Nutrition

Roll up, roll up. It’s time for this week’s New Zealand food news. Hot off the press (or should we say, toastie press) are all the tasty tidbits you need to know. 

We live for new openings (especially the kind that involves food) and know you do, too. Fortunately, Auckland is the city that just keeps on giving when it comes to new restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries—we really are a lucky bunch.

We’ve done the research and know the must-visit restaurants in QT, so read on for the best restaurants in Queenstown.

We’ve looked high and low and we’ve scouted the best places to eat if you’re gluten free—because there’s no need to miss out.

As Kiwis, a love of pies is practically in our DNA. These hearty pastries have been keeping us fuelled for generations and are the perfect meal for lunch, dinner, or even a cheeky brekkie.

Wellington’s breakfast game is strong, just like their coffee.

There’s a reason why Wellington is Aotearoa’s coolest capital. Among the most (and best) flat whites per corner, beach-side brunch spots and breathtaking walks along the windy hills, Te-Whanganui-a-Tara truly has some of the best restaurants in Aotearoa.

Turns out The Garden City isn’t just about botanicals—it’s also one helluva foodie scene.

Seafood lovers listen up! A boujee seafood-inspired restaurant has opened at the new-look Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Hotel and we can’t contain our excitement. 

Chocolate may get most of the attention at Easter, but it isn't the only treat we're coveting once the season for bunnies, eggs and unabashed gluttony rolls round. Yip, that's right fam—we're talking about hot cross buns, or HCBs.

Takapuna is one of our favourite suburbs in all of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Not only is it home to one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore, it also boasts a long list of amazing places to eat and drink.

I scream, you scream... well, you know how it goes. Whether it's fresh and fruity or rich and chocolatey, in a cone, on a stick or in a cup, we just can't get enough of the cold stuff. So without further ado, here's our pick of the coolest (yes, we did just do that) ice cream and gelato shops in Auckland.

Fish and chips. They’re pretty much our national tucker. Here are our picks for the best fish and chips shops in Auckland.

If you’re like us and love a juicy berry punnet or two, then read on to find the best pick-your-own strawberry fields in Tāmaki (and beyond). 

Wineries are a field that Waiheke have got down pat and it’d be criminal to leave without visiting one. Here’s a list of the best Waiheke wineries. 

Whether you're a margherita purist, a meat lover or into a serious deep-dish, we’ve found the best pizza in Auckland for you to devour. These joints offer fresh, quality ingredients that can make the experience feel almost healthy (almost). 

The only thing worse than staying in on Sunday is being lumped with the responsibility of having to find a good restaurant that’s open on Sunday night. While usually a thankless task we've scoured all our favourite eateries to put together a list of where to eat in Auckland on a Sunday night. 

‘Monday-itis’ can be cured by two things: a good meal and a strong beverage.

Forget everything you thought you knew about vegan and vegetarian food. Far from its can-o’-chickpea origins, vegan fare is now unapologetically delicious.

While Korean food may not be on your radar, it totally should be. If you love big, bold flavours, an abundance of free side-dishes and are all about spice, then you’re going to fall in love with Korean cuisine. 

There really is no combination more drool-worthy than an oozy serving of good ol’ mac ’n’ cheese. 

If there’s anything better than great food, it’s great food that’s cheap. On those nights when the fridge is empty and the very thought of a trip to the supermarket plunges you into melancholy, we've got you covered. There’s no need to spend a small fortune when you can smash a hearty meal in Christchurch/Ōtautahi for the loose change in your pocket (if that’s even a thing anymore). Here are Urban List's picks of the best cheap eats in Christchurch for 2024.

From table-bending BYO banquets to Pad Thai in your pjs, we've got you covered with our pick of the best Thai restaurants in Auckland.

Auckland institution Ada unleashes an epic indigenous-inspired menu under the leadership of a new head and sous chef.

If we could only eat one dish for the rest of our lives, there's a good chance it'd be fried chicken.

Whether you are wishing to cut down your alcohol intake or are looking to go completely teetotal, here are our favourite non-alcoholic tipples for all the times you’re after a refreshing and tasty beverage, sans hangover.

The hot competition where chefs up and down the country cook up their tastiest take on the classic toastie, The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, has crowned this year's winner.

