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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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. 

Buy Locally Made Hawai’i Chocolate And Win A Hawai’i Getaway

Image credit: Wellington Chocolate Factory | Supplied

Aotearoa’s first craft chocolate bar made with O’ahu-grown cacao launches in Te Whanganui-a-Tara with Wellington Chocolate Factory, who has expanded their Pasifika range to include the new Hawai’i 70% Dark Chocolate Bar. With beans from Māpele Fields and custom wrapper artwork from Lehuauakea, a contemporary indigenous Hawaiian artist (known for modern works on kapa, traditional barkcloth made from wauke, the paper mulberry tree). To celebrate the launch, WCF is giving away a trip for two to Hawai’i with support from Hawaiian Airlines and Hawai’i Tourism Authority. Make your purchase (online nationwide, or at their Eva Street Factory or Lambton Quay pop-up in Pōneke) by Thursday 18th December to enter the draw. 

Head To This Waterfront Spot For Tiki Taco Cones And Paua Doughnuts

Image credit: The Lula Inn | Supplied

Known for their iconic bottomless brunches, the Lula Inn is showing off a whole new side with a Pacific-inspired summer menu. From tiki taco cones with tuna tartare to paua fritter doughnuts with watermelon rind pickle, to their prawn and snapper Sea Dog (think hot dog but surf-side, with prawn popcorn garnish). Don’t leave without a sweet treat (check out the white choc and raspberry fish and jalapeño-caramel ice cream doughnut). They have live music on Thursday through to Saturday nights too—round the crew up for an island-inspired feed (and cheeky cocktail on the over-water deck).

Check Out This Next-Level Christmas Afternoon Tea 

Image credit: truth/dare | Supplied

It’s the season of sparkles, and what better way to bring in Christmas early than to get a spot at truth/dare’s Season of Sparkles afternoon tea collab with NZ Pastry Chef of The Year Kenji Yoshitsuka (Head Pastry Chef at Advieh, Intercontinental Auckland). Sponsored by Piper Heidsieck, sip on champagne on arrival, followed with a bespoke celebration cocktail from truth/dare’s mixologist magician Theodore Ian Tjandra, savoury delights by truth/dare chef Yovin Sius and sweets from Chef Kenji. Expect fluffy shokupan with scampi and chilli, savoury corn mille-feuille, black sesame financiers with sesame brittle, as well as gin and yuzu macaron to name a few treats from the menu. Tickets are $90 per person with three sittings on Sunday 21st December (12pm, 2pm and 4pm). DM or email truth/dare to secure your spot, stat. 

Head To Waiheke For A Beachside Long Lunch Meets DJ Party

Image credit: Veuve Clicquot | Supplied 

Make your way over the water to Waiheke, where Veuve Clicquot is bringing elevated summer moments to Ki Māha and Mudbrick. Soak in the sunshine and good vibes at Ki Māha’s Sun-Day Sun Club from 3-6pm, every Sunday (from this Sunday 21st December) with roaming champagne trolleys, signature seafood towers, and live DJ sets. Then make your way over to the Clicquot Terrace at Mudbrick for golden hour, with views over Tīkapa Moana. Jump on their socials to check out the range of events thanks to this iconic champagne house. 

This Wine Cellar Door Just Opened With A New Chef-In-Residence

Image credit: Chef Sebastian Vargas | Supplied

Make it a weekend trip to Waiheke because SOHO Family Vineyards has just opened their new onsite eatery, Harvey Eatery by Chef Sebastian Vargas. Originally from Chile and now a Waiheke local, you may remember Chef Sebastian from The Boatshed over at Oneroa. This new eatery is named after one of his fave films, and features flavoursome bites like prawns ajillo—a traditional Spanish-Chilean dish of buttery and garlicky prawns, as well as lamb skewers with eggplant kasundi, and green goddess dressing over grilled zucchini. Make your way there this summer and don’t forget to try the Black Collection wines to match each bite.

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. 

One Of Queenstown’s Most-Loved Restaurants Has Entered A New Chapter

Image credit: Rātā | Supplied

After a short pause to refresh the dining room, Rātā is back with their new dining space and new menu. Think sleek marble details reminiscent of sandy shores, warm wood-grain contrast in the chairs, cosy banquette seating—along with food offerings that are shaped by fire, fermentation and seasonal rhythm. Fleur Caulton, founder of Rātā is a hospitality legend in Tāhuna Queenstown—this refresh reflects the same warm hospitality and deep respect for land, people and culture of Aotearoa that Rātā has always stood for. 

Get Your Summer Entertaining Sorted With Inspo From Award-Winning Wine And This Celebrated Cookbook Author 

Image credit: Taylors Wine x Ashia Ismail-Singer | Supplied

Taylors Wine has teamed up with celebrated cookbook author Ashia Ismail-Singer (of Indian heritage, born and raised in Malawi, Africa—who later emigrated to the UK, and now lives in Aotearoa where she calls home) to celebrate their award-winning Taylors Jamaran Shiraz 2023. Winning the World Champion Shiraz title at the London Wine Show this year, they’ve matched this drop with two delicious recipes created by Ashia—a fragrant lamb curry with turmeric rice that enhances the richness and spice, followed by decadent shiraz-poached pears with mascarpone for dessert. Jump on Ashia's Instagram (@ashiastable) to check out the full recipes. 

