Where to wine and dine your Valentine this February the 14th

2 Feb 2022

A surefire way to show that you care this Valentine’s Day is treating your significant other to a night out at one of the city’s most romantic restaurants. With tables filling up fast, these are the elegant eateries putting on a set menu to set hearts racing this February 14th.

Cibo
Nestled away in an old chocolate factory in Parnell, Cibo is an intimate space to dine with your loved one. This year, Head Chef Kate Fay has constructed a sumptuous five-course degustation, which includes a glass of Taittinger Cuvée Prestige on arrival. Once you’ve toasted to you two, enjoy Chatham Island crayfish and West Coast whitebait; duck on a charred corn salad; salmon with squid, avocado and gin; a lamb rack and rump; and a red velvet and raspberry dessert to finish.

Sid at the French Cafe
With a legacy like no other, the French Cafe is an especially special spot to spoil your loved one this Valentine’s Day. This time around, the team is offering a five-course tasting menu with snacks to start and a complimentary glass of Champagne, or a non-alcoholic cocktail, on arrival. While this special menu is yet to be published, trusting the chef here is a true act of appreciation.

Park Hyatt Auckland
On the water’s edge, Park Hyatt’s Onemata restaurant creates a feast for all the senses. This Valentine’s Day, the team is serving up a decadent five-course dinner, including natural oysters, a Curious Croppers Caprese salad, and a fresh market fish as well as a succulent lamb rump dish. The set menu includes a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne on arrival. Then, if you’re after an intimate nightcap, Captain’s Bar is also setting the mood. Bar Manager and mixology extraordinaire, Ezequiel Marquez, has created a couple of bespoke Valentine’s cocktails for the occasion.

Andiamo
Designed with a romantic experience in mind, Andiamo’s three-course set menu includes delicious summer dishes to indulge in — including the new kingfish crudo with Central Otago stone fruits, and a succulent Wagyu rump cap with salsa rossa, Ortiz anchovy and grilled confit potatoes. To mark the occasion, there is a complimentary glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut on arrival, along with a special gift from the kitchen.

Bar Magda
The more lovers, the merrier at Bar Magda, with its special Magda Valentine set menu, available for a party of two to ten from the 11th to the 20th of February. The three-course shared menu showcases seasonal summer dishes and includes a decadent dessert — such as a ‘Fiji dark chocolate’ marquise with a delicate potato mille feuille. Each couple will be able to choose a bottle of wine from a curated list, while there are also many sensual cocktails to win over your heart.

Ostro
No strangers to special occasions, the team at Ostro has put together a comprehensive menu for the most romantic day of the year. The set menu, with spectacular views of the harbour, includes the likes of South Island Wagyu tartare and long line snapper, with the option to add the establishment’s stand-out seafood platters and aphrodisiac oysters. If you’d rather keep things private, Ostro will be delivering a Beef Wellington for two, plus petit fours, to your door this Valentine’s Day, between 12 and 5pm. It doesn’t get much more personal, and precious, than this.

Paris Butter
The buttery-soft booths at Paris Butter sure lend themselves to a coupled-up dining experience. As part of cupid’s yearly soiree, the charming and creative restaurant is offering a five-course menu, filled to the brim with good food and fine Champagne.

Azabu Ponsonby
The atmosphere at Azabu Ponsonby is second to none, so why not take your main squeeze here for its mouthwatering Omakase menu? Chef Yukio Ozeki has created an exceptional experience — from amuse-bouche tuna ceviche to special lamb chuleta and Nikkei steak. Each set menu includes a complimentary flute of Veuve Clicquot, a pour of Asahi Super Dry on tap, or one of the house’s favourite cocktails for two. It’s set to be a wonderful evening for all.

Faraday’s Bar
When it comes to intimate dining experiences, it doesn’t get more bespoke than Faraday’s Bar. Opening especially for Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th of February (as well as Saturday the 12th), the boutique bar has coupled Krug Grande Cuvée and caviar for two. Elegant and refined, with diverse yet harmoniously full flavours, the half bottle of Krug is perfect for sharing as you enjoy 15g of Sturia Vintage Caviar. Limited spaces are available — email [email protected] or call 09 217 1017 to secure your spot.

