The Feed | The New Zealand Food News You Need To Know

It's that time of the week again. Get ready to feast your eyes on all the hottest food news from around Aotearoa. We’ve got the inside scoop on all the latest and greatest openings, collabs, events, products and more so you can spend less time researching and more time munching (because priorities, people).

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Get Your Hands On The Biggest Fried Chicken Burger For 48 Hours Only 

Image credit: KFC New Zealand | Supplied

KFC New Zealand has launched a secret burger for 48 hours only, called The Big Hack. Zinger lovers, feast your heart out—with double zinger fillets, lettuce, mayo and an extra bun, this is KFC’s biggest burger yet for $9.99 (available from Tuesday 14th October to Wednesday 15th October, while stocks last). As part of their latest meal hacks, the Colonel “Hacker” Sanders will be delivering deals over the next 49 days ($2 Wicked Wing Wednesdays, anyone?). Get ready for some finger lickin’ deals across Aotearoa. 

The Pasta Prince Is Making His Aotearoa Debut For One Night Only

Image credit: Cho Cho San Sydney | Instagram

Aussie Chef Mitch Orr (from ACME, Kiln, Prince Dining Room, and recently opened 25hours Hotel The Olympia in Sydney)—a.k.a. 'the prince of pasta,' known for exploring Japanese and Southeast Asian flavours in pasta, is coming to Aotearoa for one night, as part of Savor Group’s Food Festival. If you know about his ACME Pig’s Head Carbonara Udon with an izakaya twist at Cho Cho San Sydney (with Urban List Sydney) for this month’s secret menu, then you’ll know the hype. Hosted by Bivacco and presented by Penfolds, Chef Mitch will be presenting a one-off, umami-forward menu at this sold-out event this Wednesday 15th October. For those who didn’t manage to snag a seat at this exclusive dinner, try your luck at Peroni Aperitivo sessions with Chef Mitch ahead of the dinner at Bivacco bar between 4-6pm—he’ll be making complimentary snacks with $10 Peroni pours. Book online to avoid missing out on this one.

This Kiwi Chippie Brand Is Bringing The Fiesta With Their Sweet Offerings 

Image credit: Xolo | Website

Inspired by buñuelos (those flaky cinnamon fritters—an essential item at every fiesta), Proper Crisps is releasing a limited-edition, sweet cinnamon tortilla chip. Just when you thought your snack decisions at the supermarket couldn’t get any harder, this cinnamon-sugared crisp arrives in supermarkets next Monday 20th October. For those based in Ōtautahi then you’re in for a pre-release treat—Chef Carlos Rodriguez from Xolo taqueria is giving the tortillas his own twist, plating up a spiced syrup and berry compote-loaded take of the dish on his menu for a limited time (from this Saturday 18th October, to 31st October). A churro crunch meets a cold scoop—proper indulgent.

Get Ready For Sunny So-Cal Vibes At This Fun New Hotel In Tāmaki Makaurau

Image credit: TRIBE | Supplied

The summer season is coming in hot and so is the latest addition to the hotel scene in Tāmaki Makaurau—Accor’s playful stay TRIBE Auckland Fort Street launches tomorrow, Tuesday 14th October. Complete with 60 rooms dressed in pops of colour, fun social spaces and a So-Cal inspired menu at their on-site restaurant, Sienna, expect vibrant and colourful dishes (and drinks) inspired by Southern California summers. Think baja cod tacos, eggplant schnitzel, Cali grain bowls and pineapple margaritas on tap. 

Explore Tāmaki Makaurau With Your Key To The City

Image credit: Te Motu | Vicki Young

If Waiheke is on your weekend list, make it a weekend this October. SO/ Auckland and partners are running their Key To The City offers this month, with exclusive beauty, fitness, activities and food offerings around Tāmaki Makaurau with your SO/ hotel booking. From exclusive collaboration menus with Pici, complimentary dessert at Ghost Street, to archery, cellar treats and tastings over the water at Waiheke. Spend the day at Te Motu Vineyard, where Chef Rowan and the team have created an outstanding menu with fresh produce from the vineyard’s veggie garden (and the juiciest Te Matuku oysters you’ll ever taste). Make your way down the hill to Wild Estate for a game of archery and laser clay-shooting before heading back to the luxe SO/ Auckland. Admire the best night views of the city from Hi-SO Rooftop Bar—with a BATCHED Pistachio Chocolate Martini in hand (and on tap, might we add). Don’t forget the tasty menu from Harbour Society—famous for their woodfire offerings (get the melt-like-butter salmon and dreamy pistachio dessert). 

Head To This High Tea For Their Famous Dessert Trolley And Mozzarella Cheesecake

Image credit: Esther | Vicki Young

If you haven’t experienced Esther’s exquisite High Tea, this is your sign to do so. They roll over the sweet menu via a beautiful trolley of sweet treats piled high—complete with their signature chocolate choux swans and a big tableside scoop of Sean’s orange-scented tiramisu. Their savoury offerings are just as drool-worthy, with Mediterranean flavours (I’m here for all the pops of Ortiz anchovies on toast with salsa verde). Plus, you’d be rude not to go bottomless (with a free-flowing prosecco in each hand) for an extra $20. Book online and don’t miss out—their sweet creations are always executed with such technical skill and finesse (re last season’s lemon-shaped dessert, pictured, that had me fooled)—we hear there’s a buffalo mozz cheesecake on the latest menu that looks just like the real deal. High tea starts at $79 per person (or $99 for bottomless).

