Late Night Diner: Midnight munchies no more

Posted on April 23, 2013 by stephmcdnz

One thing Auckland has been crying out for is a decent late night dining option.

Up until now post-drink pickings have been rather slim. And gluten free fare after 10pm is practically non-existent.

But no longer. With the recent addition of the Late Night Diner to its smorgasbord of establishments, Ponsonby Road is suddenly all the more appealing by moonlight.

Bedecked as a classic American joint and squeezed into the narrow gap beside Ponsonby Social Club, this place is far from a greasy dive – the styling oozes seventies charm, replete with dim lighting, bar leaners and neon signage.

At 7.30pm, it was relatively quiet – but steadily picked up steam as the night wore on, and was jam-packed with all sorts of characters by 10pm.

Accompanied by an impressive beverage list, the short order menu featured quirky staple snacks with larger home cooked options.

There were 5 or 6 GF dishes among the meals –and while our particular server wasn’t well-versed in what was gluten free, he did have the options written on the back of his order pad which he – charmingly sheepishly – gave me to read. My only complaint (slash food envy whinge) was that there was no GF bread for the toasted sandwiches, because boy, they sounded delicious.

Prices were surprisingly reasonable – costing between $12-20 for a long order option, with sizing slightly smaller than the norm (leaving plenty of space for dessert).

At our waiter’s recommendation, I ordered the bangers and mash – a tasty flashback to wintery childhood evenings. And while there was no sign of GF dessert on the menu, they whipped me up a wonderfully frothy panna cotta with berries – again, delicious. (Excuse the scratchy photos – the dim lighting, whilst romantic, was not photo-friendly).

I have a feeling this joint will become a regular haunt of mine. Perhaps I’ll see you there. I’ll be the one leaning on the bar in a food induced stupor.

My rating: 8.5/10

Quality: 9/10
Value: 7/10
GF selection: 7/10
Service: 9/10
X-Factor: 9/10

Late Night Diner | 152 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby

Toro Bar and El Camino: I don’t wanna taco bout it

Posted on March 10, 2013 by stephmcdnz

Writing this post is eliciting some very confusing and tormented emotions.

I have loved Toro Bar and El Camino for a long time. Six months ago, had you asked me where the best Mexican in town was, (as I know you’ve been dying to ask me) I would have said ‘Toro Bar slash El Camino’ without hesitation. But now… now I’m not so sure.

Situated in the heart of Kingsland, El Camino and Toro are separated by a rogue kebab shop. This arrangement has long bamboozled me – they have exactly the same menu, the same food, the same style of service – but they’re different locations. It’s like a really badly planned franchise.

So, for the sake of this review, I’m going to treat them as one and the same. But if you do have a choice, go to Toro – it’s bigger, the seating is better, and the décor is a vast improvement.

The joints are usually jammed packed, so booking ahead is a must. Especially on Sundays, as they do a micro-menu of mains (including the gluten free taco) for $12.

The food itself is solid Mexican; the usual suspects star as mains – tacos, burritos, chimichangas, nachos – served with fresh greens, delicious guacamole and salsa, and rice and beans. Although they’re not marked, the corn-based options (i.e. tacos & nachos) are gluten free. But if in doubt, ask.

However – and maybe this is just bad timing or the moon being in Jupiter or I stepped on a crack on the way there – however, the last few times I’ve dined there, the shine of the Mexican spot has waned somewhat. The flavours aren’t as strong. The food, not as fresh. The service, more surly. But mostly, it seems the meals are just not being made with love anymore.

Evidence, you ask?

Exhibit A: These nachos. Are burnt.

Exhibit B: The time before, I found a hair in my taco. They replaced it straight away and placated with a free beverage. But still, the care factor (and maybe a hairnet) wasn’t quite there.

Still, I’d recommend it – especially on a Sunday evening (book people, book) – it’s the best Mexican in Kingsland without a doubt. In fact, here’s the conversation I just had this very minute with my flatmate:

So you see this review is a little disingenuous. I’m still a fan, but it’s lost the top Mexican spot in my authoritative rankings.

