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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This Restaurant Is Turning Into A Dessert And Cocktail Bar 

Image credit: Forest Scoops | Supplied

Forest is launching Forest Scoops, a pop-up dessert and cocktail bar from this Thursday 29th January, pouring their full drinks list and Chef Plabita’s clever combinations of sweet creations. From purple kūmara ice cream with marmite caramel, to plum and shiso sorbet with jalapeño jelly—we’re here for all the inventive cocktail creations (like their hibiscus negroni or pickled cabbage margarita) and sweet treats. Open from 5pm, from Thursday to Saturday—and for a limited time only. 

Bring In The Lunar New Year With These Special-Release Wines

Image credit: Taylors Wines | Supplied

To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse on 17 February 2026, family-owned wine brand Taylors Wines have introduced two exclusive Lunar New Year gift boxes featuring wines from its acclaimed St. Andrews collection. Each proudly adorned with Taylors’ bold and iconic seahorse emblem (after the discovery of fossilised seahorses in the Clare Valley family estate in 1969), it represents three generations of Taylor family winemakers—a visual expression of strength and grace, and a very auspicious collection to ring in the new year. Choose from dark plum and spiced mocha notes of their 2021 Shiraz, or their classic Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of cassis, blackcurrant and cedar. Available from select bottle stores across Aotearoa with prices from $69.99.

The Theme For This Year’s Food Festival In The Capital Has Been Announced

Image credit: Visa Wellington On A Plate™ from 2025 | Supplied

Burger spreadsheets at the ready, Visa Wellington On A Plate™ has just announced their theme for this year’s festival—Word of Mouth. From off-menu dishes to recipes handed down generations—this year’s theme will see chefs get creative for their event and burger entries come August when the festival officially kicks off. Applications for events and the popular Burger Wellington will go live on Monday 2nd Feb and we can’t wait to see our creative capital get cooking.

One Of Our Fave Wine Bars In Pōneke Has An Ōtautahi Menu Takeover

Image credit: Puffin | Vicki Young

Gatherings and The Hermit Ram are taking over the wine pours and menu at Puffin this Saturday 31st January for the first event of the year. Get ready for some special cellar pours from Theo Coles the winemaker himself, along with Gatherings’ Alex Davies on the snacks. 5pm-late, no tickets or bookings required. 

This Popular Street Food Market Is On Their Farewell Tour

Image credit: Balmoral Street Food Market | Supplied

This Friday 30th January kicks off the first market of the year for Balmoral Street Food Market, and the last year they are running their markets (with the last one in April this year). Harry Stew established the markets in 2022 to celebrate the diverse food culture in Tāmaki Makaurau, turning the little carpark of Junk & Disorderly on Balmoral Road into a neighbourhood food ritual on Friday nights. From flavoursome birria tacos at Tacos El Carnal, Hapunan’s chicharon-topped Lechon Kawali x Bicol Express, a comforting bowl of PHỞ YẾN's phố before they found their brick and mortar shop, and Bear Gelato’s lychee sorbet back before they set up shop—this has been a welcoming community-filled space where strangers sat at shared tables and chatted about food. I’ve had so many incredible dishes here and so lucky to see businesses start and thrive with the support of markets like this. Make sure you head to their markets this year before they wrap up. 

Get Ready For Margarita Month And A Chance To Win A Trip To Mexico

Image credit: Rosie’s Red Hot Cantina Takapuna | Supplied

February is officially Margarita month and that means this Sunday 1st February, Rosie’s Red Hot Cantina is putting on a fiesta across Tāmaki Makaurau, Mount Maunganui and Te Whanganui-a-Tara venues. From mango and chamoy, a crème de cassis ‘Berry Nice’ marg, to watermelon and lime with spicy tabasco—there’s a marg for every occasion (and all from $12). Jump online to check out the full marg line-up across Star Group venues, special events running during this month, plus the chance to win a trip to Mexico.

