Bar Magda unveils its bold new Pinot Noir vintage, and these the best house dishes to enjoy it with

As Bar Magda has firmly established itself as not only one of the City’s best dining destinations (with new winter menu dishes to boot) but also one of the most reliably brilliant bars, it makes sense that the restaurant’s wine offering only continues to expand. Adding to the introduction of last year’s vintage comes the 2022 Magda Vision Pinot Noir, hailing from Nelson’s Moutere Hills. Produced with friends Brood Fermentation, the vintage is unfined, unfiltered, and a tactile expression of the growing season — made with the avante garde culinary style of Bar Magda in mind.

It pairs perfectly with the season’s dishes, from spicy potato gnocchi that plays into the richness of the wine while working to elevate its depth via intermittent hits of spice, to the smoky roasted eggplant or barbecue green beans, both of which highlight the pinot’s full-body and unique flavour profile. And as such, we’ve rounded up a series of our favourite pairings below.

Left: Bugsung of crab & prawn Right: spicy potato gnocchi

Bugsung of Crab & Prawn

Leaning more into Bar Magda’s traditional Filipino lineage, this dish melds fresh crab and prawn with a rich crab fat curry sauce, known as sauce Alavar — a take on the revered sauce from Zamboanga City’s beloved Alavar’s Seafood Restaurant.

Spicy Potato Gnocchi

Already celebrated this winter as one of our favourite spicy dishes in the City, this spicy potato gnocchi feels like the epitome of Bar Magda’s excellence. Here, spiced potato gnocchi is served with oyster mushrooms, pickled carrots and scallions, plus healthy helpings of scrambled egg hollandaise and mee goreng sauce, which results in a dish that is both innovative and utterly delicious.

Smoked & roasted eggplant

Smoked & Roasted Eggplant

The kitchen here has always been known to do eggplant well, and this season it sees a crowd favourite turned on its head as the smoked and roasted eggplant is wrapped in nori and served with coconut yoghurt, Tokyo turnip, cucumber and lashings of garlic oil.

Bar Magda New Menu
Left: Bbq green beans Right: Pork & duck albondigas

BBQ Green Beans

With a modern slant on this most traditional side, Bar Magda’s BBQ green beans offer just the right amount of umami, smokey flavour and necessary crunch. Charred and served with onion miso, green garlic sauce and almonds, it makes a serious case for eating your greens.

Pork & Duck Albondigas

These tasty little morsels are a soul-warming take on the Spanish meatballs, and as we’ve been told, owner Carlo Buenaventura’s grandmother’s recipe. Made with pork and duck, this gluten-free dish is served on a bed of fresh corn polenta and is smothered with sauce Cocido and yellow sambal, lending the plate an utterly irresistible flavour profile that marries perfectly with the new vintage.

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Shop the look: Take style cues from our cover star Elsa Pataky, with this elegant fashion edit

Known for her international career in modelling and movies, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky has asserted herself as an undisputed style icon too. Here, taking our cues from the striking cover story we shot with her for our most recent Winter Issue, we have curated a line-up of exceptional pieces to fold a little necessary glamour into your everyday looks.

Alaïa Hooded Bodysuit from Faradays
SERPENTI RING from Bulgari
SERPENTI VIPER NECKLACE from Bulgari
SERPENTI VIPER EARRINGS from Bulgari
SERPENTI VIPER EARRINGS from Bulgari
CREPE COUTURE SHORT DRESS from Valentino
SERPENTI SEDUTTORI RING from Bulgari
SERPENTI VIPER RING from Bulgari

SERPENTI TUBOGAS WATCH from Bulgari
LONG TUNIC from Christian Dior
SERPENTI VIPER BRACELET from Bulgari
SERPENTI NECKLACE from Bulgari
SERPENTI SPIGA WATCH from Bulgari
SERPENTI NECKLACE from Bulgari
Alaïa Chevron Dress from Faradays
SERPENTI BRACELET from Bulgari

Photography by James Tolich. Styling by Claire Sullivan-Kraus. Makeup by Sarah Tammer. Hair by Brad Mullins.

