DINING EVENTS
• Get on your dancing shoes for a glamorous dining event at Odettes with Jazz legend Nathan Haines. Nathan will join Odettes in-house DJ Jaimie Webster Haines for a DJ set of disco, soul and house classics with live sax, flute and percussion. Tickets are $150 which includes a glass of Collet champagne on arrival, a three-course Odettes shared menu and entertainment. The menu is gluten-free and can be made vegetarian. Book a table or share a table with others. May 11, 6pm arrival for 6.30 dinner and first dance at 8.30 (3 hour set). Email reservations@odettes.co.nz to buy. 90 Wellesley St W
• Craft beer is taking over Morningside Glassworks with ten brewers set up at the event space including Liberty, Garage Project, Deep Creek, Renaissance, Urbanaut, Behemoth, Bach Brewing, Brothers Beer, Hallertau Brewery and Sawmill. $30 gets you in the door (and includes the first two beers) to try over 50 speciality brews, with food and entertainment. May 11, 12-5pm. Tickets at Eventbrite.co.nz
• Plant-based Forest Pop-Ups is serving dinner every Thursday until 20 June at The Midnight Baker. The six courses will use ingredients sourced from local urban farms and foraged from around the city. A selection of inventive fermented drinks will also be available. $85 at Eventbrite.co.nz
• Tony Tan Melbourne-based chef Tony Tan is adding a culinary flavour to this month's Auckland Writers Festival. Tony will serve dishes from his book Hong Kong Food City at Masu, with a complimentary glass of wine on May 14, 12pm-2.15pm. Tickets $120. He then joins Kasey & Karena Bird, and Ima Cuisine's Yael Shochat for food-filled conversation on May 17, 11.30am-12.30pm, at the Hunua Room at Aotea Centre. $25. Tickets at Writersfestival.co.nz
• Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen's two-day Hot Sauce Festival is spicing up the end of May. NZ's best hot sauce brands will present their most fiery condiments to taste and take home, plus enter your own in the homemade hot sauce competition. The event ends with the 2019 NZ Chilli Eating Champs where competitors take on the world's hottest chilli, the Carolina Reaper. May 25-26, 12pm-6pm, 7 Sale St Freemans Bay. Tickets at Eventfinda.co.nz
• Award-winning Adelaide restaurant Africola and Ochota Barrels vineyard are coming to Auckland for a one-off dining event at The Grill. Africola is known for its earthy, bold South African BBQ cuisine and vibrant dining room with a hip atmosphere. The four-course menu will be made by celebrated Chef Duncan Welgemoed of Africola joined by The Grill's Sean Connolly. The menu will be matched with wines from Ochota Barrels and poured on the night by winemaker and co-owner Taras Ochota the winery is renowned for its naturally-made wines and minimalist approach. Saturday May 25, 6.30pm. $180pp. Book at reservations@thegrillnz.co.nz or 09 363 7067. The Grill, 90 Federal St
NEW OPENINGS
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Advertise with NZME.• Eat Drink Laugh moves into Grey Lynn featuring an Albanian-influenced menu such as scrambled eggs with traditional smoked beef sausage, and health-conscious options of house-made granola bowl and paleo waffles. For lunch, small and larger plates can be shared with dishes of pork buns, panko fish tacos, and beef sliders. 25B Pollen Street, Grey Lynn
• From popular food truck to permanent home Olas Arepas have opened a cosy spot in Ponsonby Central serving Venezuelan style arepas. Made with simple ingredients fine-ground masa (corn), water, oil and a pinch of salt the arepas come stuffed with a variety of filling options, such as shredded chicken and pulled pork. The hearty morsels are the main focus of the succinct menu, with a few sides including cassava fries, ceviche, and traditional drinks.136-146 Ponsonby Rd
• Kai Eatery the night market stall known for Taiwanese fried chicken have opened their second permanent store in Smales Farm. 72 Taharoto Rd, Takapuna
• Food truck Captain Crepes has opened permanently in Victoria Park market selling sweet French crepes and savoury galettes. 203-271 Victoria St W
MENU WATCH
• Williams Eatery's new Autumn/Winter pasta and wine deal is enticing us down to the Wynyard Quarter after work. From 4pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday enjoy handmade pasta currently the menu has winter buttercup squash agnolotti and 12-hour oxtail tagliatelle and a glass of NZ wine for $23. Gluten free, dairy free, vegan and non-pasta options are available. Online bookings go into the monthly draw to win a $100 Williams Eatery voucher. Williamseatery.co.nz
• Tuck into Euro's all-duck lunch deal, "delights of duck", with autumnal dishes including duck tostada with housemade hoisin sauce; duck-neck minestrone, and hand-cut buck pappardelle with duck sausage. The set menu is avaliable throughout May - book at Eurobar.co.nz.
