Gareth Stewart's top foodie destinations

Chef Gareth Stewart.

Chef Gareth Stewart gives his top 5 foodie destinations around the world . . . and his favourites close to home.

INTERNATIONAL

Thailand
One of my favourite places in the world. The food is fresh and banging with flavour. I am absolutely addicted to chilli so I get my fix easily here.

London
Okay, so as a Brit, I am biased. London has so many pockets of different cuisines all over the town. I miss being able to grab some Jamaican beef patties from Dalston, Indian from Brick Lane, Turkish from Stoke Newington and Chinese from Chinatown in Soho.

Greece
It is home to the best tomatoes I have ever eaten. I love the freshness of the produce and being able to get a taste of everything on a meze plate.

LA
Los Angeles is at the forefront of cuisine. Californian produce is the best in the world, after New Zealand of course, and there are some incredibly innovative chefs. I love Venice beach and Santa Monica to check out what food they have.

New York
I love the hustle and bustle. There are food trucks offering something different on every street corner with queues lining the streets.

LOCAL

Cassia
Being a proud Brit, Indian food is one of my favourite things to eat. Sid Sahrawat never lets us down with the food and hospitality. The food is well-balanced, well-spiced and innovative.

Gemmayze Street
Superb, well-crafted Lebanese food that is flavour-focused and very well-priced.

Prego
This place is a favourite with the family. The kids can be kids and we don't have to stress if they are being a little noisier, as it is pretty relaxed. I know we will receive good food that is well-priced and quick to arrive at the table.

Clooney
A beautiful intimate restaurant that has been through some changes over the years. I loved it when Des Harris was at the helm and I have now tried new head chef Nobu Lee's food and I look forward to going back and spending a solid few hours consuming the hospitality and excellent food they provide.

The Grounds
Again, another favourite with the family. The concept of The Grounds,
in Henderson, is amazing. It's set in 2ha of park in the Waitakeres so
we can take the kids, let them play. We can eat in peace (kind of) and have a wine! Amazing. The food is of a very high standard, which is expected with my mate Ben Bayly behind the food. The service is friendly but at the same time they are serious on hospitality. A great vibe.

British-born Auckland-based chef Gareth Stewart is executive chef for The Nourish Group and an ambassador for Dry July.