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Somm Cellar Nights is the new Tuesday night affair pouring the country’s most coveted wines

Holding some of the country’s most coveted bottles in their expansive cellar, the newly-opened Somm Cellar Door at Princes Wharf has introduced a new series allowing guests to taste its range’s depth and breadth. Initially designed as an inner-city wine-tasting concept, visitors can taste flights from some of the country’s best wineries — including Te Kairanga, Vavasour and Mt Difficulty. Very swiftly, it has established itself as one of the preeminent and most delicious dining spots in the City under the delicious leadership of Chef Gavin Doyle.

Somm Cellar Nights effectively cracks open the institution’s impressive vault of wines, where for one night a week only, anyone will get to try a wine from the cellar, hand-selected by Somm’s team. While the wine will change each week, Somm’s cellar proudly boasts an extensive back catalogue of library vintages, limited edition releases, and large-format wines, so excellence is almost always assured.

As these wines are not generally sold by the glass, and some extremely rare, it makes these Tuesday night sessions very tempting. After all — there are few better reasons to rally a crew for a night of delicious plates and pizzas to share, especially with this unprecedented access to some of the country’s finest wines.

Available every Thursday from 3pm.

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Featuring Ceppo and Avorio Stone

Innovative, sustainable and durable: How Dekton’s new Pietra Kode collection is reimagining the beauty of classic Italian stones

When it comes to reimagining classic Italian-stone surfaces in a more durable and sustainable way, Dekton has once again proven itself a pioneer. Fresh inspiration is found in the brand’s recently-unveiled Pietra Kode collection, a series of sublime stones that can now be acquired through Cosentino, renowned for its innovative and sustainable surfaces.

Designed by the esteemed Daniel Germani, this collection reimagines the beauty of three classic Italian stones: Vicenza, Travertine and Ceppo di Gré, and thanks to its architectural aesthetic and exceptional quality, is poised to transform both our interior and exterior spaces in a way that delivers an appeal beyond its sleek looks alone. 

Featuring Nebbia and Ceppo Stone

Dekton’s innovative manufacturing process crafts purpose-made, ultra-compact surface stones that surpass the limitations of traditional mined materials. For starters, this engineered approach ensures exceptional durability, where each stone is made to be scratch and stain resistant, ideal for high-traffic flooring and heavily-used surfaces. There is also a significant focus on sustainability, where Dekton’s robust decarbonisation plan and commitment to offsetting 100-percent of its CO2 emissions has rendered the Pietra Kode collection entirely carbon-neutral, making Dekton the only cradle-to-grave carbon neutral surface on the market. And if all that weren’t enough to convince you of quality, the collection also carries a 25-year warranty — so that you can rest secure in the knowledge that the most important surfaces in your home have been made to last.

For these reasons, and for its striking aesthetic advantages too, the Pietra Kode collection is virtually limitless in the range of applications it can offer, exuding contemporary elegance via its rich shades and textures and strong, durable finishes, fit for any kind of surface. From cladding and flooring to kitchen and bathroom surfaces, Pietra Kode’s timeless allure can be seamlessly integrated into both modern and classic contexts, offering a harmonious aesthetic that transcends trends. 

Set In Stone Cosentino
Featuring Marmorio Stone

In coming up with the visual language for this collection, Daniel Germani was inspired by Italian architectural heritage in decoding and recoding three classic Italian stones. Take Nebbia, for instance, which captures the beauty of Vicenza with a fine-grained creamy base dotted with warm taupe hues — a harmonious tribute to the architectural masterpieces created by Andrea Palladio during the Cinquecento era. Upholding Vitruvius’ principles, the reimagined material pays homage to a rich heritage of design and craftsmanship.

Sabbia, on the other hand, reinterprets Italian Travertine, its irregular and colourful vein adding charm to rustic or natural environments. It is a technological reimagining of the stone that laid the foundations of Rome, evoking the brilliance of classical art and speaking to the kinds of inspiring architectural marvels that thrived during the Renaissance. Here, via Dekton’s unique ultra-compaction process, the stone’s inherent beauty and properties not only endure, but are improved. 

