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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This Artichoke Ice Cream Topped With Truffle Is The Dessert Of The Season
Image credit: Onslow | Supplied
Unless you've had your social media on snooze, you'll know that we're in the throes of truffle season. And if you're not enjoying said delicacy grated over Jerusalem artichoke ice cream, butterscotch, hazelnuts and mascarpone as part of Onslow's latest dessert (which is actually returning for its second year), well, I have questions. Despite its less-than-conventional ingredients, this dish was a huge hit when it debuted on the menu in 2024. The idea came about after chef Zachariah Meads had what he calls a “happy accident” involving the near incineartion of some leftover artichoke skins, which in keeping with his passion for sustainability, he was attempting to put to good use. And to good use, it actually went. “When infused, this rich, thick, starchy anglaise arose and when churned went super light and creamy. It reminded me of a salted caramel sundae flavour so I threw in some nuts, chocolate fried artichoke skins, butterscotch and truffle and then we have this.” 'This' being the dessert of the season, which I must tell you is a short but oh-so-sweet one (read: get in quick before it's gone).
An Epic Spring Food Festival Has Entered The Chat With 70 Events Across Two Months
Image credit: Savour Group | Website
The team at Savour Group have cooked up some of Auckland's best eateries (Bivacco, Azabu, Ortolana, Ebsiu and Non Solo Pizza amongst them). And now they're cooking up more than 70 unmissable food and drink experiences across 18 venues as part of their Spring Food Festival, running from August through September. Incredibly, some events have already sold out but if you're interested in an Aperol-fuelled ladies lunch at Bivacco (18th August-12th October), a garden-to-glass wine dinner at Ortolana (10th August) or my personal fave, a night of fire, flavour and fine whisky with THE Colin Fassnidge, presented in partnership with Glenfiddich and also at Bivacco (24th September), jump on over to their website and secure tix while you still can.
Cosy Up For Champagne And Sunsets At Ada
Image credit: Ada | Supplied
Winter isn't all doom and gloom—not when you can spend your afternoons sipping on bubbles and specialty cocktails in the comfort of Ada's cosy champagne lounge. Head on in from 5pm Tuesday through Friday for their newly launched Champagne Sunsets, where the lights are turned way down low, and the heaters are turned right on up (there's even a heated balcony, just sayin'); and you'll get epic specials on French bubbles, complimentary bar snacks, sunset views over the Waitaks and more. Winter, we might just become friends yet.
Check Out This Retro Fave, Making A Comeback Thanks To Mitchells Nutrition
Image credit: Mitchells Nutrition | Website
Beef tallow is back baby (at least that's what the PR package that recently crossed my desk from Mitchells Nutrition said). And I'm inclined to agree—not only does this retro cooking substitute bring to the table a rich, buttery flavour and high smoke point, it also comprises all-natural ingredients (100% grass-fed and finished NZ beef) and encourages a sustainable, nose-to-tail eating process (also utilising byproducts from the cooking process of Mitchells' bone broth products). It's particularly amazing for roasting potatoes, kumara and other winter veg, however you should also know it's a game-changer for crisping your morning eggs. Find Mitchells Nutrition Beef Tallow online or instore at selected New World supermarkets.
Two of NZ's Best Chefs Are Joining Forces For One Incredible Dinner
Image credit: The French Cafe | Instagram
Two of the country's culinary greats are joining forces for an exclusive, one-night-only feast this August. I'm talking of course about Peter Gordon and Sid Sahrawat (pictured here with fellow chef Jono Beattie), who together are responsible for some of New Zealand's very best restaurants and will be donning their aprons for an unforgettable six-course feed celebrating their collective creativity and passion. Hosted at Sid's renowned restaturant, The French Cafe on Wednesday 20th August, this event is limited to just 60 guests so get in quick or you WILL miss out. Tickets are $240 per person and also include pre-dinner canapes plus a glass of champagne on arrival.
Slurp Soup While Reducing Food Waste At This Stylish, Makeshift Soup Kitchen
Image credit: Palate | Facebook
The only thing better than a warm belly is a warm heart. The Palate Soup Kitchen will give you both—specifically, its Soupberb Sundays offering, whereby local chefs create a tasty-as-hell soup every Sunday throughout August from 12-2pm at Hamilton institution Palate, in an effort to raise funds for Go Eco Food Rescue. Sponsored by SkyCity Hamilton and with help from the kind folks at The Grumpy Baker and Fed Foods, these $25 bowls of deliciousness will be prepared by a changing line-up of award winning chefs including Andrew Clarke, Harry Williamson, Lisa Quarrie, Amanda-Jo Pickup, Logan Brown and Scott Bray—with every cent of the price tag going to said charity. I'll slurp to that.
