Jun 23, 2023 Metro Eats
Hello,
I feel like every now and then I think it’ll be a great idea to write about the two things in my life I like a lot – food and film – and do it in a way that no one else has before, except for the fact that everyone has*, and it would probably actually be very self-indulgent and not that interesting. I briefly thought about this again today when I came across A24’s new cookbook, Scrounging, which is a collection of “late-night, last-ditch recipes” from movies across time, including Mrs Kim’s Eight-Minute Ram-Don from Parasite; Ted Kramer’s Divorced Dad French Toast (with extra egg shell) from Kramer vs Kramer, Craig Jones’ Cereal With Water from Friday. It is an acknowledgement of how evocative food in film is: how central it can be to what we understand of the character, what kind of emotions they’re experiencing, how the characters relate to each other, where they stand.
It is rife! Recently a friend and I rewatched the 2022 gay romantic comedy Fire Island, where a character invites a group of (rich) friends over to their home, and though this character – and their friends – are completely broke, they pull together a family meal (“This is the best we’ve eaten on this island,” one of the rich characters say); in comparison, when they visit the rich friends’ home for a party, there is no mention or appearance of food. This lack of hospitality is a quick, straightforward way of also indicating a lack of warmth, thoughtfulness, togetherness.
Sorry – a short newsletter today, as we are going to print very soon. No ‘What’s Good’ as I’ve only been eating for writing purposes, which you will see in our next issue, which includes Schools and Top 50 Cafes. Out in stores on 10 July.
– Jean
*Perhaps my favourite piece on film and food is Eat, Drink, Fuck, Die by Anthony Bourdain, where he talks about the entangled relationship between food and pleasure, and all the ways people try to (or sometimes do inadvertently) depict that on screen.
What’s happening
Remuera restaurant Morell’s has, as they put it, “gone cray” – it is collaborating with Tora Collective as its crayfish supplier, offering half a cray for $49 and a whole cray for $89, including a complimentary glass of Urlar Pinot Gris.
Neat Cakes and The Lophie Project are working together for a little pop-up at the Neat Cakes cake studio on Dominion Rd this Sunday 25 June – expecting plant-based cakes, cookies, brownies, sausie rolls, pizza bread and more.
SkyCity is celebrating Matariki with a special one-off dinner featuring four big-name chefs – Al Brown, Nic Watt, Sid Sahrawat and Michael Meredith – inspired by ingredients from the Matariki stars. Tickets are $250pp.
Feast Matariki is back again, this time focusing on presenting a series of Mahika Kai workshops across the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (Southland). More details here.
Roses Dining Room on Karangahape Rd is being transformed into a wine bar for about three months, with Katie Riley (ex- Alta ) taking the reins in the kitchen. It will be open on Thursday and Friday nights, and cater for people who are looking for just a bite and a wine, or a full dinner.
Orphan’s Kitchen has announced it is going to open for nights again and are on the lookout for a Restaurant / Bar Manager. It closed its dinner service in 2020.
Makers Mark and Taylor Pass Honey have teamed up to celebrate their “sustainable partnership” with an exclusive experience at the mezzanine level of Origine called The Sustainable Suite – it allows guests to enjoy curated cocktails and is available for bookings free of charge. Open till 12 July.
I was very generous gifted one of these Limited Edition AF Packs released in collaboration with IHC New Zealand, with each pack featuring a design from a different artist. $20 from each AF Pack, which has 31 mixed drinks from the AF range, will be donated to the IHC Art Awards.
What’s new
A new taco restaurant by the team behind La Fuente called Tacoteca looks to be opening soon. Keep an eye out for updates on its Instagram.
A new food hall has opened in Papakura at 20 Broadway, which boasts operators like Hei Hei (a fried chicken spot run by the same people who does Passa Passa); Woodspirit Turkish Pide; BigSmokin’Mo Barbeque and more.
There’s a new Thai restaurant called Me Thai going into the old Fat Belly Deli spot in Ponsonby – I believe it’s the same owner as the now-closed Me Thai in Totara Heights.
If you like Japanese style cheesecake, a new online order craft cheesecake shop, Yori Craft Cheesecake, is now open, with pick ups available at Williams Eatery or Salt Cafe in the central city.
