The Dish: Food news around town

WHERE TO GO: GOOD DAY

You’ve had a Nice Day, and a Good One — now it’s time for a Good Day. Orakei’s newest cafe is owned by Dan Shaw and Jacqui Crichton, who managed Ponsonby’s Dizengoff for more than 12 years. Here, Dan says they’re serving “simple, fresh and healthy” lunch and brunch items, alongside smoothies, Coffee Supreme and cakes made by friends including Dan’s girlfriend Chloe Baxter. Their brunch menu, featuring options like coconut bircher and sardines on toast continues the “not just eggs bene” trend seen at the likes of L’oeuf, Orphans Kitchen and Woodworks. The duo are immersing themselves in their new locale, sourcing their bacon and flowers from the neighbouring butcher and florist. Open Monday-Saturday with Sundays to come.

• 3/78 Coates Avenue, Orakei.

WATCH THIS SPACE

• Epolito's is set to open on Richmond Rd in the next week — we can't wait for the return of the New York-style pizzeria formerly in One Tree Hill.
• Little Bird is opening a third location early next week. The new Britomart space will be primarily takeaway, with a focus on wellness — milks with medicinal ingredients are
a highlight.
• Better Burger are expanding from their Britomart Country Club roots — the first standalone joint is set to arrive in Vulcan Lane mid-April.
• Nosh is coming to Pakuranga. The new store will be the eighth Nosh in the country and will stock the full range, including deli, bakery, produce, grocery, butchery, seafood and alcohol — plus a small cafe. Eastern Bay shoppers can expect it to open by August.

WE LOVE...

this deliciously-gooey gluten-free chocolate caramel slice from Mt Eden’s Essential Deli. $4 a piece, 455b Mt Eden Rd.

GO BANANAS

Fair Trade distributors All Good Bananas and New Zealand-made underwear brand Thunderpants have collaborated on these quirky banana-printed underpants — “New Zealand’s first underpants to fight food poverty”.

For every pair of hand-printed "philanthropants" sold, $5 (or $3 for children's pairs) and a bunch of All Good Bananas will be donated to Wellington's Kaibosh Food Rescue, to help towards their goal of zero food waste and zero food poverty. From $23, from thunderpants.co.nz.

MENU PICKS
Our favourite must-try dishes right now…

• Mekong Baby in Ponsonby's smashed green papaya salad — spicy and juicy with just the right amount of crunch. — Lucy Casley
• Palak paneer from Mt Eden's Masala. The fresh ginger grated on top adds a zesty touch. — Rosie Kelway
• The baked eggs from Woodworks in Avondale — served with sweet pepper, coriander, greek yoghurt and spinach for a delicious brunch. — Babiche Martens

YOU MAY REMEMBER...

Anthony Price as the landscaper who came third on Masterchef, in Chelsea Winter's winning year. Since then he's done the hard yards in the kitchen, logging 6500 hours under Nick Honeyman at The Commons, plus a stint at the Sofitel. Now he's started his own business, Private Fine Dining, an upmarket catering service offering banquets and degustations. See privatefinedining.co.nz