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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Sing For Free Sushi On This Karaoke Bus With St Pierres, Hello Kitty And Friends

Image credit: St Pierres Sushi | Facebook 

To celebrate the February launch of the St Pierres and Hello Kitty and Friends collaboration, three lucky winners and their friends will board a fully themed double-decker karaoke bus for a whirlwind tour of Tāmaki Makaurau on Sunday 15th February. Sing your heart out with Aotearoa’s very-own talented rising rangatahi singer Jaya Rees who will be performing on the bus, and then pull up for all-you-can-eat sushi at a central St Pierres store.

Jump on St Pierres’ Facebook page for a chance to win. For those who miss out, get your hands on their mystery Hello Kitty and Friends cups—spend $20 at any St Pierres Sushi store and add a Hello Kitty and Friends mystery cup to your order for $4 (perfect for your miso soup). Fun fact: Three brothers in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara opened up the first St Pierres store in 1984. 

Get Ready For Modern Indian Dining With This Chef’s Debut Restaurant

Image credit: Aarth | Supplied

Aarth is the debut solo restaurant from chef Vicky Shah (Cassia, Sidart, Ki Māha) reimagining modern Indian dining in Tāmaki Makaurau. Translating to “deeper meaning,” Aarth is about exploring the history, emotion and symbolism in Indian cuisine.

Get ready for flavours and combinations like whitebait bhaji with lime leaf chaat masala, heirloom tomato salad influenced by the flavours of street food pav bhaji, crayfish tikka masala, lamb “and too many chutneys,” plus a nostalgic nod to mango lassi (but not what you’d expect, ft. mango custard and pineapple) and a refined, next-level Black Forest for dessert—to name just a few exciting things on the evening menu (they also have a dedicated vegetarian menu coming soon). We can’t wait to experience Chef Vicky’s fluid, modern and creative interpretation of modern Indian flavour. Open at 1/333 Parnell Road, nights from Wednesday to Sunday, 5.30pm to late (and daytime offerings soon). 

Le Creuset Has Introduced Exciting New Colours To The Table

Image credit: Le Creuset | Supplied

Check Out Wine In Dessert Recipes From This Sweet Collab

Image credit: Brown Brothers x That Green Olive | Supplied

Brown Brothers has partnered with cookbook author and food photographer Olivia Moore of That Green Olive to create two vibrant summer dessert recipes inspired by the fruit-forward flavours of Brown Brothers Moscato and Brown Brothers Cienna. Created with New Zealand summer entertaining in mind, Olivia’s fun and creative recipes offer a fresh way to enjoy wine beyond the glass—from Brown Brothers Moscato in popsicle form with passionfruit, mint and lime and a crisp pistachio white chocolate shell, to Brown Brothers Cienna in a Sangria-style jelly, complete with summer berries and a splash of orange liqueur and brandy. Check out the recipes from That Green Olive on socials and get yourself Brown Brothers Moscato and Brown Brothers Cienna from leading liquor retailers nationally. R18, drink responsibly. 

This Tāmaki Makaurau Bar And Local Distillery Have Created A Bespoke Gin

Image credit: Waiheke Distilling Co. x Bar Albert | Supplied 

If you’re partial to a London Dry gin over breathtaking views, read on. Bar Albert (located at the top floor of Voco, the highest hotel rooftop destination in Tāmaki Makaurau) has partnered with boutique, family-owned distillery Waiheke Distilling Co., to create an exclusive London Dry style gin—Bar Albert Gin. Eight botanicals have been carefully selected to go with the range of Bar Albert Gin cocktails created together, which you can only enjoy exclusively at Bar Albert from this month.

The signature cocktail created from the collab—The Tāmaki, features Bar Albert Gin along with the warmth of Mānuka honey mead, orange liqueur, plus Syrah syrup and grape juice to give layers of flavour and that vibrant dark red jewel colour. Topped with foam and garnished with fragrant rosemary and edible flowers—it’s a showstopper to sip on while soaking in the incredible golden hour views of the city. With Valentines (and Galentines) coming up, this cocktail is also part of the offerings—complete with bubbles and a charcuterie board too. 

Pro-tip: Gin lovers can also get the whole experience with their Sip, Stay & Sail package—and jump on the ferry and Eastern explorer bus to check out the distillery first-hand for a guided tasting and long lunch. Located in the Eastern part of Waiheke, the distillery looks out to stunning views of islands and endless blue water. With a cocktail spritz in hand (along with the best calamari and pizza fritta you’ll ever have), this is the perfect summer day out, before making your way back to the city to the sleek rooftop bar. 

Head To This Lunar New Year High Tea With Waterfront Views

Image credit: The Living Room at Park Hyatt | Supplied

Chinese-inspired savoury and sweet treats await at Park Hyatt’s The Living Room for Lunar New Year this year. Along with a complimentary mocktail on arrival and lucky red envelopes, the menu features brioche with chestnut and Sichuan Pepper to start, followed by steamers of various dumplings and duck pancakes. Move onto sweets like black sesame roulade with passionfruit and caramel, choux with compressed honeydrew, lychee confit and berries—just to name a few of the treats expected in their four course menu. Tickets are $80 per person and the high tea runs from 12th February to 3rd March (on Thursdays to Sundays, 12pm-3.30pm). 

Celebrate Valentine’s Day At Sofitel Hotels & Resorts Across Aotearoa

Image credit: La Marée at Sofitel Auckland | Supplied 

Sofitel Hotel & Resorts across Tāmakai Makaurau, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Queenstown has announced their special Valentines (and Galentines) packages with wellness, spa and all things in the love language of food. From special set dinner menus at La Marée featuring a showstopping heart-shaped dessert, or Jardin Grill (they had me at molten Valrhona chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream), to afternoon tea (featuring lobster roll and goats’ curd mille-feuille) for two in Queenstown—check out the full line-up for each location and plan your romantic Aotearoa getaway, stat. 

Hamilton Cult-Fave Oat Bros Has Opened An Auckland Location

Image Credit: Oat Bros | Instagram

Any serious oat lover will already be well acquainted with Hamilton’s cult-favourite Oat Bros—famed for their ever-rotating, wildly creative oat flavours and the kind of community following most cafes can only dream of (yes, they even have a run club). Oat Bros has officially landed in Auckland this month, opening the doors to its first Tāmaki Makaurau outpost in Grey Lynn. Located at 37 Ariki Street, swing by for that post-run brekkie. 

This Restaurant Is Turning Into A Dessert And Cocktail Bar 

Image credit: Forest Scoops | Supplied

Forest has launched Forest Scoops, a pop-up dessert and cocktail bar. With clever cocktail flavours, their full drinks list and Chef Plabita’s clever combinations of sweet creations this is the go-to spot for post-dinner treats (and a nightcap). From purple kūmara ice cream with marmite caramel and rosemary sherbet, to a tall sundae glass of their plum and shiso sorbet that with jalapeño jelly and pops of amaretto-rolled melon balls, somehow took me to the childhood lolly bag aisle. Don't forget to sip on an inventive cocktail creation like their hibiscus negroni, passionfruit and green tomato fizz with parsley oil, or pickled cabbage margarita. 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 are live as of on Monday 2nd Feb. We can’t wait to see our creative capital get cooking. 

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 Rosie’s Red Hot Cantina is putting on a month-long 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 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 month 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 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. 

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 has landed on Ponsonby Road in Tāmaki Makaurau. 'Walk. Talk. Eat. Repeat. Ponsonby Road Food Tour' is 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: Waiheke Distilling Co. x Bar Albert x Voco | Supplied