What We Love About Auckland
I recently spent some pillow time at the Sofitel in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter in a room with a fabulous view of the harbour – and I am now an evangelist! I also did the...
Read More
When the Comedy Festival rolls into town each year – it can be hit and miss figuring out which shows to go to. Usually, a casual method of flicking through the program at...
Read More
Put the 26th of April till the 19th of May in your diary and prepare to laugh till you cry with this line-up of 200 local and international comedians in 115 shows at the 21st NZ...
Read More
Shoe of the Week If you see a great shoe, take a pic and email it to us pics@aucklandscene.co.nz with how much it is and where you can get it. Add your name and we’ll make...
Read More
Apr 14, 2013
Put the 26th of April till the 19th of May in your diary and prepare to laugh till you cry with this line-up of 200 local and international comedians in 115 shows at the 21st NZ International Comedy Festival.
In 1993, the comedy festival was born and now it’s coming of age.
Apr 14, 2013
I recently spent some pillow time at the Sofitel in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter in a room with a fabulous view of the harbour – and I am now an evangelist!
I also did the sabrage. What on earth is sabrage, you ask? Why, it’s only whipping the cork off the top of a bottle of champagne with a sabre! Here’s my video here >>>
But before we did that, we ate at Lava Dining. The restaurant has a unique interior design with marble walls that are lit yellow/gold at night like molten lava – and the food! Scott Brown, ex chef from Huka Lodge is in the kitchen so I was expecting great things:
The watery lobby with fresh flowers that change each week. Just on dusk 125 candles are lit in the lobby each night too.
The junior suite with apartment and marina views
Loving the fresh flowers! Note the marble wall above the bar by day…
Lava kitchen – by night
This was my entree: clams and crispy chicken in a creamy garlic broth served on basmati rice with crisp chili toast. I would definitely have it again. The pic doesn’t do it justice.
The Bloke ordered this: Pig’s Head. What possessed him I have no idea because the name had me screaming. However it was pressed cheeks slow cooked with kimchi, tomato, garlic, pickle and kewpie (Japanese mayonaise). He loved it.
My main was this hapuka dish. I nearly didn’t order it as I don’t usually go for fish when I’m out, but thanks to our waiter, Khoi’s recommendation, this is probably the best fish I’ve ever tasted. Hapuka on pureed mash with chorizo and a rich red wine viniagarette. I dream about this meal!
The Bloke had this tender and juicy lamb rump with Jerusalem artichoke, soy bean, pine nuts and olives.
This was a yummy way to end the night: cold coconut rice pudding with rhubarb, yoghurt and digestive biscuits
The quirkily named Fruit and Nut Bar is a deconstructed ice cream dessert with chocolate crackle, black doris sorbet and soft Manjari chocolate. The Bloke had this – and I helped!
While we’re on food, I thought I’d also show you my breakfast the next day: these crunchy corn fritters with bacon and chipotle sour cream. Gooood!
The Sofitel also has a gym and lap pool, but I decided to include the jacuzzi for your viewing pleasure
The view from my harbour-view corner room the next morning.
Disclaimer: while I was hosted by Sofitel, my opinions about dinner and the views are entirely my own.
Apr 14, 2013
There is nothing more sublime than taking the ferry from Auckland (about 30 minutes from either downtown or Halfmoon Bay) and landing on Waiheke Island for lunch in the sun.
We arrived at Half Moon Bay and there a ricketty old bus owned by the unlikely named Jaguar Tours charged us $5 per head to take us where we’d like. Cable Bay please.
Wine tasting to the left, fine dining to the right, sitting in the sun – straight ahead!
I’ve never been here before, but owner and winemaker Neill Culley produces a mighty fine drop here onsite and new co-owners Loukas and Caroline Petrou have added some new touches when it comes to style and relaxing. Cue bean bag chairs arranged on the infinity lawn that drops into the view of Auckland city’s skyline and a sunken outdoor dining area under umbrellas for a cheeky wine in that sun instead of the fine dining restaurant.
These are so popular you need to jump quick to get one!
