Asher W.'s
Get a taste of culture here
- 129Hard to Find BooksOnehungaThe Hard to Find Book Shop in Onehunga is my favourite book store in the world. Crammed into the small space is a labrynth of sections spanning from classics to the occult and everything in between. Here you’ll find many treasures and curiosies that will excite even the most jaded of book buyers! If you love books, this is your place.
- 229Capitol CinemaBalmoralCapitol Cinema is a cinema with character. They play a great, but small, selection of well chosen art house and foreign films. It’s the perfect accompaniment to hitting up one of the dumpling houses on Dominion Road. Well worth checking out.
- 325Conch Records Kitchen and BarPonsonbyConch Records is one of Auckland’s best spots to pick through popular and rare vinyl. It’s also got a great collection of clothes, collectible toys and they make a dam good coffee. Their backyard has recently been opened as Boteco, a South American eatery, that’s on my list to try.
- 437Spark ArenaAuckland CentralVector Arena is Auckland’s answer to the Madison Square Gardens. It’s the venue to see world class acts from accross the board. Tonights entertainment is Dizzee Rascal and Azealia Banks, both did not dissapoint. As Dizzee said ”…It’s always love.”
- 5162Auckland Art GalleryAuckland CentralThe Auckland Art Gallery is a world class space with a truly enchanting collection. I’m a big fan of the Ralph Hotare work that the gallery houses. It was renovated around two years ago and it has recieved quite a bit of attention for it’s suberb architecture. The cafe is also worth stopping in to if you’re looking for a coffee or some tasty food.
Asher W.'s
Always fresh produce
- 18Farmville Fruit and VegetablesGrey LynnGrey Lynn’s Farmville is a good one stop shop for fruit and vegetables if you need to pick up some fresh produce on the run. There isn’t a huge selection but the produce is always tasty and the staff exceedingly helpful. A good go to if you’re in the city and need some freshness!
- 229Farro Fresh - Grey LynnGrey LynnFarro’s is a one stop shop for all your household food needs. The bakery, fish counter and butchery are all second to none and the prices competitive. For the record the crab legs are currently on special.
- 359Ripe DelicatessenGrey LynnRipe Delicatessen is a great spot to drop by and grab lunch from. The salads are sophiaticated and a treat to eat, the meat is always tender and well cooked and the coffee is consistent. Price is pretty good and the portion size (if you’re served by the right person) is plentiful. Pictured is the raw beetroot salad, a grain salad and a small serving of salmon. All were great and the best thing was that I felt like the food was doing my body a world of good. Recommended.
- 424Harvest Wholefoods Grey LynnGrey LynnHarvest Wholefoods is a great little store in the heart of Grey Lynn that specialises in natural, organic and gluten free foods. My girlfriend suffers from a number of food allergies so we often pop in here to pick up supplies, The Little Bird gluten free treats being a specific weakness of hers. The store stocks a whole range of other products including gluten free pastries, a large bulk bin section, eco-friendly cleaning products and organic fruit and vegetables. The staff are all extremely helpful and full of good advice on what products contain.
- 511Wild Wheat know bread, and they also take bread pretty seriously. Having been voted by Metro as the best bread since 2004 you know that they’re doing something right. Thre is a fantastic range to choose from ranging from sourdoughs to brioche and gluten free options. I got the bread of the month which was quinoa and apricot loaf. It was a flvoursome loaf with chunks of apricot scattered throughout the loaf matched with crunch of that in vogue grain quinoa. Delicious.
Asher W.'s
Welly favourites
- 149Fidel's CafeTe AroAlthough we had to wait twenty minutes for a table, twenty minutes for service and half an hour for our food it didn’t matter. It was worth it. I had a flat white, their infamous Snickers milkshake and the Fidel’s Feast (pictured). The coffee was on point and the thickshake was huge. The ‘feast’ was just what I needed (being slightly hungover). Tasty meats, juicy mushroomd and perfect poached eggs. Recommended.
