Nov 17, 2023 Metro Eats
Kia ora koutou —
The inexorable slide toward Christmas has begun so expect the Yule content to start ramping up around here, and it’s also time to help out the City Mission, which, given everything, is likely to have a very busy Christmas this year — I’m sure about now, every year, they look around and wonder how the hell they are going to get through the next couple of months. If you have the means and inclination to help them out, you can give to their annual Christmas appeal here.
Also, we’ll soon be pulling together our list of places that are open when everything else is closed over the break — please send your tips to hello@metromagazine.co.nz
Simon
What’s Happening
Ashby Pies have an insanely tasty-looking collab with Peach’s Hot Chicken, available this weekend.
Fabric has a new seasonal weekly event — The Italian Job — three courses for $49.
Congrats to Ahi , topping the Viva Top 50 Restaurants list.
Book now for two-night pop-up Food Futures at Te Tuhi/Chez Derriere. 20 tickets per session, FREE — get in quick!
Christmas is here and so is the Daily Bread Christmas range — they sent us some samples and I don’t normally like fruit pies but their new Sour Cherry Fruit Mince Pie is good — the cherries are much less of a miserable slog than the normal fruit mince. They are also doing a stollen — a seasonal German fruit loaf with marzipan that looks like it will suit a thick layer of butter, and which Anna thinks will make a very good bread pudding.
Perhaps the person having the best time in the country right now is Winston Peters, who is once again putting aside his culinary dreams for the good of the nation.
Tickets are on sale now for Magda’s Noche Buena feast on December 10.
From December, Tempero is closing for lunches and opening Monday nights instead, so today and next Friday are your last chance to lunch there.
Cazador Deli has a late night next Thursday, 4–7pm, with free samples and tips.
My Food Bag has some soup-to-nuts Christmas options if you want to get the thinking for that out of the way now.
Tuesday Tastings start on November 28th at the Grove with Caviar Mafia & Dom Pérignon — 5 course menu with caviar and champagne matching for $560 per person. Runs every Tuesday until December 18.
What’s Good
Lay’s Roasted Cumin Lamb Skewer Flavour are back in stock — we couldn’t get them when we were doing our Lay’s taste test. Might be the best of the bunch.
The aforementioned Cazador are once again offering their Christmas hams — I do this every year — you can pick up on the 24th and they are delicious, destress the day and are good for grazing for the following week of everything being closed. If you’re there, pick up a panettone as well — a superior option to the traditional dense bummer, fruit cake.
Side Hustle in Morningside has a blackberry margarita which is worth visiting for. Summer rolls also good if you need a snack.
Can, the claypot rice place which opened opened on Dominion Rd a couple of weeks ago is yum.
What’s new
Bianca, a pasta shop and wine bar by Hayden Phiskie (ex- Ada ), coming to Ellerslie soon!
Tobi is opening today in Ponsonby in the old Bolliwood/Gymkhana space.
‘Neo-Filipino inspired Bistro’ Luntian is open from today in Eden Terrace!
New seasonal menu at Jervois Steak House.
This is only tangentially related, for the Starbucks order, but the announcement of André 3000’s album of flute music is extremely this.