A glass of wine outside under an umbrella is just the ticket
Herbs and veges are grown in a garden out the front and sculptures dot the lawn making a great photo op – or play thing, depending upon your age.
We had a good look around, checking out the private cellar in the low-lit basement where small groups can dine or taste Neill’s wines under a chandelier and surrounded by his best drops in bottle and barrel. Another meeting space is available upstairs for private functions. And before or after lunch – or instead of – you can hang out in the bar and tasting room, and order small plates for that outdoor dining area.
The wine cellar is perfect for a really special dinner
But it was the main restaurant we had a booking for. A table for 4 was set up in the window of this large dining room. It’s lighter than it was with a new paint job freshening up the walls. Chef Sam Clark has been here about 3 years and his tastes and presentation are perfect. Expect to pay $25 for an entre and $45 for a main.
Cutting to the chase, here’s what we had:
The smoked venison was our pick for entre – although their pate was to die for!
Our table had steak, lamb and pork belly, but this snapper dish was our pick for fave
This chocolate mousse dessert with sorbet and apricots was perfect
Expect to hob nob with Auckland’s elite (those who have homes on Waiheke – you know who you are), and a few internationals have been known to helicopter in too. Cable Bay is really popular for weddings, for obvious reasons. I’ll definitely be back!
Jun 22, 2012
If you have a red-eye flight out of Auckland, then staying at the new Novotel built in time for the Rugby World Cup is your perfect solution to a leisurely start at 5am!
Like most silly backpackers I too have slept at airports. In my young and wide-eyed OE days when saving the cost of a hostel for the night when arriving after midnight was worth it. These days? Not on your nelly. I’m far more sensible and nana-ish and like a good night’s sleep too much.
Cue the new Auckland Airport Novotel. Also especially good for your out-of-town guests who need a lift to the airport to their 4.45am check in! (Dreaming.)
I was booked on a red-eye flight to Sydney (departing at 7am / checking in at 5am / alarm set for 4am) and I had been wanting to check out the new hotel literally only 100 metres from the International Arrivals hall. So I contacted them and they said YEP, come and stay and review us for your blog.
So here it is…
After scrambling out of the house, we arrived about 7.30pm as the evening sun was shining off the glass sides. The hotel is part owned by the Tainui tribe and I love the Maori motifs discretely carved into the beams. The lobby is light and open and plants grow out of the wall about 2 stories high behind the bar.
We took our own car rather than cabbed as my husband was flying to Wellington the next day and I was flying to Sydney. This is the hotel that can solve those conundrums. You can have the car valet parked for the night and the whole of next day for $35, but we parked in the general park out the front and the hotel validated our ticket for $22 for the overnight and all day use. (Cheaper than a taxi there and back!)
Our room was down the end of the hall with Air New Zealand planes on the runway in the distance. If you’re a plane spotter you’ll probably want room service delivered to you in the hallway.
Our room was really styly and chic with kiwiana art as the bed head board and the bathroom has frosted glass so you can choose whether to watch each other (or not!)
We arrived just in time to head to the restaurant for dinner. The meal was great, but it is a bit pricey. Mind you, restaurant meals are expensive in NZ don’t you think? Of course, we both had the most expensive items on the menu: steaks, cooked medium-rare. The husband’s was on a rosti and mine was a fillet mignon with gnocchi, both with a yummy rich jus and see the cute basket of chips on the side?
We were entertained by a camerman filming another table making a promo video of forced conversation and pleasant faces. I tried my own skills out at our table and reckon I could’ve given a rousing performance of enjoying my eye fillet cooked medium rare…
But the best part of the whole thing? I had to check in for my 7am flight at the ungodly hour of 5am so just staying across the concourse meant I showered and dressed, ran across with my luggage, got my boarding pass and came back to have breakfast with my husband before we went our separate ways.
Jump here to check out the Auckland Airport Novotel - and don’t forget their bar. Why not kill time at the airport over there instead of the meagre offerings in the terminal?