- 245Sweet Mother's KitchenTe AroSweet Mother’s Kitchen makes southern American food that’s good for the soul. The Wellington staple has a warm and inviting vibe and the quirky staff are clued up and friendly. I ate a pulled pork poe boy, shared a swamp dip (spinach and cheese dip) and got a serving of curly fries for the table. TASTY feel good food. Be prepared to wait for a table as it is usually packed.
- 328Tommy MillionsWellington CentralWe were in a rush last night for dinner so we grabbed a couple of slices of pizza from Tommy Millions. The service was fast and friendly and the pizza was tasty. The flavours were simple but the real star was the base, light and not too chewy.
- 412Plum CafeTe AroPlum Café is another of the spots I like to get to when in Wellington. It’s a great spot to grab a seat outside and watch the non-stop action of Cuba St. The coffee is always good and the food is pleasant. Pictured is the bread with dips, a tasty little in between meals snack. Great little spot if you’re looking to get a coffee on Cuba St.
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Treats on the run
- 195GiapoAuckland CentralI really wanted to get an ice cream from Giapo but I was running out of time and the line was out of the door. I looked longingly at the happy customers with their cones of goodness but I was running late for a movie so it was not meant to be. There's a reason why this spot is so popular. The product is quality (whether it is gelato or ice cream I'm unsure) but the clinch is the wide array of flavours on offer. They are constantly updating their range and they can get pretty weird - hokey pokey with bacon anyone? There's also a wide range of toppings available to accompany the sweet treat. In the past when I have been there I have really enjoyed the pistachio and the dark chocolate sorbet.
- 215No.1 Pancake TakeawayAuckland CentralWhile I was at uni the Korean pancakes from No. 1 Pancakes were my go to for lunch. Endless sweet and savoury pancakes are churned out of the busy little hole in the wall. My personal favourite is the ham and cheese pancake. It’s almost more like a toastie than a pancake, with a crispy interior and gooey centre. The best thing is that the are super affordable and always fresh. Worth checking out!
- 38Mrs Higgins - Queen StreetAuckland CentralThere must be a special cookie baking fragrance pump at the opening of Ma Higgins because every time that you walk past the place it just smells so dam good. One ensnared by the smell it's hard to resist the soft and chewy in the inside, crunchy on the outside discs of pleasure. It's also hard to buy only one because it gets steadily cheaper the more you buy. I’m a sucker for the white chocolate and macadamia cookie but who knows what you might be into? Trust me it's worth finding out.
- 429Foxtrot ParlourPonsonbyInjecting your own doughnut with gooey berry coulais might be a little gimmicky but it’s still a lot of fun. This is exactly what’s on offer at Foxtrot Parlour. On a platter you recieve a syringe full of sweet berry sauce or gooey chocolate filling with a crusty empty doughnut. The berry one also comes with a side of cream. Worth it for the experience alone!
- 557MoustacheAuckland CentralMa Higgins ran the city cookie scene for quite some time but it is possible that younger kid on the block MoustacheMilk and Cookie Bar could be gunning for first place. From what I've read there is an emphasis on quality ingredients in the product, and you could taste this in the cookie. I opted for a chocolate chip cookie with plain milk to dunk it in. was the best. It was great and at! $3.50 rather reasonable. Next time I'm back I'm looking forward to trying one of the milkshakes, the flavours looked pretty exciting! Apologies there isn't a picture of the cookie, it was gobbled too quickly on purchase :(
Asher W.'s
Ponsonby brunch spots
- 121Good OnePonsonbyI'm sure that I've recommended Good One before but this is a place I can't recommend enough. You automatically feel at home in the light filled space and there are a variety of options of where to sit - inside at the communal table, outside or in the half indoor, half outdoor entry area. The coffee is some of the best in the city, the small selection of cabinet food (pies, toasties etc) great and the service is friendly. If you haven't been, get amongst.