New Zealand's cool capital is known for it’s huge food scene. We may be a teeeeny bit biased, but we reckon it's got some of the best spots in the country.  

Drool Alert! Get ready for biscuits like never before. Here's how you can whip up a batch of Whittaker's hokey pokey crunch biscuits.

Chocolate lovers rejoice! We've got the cake recipe your dreams are made of. It's rich, it's moist, and it's slathered with chocolate ganache icing. Oh, and it's made with two bars of NZ's all-time fave, Whittaker's chocolate.

What's better than a block of Whittaker's 33% cocoa Creamy Milk chocolate? A block of this classic velvety chocolate with a silky hazelnut gianduja centre. Yes, you read it right. The team at Whittaker's have done it again with their latest addition, Hazella.

Despite its small size, Hawke’s Bay punches well above its weight when it comes to rad places to eat and drink. The café scene in this region is extensive and it’s worth venturing to each of the municipalities to properly explore everything on offer. Here is where to find the best cafes in Hawke’s Bay. 

Get dreaming up those cheese boards and melty, cheese-laiden winter dishes—here are the best cheese delivery services in New Zealand. 

The coffee and food in this harbour city and beach town are seriously good—here’s where you should head to next.

Don't miss out on healthy and hearty grub—get your groceries delivered to your front door with these Auckland businesses. 

Oh, home isolation. So much free time, so little motivation. Whether you’ve ended up feeling under the weather or you’re just starting to get stir-crazy, we’ve put together some affordable additions to make life stuck at home more bearable.

Here in Christchurch, delicious ice cream is not hard to come by in our fine city. Luckily for you, we’ve done our research and put together a list of the Garden City’s best ice cream joints so you can taste your way around the finest in town. 

Good ol’ banana bread. We know it, we love it, we pretend it’s not dessert by calling it bread instead of cake. If you thought it couldn’t get any more delicious, this recipe from Whittaker’s might just prove you wrong (and we promise you won’t be mad about it). 

Whether it's a big ol' bowl of dumplings, a decent coffee and a slice of cake, or a juicy burger with all the trimmings, we're beyond stoked to get our hands on some takeaways at Alert Level 3.

Stuck at home once again, it’s safe to say most of us are finding ourselves with the opportunity to spend a little more time in the kitchen. Wondering what to bake next?

If bread, pastry or just carbs in general are your thing, have we got news for you. A number of top bakeries are continuing to share their dough-liciousness with us throughout the lockdown, and the best bit is, you don't even need to leave home to get some (cya later, supermarket).

The importance of mental wellbeing at this point of time cannot be understated. With an emphasis on mental wellness, Ārepa founder Angus Brown began exploring the relationship between nature, neuroscience and nutrition. 

Sink your teeth into this healthy take on the nostalgic taste of cookies and cream. 

There's nothing more comforting than a warm and cheesy bowl of mac and cheese to tuck in during these cold winter months. If you can't visit Andiamo Eatery any time soon, this recipe takes you through Andiamo Eatery's favourite macaroni using Fontina cheese, bacon, chilli and Italian greens. 

An exciting new eatery has landed in Hobsonville Point. 

Y’all can’t deny that American food has wriggled its soul and belly filling way into our Kiwi lives. 

Prep your bodies for a weekend of pure indulgence—The Chocolate And Coffee Show is back in Auckland to celebrate its seventh birthday, and frankly it couldn't come at a better time.

Move over sourdough, there’s a new bread in town.

Dunedin has quietly evolved into an epic culinary haven in its own right, where funky heritage buildings harbour dens of dining cool and hole-in-the-wall eateries deliver up innovative creations that will leave you wanting more.

Tantalise your taste buds out west! 

Leisha Rae makes up the sweet 1/2 of Bowl & Arrow with her bestie and partner in crime, Hannah Bryan. After meeting at a cafe Leisha was working at and bonding over the best bread for french toast, they realised they had the same career passions. We spoke to Leisha to find out what has happened since history started writing itself.

It’s not always straightforward being vegan. When you’re not cooking at home, it can be tricky to find somewhere that will cater to your plant-based diet. Even in your own town or city, it takes time to discover the cafes and restaurants that serve up the best vegan dishes (that’s if they cater to vegans at all). And this gets even harder when you travel somewhere new.