May 10, 2012
Tanuki’s Cave is a longstanding favourite with Auckland dinner crowds – I mean, who hasn’t pranced downstairs into the Cave full of hope and expectation that you’ll get a table for the amazing cabbage and mayo, only to be crushed with a 40min wait time? Not unusual, because the place is packed with moviegoers, theatre bods, corporate suits and this month, comedy festival patrons! But equally delightful is the above ground, grownup Tanuki Japanese Yakitori and Sake Bar upstairs! So, when stomachs are rumbling and you can’t stand the thought of waiting that long – take heart! The delicious menu extends up top so you should calmly take a seat.
Firstly – no high tables upstairs, they’re all regular height but you can still counter-top dine if you prefer as we did. We ordered the customary Asahi (available in a range of sizes as befitting any truly Japanese experience), opting for the on-tap version – which actually just means pouring off the small kegs via the strangest piece of bar equipment I’ve ever seen!
But then – onto the food. Unbelievably enough, my dining companion had never tried the edamame before, so they were a must. Those juicy, cold salted young soybeans burst with flavour in the mouth and are the perfect complement to the dry beer, kind of a Japanese version of peanuts! Whilst some of the Cave specialties appear on the menu, there are plenty of other options to be tried and shared – more small plates options, whereas the Cave is predominantly yakitori. We started with the broccoli with sesame & miso sauce (my companion said “broccoli had never tasted so good!”), grilled scallops wrapped in thinly sliced pork belly with greens, vegetable tempura and beef tataki.
Beef tataki at Tanuki
A perfect way to enjoy a range of flavours, the tempura was perfectly crisp with a satisfying batter and dipping sauce that wasn’t too vinegary. It’s always a good sign when you don’t go reaching for soy sauce to add a little kick to the dish. There was a sneaky little piece of fish in our tempura, but seeing as we’re not vegetarian it was more of a treat!
The scallops were well cooked, the pork belly sliced more like pancetta, tender around the scallop and crispy on the edge. Enough to split without arguing over, which is always key! The basil hit the right note to finish off the scallop/pork combo, although not a traditional Japanese herb! Then the beef – well I can always squeeze in a little more beef tataki – the crispy rice noodle on top is just delicious and the greens just substantial enough to make you feel slightly healthy!
Ever tempted (after soaking up the rest of the sesame sauce with edamame beans), we ordered the waffle to share and both agreed it was extremely pretty but more satisfying on the eyes that the taste buds! However, for four dishes, 3 500ml beers and dessert – we were pretty happy to spend just under $100 for two, and enjoy plenty of atmosphere.
Next time you’re in town – give upstairs a go and be pleasantly surprised! Plus, you can eat guilt-free without all those hungry faces longingly waiting for you to finish with your table!
Tanuki
Dinner : 17:00 – 23:00 (Sun to Thu) / 17:00 – 23:30 (Fri & Sat)
319 Queen Street, Auckland City / Ph (09) 379-5353
May 9, 2012
We were dashing between shows for the Comedy Festival with just under an hour up our sleeves looking for a cosy after-dark dinner and drinks – Bellota is a delightful little venue tucked away in Federal St, delivering on taste, service and atmosphere and it was the perfect complement to our night of laughs. I like to think that Bellota is perhaps the truly authentic tapas experience in Auckland – a big promise, but they always deliver. With a menu designed by Peter Gordon, it’s well-balanced and part of the SkyCity family of restaurants, who are carving a unique little eat & drink world of their own in Federal St. Delighted to get a table (they range from cosy booths, seated high tables to bench seating) in an enclave, we started with a medium priced Rioja by the glass, a favourite for it’s peppery finish but easy to drink body.
Each month at Bellota they focus on a different region of Spain – this month is Cataluna where the goats cheese is exquisite! Of course, goats cheese served with toasted almonds and honey is a quintessential Spanish dish and my idea of the perfect tapas dessert, so it was a perfect night to order it. Of course, I find myself compelled to order it from any menu it appears on! It was a first time experience for my dining partner, who was suitably wooed by the fragrant, sweet, salty morsel.
