What’s going on in food? Johanna Thornton has the latest in new openings, events to book and exciting collaborations.
The F.A.W.C! Festival line-up has been announced and it’s a goodie
Hawke’s Bay’s premier food and wine festival – F.A.W.C! – is a stalwart on New Zealand’s foodie calendar and this
Always a hit is the Grand Long Lunch, which this year will see five chefs prepare a dish to be matched with a local wine, set in a secret spot. On the cooking line-up are top chefs Sam Clark from Central Fire Station Bistro, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers pastry chef Claire Hunter, Georgia van Prehn from Mr Morris and Ben Bayly of Ahi (whose restaurant took out supreme winner in Viva’s Top 50 Restaurants in 2023). It’s also your last chance to sample the food of Cuisine’s chef of the year Cory Campbell before The Grove closes in March and he heads to Australia to establish a series of new eateries in Byron Bay, Australia. He won’t be pressed on his menu just yet but says it’ll be “the best fish in New Zealand”.
Also on the 10-day F.A.W.C! festival line-up is ticketed dinners, high tea, cocktail and taco parties, wine tours, barbecues, cooking and winemaking demos and the chance to listen to guest speakers like author Peta Mathias at Pask Winery for La Vie En Pask where she’ll share stories from living in France followed by a French-themed dinner at the winery. Tickets are now on sale via Fawc.co.nz.
East has a new yum cha menu for 2025
Plant-based restaurant East has launched a new yum cha menu for 2025, and it’s all meat-free. Available exclusively on Sundays, the vegetarian menu offers a fresh and flavourful take on classic yum cha, with a selection of dishes that honour tradition while embracing innovation. The selection of small plates, fried and steamed dishes includes delicate mushroom and truffle dumplings with goji and chilli oil, a rich and smoky jackfruit bao inspired by traditional char siu, and Hong Kong-style rice noodle rolls drizzled with sriracha, hoisin, peanut, and sesame sauce. For dessert, East has a salted egg custard bun, mango tapioca pudding and more. Located on the ground floor of the Sudima on Nelson St, East has a slick fit-out by Australian design firm Luchetti Krelle with jade green walls and patterned floor tiles. The drinks list is strong too, with curated cocktails and local beers and wines.
Yum cha is available on Sundays from 11.30am-2.30pm. To book, email info@easteats.co.nz and find East at 63-67 Nelson St, central city.
Rothko restaurant has a new menu, chef and dining room
Rothko restaurant in Matakana has a new chef and a new menu that is worth your attention. Head chef Neil Sapitula was previously at Solera in Tauranga, where he was awarded a hat and named a “rising talent” in Cuisine’s Good Food Awards. At Rothko, which has a new kitchen designed around an impressive open fire and a new chef’s table experience, Neil’s menu comprises share plates that draw inspiration from his Filipino heritage. Find snacks of smoky pork served on a shiso leaf with rice and fermented Korean soybean sauce, and Neil’s take on a Filipino ‘tapsilog’ (steak and rice) with woodfired wagyu scotch on rice with egg yolk and a side of bone marrow. He’ll serve raw kingfish with smoked coconut, doenjang, harissa oil and tomato ezme, and adventurous plates like ox tongue and chicken feet with shiitake, furikake, and pistachio. “Of course you don’t eat the foot itself,” says Neil of the striking dish that plates two whole chicken feet, “but it shows how Rothko can be playful.”
As well as the food, Rothko’s big drawcard is its location at Sculptureum on the Matakana Coast, with 700 sculptures and artworks dotting the landscaped gardens with standout pieces by Rodin, Cezanne, Chagall, Andy Warhol, Picasso and Matisse. Rothko is open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. To book, visit Rothkorestaurant.co.nz.
Ex Homeland chefs open a restaurant in Auckland’s Birkdale
There’s nothing like a chef recommendation, and we noticed a shoutout from Peter Gordon about a North Shore restaurant set up by two of his Homeland senior staff. Ohui in Birkdale opened in November 2024 and sees Homeland’s former head chef Dinesh Pm, sous chef Sush and front of house Diana Kapadia offer a bistro-style menu with lots of interesting flavours in the Birkdale shops. “We ate lots,” says Peter on Instagram of his recent visit, “but highlights were the paūa tortellini with coconut velouté; kingfish crudo with ponzu sago; the fish main which was served with a bone broth curry, baby kūmara and shredded coconut and ginger salad; the truffle mash is a must-have; dessert was a chilled rice ‘pudding’ with mango and strawberries, vanilla ice cream and cardamom coconut.”
Open Wednesday 5pm-10pm, Thursday to Saturday 12-3pm and 5pm-10pm and Sunday for lunch from 12-4pm. 6 Birkdale Rd, Auckland. Phone (09) 418 0436.
Book in for QT Rooftop’s rosé-filled Pretty in Pink lunches
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Advertise with NZME.Think Whispering Angel, think the uber-rich drinking rosé on a superyacht. Or have we just watched too many episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean? QT Auckland says summer days call for long lunches, chilled rosé and sunny rooftops, so it has partnered with Whispering Angel to create a set menu that’ll transport you aboard that motor yacht in the Med.