- 212The Rabbit Hole CafeHerne BayThe Rabbit Hole Cafe is a great little cafe next to Bayfield Primary. Either sit in the poky interior or relax on the small deck and get some fresh air. We had the mince on toast served with a poached egg. The portion was generous and pretty dam tasty. Good coffee, good food and great staff. What’s not to like?
- 370DizengoffPonsonbyThere’s nothing quite like starting the week with a stomach full of Dizengoff muesli. Served with a pile of fresh fruit, natural yoghurt and a generous drizzle of honey the meal feels like it’s doing your body a world of good. We sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air while lazily sipping on a couple of flat whites. With a start like this I’m not really sure why everyone has such an issue with Mondays?
- 437Queenies LunchroomFreemans BayWhen I have kids I'll probably take them to Queenies and order them the boiled eggs with vegemite toast, with a fluffy of course (these come with copious chocolate buttons). In the weekend this is a hive of family activity and the staff are more than accommodating. Until then I'll just head along and have a coffee (it's good) and probably an almond croissant or something equally as flaky.
- 515Santos CafePonsonbySantos can hold down the coffees. In fact I’ve never had a bad coffee there, perfect extraction and silky milk. I hadn’t ever eaten there before though so I figured it was about time to give the menu the once over. I opted for the haloumi salad which was delicious. I’m a big fan of the salty fried cheese and this was cooked to perfection. The light meal was just what I was after. I’m looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu to see what other delights I can discover.
Asher W.'s
Auckland's best newcomers
- 133Best Ugly BagelsAuckland CentralBest Ugly Bagels is a brand new bagel shop that offers you the option of either picking up a warm half dozen or grab a filled one on site. I opted for the TAB option - basil, avocado and tomato which was tasty and filled a lunch sized gap. I like what I see, and I’ll definitely be back when my Montreal bagel craving needs to be seen to.
- 233Food Truck GarageAuckland CentralThe photo doesn't really do the Food Truck Garage justice at all (my poor Sony Xperia is struggling to stay relevant). This place is the business. Tonight I had the beefburger which was packed with a beetroot relish, gherkins and other goodness. The meat was succulent and the flavours in the burger robust. I also ordered the baked vegetables - a medley of potato, beetroot and other veges with a creamy dipping sauce. This was all accompanied by the house made cola which was DELICIOUS. The prices are ridiculously reasonable, the decor simple but trendy and the staff attentive. In a world where nothing comes for free the complimentary sparkling water was definitely a bonus.
- 318Bread & Butter Bakery & CafeGrey LynnThere’s something contrived about Bread and Butter cafe, it's glossy store bought vintage feel and odd soundtrack puts me on edge. Although this is the case their bread and food is undeniable. I'm a sucker for pulled pork at the best of time so when it came to ordering on bleary hungover Sunday my decision was an absolute no brainer. The chunky chips that it was accompanied were delicious, the bread fresh, the sauces rich and the meat itself succulent (although perhaps it could do with a touch more flavouring). Other members of my table enjoyed the fresh juice, avacado smash and grilled vege salad. Go there to check out the food!
- 435The Blue Breeze InnPonsonbyOn paper new kid on the block the Blue Breeze Inn shouldn’t work. An eatery that serves up Chinese in a pacific island themed establishment, say what? When we arrived the place was already buzzing. We were met by an extremely helpful and friendly maitre d' who showed us to our seat. We ordered some BBQ pork buns, the bang bang chicken and half a crispy duck. It all tasted amazing. It may seem odd on paper but gosh it works. We’ll be back.
- 554MilseAuckland CentralIf you have a sweet tooth and are partial to a fancy dessert get to Milse as soon as you possibly can! This dessert only secret bar is perhaps my greatest find in the past couple of weeks. We sat at the bar and marveled at the tall English dessert maestro as he put together delicate, ornate sweet treats. I ordered the creme brulee which was nothing short of fantastic and the girlfriend had a mound of chocolate goodness which she said was exceptional. For two desserts we paid around the $40 mark, not exactly cheap but with sweets this good it would be rude not to indulge!