Set In Stone Cosentino
Featuring Grigio Stone

Pietra Kode’s Ceppo pays tribute to the distinctive blue-grey multiform structure of Ceppo di Gré stone, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. With a reimagined beauty and character, this stone (which etched its mark on Milan’s architectural history) shapes spaces that inspire and forge a deep connection with nature, perpetuating a timeless narrative of harmonious design.

As such, Dekton’s Pietra Kode seamlessly blends architectural beauty with innovation, sustainability and durability. In its rejuvenation of classic Italian stones, it has become a beacon of versatility and exceptional performance, sure to enhance any project with timeless elegance and lasting resilience.

cosentino.com/en-nz

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Spicy Miso Goma ramen

The perfect, warming, weekday lunch is here as Azabu and Ebisu add delicious ramen bowls to their menus

As if we needed more reason to book a table at Ebisu or one of Azabu’s two Auckland spots, the three restaurants have recently added a selection of mouth-watering, soul-warming ramen bowls to their weekly lunch menus, the ideal midday meals to see us through winter.

Satiating, comforting and utterly delicious, the three ramen bowls on offer include the Shio Tare ramen with char siu pork, soy egg, bamboo, pork and chicken bone broth, the Spicy Miso Goma ramen with char siu pork, soy egg, bamboo and sesame pork broth and the Spicy Miso Tantanmen ramen with chicken mince, soy egg, bamboo and miso pork broth. From their warming, brothy bases to their hearty, flavoursome toppings the new ramen offering is drawing us out of the office for a lunchtime feast.

Ramen
Left: Spicy Miso Tantanmen ramen Right: Spicy Miso Tantanmen ramen, Spicy Miso Goma ramen & Shio Tare ramen

In addition to the bowls themselves (which are available for a mere $25 a pop), diners who want a little something extra can choose two sides to pair with their ramen for $49. These include fresh salmon or tuna sashimi, karaage chicken or vegetable tempura (at Ebisu) or spicy pork gyoza (at Azabu).

Only available at lunchtime, this new ramen offering can be ordered from Monday to Friday at Ebisu, from Wednesday to Friday at Azabu Mission Bay and on Thursdays and Fridays at Azabu Ponsonby.

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Bistecca alla fiorentina
Potato gnocchi
Pomodoro pizza

From cacio e pepe gnocchi to T-bone steak — meet the delicious new Andiamo dishes you need to try

Cosy, comforting and offering a menu packed with some of our favourite, go-to dishes in Auckland, there are many reasons why Andiamo has been given stalwart status. Long-serving the discerning diners of Herne Bay with its contemporary, Italian-style fare and impeccable service, this relaxed but elevated bistro has never let us down and now, as we embrace the chill of winter, the team at Andiamo are giving us even more reason to book a table, recently adding three, new, utterly delicious dishes to the restaurant’s famous menu.

Left: Pomodoro pizza Right: Potato gnocchi

For those who love Andiamo for its pizza (a perfectly-flavoured line-up with toppings that hit the spot every time), there is a new iteration to sink your teeth into. Meet the new Pomodoro Pizza, boasting a charred and chewy dough base topped with juicy bits of salsiccia (Italian sausage), smoky and spicy salami picante and nduja and creamy fior di latte to balance it all out. This pizza will warm your cockles on cold winter nights and is the perfect dish to share with dinner companions.

That said, if you’re more of a pasta fan, you’ll be hard-pressed to pass up the gnocchi (which is actually the return of an Andiamo winter classic). Here, fluffy morsels of gnocchi have been prepared in the cacio e pepe tradition (a moreish combination of salty Italian cheese and plenty of pepper) and mixed with a mouthwatering roast chicken butter sauce to deliver warming depth and unbelievable flavour. This one, we think, you’ll want to keep to yourself.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina

The third new addition is the Bistecca alla Fiorentina — and it’s not for the faint of hear. Meat lovers, listen up. This is essentially a T-bone steak that has been cooked to tender perfection, sliced precisely on the bone and served with rosemary, garlic and salsa verde. Simple, satiating and exactly what you need sometimes in winter, this totally indulgent option is ideal for sharing paired with some of Andiamo’s various side dishes or enjoyed as a hearty main, depending on how hungry you are.

So whether you consider yourself an Andiamo devotee or only visit occasionally, here are three very compelling reasons to book a table now.