Alongside the goats cheese, we chose the made-to-order tortilla (the Spanish tortilla or omelette is no relation to the Mexican flatbread version) with mushrooms, capsicum and an amazing cilantro salsa that made for amazing taste explosions in the mouth and another specialty from Cataluna – toasted bread with Romesco sauce and toasted green onions. The chargrill on the onions brought out a sharp smokiness that hit the right spicy note against the bright sweetness of the Romesco. We didn’t waste a drop of the Romesco, spooning the leftovers onto the tortilla, too.
We managed a round of drinks and tapas for two to get back for the second show at the Aotea Centre’s Herald Theatre, fed and watered for an easy $45. Surprisingly only three-quarters full considering the great table service and wine list (the cocktails are worth a mention too) I can only guess that everyone else was already at the Jersey Boys or another festival show. Give your best Spanish accent a crack when ordering, but definitely don’t be shy about asking questions about the menu. The more friends you take with you, the more of the menu you can sample – but it suits no more than 4 – 6 at a time, unless you book for a private function. The cave-like interior back wall creates a space that, along with the mood lighting, lends itself to company you don’t mind leaning into and sharing a plate with. Ole!
Tues-Thurs & Sat 4pm – Late
Fri 12pm – Late
May 9, 2012
When the Comedy Festival rolls into town each year – it can be hit and miss figuring out which shows to go to. Usually, a casual method of flicking through the program at random helps. But if there’s one show I’m glad I didn’t miss, it was Brendon Green’s sold-out debut appearance at the Festival last night.
For a pessimist (the show is call “Everything is Meaningless and Nothing Matters, LOL”), he’s really upbeat and optimistic. Part ministrel, part storyteller the show marches through the qualms of being average, the perils of looking for love and romance in Paris and a variety of lovesongs using food metaphors. Along the way he tips his hat to irony, satire and puns that you can’t help but giggle at before finally arriving at a well-crafted finale. He both performs and commentates the show as it goes along, being sure to point out highlights to the crowd.
Apr 30, 2012
When you’re done shopping for high fashion in Newmarket, you might think your options for food & drink are limited to Nuffield St – but you’d be wrong! On a Friday night inspired by a quick family get-together, we finally managed to get a table at Jax Wine & Tapas Bar. Nestled amongst very ordinary looking shopfronts at the intersection of Remuera Rd and Broadway (right opposite Nuffield St, in fact!), we’ve driven past Jax a dozen times, almost always full to overflowing. Now at last we know why!
Let’s begin with a fantastic selection of tapas all at the perfect price point to share a selection easily between 2 or 4 or 6! We ordered a selection first – including the chef’s pate, this time a fantastic duck parfait. Then the dates wrapped in bacon, butterflied stuffed prawns, peppered lamb – each one a delightful morsel. Particular stand-out dishes are the jerk pork belly, tender and mouthwatering. The miso marinated aged beef was ordered under advisement from the manager, Paul – a Scotsman who’s been here for a number of years and really knows his stuff. He wasn’t wrong, it really is quite an extraordinary mouthful.
There’s something about having a great sommelier around that truly enhances any dining experience, especially when it catches you by surprise! Paul’s knowledge isn’t limited just to the menu, his ability to pair food and wine from their comprehensive 
selection from New Zealand (with a few appearances from France, Australia and Italy) was really a pleasurable part of the whole experience. We were buying by the bottle and enjoyed an excellent 2011 Gruner Veltliner from Saint Clair, Marlborough on his recommendation. Although not a common variety, it was worth it and really lifted the miso beef to another great level.
Wines by the glass and the bottle are offset by a great selection of craft beer favourites – Emersons, Hallertau and even the odd brew from Galbraiths (just up the road) have been known to make an appearance. The whisky list is also impressive – no surprise given the aforementioned Scotsman! Jax is exactly what this kind of a streetwise tapas dining should be – cosy little tables that can all be booked (a rarity but an impressive one!) and the bar doubles as a fine art photography gallery. Prints line the walls, between wine racks and tall tables for two.
Given that you can book, we’d recommend giving it a go, especially if you’re thinking about heading into town for a show or a movie. It’s right beside the train station! We recommend:
JAX Wine & Tapas Bar
40 Remuera Rd, Newmarket 09 522 1364
Open: Tues – Sun, 4pm-11pm