Ah, the mighty degustation. Not only is it a chance to sample the crème de la crème of a restaurant’s dishes, it’s probs the only time you’ll be encouraged to eat nine courses in one sitting (those DIY Tim Tam degustations you have at home don’t count).

The Hawke’s Bay Food and Wine Classic (F.A.W.C for those in the know) is back for another year offering people a taste of the region’s delectable eats.  

Check out our picks of Auckland’s best health food stores and get set to overhaul your pantry.

Foraging for food isn't a new concept but it's certainly had a resurgence in recent years and personally, we love the idea of heading out into nature, basket/re-usable bag in hand and loading up on fresh, oft unusual grub that would otherwise go to waste.

It’s that time of year again… The time when we have a perfectly good excuse to go all out on the carbs. But not just any carbs guys. We’re talking hot cross buns. Not all of us have the cooking skills or privilege to bake these ourselves to our own personal taste. But little do people know how much you can do to the classic store bought ones from your local supermarket. Here are some of our favourite ways to spice up our hot cross buns.

Bunny kisses, Easter Wishes. Whip out your cast iron pan, we are diving into this divine hot cross buns recipe this Easter week. This ironclad cranberry, currant, orange and maple hot cross cuns by Felicity Morgan-Rhind is going to straight to our cook book. 

Waffles are one of those magical foods that can be eaten any time, anywhere (just ask Eleven, right Stranger Things fans?). Whether they're loaded with bacon and maple syrup for breakfast—topped with a stack of fried chicken for dinner—or piled high with ice cream, fairy floss and chocolate sauce for a super decadent dessert, we can't think of a single occasion where these crunchy creations aren't welcome.

Farm Dinners will be plating a delicious five-course menu using Kelmarna’s organic seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs.

2020 has been a year of highs, lows—and a slew of new restaurants, as it turns out. Yip, we're as surprised as anyone that during the year COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the globe, the Auckland food scene was going off; bringing us everything from a steakhouse direct from the Big Apple and an eatery that specialises exclusively in vegan Thai, through to new ventures from some of our most celebrated chefs.

You’ve probably heard that the gut is the second brain, or that you are what you eat. If you’re wondering how to approach healthier eating, look no further. The Two Raw sisters are here to help with cookbooks that’ll have you making easy, cost effective plant based dishes.

As Urban Listers, we know you'll be familiar with the name Peter Gordon. You'll also be familiar with the fact that the Whanganui-born chef has spent the last 30+ years carving out a very successful career in London, whilst juggling a handful of restaurants here (The Sugar Club amongst them).

Set to become your new obsession, this morning (or hell, any time of day really) pick-me-up has been variously referred to as “cake in a cup” and “tiramisu minus the biscuit and chocolate”. 

New Zealanders are becoming more connected to their choices than ever, making conscious decisions on the 5 W’s (and H) of spending our money. And for what reason? Why, the future of our planet of course!

A new Italian-inspired eatery has opened in Avondale and it’s going to make you want to fill your face pronto.

Good news for those who work, live or play near Ponsonby road… Dedwood Deli is here to make your lunchtime and late-night food missions 100% more enjoyable.

There really is nothing quite like getting together with your nearest and dearest and heading out for a meal somewhere special. And we reckon Onslow—the breathtaking new restaurant from celebrated Kiwi chef, Josh Emett and his wife Helen—is just the place to exercise such freedom.

It’s devoured at Easter. It can say thank you, happy birthday, sorry. It can be a simple moment of deliciousness to ourselves. People’s love of chocolate is an age-old one, but what you might not know is that the chocolate industry is actually a bit of a sketchy one. New to the NZ market comes the utterly delicious Tony's Chocolonely, huge blocks of chocolate in colourful wrapping in a variety of flavours. So far, so good.

Coffee, cream and a dash of booze—what isn’t there to love about the faithful Italian dessert?

Dust off your champagne flutes and get the dry cleaner on call, the highly anticipated dining phenomenon Dîner en Blanc is back again for 2020.