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Left: Ghost Donkey Tacos

It’s Football Season at Commercial Bay! Celebrate the big wins with live games, tasty food & good vibes

As the Women’s Football World Cup fast approaches there are plenty of ways that we can all start getting into the spirit of the competition beyond just throwing on a supporter’s jersey. Anyone who isn’t actually attending a game at Eden Park can support from afar with Commercial Bay’s Football Season kicking off in fine form tomorrow, the 20th of July.

Right: Best Ugly Bagels

This downtown shopping and dining precinct will be streaming all the World Cup football games live at Harbour Eats’ Public Bar (on level 2) with special half-time refreshments and bites on offer from all the Bay favourites, from Shake Out’s cheesy fries to Ghost Donkey’s tacos, Best Ugly Bagels and more.

Ensuring everyone can get into the convivial spirit, Commercial Bay will also be offering anyone who spends $50 or more at one of its many beauty, fashion or food retailers access to claw-machine prizes including CB vouchers, Adidas jerseys, Kokako Coffee Vouchers and Double passes to the FIFA Women’s World Cup at Eden Park. And every weekend, Harbour Eats will be packed with fun, pre-game activations and activities, from onsite face-painting to live music to food and beverage deals and everything you need to get amped for the big games.

Left: Shake Out’s Cheesy Fries

Commercial Bay is the perfect place to get amongst all the action, whether you’re a football fan or not — there will be something here for everyone to enjoy.

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Right: Queso Fondue with Chorizo

Your first look at Tacoteca, the new City Works Depot eatery serving authentic Mexican in housemade tortillas

Few restaurants are heaving on opening day, but walking into Tacoteca on a wintry Monday to see the venue humming speaks to the reputation this new destination has already garnered. Such is the pull of Edmundo Farrera’s vision — the enigmatic figurehead behind Snickel Lane’s La Fuente, the City’s only mezcal bar that has garnered somewhat of a cult following since it opened. Joined by Chef Patron Jean Brito helming the kitchen, their cumulative decades of experience have inspired the quest for the perfect taco. Here, we think they have achieved it.

Left: Lamb Barbacoa Tacos

Until now, Tacoteca has existed as an inner-city lunchtime pop-up, only spoken about between those in the know. And yet when the perfect location presented itself, Farrera and Brito knew it was time to plant some firmer roots. Now found where Food Truck Garage once stood at City Works Depot, it feels like a new destination entirely, where authentic Mexican is served at its most vibrant and brilliant.

For those unfamiliar, Tacoteca grew much of its popularity for its blue corn tortillas, all handmade on-site (when we visit, they’re being rolled through a press at the back of the open kitchen). They’re naturally gluten-free and, as such, feel slightly healthier, so you’ll find a good helping of them (made into corn chips) on the side of most dishes. These also form the base of Brito’s tacos, which come in an impressive array of flavours, like the rich lamb barbacoa, the fresh fish and the vegan smoky cabbage. (They’re also available in packs to take home, which we think is the perfect touch.)

Chilaquiles

After indulging in more than our fair share for a Monday lunchtime, what we loved the most was the small details, like the thoughtful introduction of caramelised crunchy nuts throughout dishes and grilled pineapple atop the fresh, citrusy (and gently spiced) guac, plus a surprising standout, the vegan cabbage taco, charred and exploding with flavour, although still light enough to comfortably eat more than just one (or two). For more indulgent sharing plates, the queso fondue, topped with chorizo, and the chilaquiles (almost like a shakshuka-nachos hybrid) are essential.

Right: Guacamole with housemade tortilla chips

And while City Works Depot is primarily a daytime precinct, Tacoteca’s hefty bar menu means that this delicious venue is open well into the evening. Given its roots, a comprehensive margarita menu is, of course, on offer, while wines are drawn from global vintages and an impressive craft beer menu sits alongside, too. Horchatas and jarritos are served as teetotalling alternatives; the former is a traditional milky Mexican drink, and the latter is a soda popular across Central and South America. 