Esther at QT Auckland
The tables are set to swoon at Esther, where a Mediterranean culinary adventure awaits. The lust-worthy three-course set menu features Esther’s most darling dishes. Begin with fresh oysters in Champagne mignonette and Manganui Kingfish crudo with pomegranate explosions, escorted by the restaurant’s beloved wood-fired puff bread. Meanwhile for mains, there will be its one-and-only pistachio herbed lamb rack. To finish, you’ll find the delightful crêpe Suzette modern, with orange Grand Marnier sauce and vanilla bean gelato. There will be two dinner sittings, the first from 5 to 8pm, and the second from 8 to late.

Ebisu
Treat your loved one, and yourself, to a tasting menu of the best of Ebisu, complemented with a flute of Veuve Clicquot and the option to add a premium sake match. From its fresh tuna and beef tataki to its pan-seared Glory Bay Salmon and crayfish dumping (with a vegetarian menu available on request), this tempting menu is sure to show your date a good time.

NSP
Dine in the whimsical courtyard of NSP and enjoy an a la carte service with Valentine’s Specials including cioppino with fennel and saffron, and a selection of seafood with crayfish, prawns, green lipped mussels, tuatuas and John Dory. They don’t call this place ‘Non Solo Pizza’ for nothing… For those who would rather settle in from the comfort of their own home, there will be an aperitivo dinner and drinks selection available for takeaway soon.

Kingi
There’s a lot to love about Kingi this Valentine’s Day. The sustainably-minded Britomart eatery has dreamed up a three-course menu, including a sharing antipasti platter and your choice of a wood-roasted eggplant dish, seafood pappardelle, or pan-roasted snapper. For the most romantic course of all — dessert — there’s perfected profiteroles with rum and raisin ice cream and chocolate.

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Create your own fairy tale world with these beautifully baroque Murano glass mirrors

2 Feb 2022

Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all? When it comes to Arte Veneziana’s enchanting looking glasses, the real beauty is reflected in the maximalist Murano frames of its Fairy Tale capsule.

In building a magical baroque world to lose yourself in, the collection’s Product Designer Leo De Carlo has captured the mesmerisingly artistic and absurd, in hyper-decorative pieces made to be a showpiece in any environment.

Clockwise from top left: The Frog Prince, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty.

On show at Sarsfield Brooke, three different Fairy Tale designs tell their dazzling stories within a crest structure of fir wood and decorative Murano glass details. The verdant ‘Frog Prince’ comprises mirrors across three levels of engraved Venetian glass. Varnished with acid green and finished with an antiqued mirrored effect, it is sure to entrance.

The ‘Little Mermaid’ style has many of these essential elements, with cerulean blue varnish and crystal-blue Murano. The most delicate of all, the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ has two levels of rosy reds and pinks, the colour of a princess’ nightgown.

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Hailing from Venice, De Carlo has his own kind of fairy tale vocation. He studied in the design city of Milan and worked for Philippe Starck in the City of Love, Paris, before returning to his floating home. This unique collaboration captures the romance of his career — elegantly crafted by the Murano glass oracle that is Arte Veneziana.

www.sarsfieldbrooke.co.nz

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Wardrobe update: Workshop welcomes a new drop from eternally cool Swedish brand Acne Studios

2 Feb 2022

While we’re currently lapping up the sparkling days of late summer, you won’t find us too deeply in (sartorial) mourning once more of a chill sets in. This is thanks to the cosy staples from Acne Studios that have just arrived at Workshop, ready to inject a hit of bright optimism into any season.

Within the latest outing from the signature Face collection, unisex flannel and stripes are rendered in cheery shades, ready for the daring to clash at will. Acne also worked with the Oslo-based Munch Museum on a selection of prints featuring artworks by famed Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, in “an homage to Scandinavian art”.

Celebrated artworks like ‘The Scream’, ‘Lovers in the Waves’ and ‘Madonna’ have made their way from the frame onto garments, and can now be donned on shirts, sweaters, bags and more.

Clockwise from top left: Cropped Tailored Wool Trousers, Flannel Face Scarf, Coin Bracelet, Logo Stamp Sweatshirt, Musubi Mini Bag, Face Flannel Shirt.

Tailoring is always another of Acne’s strong suits, and the classic fit suit jacket is a forever staple. Double-breasted with peak lapels, it sits effortlessly with either slim tailored trousers or a more fashion-forward pair like Acne’s high-rise suit trousers. Cut from the same wool-blend suiting, the latter have a kick-flare silhouette and pin-stitched centre front creases.

