Auckland Diner's Diary: September 2017

New in Town

• Home Cooked - second location for the Filipino food business has opened in Elliott Stables
• Mojo Wynyard - latest branch of Mojo Coffee, in the new Datacom building at Wynyard Quarter
• Regiustea 皇茶 - Auckland branch of the international tea franchise selling cheese tea
• [Added 28 December 2017: Bespoke Coffee Specialist 訂製 - little cafe on Albert Street that serves food (including jianbing?!) as well as cakes and coffee]
• [Added 2 February 2018: Taj Mahal - Indian food including chole bhature and amritsari chana kulcha, rebranded from My Mother's Cafe]

Food on the Fringe

• The Bite - Taiwanese snacks inside the NJK Asian grocery in Newmarket, with such items as lava fried chicken
• Shakabowl Poke Parnell - second branch of the Hawaiian raw fish salad store has opened in Parnell
• Bowl and Arrow Parnell - second branch of the smoothie bowl vendor is now also in Parnell, and has expanded into salads, slices and other goodies
• Ripe Grey Lynn - second outpost of Ripe Deli is the new Giltrap Group building cafe
• Octo Coffee - coffee stop inside Citta in Newmarket
• Guilin Rice Noodles 漓江桂林米粉 - Chinese eatery in Mount Eden, with dumplings, snacks and of course Guilin rice noodles
• Special Pot 虾吃瞎涮 - spicy hotpot and other Chinese dishes on Upper Symonds St, where Love Dumplings used to be
• [Added 4 November 2017: Albert's Post - pizza and craft beer in Mount Albert]

North & Neat

• Clarence Road Eatery - all day eatery in Northcote, with an Italian-inspired menu and a wood-fired oven on site, where Sausalito used to be
• Blu Poke Shed - more poke bowls in Albany, with six types of the Hawaiian salad to choose from, brainchild of ex-mechanical engineer Nicholas Chang
• [Added 4 November 2017: The Kombuchery - kombucha taproom and brewery from Mama's Brew Shop, also serving Eight Thirty Coffee and bagels, in a former butcher's shop in Helensville]
• [Added 4 November 2017: Chouxtopia - tea and eclair specialty shop in Browns Bay, including savoury options]
• [Added 1 February 2018: Big Tikka - Takapuna branch of the Indian restaurant whose focus on fresh ingredients means they go through 100-120kg of tomatoes every week]

Here & There

• The Courtyard - eatery on Waiheke Island, with cafe classics as well as poke bowls and more inventive dishes
• Bodega - Mediterranean cuisine in Henderson, from the owners of La Rosa
• 潮福楼 Chow Foo Restaurant - Chinese restaurant in Pakuranga, where Valentines used to be
• [Added 6 December: Mexico Sylvia Park - new branch of the chain has opened in The Grove dining precinct at Sylvia Park]

Eats to Order

• Ruma Arjuna - Indonesian tempe and bacang
• The Curry Puff Shop - Malaysian curry puff snacks
• [Added 5 January 2018: Bake & Cook - Filipino leche flan with free delivery options]

Coming

• Better Burger Mt Eden - fifth branch of the burger joint is opening with free burgers in Mount Eden (opening Friday 6 October)
• Urban Verge - Epsom cafe from the original owners of Frolic Cafe (opening 9 October)
• Han Restaurant - modern Korean restaurant in Parnell, from the guy behind the Uni-Ko food truck
• Nanam will be re-opening at their new location in Takapuna
• Uncle Tetsu - international chain selling soft and fluffy Japanese cheesecake is opening on Queen Street, where Giapo used to be
• Hawker & Roll - Malaysian street food at Sylvia Park, from the duo behind Madam Woo, Chef Josh Emett and restaurateur Fleur Caulton (opening December)
• Cali Press - cold pressed juices and smoothies at an as-yet-undisclosed location
• Hello Mister is hinting at a third location
• Wolf Coffee is getting a food truck

Closing

• Michael Meredith is closing his restaurant Merediths at Christmas, in order to focus on fatherhood
• Golden Dawn: Tavern of Power will be "saying sayonara" at the end of March 2018

Other

• The Source Bulk Foods has opened in Milford, from a sibling duo committed to zero-waste
• Foodstuffs has bought a 26 percent stake in social enterprise Eat My Lunch
• Countdown has announced it will phase out single-use plastic bags by the end of 2018, while rival New World is asking consumers for feedback
• Foodstuffs (New World, Pak'nSave) is also following Countdown to commit to selling 100% cage free eggs within 10 years
• [Added 19 October 2017: Catalina Bay Farmers Market - The Hobsonville Point Farmers Market has renamed itself to match its new home]

Events

• Belles Hot Chicken Takeover (7 - 8 October) - fried organic chicken from the Australian restaurant on tour pops up at Culprit
• StreetARTDego (Tuesday 10 October) - street food and art collide as part of Late Night Art
• Auckland Diwali Festival 2017 (14 - 15 October) - annual celebration of Indian food and culture
• Hectors' Vegan Degustation (Friday 27 October) - eight-course vegan degustation for World Vegetarian/Vegan Day
• Mexfestival (Saturday 28 October) - Mexican food, dance and exhibits at the ASB Showgrounds