This Weekend: Wining and dining

People sample wine at the Taste of Auckland festival.

Getting a good Taste of Auckland

Metro magazine's Taste of Auckland marks the start of our summer foodie calendar. Instead of one big-blow out dinner we're planning on eating our way around our new and old favourite restaurants. That's Depot's sliders, Everybody's Izkaya dumplings, Baduzzi's meatballs, NSP's burratina... oh, we're definitely going back for another weekend lunch for Bracu's sausage rolls, Toto's tortelloni with a finish of Fish's chocolate popcorn. Leaving room for The Common's salmon, Indian Village's tandoor trio, Mandarin's tofu and The Grove's chocolate balloon. No need to over indulge, right?!

Details: Victoria Park, sessions Friday, Saturday (12 to 4pm and 5.30 to 9.30pm), Sunday (12 to 4pm). Tickets from $30, food from $8. Visit their website here.

Cooking up a storm

Kiwi Chef Phil Davenport will host a cooking class.

For a rest from all that eating, we'll amble into the cooking classes at the Fisher & Paykel Chefs' Kitchen on site at Victoria Park - Friday night it's Depot's Kylie Street, Phillip Davenport from Bali and Matt Stone from Perth's Greenhouse by Joost. Through the weekend, we'll catch the lovely Robert Oliver (love his Pasifika food show and book) and rollick along with our mate Annabel White, Sachie Nomura's Japanese cooking and some Italian action from Antonio Crisci.

Details: Sessions afternoons and evenings, free with entry Taste tickets. More info here.

Victorian splendour

Tom Tom restaurant in Victoria Park Market.

While we're in the 'hood, we'll be slipping across the road to the should-be-better-known-by-now Victoria Park Markets. We're loving the refurbishment of the ground floors, the restaurants that have joined our mainstays La Zeppa and Atico Cocina - Libertine, Tom-Tom, iVillage and the rather splendid Gelato.

Details: Visit Victoria Park website here.

Ethnic eats out of town

You may not know all those tasty eats out of Mt Roskill, Hillsborough and surrounds. But they have cunningly created an annual food fest - with a passport, chance to win prizes and some special dishes. Try the tasty cheap eats - all priced from $5 to $10 - from 29 of the area eateries. Until 30 November, Taste of Twenty Nine eateries are taking part, each with a specially created signature dish, so you can sample food from around the world in Auckland's most ethnically diverse area.

Details: Check out the website for more info and to download your passport.

Check out this weekend's weather:

Find out the best bits from Life & Style this week:

When all the fun's over, check out these Food Hub recipes for our favourite foods on the back of an indulgent weekend:

* Bob Parker's French Toasted Croque Monsieur
* Mince on Toast with poached egg, rocket and tomato
* Ginger and beef noodle soup
* Hangover eggs
* Carrot and ginger juice