• Orphans Kitchen (pictured left) continues its breakfast series this Friday, May 19, with special guests Ganesh and Jo Raj from The Tasting Shed. Guests will enjoy a two-course breakfast (one by the OK kitchen, the other by TTS) paired with coffee and house-made juice. Ganesh has opted for 10 per cent of the proceeds to be donated to Share the Love Waitakere, a not-for-profit charity serving a weekly meal for those in need.
118 Ponsonby Rd. Visit Orphanskitchen.co.nz for tickets, $45. First booking 7am and the last bookings at 10am.
• Enjoy a five-course meal from some of Ponsonby's best eateries in one of its most historic buildings at American Express' Live Local Lunch on Saturday, May 20. The event, at the old Ponsonby Fire Station, will feature dishes from the likes of SPQR, Prego and Saan, and tickets, $135, include all food, beverages and live entertainment (R18).
182 Ponsonby Rd. Tickets at iTicket.co.nz, 12pm-3.30pm
• Last week we told you about the month-long vegetarian and vegan-only menu at Ponsonby's Gypsy Caravan — if you're interested in trying other plant-based cuisine, new chef Gerrard O'Keefe at Hectors restaurant, Heritage Auckland, has refreshed its menu for winter. Think beetroot and black bean burgers with vegan mozzarella, sauerkraut, vegan aioli and cross-cut fries, $18, and soba noodle bowls with chilli, ginger miso and spring onion, $15). Its lunchtime "square meal" menu, $19, has a three-course taster menu of soup, roasted tofu with mushroom saffron rice and coconut sago with mango pudding to finish.
35 Hobson St. Visit heritagehotels.co.nz
• Looking ahead, Mercy Hospice Auckland is holding its annual fundraising event, '10' – A Celebration of Tastes, at the Pullman Auckland on Sunday June 11 from 11am. Ten of Auckland's best restaurants, including Ebisu, O'Connell St Bistro and Sails, will present entree-sized dishes alongside New Zealand wines from the likes of Westbrook Wines, Babich, Soho and Te Kairanga. MC Kate Hawkesby will entertain 350 guests at the event, who will have the chance to bid on auction items including BMW car packages, a return trip to Fiji and art from Dick Frzizell. To buy tickets, $250, visit Mercyhospice.org.nz
• Beirut will unveil its latest menu from new chefs Alexandre Vallee (ex The Grove) and Sam Campbell on May 31. A Night at Beirut sees guests treated to a drink on arrival, amuse bouche and three courses matched with wines from boutique vineyard De La Terre. Alexandre and De La Terre winemaker and vineyard owner, Tony Pritchard, will also speak at the event. To buy tickets, $100 per person, contact justine@beirut.co.nz.
85 Fort St, Auckland Central. Visit Beirut.co.nz
