and chewy without being oily or too messy. The soy flat white that companioned the lunch plate was also robust and smooth.
Things I liked about Caffettaria Allpress:
- The lovely clean earthy toned dining area
- The see-through display of coffee beans chutes
- Service was pretty quick and pleasantly attentive
Things I wish had been different:
- The sandwiches could have been labelled so we didn't have to ask the lady over the counter, while the queue quickly formed behind us
- The earthy room was a bit too noisy, not the best acoustics
- The next area, the roomy white gallery space with cool hanging plants, had no free tables - that's what you get for going to a popular place!
Definitely up for going back and trying the different bean roasts and also the cauliflower blue cheese soup!
You know how you seem so organised at the beginning of the week, having your homemade lunches ready, until Wednesday? Then you run out and end up buying takeaways for the rest of the week?
Every Thursday we get our lunches delivered to work from Eat my lunch. Founded by Lisa King and chef Michael Meredith, Eat my lunch gives a lunchbox to a hungry Kiwi child in need for every one you buy. It's a great initiative.
Each box consists of a well rounded meal, ranging from the classic to the hungry, the gourmet, the vegetarian, and the gluten free options. I get the Classic delivered to work - and they arrive so early! Around 10am I would already get an email sent to come and collect my lunchbox from the service room. Talk about getting you hungry well in advance!
The box and inside compartments come in recyclable packaging. Here are some of the lunchboxes we had been receiving:
The portions are pretty uniform - just enough to keep you feeling full. Yes, there is a risk that you will definitely need that mid afternoon pickup snack, but it's enough for a sit down lunch. I'm just glad to be eating a healthy meal while also helping out those in need at the same time.
When you want a quick but gourmet meal - Peking duck pizza!
We love duck meat and who doesn't love pizzas? I always used to pass by the Lumsden Freehouse with its live music going, making a mental note to myself, yet again, that I must get there one day.
One day I finally did get to go, and discovered the Peking duck pizza on its menu. It's now one of our top pizza places in Auckland. Also, their craft beer selection is a big plus.
When it's your birthday, your friends take you to Milse. Or gift you with a box of goodies from Milse. Last night I got a box of macarons in pastel rainbow. Miam!
I love the Alibaba cave like interior, and the view into the kitchen where the chefs are hard at work, mixing and folding, creating.
We heard it was the best Indian place in town. It certainly may be the biggest and the most popular.
A lady at the door asked us if we were here for takeaway, dining in or buffet. Apparently there are separate entrances for each option.
We chose to dine in. Buffets for me are a waste of money because I get full too quickly. Inside reminded me of an American diner. The place is clean, with waiters obsessed with cleaning as soon as a table is freed up or they see a spot on the floor. The walls are lined with Indian cricket memorabilia mainly, much like Burger King with its retro wall outfits. There were plenty of Indian families dining in, so we were assured we would be treated with an authentic experience. The naans are fluffy and the curry was good - good portions with plenty left over to take back home.
The next time we came here we decided to take away. It was more of a waiting game. There were so many people it was quite hard for them to keep up and I suspect they forgot about our orders because we waited more than half an hour. We probably will go back to dining in or the buffet the next time.
However, the takeaway place is moving a few doors down where there should be more space, hopefully meaning less chaos.
Every month, on the anniversary day of our wedding, A and I go on a date. It was an advice from my father-in-law, which I think is awesome.
The first month after the Big Day it was pouring down. I wasn't sure if the date was still going ahead.
Of course, knowing my husband, I shouldn't have been worried.
He surprised me by booking a table at a favourite Italian restaurant - the one that is always full or closed whenever we go.
Plus - because there is always more with my hubby - he had a small gift ready, with a warning that it won't always be like this.
Handmade pasta with Italian red wine inside a warm cosy restaurant, even while the sky poured down outside, it was the perfect date.
Not a fries type of place
Warm yellow glow welcomes you into the lit restaurant. It's almost like someone's chic living dining room. You feel comfortable.The waiter comes to introduce the menu. Here is the lead chef smiling next to his older brother on one side of the menu, when he was a kid in Thailand. The actual menu is divided into four sections. The dishes are listed from the mildest to the hottest tastes. They are all designed to share.
We get some wild boar on skewers, pulled pork, grilled chicken, fried taro, some salad and jasmine sticky rice. The tender grilled chicken melts in your mouth. Delicious.
It's a chic place to catch up with friends or a date to impress. Even on a Thursday the place was pretty busy so plan ahead.
The single Belly Bao had a chunky pork belly slice brushed with salty sauce and placed on a little salad bed then tucked into a bao bun. It was big enough to fill me up for lunch but at $16 each, is on the pricey side.
There's a brand new bulk bin place open right next to the Ponsonby Countdown. Only weeks old but this fancy bulk bin place is already so popular. In GoodFor, everything is clean, uniform, neatly lined bins and jars - it's the pantry of my dreams.
There are sections for liquid soaps, herbs, loose tea, all sorts of flours, snacks, and even a kombucha corner. Most things are organic.
Bringing your own containers and bags is highly recommended. We took our own container and got it tared then filled it up with shampoo.
They also have a partnership with so with every purchase they plant a tree. The good for is not the first company to have come up with the initiative - Faguo the French sneakers company also do this - but it's still a cool concept.
Other, less fancy, bulk bin places in Auckland include:
Wish there were more bulk bin options like this available in the supermarkets.
The sun is shining and it's just too good to miss it. Plus it's Friday. The manager lets us out early to enjoy what might be the last dose of hot weather before the wet and the gloomy season, so of course we head to the near bar with a decent deck area.
I'd been to Tomtom for the Christmas function for a previous company so know they have good food but this is my first time for an after work drinks. The interior is dark compared to the bright deck out the back, half covered in a canopy with couches, the other half in the sun with tables and chairs. This is definitely not a pub.
Half the department is already there, competing in size with another company boys in suits, and the DJ is just gearing up the music. The weather is awesome and the work week is over and we deserve this rare early getaway!
Each with a drink in hand, we shout over each other and the music, by now blasting it out.
It's just 5pm.
The dessert place we took D and N after their lomito dinner was, of course, Moustache. It's one of the places we take our favourite people, Mexican specialities being another. We'd seen Moustache grow since its infancy and supported it when it was about to lose its original shop in Auckland central. After Moustache got a bus then a shop at uni, we were excited when it opened another shop on K Rd. Even A, who is not a fan of K Rd, absolutely does not mind if for the cookies. In fact, it was at his suggestion that we came here for our first flattie outing, for our flattie Christmas present, and as a gift to his best mate visiting from overseas.
Sitting in the same industrial interior next to El sizzling lomito, going to Moustache is a treat for the nose. There are cookies constantly coming out fresh from the oven, oozing with sweet Nutella. The baker behind the counter bar is continuously measuring out ingredients for the next batch. Looking at all the bags of sugar and blocks of chocolate seems a bit alarming but she assured me that each batch makes 100s of cookies. I asked her but can't remember the exact numbers anymore.
Even after our lomitos to sandwiches and beer, D and N managed to get a few cookies for dessert. So did we, of course, and they didn't last long. They are too good to savour slowly because I can never resist.
Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar
309 K Rd, Auckland
Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar
309 K Rd, Auckland