In Tacoteca, we’ve found exactly what the City has been missing — genuinely authentic, delicious Mexican cuisine in an elevated eatery setting. It’s the kind of destination where neither experience nor legitimacy is compromised. And given its convenient proximity to the Denizen office, we can assure you that it is a destination we will frequent often.

Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 11:30am until 10pm

tacoteca.co.nz

Tacoteca

City Works Depot
1/90 Wellesley Street West
Auckland CBD

Gastronomy

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Only two apartments remain at the newly-completed Sonata, a masterclass in downsizing and luxury urban living

Mere moments after completion, only two apartments remain within St Heliers’ Sonata — the latest luxury living development redefining our approach to downsized urban living. Thanks to its enviable lifestyle proposition, this collection of luxury private apartments swiftly became one of Auckland’s most sought-after addresses when its plans were first unveiled, drawing potential residents for the way it embraced the beauty of St Heliers and its refusal to compromise on the requirements of a luxury forever home.

Ideally suited to those seeking to downsize as much as those seeking a second address in the City, these exquisitely crafted apartments showcase meticulous attention to detail, where no stone has been left unturned. And yet the build, a vision of the award-winning team at Buchan (and the pioneering approach of developers Reside), is not overly opulent or ostentatious but rather timeless and gorgeous, leaning into quality finishes that speak to the deliberate nature of the development.

Take the kitchens, for instance, all designed by luxury Italian manufacturer Poliform in collaboration with Studio Italia, which anchor each apartment and cultivate a sense of community and connection. Poliform is an international leader in furniture design, founded in 1970 by Alberto Spinelli, Aldo Spinelli and Giovanni Anzani, and its work brings a touch of elegance and sophistication to every home. Expansive wardrobes in every residence have also been carefully crafted by the brand — a testament to the developers’ commitment to maximising storage solutions, ensuring that residents can do their downsizing with ease. If all that were not enough, the apartments’ lighting has been sourced locally from ECC, proving an assurance that only the most discerning finishes have been applied here.

This attentive approach is echoed in the exterior, too, where Sonata’s silhouette depicts something artistic and sculptural, boasting a unique curvature that almost mirrors the famous bays it overlooks. Each residence is luxuriously appointed with floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling out onto substantial balconies and, in the ground floor apartment’s case, a generous courtyard — offering the perfect space for any pets to make the move as well. These are apartments with home-like proportions, where the transition to this low-maintenance style of living is seamless.

The execution of Sonata is flawless — as one would expect given developer Reside’s enduring reputation of excellence. Behind landmark developments such as Victoria Quarter’s Grace, and Mission Bay’s Horizon, Reside is a legacy residential developer that, since the Location Group’s inception in 1972 (of which Reside is just one part of), has pioneered a new, elevated standard for urban living. This latest address feels like the pinnacle of this. As only two apartments remain at this coveted Devore Street address, we recommend expressing your interest with the listing agent, Paul Neshausen, at Barfoot & Thompson.

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Don’t miss Bubbles & Bumps — a luxurious, limited-time offering at Faraday’s Bar

Giving us yet another reason to pay Faradays a visit (as if the latest drop of Loewe wasn’t enough), Faraday’s Bar has just launched a luxurious, new Thursday night offering that will only be on for a limited time.

‘Bubbles & Bumps,’ as it is aptly called, gives diners the chance to enjoy the opulent pairing of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs with Vintage Sturia Caviar, for a very special price. Perfect for celebrating special occasions or romantic date nights, this sumptuous duo can be ordered as either a half-bottle and 15g tin, or a full-sized bottle and 30g tin, the former at $199, the latter at $399.

So whether you’re looking to treat your significant other to a special evening out, or are seeking a more elevated experience for your next catch-up with friends, ‘Bubbles & Bumps’ is just the ticket. (Plus, when you’re finished you can peruse the latest fashion and homeware collections that have just landed at Faradays — an added bonus.)

On for a limited time only, we suggest booking your Thursday evening at Faraday’s Bar soon, lest you miss out. Bookings can be made online here, or by emailing here.

Gastronomy

Long live the long lunch: Ki Māha for King’s Birthday
Why SkyCity’s DELISH is Auckland’s most comforting culinary event this winter
K’ Road’s newest café doubles as a quietly cool concept store