Available on Fridays and Saturdays from 12-3pm the menu includes starters of suckling pig croquetas, kingfish crudo, and stracciatella with heirloom tomatoes. Mains are bavette steak with chimichurri and a chargrilled octopus with nduja. To drink, a glass of Whispering Angel Provence Rosé, of course, from $68 per person, runs February 8-March 29, 12-3pm. For more info, visit QT Hotels.
Festival Italiano Returns to Newmarket in March
Newmarket’s streets are set to welcome the sights, sounds, and flavours of Italy as Festival Italiano returns for 2025, culminating in New Zealand’s largest Italian street festival on Sunday, February 23. The week leading up to the event (from February 17) will feature special activations across the precinct, celebrating Italian culture in style. A fixture on Auckland’s event calendar, the grand finale will see Osborne and Kent streets, Lumsden Green, and Nuffield St transformed into bustling Italian piazzas, offering authentic food, live music, and a showcase of luxury cars from Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and more.
Attendees can sample traditional Italian cuisine from top restaurants like Farina, Baduzzi, and Arte Della Pasta, alongside wine tastings, fashion, and artisanal crafts. Pre-festival events will include cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, and exclusive pop-ups.
Festival Italiano runs from Feb 17-23. For more details, visit Newmarket.co.nz/festival-italiano.
Burger Nation is back for 2025
Burger lovers, get ready – Burger Nation is back for 2025. This month-long nationwide event will see eateries from the Bay of Islands to the Catlins serving up inventive burgers until March 2. Now in its second year, Burger Nation celebrates New Zealand’s best burger creators, from food trucks and cafes to top restaurants. In Auckland, find burgers from Schapiro’s, Lucky Gs, Full Time Sports Bar, Morningside Tavern, The Brit and more. This year’s line-up of burgers includes everything from Fiordland crayfish and truffled pork belly burgers to Korean brisket and a Hereford beef burger with cheesy fondue. Founded by Nick Brown and Becs Caughey of Cook & Nelson and McClure’s Pickles, Burger Nation 2025 is all about customer involvement. “The humble burger is a perfect meal – affordable, satisfying, and packed with flavour,” says Brown. “This summer, we want Kiwis to gather their mates, explore the best burgers, and vote for their favourite.” With winners crowned in meat, seafood, chicken and plant-based categories, one burger will take the title of Supreme Winner 2025.
Find participating eateries in your area at Burgernation.co.nz.
The best romantic restaurants (ideal for Valentine’s Day) excel at soft lighting and an adventurous drinks list, well-spaced tables, and a cosy corner to retreat to. The food at the best date night restaurants is often designed to share, and veers towards luxury: freshly shucked oysters (Celeste), silky scampi risotto (Bossi), cheese puffs with caviar (Onslow) chocolate marquise (Bar Magda). They also nail the special touches that are often overlooked: vases of fresh flowers, flickering lamps, elegant tableware and a sexy playlist.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, consider making a booking at one of these sweet spots now.
Celebrate Lunar New Year in Auckland’s inner city
Auckland Council is celebrating Lunar New Year with a 28-day festival that runs until February 22, during which midtown’s streets and lanes will be abuzz with activations. An event we have our eye on is the free Midtown Street Party on Saturday, February 1 which will turn Te Hā o Hine (Khartoum Place) and Lorne St into an exciting Asian-style street festival. Lorne St is known for its diverse food offering and for this event the footpath will be filled with outdoor tables “where a food ambassador will share with you the history of the dish you’re enjoying”, says Auckland Council. Visitors can watch a dance battle and dragon dances, traditional instrument buskers, local Asian musicians and storytellers. There will also be preliminary rounds of Auckland’s annual Lunar New Year Karaoke Competition.
From 11am until 9pm, 33-36 Lorne St, Auckland city centre.
Mark it in your calendar: The inaugural Ayrburn Classic in March
Food lovers and motoring enthusiasts are in for a treat as the Ayrburn Classic debuts in Queenstown from March 21–23. A new showcase of classic and luxury cars set across three days, this festival also offers the chance for festival goers to wine and dine at Ayrburn’s restaurants and bars set in a picturesque riverside garden near Arrowtown. Food experiences include exclusive wine tastings, long lunches, and the prestigious Awards Gala Dinner, where attendees can enjoy dinner paired with top-tier wines. Guests will have access to Ayrburn’s renowned restaurants, bars, and food trucks while enjoying live music performances by singer-songwriter Miranda Eastern and DJ sets.
Where do cars come in? Over 200 vintage, classic and luxury vehicles will be on display and a highlight of the event will be Showcase on the Dell, where standout cars will complete a parade lap before being presented on stage, with the owner interviewed by the MC. “The Ayrburn Classic is more than a motoring event — it’s a celebration of New Zealand’s finest food, wine, and hospitality,” says Ayrburn founder Chris Meehan.
Tickets are available now, with options ranging from GA Festival Passes to VIP experiences. Visit Ayrburnclassic.com for details.
Johanna Thornton is deputy editor of Viva Premium and Lifestyle Premium at the New Zealand Herald, with an extensive background in magazines and lifestyle journalism, specialising in food and drink, design, culture and travel.
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