Head To This Cocktail And Wine Bar For A One-Day Collab With Pizza Legends

Image credit: Juno | Vicki Young 

Juno and Brave Pizza are coming together this Sunday 1st February for rectangle pizzas, buffalo wings, mortadella pickle plates and watermelon margs (it is Margarita month, afterall). Head to Juno in Ponsonby this Sunday where they will be running this collab from 2pm, until sold out. Pictured: Not a marg, but side note that if you’re partial to a martini, then you can also get these mini martinis on Juno's drinks menu (while you wait for all the snacks).

Australian and Aotearoa Distillers Are Heading To Tāmaki Makaurau This Weekend

Image credit: Gin Events | Website

Tāmaki Makaurau is hosting three sessions of the popular Auckland Spirits Festival this Friday 30th January, through to Sunday 1st February at The Cloud. Previously The Auckland Gin Festival, this year the organisers have turned it up a notch to include all spirits. Try a range of Australian and Aotearoa-based distillers’ latest hand-crafted spirits with sample pours, and the option to buy bottles to take home. With local food trucks parking up, as well as the International Spirits Academy Taste Theater, including a cocktail masterclass by distiller Felix Clark (pictured above) from award-winning Ester Spirits on Saturday—this is one helluva event for cocktail lovers. Note this is an R18 event and ticket entry only. 

Coronet Ridge Resort Debuts In Queenstown

Image credit: Coronet Ridge Resort | Supplied

Queenstown’s newest five-star luxury alpine sanctuary—Coronet Ridge Resort—has just opened its doors. Looking over the Shotover River, along with epic dining views of Remarkables mountain range, this resort has all the lush views as well as lush leisure add-on’s. Relax at their Roman-inspired day spa and outdoor hot tubs, head to the resort squash courts and then kick back at the private cinema. With only a short ten minute drive to Coronet Peak ski resort and the heart of Queenstown, make this your next soul-soothing getaway. Check out their rooms (and exclusive opening offers) here.

Head To These Gardens For Al Fresco Dining With Top Chefs

Image credit: Previous Kelmarna Dinner dish by Chef Georgia van Prehn | Supplied (Photography by Alex McVinnie @alexmcv) 

Four popular chefs, eight glorious evenings dining on freshly grown organic produce under the setting sun—Kelmarna’s acclaimed Farm Dinners are back this February for the eighth year. This year’s chefs include Joe O’Connell of MAMA restaurant, Kane Wilson of Someplace Somewhere (and part of the Ooh-Fa kitchen), Elie Assaf from Lebanese Grocer (and Za’atar Bakehouse), and Georgia van Prehn (formerly Alta). Expect each chef to bring their signature culinary flair, showcase beautiful produce from Kelmarna Community Farm, as well as the important role the farm plays in the community. The Farm Dinners help raise valuable funds to support Kelmarna’s education and therapeutic work in the community, with 50% of the proceeds going straight to the charitable trust. Book your tickets via Humantix. 

Save Money And Fight Food Waste With This App in Tāmaki Makaurau

Image credit: Too Good To Go | Supplied

Since their Aotearoa debut in October last year, Too Good To Go has grown from 60 to over a hundred partners across Tāmaki Makaurau offering deals on surplus food from bakeries, restaurants and convenience stores. Think delicious food, from your favourite local eateries, at a discounted price and in a surprise bag for pick up. From breads and pastries to pies and pizza, plus rice rolls, sushi and butchery goods—they’ve just expanded across Auckland for now, but are looking at other cities this year. Get on the app to find what deals are near your neighbourhood. 

Head To This Rooftop Bar For Plum Margs and Negronis With A Summer Twist

Image credit: Queens Rooftop and Wineshop | Supplied

Queens Rooftop is welcoming summer with a refreshed cocktail list designed for long afternoons and warm evenings above the city. Anchoring the new season are two standout serves, the Plum Margarita and Strawberry & Coconut Negroni, each crafted to pair seamlessly with their new summer menu—think fresh oysters with kina vinegar, tiger prawn aglio e olio and heirloom summer salads, making it an ideal golden hour cocktail match on the rooftop. 

