"There was nothing really dreadful about The Corner. My chilli prawns in fact, were delicious - buttery, with just enough heat, and served on a spoonful of cauliflower cheese; Megan's $12 baby tomato and compressed watermelon side salad (ordered as an entree, with warm ciabatta bread - another $7) was light and tasty. But, overall, this is a menu that plays it extremely safe."
Greg Bruce tries an all-bagel brunch menu in the new Kohu Road ice-cream café and finds it provides everything one could want in a brunch, unless you like your traditional eggs on toast.
"The trouble with a bagel is that, unless you've already eaten a light breakfast, it's probably not quite enough, so you're left with the question of how to fill up, having already spent up to $15.90 (for the pea and feta mash with ham and parmesan). It was a problem we didn't solve. The bagels were, however, good."
Jesse Mulligan tries hyped new Ponsonby bistro Augustus. He discovers a menu he never knew he needed and a much more private spot than its sister restaurant SPQR.
"As previously noted in these pages, this style of cooking is not exactly on trend - butter and flour, cream and cognac - but when it's done well, it is superb, and there's nothing here that isn't done well. I don't think I've ordered or even been offered crab bisque in the past five years, but this one was a masterpiece."
Straight from the pages of her new GLO cookbook, wellness expert and co-owner of Greenleaf Organics Café, Sarah Tanner, shares a healthy and fuss-free breakfast meal.
"GLO from within smoothie: I was in two minds whether to include this blend in here, as I realise it will seem like some crazy witches' brew to many people. But, I really don't like to keep secrets, and the benefits I get from starting my day with this glass of pure sparkle is quite stunning."
The charming Eleanor Ozich of Petite Kitchen shares a full-proof one-pot meal with Viva.
"In this simple recipe, there's delicately stemmed asparagus, a few handfuls of sweet basil, a large pat of unsalted butter, and the juice of a large lemon. The dried pasta is cooked alongside the other ingredients, allowing the starch to help thicken to a meltingly delicious sauce. It's probably one of the easiest dinners I've ever made, and the variations can be endless, too."
If you're shredding for summer you may have already cut down on carbs or be avoiding fatty foods, but what if we were to tell you that some of our guilty pleasures should be taken off the naughty foods list?
"It is true that alcohol is packed with sugar that can make it hard to rein in an expanding waist line. But there is also some benefit to indulging in the occasional tipple now and then.
"Beer is laden with vitamins and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and selenium and wine contains Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2 and niacin."
As the end-of season parties hit high voltage, study up on the drinks to order, and not order, if you want to make it out again the next night.
"'Cheaper wines often have all sorts of rubbish in them and give terrible hangovers,' Professor Roger Corder of Barts and the London School of Medicine told The Guardian."
Find the full lists of good and bad drinks for hangovers here.
Head to Takutai Square at Britomart this Saturday to tick speciality foods and gifts off your shopping list. Now in its fourth year, the Britomart Day Out offers a range of activities alongside a La Cigale market. Little Bird Unbakery gift hampers and Café Hanoi's oysters and pork spare ribs will also be available on the spot.
For more information, head to the event's Facebook page.