Highly covetable accessories are, as usual, a key part of Acne’s new-season offering, with scarves, jewellery, hats and bags forming the perfect finishing touches.

Trust this Scandinavian fashion favourite to have thought of everything one could need for a bona fide closet refresh.

www.workshop.co.nz

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Walk through your own personalised store wardrobe with Muse’s private shopping and styling service

29 Jan 2022

Step inside Muse’s private styling room, above the beautiful Ponsonby boutique, and you will find a shopping sanctuary. Designed with Isabelle Tolich and Alisa Allison Interiors, the space is well-dressed for the occasion, with a mesmerising painting by Nick Herd above a custom bouclé sofa and Twister side table by Sophie Davies. But what will really catch your eye is the pick of new season pieces as you peruse the rack.

Whether you attend a one-on-one session or share with a friend, your personal shopper consults ahead of your appointment. With a clear idea of your personal style requirements, they curate a line-up of clothes that suit your taste — while being in step with the season. For summer, this includes refined resort collections and hints of 70s-nostalgia, the latter coming through in the form of bold prints and colours, co-ordinate sets, floaty kaftans and crisp cotton poplins.

The bespoke experience is also a chance to preview new collections — complimentary Champagne in-hand — before they reach the shop floor. Currently, this includes the vibrant vintage patterns of Milan-based label La Double J, eclectic and floral designs from Australian label Alemais, chic and comfortable footwear from Proenza Schouler, and sparkly and slimline swimsuits from Oséree.

While each experienced stylist has their own unique flair, they draw on Muse’s 25-year heritage to ensure you receive the most luxurious and specially tailored advice. Effortless elegance is always paramount — whether you’re here for a seasonal update, a special event piece, or a re-stock of staples. Aiming to help clients fill much-needed gaps in their wardrobes, Muse welcomes you to bring along problem pieces, to work out exactly what you can wear with them.

The experience ensures you find garments that you will hold dear — while learning some style secrets along the way.

www.museboutique.co.nz

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It’s hip to be square at Auckland’s new Detroit-style deep dish pizza joint

28 Jan 2022

The pizza market is burgeoning in Auckland, as outposts have spun the most delicious pies into a kind of culinary art form. Next to get a slice of the perfected pizza genre is Onehunga, with the opening of Slabs Pizza.

As the name suggests, the neighbourhood eatery serves deep-dish squares, Detroit-style. Cooked in traditional blue steel pans, the pizzas are slow to rise. Holding high hydration in the dough while it’s in the pizza oven results in a soft, fluffy interior — almost like focaccia — and a super crispy base.

Whether you grab a full or half size slab, each is made to order. Toppings are lavishly layered on top, with sauce often going on — not before — but after most for a truly sensational mouthful. The O.G Square treats us to the classic red sauce, Grana Padano cheese and basil. The Pepperoni takes things up a notch with the addition of tabasco and guindilla peppers. For vegetarians, the Mushroom option, with ricotta, truffle, pecorino and parsley, is a sell-out — and there is also a vegan option with all the trimmings.

Thanks to the cooking method, the crusts of each slice have a crave-worthy caramelised cheese crust. These are given the attention they deserve with additional dips created specifically for the outer edges, including ranch, red and BBQ sauce.

From left: Italian Sausage Pizza; BBQ Chicken Pizza.

For those after a little more, there is a trifecta of sides — garlic bread with all the cheese, garlic butter and red sauce; fries with house seasoning and roasted garlic aioli; and wings with BBQ and ranch sauce.

While we think it’s worth taking a seat at the purple-hued pizzeria for the all-consuming smell of freshly baked pizza, Slabs has also developed an online ordering system to make it easy to pick up takeaway orders as soon as they come out of the oven.

Before Slabs, owner Simon Murphy started Umu in Kingsland, which specialises in pizza with a sourdough base that took ten years to develop, and the cultivation of an ancient starter. This new venture has the same level of care. Spotlighting only six signature flavours, and a drinks menu of ice-cold soft drink cans, the focus is on curation and quality before all else.