Le Creuset Have Just Dropped This Bold Red Lunar New Year Collection

Image credit: Le Creuset | Supplied

On every foodie’s wishlist (including mine) is Le Creuset’s Carousel Collection, to mark the Lunar New Year in February and the year of the Horse this year. With a prosperous cherry-red hue, gold details and stunning horse motif, this special collection has a limited time introductory offer of 20% off (until 26 January 2026). Add this bold red number to your collection and start planning your Lunar New Year longevity noodles and prosperity toss dishes, stat.

Farrah’s Partners With Hercules Noble, Delivering Anywhere This Summer

Image credit: Farrah’s x Hercules | Supplied

Farrah’s has teamed up with self-proclaimed ‘New Zealand’s most favourite chef’ Hercules Noble, to deliver easy and delicious meals wherever summer adventures unfold. Hercules has created four go-to summer recipes with Farrah’s. From deconstructed wrap lasagne, ice cream tacos, tostadas, to wrap samosas—check them out online for relaxed summer meal inspo. Kiwis also have the chance to win a visit from Hercules, who will cook up these recipes for six lucky guests. Entries close 5th February, so head online to enter. 

Head To This Independent Supermarket That Just Opened In Ōtautahi

Image credit: Kai Co | Facebook

Newly opened independent supermarket Kai Co by father and son team Shane and Ethan Vickery has taken the Aotearoa supermarket scene by storm, with lines out the door on opening days. By buying directly from local suppliers, they’re offering cheaper prices to the public with butchery, grocery and produce all under one roof (they even have a butchery service on site for specific cuts). Make your way to the big green building at Northwood in Ōtautahi to get yourself some bargain food deals. 

Get Your Fizz On With DJ FISHER At Mount Maunganui 

Image credit: Hard FIZZ | Supplied

Nothing says summer festival energy without an ice cold bevvy—and Australian DJ FISHER is bringing the vibes to Mount Maunganui’s new Bay Oval along with the launch of Hard FIZZ in Aotearoa for the first time. As the first country outside of Australia to get their hands on these zero-sugar RTDs, those headed to Fish’s show on 31st January will get to try Hard FIZZ in their lemon and pineapple flavours. The rest of Aotearoa can keep an eye out for Hard FIZZ at Super Liquor and Bottlezone stores across the country. R18, drink responsibly. 

Cook Locally-Made Pasta With Aotearoa Grains This Year

Image credit: Monty & Sons | Supplied

Make it your New Year’s resolution to shop and support more locally this year. Monty & Sons are making pasta from 100% New Zealand-grown regenerative durum wheat from the Wairarapa. Using bronze-cut and slow-dried pasta making techniques, where their dough is pressed through bronze dies to get that rough surface for the sauce to stick to better, and then air-dried for 12-24 hours—this not only protects the grain’s nutrients making it nutritious, but gives flavour to the dough. Their packaging is plastic-free too—with the only plastic being the pallet-wrap made with recycled ocean waste. They’re supporting regenerative farming practices, reducing waste and building a better local food system. Their dried 500g pasta packs launched recently, both online and at select retailers (Farro, Moore Wilsons, Commonsense Organics and GoodFor) and through subscription services (like Wonky Box). If you’re in Ōtautahi, you might even spot them on Lillies’ latest menu. 

Join This Local Foody Tour For A Walking Food Adventure

Image credit: The Big Foody at San Ray | Supplied (Photography by Babiche Martens)

A tour over a year in the making is arriving on Ponsonby Road in Tāmaki Makaurau next week. Walk. Talk. Eat. Repeat. Ponsonby Road Food Tour is hitting the streets on Tuesday 13th January. Operated by Elle Armon Jones (a.k.a. The Big Foody, who organises food tours in Tāmaki Makaurau, Pōneke and Ōtepoti), expect tastings along the best of Ponsonby’s food scene—from artisan ice cream tastings, Italian flavours, Asian-inspired bites, to the Ponsonby classics, stories from those behind the dishes, plus a bespoke bean-to-bar craft chocolate tasting at Miann. Tours are priced at $225 per person. Jump on the website for all the deets. 

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: Passionita at Moretons Bar & Restaurant | Supplied by Star Group