Nov 23, 2023 Metro Eats
Kia ora koutou —
We are barrelling towards another print deadline — this one featuring our annual under-$25 list — and, as always, it’s a reminder that new experiences and sensations are great for your mental health and brain plasticity. If you’re open to them, there are a lot to be had around the city, easily and affordably, in very hospitable environments. Keep an eye out for the list when it’s released, then get out and try some delicious, new-to-you things. Issue 441 will be in the shops just before Christmas.
Also — thanks to Rebecca from Cazador who pointed out after last week’s email that you can eat out AND help the City Mission via DineAid — details here.
Take it easy during the sales!
Simon
Metro x Dom Pérignon and The Grove :
Champagne and Caviar
The Finest Tuesday Possible
Just in time for the festive season, Dom Pérignon and The Grove have joined forces on a five-course tasting menu, with select courses topped with world-class caviar from Caviar Mafia.
‘Tasting Tuesday’ launches on 28 November and runs every Tuesday until 18 December, and the menu — designed by chef Cory Campbell — reflects The Grove’s approach to seasonal modern New Zealand cuisine (think Moreton Bay crayfish, buttered clams and kingfish). All of this is paired with Dom Pérignon champagne, of course, which enhances the complexity of caviar, so you’re really getting the best experience of both.
Along with the fine food, caviar and two glasses of Dom Pérignon, the other courses will be matched with Cloudy Bay wine and Hennessy.
$560pp for the tasting menu with wine pairing. Bookings can be made online with The Grove here.
What’s Happening
Pét-nat Party! — 10 pét-nats with a barbecue at Vic Road Wine Bar in Devonport, on Sunday 26 November, 1pm onwards.
Kōkako has a mini-market next Friday at 9 Charles St, Mt Eden with complimentary wrapping and cold brews — presumably selling some of this stuff.
Mizu has a stewed Hamburg steak for the lunch special this week which also looks very nice!
Congrats to Sid at the French Café, Paris Butter , Cocoro and Ahi who all made it on to La Liste 2024.
Paris Butter is hosting Logan Brown (both top 1000 restaurants!) chef Shaun Clouston next Wednesday.
Atelier Nash and the Hotel Britomart have two events next week for their Winemaker in Residence programme, a taster on Wednesday and a dinner on Thursday, both hosted by David Nash.
Congratulations and good luck to Kelli Brett who has taken sole charge of Cuisine magazine.
Sunday the Bakery is popping up at Forest on Sunday, 10 December.
Bar Magda and Grey Lynn butchers have got together to produce a pork and duck longganiza, available now at Magda.
My Mothers Kitchen is popping up at Ponsonby Social on Sunday from 5pm. Warning: Live poetry.
What’s Good
Bit quiet here this week, as much of our eating has been spent compiling our annual list of under-$25 places AND Henry has somehow contracted print-deadline Covid yet again, but Tiffany was invited to the Toana‘i Long Lunch at Metita on Sunday (fa‘afetai!) and, despite some overeating issues, had an amazing time. Strong recommend.
Also, Metro’s guide to the best in non-traditional wine varietals from last issue is online now!
Metro x 1981 Noodle House
Really good.
1981 Noodle House is a slick, light-filled eatery in the middle of Albany, nestling neatly in a growing hub of retail shops and restaurants next to the bus station. We were invited along to try out some of their dishes, which feature noodles that are hand-pulled to order and cooked for only about 40 seconds or so before they’re ready to go. The style is Lanzhou, which is famous for its beef noodle soup, and in typical fashion you can watch, through a clear glass window into the kitchen, the chef smack the dough against the metal counter and fold and stretch until the noodles form.
The owner tells us its main clientele are young families — which explains the kids’ section of the menu (it includes fried chicken with chips if you have particularly fussy children) — but it’s also well-placed for a session of after-work beers and snacks (there’s adult fries, fried chicken and spring rolls).
Our favourite was the signature beef noodle soup, with sliced beef pieces and thin slivers of daikon, served up in a clear, sweet-savoury broth that makes the noodles the star of the show. There’s also soupless bowls, including the vegetarian youpo chilli noodle and the classic tomato with egg.
Added bonus — we think the saturated blue branding is pretty cute, particularly the sketched bowl of noodles. (The strands that wrap around the chopsticks spell out 1981.)
What’s new
I’m not sure if this is new or not, but I’ve only just noticed you can get six bread rolls at KFC for $6.99 — this is my favourite bread in the city but it turns out eating six of them without any chips or chicken or potato and gravy is just not a very pleasurable experience.
Popular vegan bakery Maison des Lys is opening a second store in Mt Eden.
A new Korean skewer bar, Dandi, has just opened in the all-of-a-sudden very buzzy Browns Bay.
Garage Project has another collab with Duck Island — an Ambrosia Ice Cream Sour. Available, with the straight ice cream, at their Kingsland venue.
A new, very cool-looking cafe in the High St area — D.O.S.E.
269 Parnell — ‘Auckland’s most exciting and unique food experience!’ coming soon.
Looks like there’s a new rice noodles place going into the old Stumpy’s on Dominion Rd.
And RIP Chongqing Noodles Master which has now closed. Looks like something new is going into the space right away.