Opening hours
Wednesday to Saturday: 12 — 9pm

Slabs Pizza
178 Onehunga Mall
Onehunga, Auckland

www.slabspizza.co.nz

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Bake, roast and even sous vide your way to culinary glory with Miele’s ultra-sophisticated steam technology

28 Jan 2022

A key ingredient to achieving success in the home kitchen is the collection of tools you’re working with. Just as sharp knives, high-quality pans and appropriate implements all contribute to making the gastronomic process as hitch-free as possible, so too do appliances.

If you’ve ever struggled to cook a roast chicken without it drying out, or to bake a cake evenly, then perhaps it could be time to look at upgrading to an intuitive oven that takes the guesswork out of meal prep.

Opening up a whole new world of cooking, Miele’s steam range utilises impressive technology that will have both home cooks and culinary experts racing to the kitchen. Available in various niche sizes and designs, the range has options to suit any room, whether compact or cavernous.

Kitted out with DualSteam technology — which enables fast heat-up times and cooking durations, as well as even steam distribution — it’s easier than ever for you to prepare food. During the cooking process, the whole oven compartment fills with steam and the oxygen is displaced — so the food remains visually and structurally intact, while retaining its natural flavour. Picture how good steamed broccoli tastes when it is as vibrant as when it was picked, or salmon that is blushing pink.

Pushed for time? A spacious oven interior and large tray offers maximum space, allowing several portions to be prepared simultaneously. No more waiting for the roast veges to cook before you can slide in the lamb rack. The Miele steam and microwave combination ovens even have a popcorn setting, with times and wattages tailored to a 100gram packet of microwave popcorn.

Several models of the steam oven also boast a built-in sous vide function, for you to prepare meat, fish, fruit or vegetables with utmost tenderness and flavour.

Back to that dreaded dry chicken, you’ll never have to worry about that again with a steam combination oven. Imagine locking in all that moisture, while also perfectly crisping the chicken skin. The steam combination simultaneously puts moisture into the cavity while the elements heat up and brown the bird. With such exquisite possibilities, we’re sure there will be chefs kisses all around.

www.kouzina.co.nz

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A peaceful jazz soundtrack to bliss out to, Zoot Music’s Idle Moments playlist is on repeat all summer

27 Jan 2022

If anyone understands music’s ability to make a mood, it’s Nathan Haines and Jaimie Webster Haines. The husband-and-wife duo is a music industry dynamo, and founded Zoot Music in 2019 — a multi-faceted sound design, music production and playlist curation company.

Offering everything from original productions for fashion shows to artist collaborations, brand identity, custom playlists and in-house DJ installations, Haines and Webster Haines utilise their hefty musical nous and excellent taste for all manner of projects. Here, they kindly share a blissful jazz-focused playlist to cue up this season.

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Dominion Road welcomes one of Auckland’s favourite burger joints, specialising in flavoursome fusion burgers

26 Jan 2022

Since it opened in 2016, Grey Lynn eatery Tiger Burger has garnered fans from far and wide for its particular brand of fusion that melds Korean flavours with decadent burgers, to offer a whole new take on the bun-encased genre.

As of today, the burger purveyor is set to become even more popular with the opening of its second outpost at 590 Dominion Road in Mount Eden.

The Tiger team has been working away at this new opening for three years — as with nearly all of Auckland’s hospitality businesses, lockdowns provided far too many challenges. Now, they’re “super excited” about arriving among the many excellent eateries of Dominion Road, their Korean-tinged fare poised to be the perfect addition to the area.

Left: Double kimcheese burger; Seoulful Bites.

Find all your favourites, from the Gang-Jeong burger comprising double-fried, free-range chicken thigh in a chilli-soy glaze with pickled radish, shredded lettuce and gochu mayo; to the patented Kimcheese with signature blend, New Zealand grass-fed beef and sautéed house kimchi, aged cheddar and gochu mayo.

For Tiger Burger’s new location, Korean fried chicken has been added to the menu, which is sure to be a must-add side to any order. Meanwhile, classics like the various loaded fries, bibimbap slaw and chicken bites are back and better than ever.

While “very different” to its Grey Lynn store, Tiger Burger 2.0 can seat 65 people dine-in, and also offers online orders for pick-up — plus delivery via Uber Eats and Delivereasy.

So, should the hankering for a burger seize your tastebuds, why not pay this flavoursome new opening a visit?