Don't Miss Out On Tix To Winetopia's 10-Year Anniversary Event
Image credit: Winetopia | Website
Top-shelf wines without the pomp and elitism? I'm sick to death of bending down to the bottom shelves of the supermarket wine section for $11 worth of cat's p*ss. It hurts my back, my taste buds and my pride. That's why I'm very much fizzed for this year's Winetopia, celebrating a decade of doing exactly what the first sentence says. It ain't 'til 3-4 October, but securing tickets for the big ten-oh is essential. — Lachlan Woods Davidson
Deadly Ponies Is Celebrating Its Birthday With A Takeover Of This Iconic Bar
Image credit: Eichardt's Private Hotel | Instagram
Can you believe local fashion royalty, Deadly Ponies is turning 20 this month? Me neither. But you can bet they're celebrating their two-decade tenure in style—in fact, they're taking over Eichardt’s Bar, located inside the iconic Eichardt’s Private Hotel, for two whole weeks to celebrate. Head on in from July 31-August 14, and you'll be treated to a menu of bespoke Deadly Ponies cocktails (I can only imagine how flippin' cool these will be), best enjoyed while snuggling infront of a cosy open-fire, wrapped in a Deadly Ponies Mountaineer blankie, inspired by the beaut alpine landscape outside. Dream. Situation.
The Battle Of Burgers Has Begun Down South
Image credit: Le plônc | Instagram
Calling all burger enthusiasts—head to Nelson Tasman for their sizzling burger comp running from 26th June until 3rd August. With over 20 local venues crafting one-of-a-kind burgers, you can get your mitts on all the smash patties, battered fish, and smoky brisket your appetite desires. While you’re there, salivate over Le plônc’s $2,500 creation—but not how you'd expect.
Created in collaboration with Lee Woodman Studios, the tongue-in-cheek ‘Out of Reach: French Kiss’ burger is a flickering art installation showcasing a freeze-dried black garlic brioche-bunned number, stuffed with fillings of indulgent proportions. Literally out of reach, feast with your eyes over images made in the name of artistic and social commentary.
But for the one-off real deal (which will set you back $2,500) you can have it all—complete with black truffle-infused brillât-savarin cheese melted over tender flame-kissed ox tongue, rolled with triple cream cheese and 72-hour smoked ox cheek, and finished with fermented sour cherry barbecue sauce—made to order and delivered as an edible art installation in your home.
Restaurant Month Is Back And Celebrating 15 Years Of Feasting
Image credit: Heart Of The City | B Beattie
Forks at the ready, one of the largest events in Tāmaki Makaurau's culinary calendar is set to return this August. The Heart of the City Auckland Restaurant Month will be dishing up it's signature offering of $55+, $45 and $30 menus (the latter being a proverbial middle finger to the recession) plus some swish events you'll want to lock in, stat, like La Zeppa's one-night-only transformation into a 1920s speakeasy, Chow Luck Club's iconic walking tours, a taco masterclass at Tacoteca and Korean eats with a side of Kpop dance workshops at Hazy Tiger. This year also marks the launch of a totally new Culinary Passport series with some seriously exciting curated progressive dinners.
Channel Tropical Island Vibes, One Sip At A Time
Image credit: RUM Co. | supplied
If your winter is feeling a little too grey, we’ve got the ultimate ticket to island time—no passport required. RUM Co. of Fiji® has just dropped FIJI DRY® in Aotearoa, and it’s set to be your new go-to for those crisp, laid-back sips. Think golden Fijian rum (crafted with decades of island know-how) expertly mixed with Schweppes’ premium Dry Ginger Ale or Lemon, Lime & Bitters—basically, it’s a South Pacific holiday in a can. Whether you’re winding down after work or turning up the weekend, FIJI DRY® is here to help you sip back and relax—no sand between your toes required.
Get Ready To House Some Of The Most Bangin' Burgers To Ever Exist
Image credit: Visa Wellington On A Plate | Supplied
The 2025 Visa Wellington On A Plate’s festival programme is live and it's sure to get taste buds watering in anticipation. With Miramar-based locals Double Vision Brewing as the official partner of the month-long festival, get ready for the biggest culinary festival in the Southern Hemisphere coming this August. From international festival events, to exclusive festival brews from Double Vision to go with Burger Wellington's (4-24 August) 200+ unique burgers. We'll be booking our flights and making our burger wishlist, stat.
What else is new? Here are the best new openings in Auckland you need to check out.
Main image credit: Atelier | Supplied
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