April Patisserie Is Upping Their Pastry Game With Their New Shop 

Image credit: April Patisserie | Supplied

After working on pop-up events in Te Whanganui-a-Tara over the past year, April Patisserie has opened up their brick-and-mortar shop on Victoria Street. When Grace Patisserie closed (and then moved to Ōtautahi), Jocelyn missed creating macarons and petits gâteaux. Having learnt from patisserie queen Mariah during her stint at Grace—April Patisserie began as a pop-up last year and have since gained a loyal pastry following for their gorgeous creations. With their unique take on Korean salt bread (of the jalapeño cheese variety, thanks to Eddy's savoury culinary flair) and Jocelyn’s beautiful macaron (like that coconut-pandan number on the mac menu), expect offerings both savoury and sweet. They’ll be offering petits gâteaux in flavours like strawberry and rose with vanilla, to kawakawa and lemon with coconut—to name a few of the many flavours on their opening menu. Having opened their doors for soft launch the weekend just been, you can now get your patisserie fix at their Victoria Street spot. 

Cheers To 90 Years, Tip Top Is Bringing Back An Iconic Fave In Time For Summer

Image credit: Tip Top NZ | Supplied

Tip Top NZ is celebrating 90 years of scoops by bringing back the most requested ice cream since production stopped in 2014–the famous Toppa ice cream. With vanilla ice cream and a strawberry shell, this is the ultimate Kiwi summer treat. Hitting supermarket freezers and dairies nationwide from today—don’t miss out. 

Splash Out With Atelier’s Champagne Dinners This Month

Image credit: Atelier | Supplied

Four big champagne houses will grace Atelier this month for their Champagne Month dinner series. We’re talking bubbles for every palate with Louis Roederer (8th October), Veuve Clicquot (16th October), Billecart-Salmon (22nd October) and Laurent Perrier (29th October). Each dinner will showcase four different varieties to pair with a different menu each night. Dishes across the menus include their wagyu bavette steak, dreamy mashed potatoes (Robuchon style), new season asparagus and Atelier’s signature mille-feuille (hello, salted butter caramel). One lucky customer from each dinner will also get to take a precious bottle home. Get your tickets to this four course champagne dream for $195 per person here. 

Prepare To Get Served At SkyCity

Image credit: SERVED SkyCity | Supplied

In case you missed it, SkyCity’s culinary series SERVED is making a grand return, bringing global flavours and exclusive culinary events to some of Auckland’s most celebrated restaurants. Think Pacific-inspired plates at Michael Meredith’s Metita, Diwali feasts at Sid Sahrawat’s Cassia, and the best of Aotearoa at The Grill. And that’s just the start—there’s also Japanese creations at MASU by Nic Watt, traditional Chinese at Huami, sky-high cocktails at SkyBar,  and NYC style chopped cheese sandos at Al Brown's Fed Deli. Basically, you’re about to embark on a round-the-world dining trip without leaving the city. Visit here for the full line-up and start plotting your next feast—because this is one culinary passport you’ll definitely want stamped. —Maisie Gray

Take a Break Up North, Go To This Month Long Food Festival

Image credit: Māha Restaurant Kerikeri | Instagram

Savour Northland is back this October, with a month-long festival celebrating Northland produce, wines and the hospitality scene. From Mangawhai to Cape Reinga—feast on lazy long lunches, nourish the mind with an exhibition on kūmara, jump on a catamaran with a wine in hand, feast on native Northland forest ingredients at Māha, or head out for a forage at the beach and cook by the sea with Chef Anna Valentine. The festival kicks off from this Wednesday 1st October, until the end of the month. Jump on the website to check out all the exciting events happening across the region.

Head South For A Wine and Food Riverside Dining Experience

Image credit: Wine + Food Experience Marlborough | Supplied

While down south, extend the trip to Marlborough where Marlborough’s Wine + Food Experience has just opened in Blenheim’s riverside precinct. With more than 50 local wineries and food producers under one roof, around a stunning copper and stainless steel grape vine sculpture commissioned by Ōtautahi-based artists Steve Trevella and Rose McKenzie, the fit out is lush and an exciting way to experience a literal taste of Marlborough. Spend the day (or night, with the space open from 11am-10pm) cellar door-hopping and experiencing personalised wine tastings (with Wine Emotion dispensers) and snacking on artisan Marlborough produce. We’re talking Little River Estate cheese, Premium Game charcuterie, Mills Bay mussels, Cloudy Bay clams, and Marlborough oysters and smoked salmon just to name a few—all while looking over at the Taylor river and Richmond ranges. Having just been to Marlborough recently, I’m looking forward to heading back and checking this space out. 

Hungry for more? Check out the hottest new openings you need to know about here. 

Urban List The Feed has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.

Main Image Credit: Sienna Restaurant and Bar at TRIBE | Supplied