Prep your bodies for a weekend of pure indulgence—The Chocolate And Coffee Show is back in Auckland to celebrate its seventh birthday, and frankly it couldn't come at a better time.

We at the Urban List don’t play around when it comes to this beautiful form of dairy. Cheese has the ability to bring people together, solve our problems and make us happy. Sliced, grated, melted, whipped, as long as it’s cheese, we are good to go. Luckily for us, Auckland doesn’t fall short when it comes to supplying the goods and we have cracked down a list of the Best Cheese Shops In Auckland.

While the first two weeks have been all about incredible culinary experiences, what we’re really here for are the final two weeks.

It is no longer a painful task for vegetarians to find something to eat on a menu, in fact, the options are growing more and more by the day. Auckland has an array of amazing eateries that not only cater to plant-based diners but actually specialise in them. 

Saddle up people, because Saxon + Parole is here—and you're going to want to come along for the (culinary) ride.

Say hello to Antheia’s Loft, a charming new eatery that is dishing up all the goods. 

The Auckland street food is changing every year with new faces and dishes to tempt your taste buds. Whether you’re craving tacos, Indian, hot wings or just dessert, we’ve scoured the food truck scene in conjunction with the legends at The Food Truck Collective to bring you 10 of the  most delicious food trucks you need to hunt down this spring.

We’ve put together a great tour of the best sustainable spots Welly has to offer and even better, we’ve got the perfect mode of transport to do so. Mevo is a Wellington-based car-share company that lets you rent luxurious Audi A-3s and Volkswagen Polos (#cargoals) for as long as you may need them through their app, similar to Lime.

As Wellington enjoys its first day back at Alert Level 1 we’ve stumbled across some news that will really put the cherry on top of the good vibes. The OG purveyors of damn good ice cream—Ben & Jerry’s—are setting up a permanent home in the windy city. 

In the competitive stakes of which city boasts the best coffee, Dunedin could be mistaken for being the underdog. But with a seriously cool collection of cafes and boutique roasteries, this is a place not to be underestimated. Check out 10 of the best coffee spots in the city and stand by to savour some of the smoothest brews around.

The Park Hyatt Auckland Hotel—which opens today—has turned the idea of the traditional high tea right on its head. Two years in the making and the baby of executive pastry chef Callum Liddicoat, the high tea you’ll sit down to at the stunning waterfront Living Room—one of four epic restaurants in this ‘true’ five-star hotel—is unlike any other you'll find in Auckland or beyond.

Forks at the ready—a classy new eatery has landed in Eden Terrace.

This lockdown I’ve tasked myself with broadening my horizons by challenging my taste buds. To this end, I’ve created a list of weird but wonderful foods that are a mandatory lockdown trial. You’ve literally got nothing to lose and everything to gain—who knows, you might find your next food obsession.

From Ima Cusine’s Hot Cross Buns to flavourful dinner dishes, give these recipes a whirl and you might just emerge from self-isolation a culinary butterfly.

If bread, pastry or just carbs in general are your thing, have we got news for you. A number of top bakeries are continuing to share their dough-liciousness with us throughout the lockdown, and the best bit is, you don't even need to leave home to get some (cya later, supermarket).

Cake now on your mind? Sorry about that. To help you fulfill those fluffy, frosted cravings, we’ve compiled this life-changing list. Get ready for a sugar-overload because here are the best cake spots in Auckland.  

While International travel is still off the cards for the forseeable future, there's no reason to miss Bastille Day celebrations this year. Le Chef has a phenomenal fondue savoyarde recipe for you to cook in the comfort of your own kitchen. If you can't make it into Le Chef anytime soon, it is the perfect, most delicious Winter warmer for you to try at home. 

When it comes to winter desserts, there’s no place for raw cheesecakes, chia puddings or—God forbid—fruit platters. An Auckland winter calls for rich, decadent winter desserts, soft-centred and self-saucing, pumped full of molten chocolate, swimming in a pool of cream and caramel.

Vegan food is big business these days, with whole eateries dedicated to a cuisine that was once actually quite hard to come by. This is especially true where sweet treats are concerned, with a raft of drool-worthy goodies now readily available to curb those sugar cravings and without so much as a single speck of butter, egg or milk (unless, of course, it's the non-dairy kind!).