KEY POINTS:
Elliot Stables has two more new boutique stores in what is fast becoming inner-city Auckland's best gourmet corner. Torchon Creperie has opened and the Kapiti Store debuts next week, selling cheeses, ice-creams and other deli delights. The crepe store is run by the former owners of Bouchon in Kingsland, so you're guaranteed an authentic taste of France, with sweet, savoury and gluten-free crepes on the menu.
Already open are cafes and speciality shops selling sausages, whisky, tea and other treats.
From tomorrrow night and every Thursday, live musicians will add to the atmosphere from 5.30-8.30pm.
Taste of Kiwi
Top chef Jason Dell is spending two months on the road promoting New Zealand cuisine in Asia. The executive chef at exclusive Blanket Bay Lodge near Queenstown is taking a busman's holiday after appearing at Savour in Auckland.
"My task is to showcase New Zealand foods at their best and demonstrate the wonderfully fresh products we can bring to the dining table," he says.
Dell will travel to five countries in conjunction with Regal Salmon and among other assignments will cook at the Hilton Hotel and the New Zealand High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, top restaurants in Macau and Singapore, and run a chef school in Hong Kong.
Hospo hijinks
The hospitality industry's big night is fast approaching, with the Lewisham Awards coming up on May 25. A who's who of the dining out world will gather to hear who has been voted by their peers as the best of the best. If you're in the industry and want to vote on the finalists, tomorrow is deadline day. Tickets to the awards at Sky City are on sale now for $65, and there's an after-party at Toto. For ticket forms go to www.lewishamawards.co.nz
In the red
Red wine fans who want to try some of the nation's best should get along to Hot Red Hawke's Bay, an expo of the region's wines touring the main centres. Christchurch is first up on May 20, Wellington on May 21 and Auckland on May 22. The northern venue is the Rendezvous Hotel and tickets are $35 through www.winehawkesbay.co.nz
Sweet excess
Can't decide on dessert? Then the Grove's new five-course degustation may be for you. Bite sized samples from chef Sid Sahrawat should satiate the the sweetest tooth. There's melon soup with coconut ravioli, deconstructed cheesecake, banana souffle with feijoa sorbet, a melon cloud and petit fours including warm chocolate fondants. The Grove (09) 368 4129 or www.thegroverestaurant.co.nz.
Sample summer
OK, it's chilly, but you can at least pretend you're somewhere warm with Absolut's new Mango Vodka. It's a special launch through DFS Galleria, the duty-free retailer, so you can pick it up if you're lucky enough to have booked a mid-winter escape, otherwise it's in selected liquor outlets from next month.
Coff it up
Australia lucked out in round one of the Bledisloe Cup of coffee making, with Team New Zealand Barista Champions winning the annual clash for the first time in two years. The second round is in September at the HospitalityNZ trade show when the Barista Roos try to get back in the game against Carl Sara, of Christchurch Muffin Breaks, Emma Markland-Webster from Atomic Coffee, Luciano Marcolino, trainer for Vivace in Christchurch and Chris White from Auckland Coffee roaster Altura Coffee.
Go on Gordon
Gordon Ramsay, who has criticised British restaurateurs for serving out of season produce has been called for his own menu in Dubai. Verre by Gordon Ramsay, his "signature restaurant" at the Hilton Dubai Creek, has dishes that might have emerged from his London kitchens - Scottish salmon, North Sea halibut and Parma ham. Even his celebrated creme brulee is made with "milk flown in from the UK".