Opening hours:
Tuesday & Thursday: 5pm — 9:30pm
Friday & Saturday: 11:30am — 10:30pm
Sunday: 11:30am — 9:30pm
Closed on Monday

Tiger Burger

590 Dominion Road,
Mt Eden

www.tigerburger.co.nz

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Be a lucky table of eight and enjoy Azabu Mission Bay’s abundant Lunar New Year Seafood Platters

26 Jan 2022

One of the many restaurants celebrating Chinese New Year with colourful feasts for friends and family is Azabu Mission Bay. Especially auspicious, its Lunar New Year Seafood Platter presents the best market seafood of the day, including crayfish, sashimi, Ruakaka kingfish ceviche and tuna guacamole in one abundant dish.

It’s best enjoyed in the spacious Roku Gin Garden, where you can feel the breeze of the sea as you enjoy a cocktail made to celebrate the Year of the Water Tiger. The bold concoctions are sure to help you face the year ahead with the courage and conviction of 2022’s zoological zodiac sign.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, between Tuesday the 1st and Sunday the 13th of February, Denizen and Azabu Mission Bay are giving away a festive experience for the lucky number of eight. This is your chance to win three Lunar New Year Seafood Platters to share, as well as two cocktails per table member, valued at $800.

This competition is now closed.

www.savor.co.nz/azabu-mission-bay

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From the team behind &Sushi, a charming cafe in Greenlane serving Kiwi classics with a twist

26 Jan 2022

There’s so much more to Auckland than the five-kilometre radius encompassing its centre and the neighbouring suburbs. Whenever a new hospitality opening brings more culinary options to a previously lacking area, we are all for it. Seeing an opportunity to do just this in Greenlane, the founders of the hugely popular &Sushi have opened a new cafe: Slowlane.

Jeff Kim and Isaac Yu form the duo behind both ventures, which operate under the umbrella of their hospitality company And Group. While the road to opening Slowlane was long and arduous, due to Covid and lockdowns, they’re delighted to now be able to welcome customers.

Pan-fried crispy market fish with cauliflower purée, tabbouleh grains, sumac dressing, sumac nut mix, herb oil and pea shoots.

Of the Great South Road location, Kim says he has lived in the area for 12 years, and always lamented the lack of good food options nearby. The space became available, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

The thought behind Slowlane was to provide a relaxing environment where people can come and enjoy a bite and a great cup of coffee, and take a moment to detach from the daily grind. The space itself can seat 85 to 90, including outside. It’s peacefully tonal, with a mixture of textures from light grey concrete and dark-grained wooden tables to realistic faux plants (designed to mimic toetoe) that bring a feeling of nature and calm.

Food-wise, the focus is on daytime fare done well. We’re told Head Chef Marvin Choi brings experience from the likes of former waterfront stalwart Euro and Hobsonville Point’s Fabric, and under his guidance, everything is cooked with delicious finesse.

Right: Eggs Benedict — two poached, free-range eggs with Slow hash brown, cured salmon and hollandaise.

Find breakfast and brunch-appropriate dishes like granola, creamy mushrooms on toast, omelettes, bruschetta and more. The brioche French toast is a lovely rendition of the dish, surprisingly light and airy and served with citrus maple syrup, poached peaches and mascarpone. Eggs Benedict lovers will be well served with three options — bacon, portobello mushroom, or cured salmon.

For lunch, you would do well to order the market fish — we tried the snapper, cooked to crispy-skinned perfection and served on a silky cauliflower purée with moreish grains and pomegranate seeds. The butterfly steak, comprising flat sirloin with two fried eggs, onion rings and savoury Diane sauce, was also cooked beautifully. Should you be operating more in the fast lane for the day, there’s a cabinet stocked full with sandwiches and wraps, baked goods and more to takeaway.

Butterfly Steak — flat sirloin with fried eggs, Slow onion rings and Diane sauce.

There’s an emphasis on making from scratch at Slowlane, from house-made sauces and condiments to the coffee which they source and roast themselves — single-origin from Papua New Guinea. The eatery is also licenced, serving crisp Continental Platter prosecco on tap as well as beer from Asahi, Sawmill and Boundary Road, plus a range of wines.

Slowlane is open during daytime hours for now, but its owners have plans to eventually expand to dinner. For the time being, they’re working on perfecting the offering, a pursuit there’s no need to rush.

Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday: 7am — 3pm

Slowlane

604 Great South Road,
Ellerslie

www.instagram.com/slowlanenz

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