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).

For the first time in 125 years, the MICHELIN Guide is coming to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2026. If it’s worth a special journey for Michelin, it’s worth one for you too. Start planning your trip and discover flavours that tell our story... now.

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Celebrate NYE At Blue With This Stunning Set Menu

Image credit: Blue | Vicki Young 

Send off 2025 with a glass of natural wine and delicious plates of kai at Blue—it’s their first NYE and what better way to celebrate than a cosy night with candlelight. With their special NYE set menu for $55, feast on organic focaccia with whipped butter, burrata dressed in fig leaf oil, heirloom tomatoes tossed in brown butter vinaigrette, and juicy lamb with anchovies. Add on a festive glass (they’re doing lucky dip pours)—as well as festive NYE bubbles and oysters. Don’t forget to save room for silky chocolate cremeux with cherries. Jump on their website to book a seat, stat. 

Giapo Launches A 2026 Wearable Ice Cream Cone To Ring In The New Year

Image credit: Giapo | Giapo App 

Get your hands (and face) on Giapo’s limited edition cone creations—from their just-released 2026 wearable cone with sparkly gold-dusted chocolate to ring in the new year, to the last of their limited-edition Christmas creations (ft. Santa’s beard made entirely of chocolate or a fun reindeer twist on their Spectacool glasses with waffle cone antlers). Add your fave Giapo scoop (Cher’s chocolate or Matcha Hokey Pillow anyone?) to this next-level ice cream cone to make this summer’s ice-cream run a memorable one.

Le Creuset Is Dropping Their Lucky Lunar New Year Carousel Collection

Image credit: Le Creuset | Supplied

On every foodie’s wishlist (including mine) comes the Lunar New Year collection to mark the Year Of The Horse in 2026. With a prosperous cherry-red hue, gold details and stunning horse motif, this special collection launches on January 2nd. Start planning your Lunar New Year longevity noodles and prosperity toss dishes, stat.

Sip On Aotearoa’s Best Gins This Summer With Winning Picks From Gin-Lovers 

Image credit: New Zealand Gin Competition | Supplied

The 2025 New Zealand Gin Competition made their debut last month with almost 100 entries from across the motu, with Matakana Gin Co. taking out the overall winning title with their flagship Matakana Gin. Unlike traditional spirits awards, the New Zealand Gin Competition is blind-tasted and judged by gin-loving consumers (rather than expert and professional judges) to get a sense of what everyday consumers like. Category winners covered classic, contemporary, flavoured, navy, gin liqueur and light styles, plus a large number of gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded based on aroma, flavour, balance and overall quality. Jump on their website for all the winners.

This Bakery Has Been Given A Fresh New Look With A Side Of Chook

Image credit: Daily Bread | Supplied

After eight years of slinging their signature sourdough (and for the sweet toothed, their hazelnut pain au chocolat), Daily Bread have moved the bakery from their O.G. Point Chev spot to build a proper bakery in New Lynn. Their flagship store on Great North Road is still humming though—they’ve swapped big bread ovens for a rotisserie oven and are now serving hot chook sarnies Wednesdays to Sundays. Think buttered soft rolls with rubbed rotisserie chook, crunchy salad, and a gochujang hot sauce. Add hot chips and fermented pineapple chilli sauce for an extra spicy kick.

Kiwi Summers Are For Charcuterie Picnic Boxes By The Beach

Image credit: Takapuna Beach Café | Supplied

Takapuna Beach Café is offering a lush charcuterie box to take away during summer on the weekends (Friday to Sunday). Each box is $45 and comes with 2 local cheeses, 2 cured meats of the day, fruit, honeycomb and housemade crackers for two people. Pair it with their whisked-to-order blueberry matcha or an award-winning gelato scoop (we’ve been told there’s a game-changing liquorice gelato) and you’ve got the perfect picnic set-up. Head to their website to make your order for pick-up on the way to the beach. 

Head To This Pop-Up For Whitebait Fritters, Chip Butties And Deep-Fried Chocolate Fish 

Image credit: Takapuna Beach Café | Supplied

While you’re headed to the beach, don’t forget to pop into Takapuna Beach Café for their second summer fish and chip shop pop-up. Last year’s debut literally broke their fryers, and they’re back with even more offerings this year. Running until Sunday 10th May, get your FNC classics beachside—from crowd-pleasers like whitebait fritter butties, crispy calamari rolls, seafood basket (with mussels, oysters, scallops and calamari), to a cheeky deep-fried, pineapple-lump-style chocolate fish. Returning faves include fish sliders and chip butties, plus fried John Dory, hapuka and blue cod (of the battered or crumbed variety) with rip and dip Watties T-sauce, housemade tartare or signature aioli with truffle. 

A New All-Day Brunch Spot Has Launched in Arrowtown In Time For Summer

Image credit: Dishery | Supplied (Photography by Bri Woolnough) 

Come for the eggs and stay for the spritz—Arrowtown has a slick all-day brunch spot called Dishery and it’s giving big summer energy. With brunch from 8am, DJs from 2pm, and local Canyon Brewing beers from Arthurs Point on tap—they’ve come back with a new look and fresh menu, just in time for those long summer days. We’re eyeing up agria hash browns with everything, and cocktails before midday? Say less. 

If You Love Oysters and Bubbles, Head To This Rooftop For Their Sunday Catch

Image credit: Rooftop at QT | Supplied

Sun-kissed salty afternoons just got even better with Rooftop at QT’s Sunday Catch. Think $3 oysters and $99 bottles of champagne (it will be Perrier-Jouët until end of January, then another drop after). Make a beeline to this rooftop bar in Tāmaki Makaurau every Sunday, 12pm til late. 

Win A Pack Of Our Sweet, Sharp, And Creamy Conversation Cards

Image credit: Urban List NZ | Supplied

For when the cheeseboard is out, and the chat needs a little extra bite, together with Mainland, we’ve created an exclusive deck of 50 conversation starters—guaranteed to spark the deep-and-meaningfuls and the outrageous confessions. With only 500 packs up for grabs (plus a tasty $2K for one lucky winner), once they’re gone, they’re gone—so get in quick. Grab your pack here. 

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

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Main image credit: truth/dare | Supplied