It doesn't look much of a kitchen: the bench is barely a metre long and the chef has just enough space to swing a Sabatier.

A Mexico fan has been hassling me to go for so long that I've taken to scooting around corners when I see her coming. Now it's been 18 months and there are branches in Takapuna and Hamilton.

Danielle Wright finds Wellington alive with art events, food and popular culture this winter.

I didn't know this was here, to be honest. Usually, when I come out of Kingsland station, I tend to turn left out of habit, since that is where the bars and restaurants mostly are, but someone suggested we meet here and so we did.

Here are a couple of experiences I never thought I’d embrace — a boeuf bourguignon served at a Japanese restaurant and a macrobiotic dessert. They were delivered at Janken and I enjoyed both.

We came here because we'd been meaning to for ages, having noted its pretty steady popularity with the locals.

As one door closes, another opens. A truism for our dynamic dining scene, that's for sure.

After reading the responses to The Art of the Ultimate Sandwichin which people shared their favourite sandwich fillings, I decided that someone's sandwich preference can reveal a lot about their personality type.

Chef Che Barrington does to Chinese cuisine what Baz Luhrmann does to the classic story in film - he brings it into the now with such dazzling brilliance that you are swept away in the moment and left wanting more, more, more.

I have not been to Prague (the city). People who have tell me that it is fabulous. One woman I know who went years ago, long before it was fashionable, told me she could see half a dozen church clocks from her hotel window. I thought that was very cool.

A pleasurable experience at Rakino's.

The service is sharp, the food flavoursome but this oldie has something missing.

The hippest place to be this summer lives up to its well-earned reputation.

A private country estate north of Auckland will soon start selling lots set amongst New Zealand's largest truffle plantation.

If anyone other than Pic suggested sailing around the world, I'd dismiss it as an idle fancy. But Pic's fancies are never idle.

A menu with coquettish names provides an entertaining meal otherwise lacking in service.

Just opened. Fine food in casual space. Royal Oak. Chefs from the esteemed Meredith's kitchen. Asian-European fusion. Eek, that last bit worried me.

The massive $20 million redevelopment of Victoria Park Market is all but complete.

Ela Restaurant serves the food of southwestern India.

A new eatery on the Shore surprises with its sense of adventure.

Simple, flavourful food and a team that truly cares for its patrons makes this bistro worth popping into.

One of the biggest trends over recent years is the growth of the intimate neighbourhood bar; a place to meet friends for a drink and a bite to eat and close enough to be able to walk home.

They take bookings at the Mexican Cafe only for groups of eight or more - except on Valentine's Day. Isn't that soooo romantic?

Southeast Asian flavours delivered with grace and delicacy.

We came here because we’d driven past a few times and were intrigued by the name — and the tower-like corner of the building.