Five Aotearoa Restaurants Received An AMEX Grant To Further Their Mahi

Image credit: AMEX | Supplied

Five restaurants in Aotearoa were awarded AMEX grants of $25k (NZD) this year for making a positive impact to their community, and to help further their long-term business growth. The Lebanese Grocer is one of five small restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau to receive the grant, along with Annabelles, Brewd Hawt Chicken Co, Pici and The Lumsden Freehouse. Lebanese Grocer’s chef-owner Elie Assaf is using the grant to build a commercial kitchen and develop a new line of house-made grocery products based on his family recipes, helping to diversify their revenue. We can’t wait to see what’s in store, and for the rest of the recipients. Congrats Aotearoa hospo! 

Head To This Rooftop Bar For Plum Margs And All The Snacks This Summer 

Image credit: Queens Rooftop & Wineshop | Supplied

Get ready for summer sessions at Queens Rooftop—their new summer menu just dropped. From kina and sweet-spicy vinegar dressed oysters (have you seen their impressive seafood bar?!), heirloom tomato salad (with a giant block of feta to top), crunchy chilli crisp cucumber, to hand-rolled saffron fettucine to name a few of the tasty new dishes on their just-released summer menu. Plus there's a crayfish fettucine in the works and appearing on the menu very soon. Don’t leave without a cherry baked alaska with caramelised white chocolate ice cream, and a plum marg—it’s the feastin’ season afterall. 

Don’t Miss Takapuna Surf Club’s December Crayfish Special

Image credit: Takapuna Surf Club | Supplied

In case you missed it—Takapuna Surf Club has a December Crayfish lunch special for all of this month. Take your festive gathering to the next level with a whole crayfish for $90 or half for $60, served Mondays and Tuesdays from 12-3pm. Pair with their new summer menu offerings (including a refreshed cocktail list featuring a summery strawberry and basil spritz). Bookings recommended so you don’t miss out.

This Beachside Restaurant Has Opened For Summer 

Image credit: Aryeh | Supplied (Photography by Babiche Martens)

Aryeh has opened for their third summer season, with summer hours and menus for 2026 now live. They’ve also got their special sundeck menu for that perfect post-beach nibble and drink at sunset. If you haven’t had their crisp, melt-in-mouth, tallow-fried, beer-battered FNC or their 'Story of New Zealand Cuisine' tasting menu—then head to Piha, stat.

Cloudy Bay Has Released Their 2025 Flagship Sauvignon Blanc 

Image credit: Chef Ben Bayly with Cloudy Bay | Supplied

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from Cloudy Bay has been an Aotearoa signature for over 40 years. Winemaker Nikolai St. George describes the latest vintage as full of peach, elderflower, makrut lime and freshly squeezed lemon aromas, reminiscent of a cool and salty sea breeze. To celebrate this summer sip, Chef Ben Bayly has recommended pairing it with fresh kaimoana—from fish straight from the grill to fresh scallops—it’s the wine of New Zealand summer. Even better, make your way to Saku at Cloudy Bay in Marlborough and try it straight from the cellar door—followed by a kaimoana feast (they recommend it with the ebi tempura, you can thank me later). 

The Capital City’s Annual Christmas Advent Calendar Has Landed

Image credit: Ombra | Vicki Young

From 1-24 December, Te Whanganui-a-Tara will be celebrating all things local with festive deals, discounts, treats and activities over on their annual advent calendar. Illustrated by local artist Josie Selkirk, check out this year’s playful calendar and unlock your daily deal (spoiler alert: day one has got a sweet deal from Ombra, and if you know about their iconic baccalà, don't skip on this one). 

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. 

Head To This Magical Chocolate Window

Image credit: Whittaker's | Vicki Young

The Whittaker's Christmas Window is officially open (from 6-22 December) on 188 Ponsonby Road in Tāmaki Makaurau. With a peek behind the scenes at a whimsical Chocolate Pod factory created by Whittaker's and a creative collective of talented people (Think Packaging, AO Studios, Watermark Creative, Bootleg Design and Bastion Shine), step into a moment of Christmas wonder with the paper creation of Whittaker's Chocolate Pods coming to life. Pop by on your walk through to the Franklin Christmas lights, and pick up a few treats of your own while you're there.

DineAid Kicks off Their 13th Annual Christmas Campaign

Image credit: DineAid | Supplied (Photography of Hello Beasty owners by Vanessa Wu)

This month until the end of December will see 61 restaurants across Aotearoa take part in DineAid’s annual Christmas campaign, raising money for the city missions in the lead-up to Christmas. The campaign raised over $70K last year, with the top 10 restaurant fundraisers from Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui-a-Tara (with Hello Beasty raising the most, with over $5550 last year). Diners have the option to donate $3 to their bill or add $1-3 to a popular dish or cocktail, with all funds raised going to the City Mission closest to their city or region. Jump online to check out the list of participating restaurants this year here and book with them to support the cause. 

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