Howick has a good number of eateries on the main strip but we liked the open space of Basalt, and the modern menu.

Never mind the name, Kazuo Ishiguro is one of the best British writers in the business, and his dazzling latest novel, The Buried Giant, may just be his best yet.

Sometimes, as a reviewer, it pays to wait a few days after finishing a book before beginning the review.

We decided to go with the Spanish spirit of the place and ordered a jug of white sangria. It was delicious - a colourful mix of strawberries, mint, orange, lemon, and cloves.

Restaurants do write some dreadful tosh about themselves. "Quality ingredients" are always "freshly sourced" and "expertly prepared" (as distinct from second-rate stale crap carelessly chucked together, presumably).

The Otago restaurant and its host are world famous — the seafood for its freshness and the host for her good humour.

The look is the big drawcard for The Garden Shed. As the name suggests there's a botanical, rustic theme throughout the establishment.

You can buy a deluxe edition of this new, independent New Zealand publisher's handsome production, with "Yulong cream paper ... Woodfree real leather ... foil stamping".

Known as an actor in TV satire The Thick Of It and as a comedy writer for Veep, Will Smith has written a mystery thriller set in the Channel Islands. It’s John le Carre meets Middlemarch, he tells Alice Jones.

Untangling the dramas of a seemingly normal family makes for an authentic read.

Succulent steak, beautifully cooked every time, is one of life’s simple pleasures — and a tradition for the patrons at Jervois Steak House.

Roddy Doyle’s new novel, aimed at people with poor literacy, is inspired by a death in his own family, the Booker winner tells Arifa Akbar.

To begin a novel with a character who is dead from the very first page is a risk.

Joanna Hunkin reviews Bedford Soda and Liquor at Ponsonby Central.

The appeal of the crab eludes me: it's great food if you are lost in the wilderness and eating to survive, but at dinner it's less a dish than a test of one's dexterity and perseverance.

Kiwi author’s first novel explores fantasy and memories set to a compelling tune.

First drinks: Have to be a couple of pints if you're going out to this place. I went with the recommended beverage - the newish Haru

The reinvention of Fort St makes me feel like cheering. Spruced up and repaved as part of the city's shared spaces programme, it is no longer somewhere worth avoiding.

A seaside location is a huge drawcard for a new Takapuna venue — and the food is pretty good, too.

Heading out for brunch? Check out the latest review in Canvas magazine for inspiration.

It was a hot afternoon so my partner and I met up at this cute corner bar for a couple of refreshing drinks.

The Professor, bless her, doesn't do much cooking. Her idea of dinner is to fry up some courgettes in butter or (as a tribute to her English parentage) make toast and tea.

Colourful, cheap and cheerful, chinoiserie ticks the boxes.

Chefs create culinary magic in the best debut since Orphans Kitchen opened.

Cafe Hanoi deserves its fashionable reputation.

There’s something for everyone at this newcomer to the eastern suburbs — especially if you like tomato juice.