Maybe someone just needs to get into the kitchen and give the chefs a hug?

My rating: 6/10 (7/10 on a Sunday)

Quality: 5/10
Value: 6/10 (*9/10 on Sunday nights)
GF selection: 7/10
Service: 6/10
X-Factor: 5/10

Toro Bar & El Camino | 480 New North Rd, Kingsland | Facebook page

This post is submitted as part of the March ‘Our Growing Edge’ event. For more details, visit the lovely Bunny Eats Design & Keeping Up With The Holsbys blogs.

Hell Pizza: A good go-to

Posted on February 20, 2013 by stephmcdnz

Straight to the point – if you’re after takeaway pizza of the gluten free variety, go to Hell.

Here’s the run down on my experience with the ever-growing franchise:

1. It does gluten free bases

Enough said. It is a little more expensive though – an extra $3 for full size or $2 for snack size. But it tastes decent, not far from the real deal even, and it does GF in both sizes, which puts well ahead of the competition.

2. Decisions, decisions, decisions

There are heaps of options. There’s a standard menu, a gourmet menu and, for the control freaks out there, you can build your own from scratch with ‘The Creator’. And worth noting, the toppings are far better quality than its franchise friends – we’re talking sundried tomatoes, cashews, smoked salmon, cheeses for Africa – all sorts of good stuff.

3. Simple ordering. You don’t even need to speak to a real person, if you don’t want to

Ordering online is a piece of cake (slash pizza). But it may pay to ring and check on sauces and meats for gluten free – I’ve had some close shaves with crumbed meats arriving. The delivery people are usually friendly too – in their own adolescent, grunty kind of way.

4. Slightly over par price-wise

With a standard 12.5 inches costing $18.50 (including GF base) or $9.50 for snack-size, the price is expensive – but not unreasonable, particularly given the quality of the ingredients.

5. The curse of the limited edition pizza

Once I had this amazing pizza. It’s the one pictured above in fact. It was wasabi and prawn and it was incredible. Pure bliss in pizza format. But I never saw it again. It must have been a one night only kind of thing. I don’t even know its name.

Sure, the other flavours are delicious. But there were none like this. If you find it again – maybe you’ll bump into at a party, or stumble over it while trawling the web one night – if you find it, please comment below and tell me. All I have left is hope. And the internet.

But I digress – all in all, Hell Pizza is a great staple, combining quality GF ingredients with hilariously themed collateral – a rare find in the fast food stakes. Definitely recommended.

My rating: 7/10

Quality: 7/10
Value: 5/10
GF selection: 8/10
Service: 7/10
X-Factor: 7/10

Hell Pizza | Heaps of locations across Auckland | www.hellpizza.com

KiwiYo: Tips on surviving the sugary chaos

Posted on February 14, 2013 by stephmcdnz

What’s so tricky about frozen yogurt?, you ask. Ordinarily I’d say nothing, like a normal person. But after a meander along the sands of Mission Bay, the sights, sounds, colours and crowds of KiwiYo can be overwhelming.

KiwiYo is a build-your-own frozen yogurt dispensary – you pick and choose from a wall of yogurt flavours, then head over to the candy bar to pile on as many lollies, chocolates, nuts, fruits and sauces that you please.

Everyone seems to rave about this particular popsicle stand – but honestly the yogurt is a little sugary, syrupy and straight-up sub-par.

But the novelty value is a pretty good time. So instead of analysing every mouthful, here’s a list of beginner pitfalls – learned the hard way by yours truly – so you can make the most of this over-stimulating shop of sweet frozen treats.

Do not:

1. Visit mid-afternoon on a sunny weekend

But who goes to Mission Bay at any other time? So be prepared to wait – the queue even has rope lines out on the sidewalk.

2. Be a wallflower

Crammed in the same small space will be A) tourists or B) teenage girls. Both renowned for their milling abilities. So forget the manners yo mama taught you, sneak out those elbows and dodge your way up to the yogurt machines.

3. Even try to share a tub

Sure, it’s Valentines Day and all, but this is not the time or place for that kind of carry-on. The other person will make bad taste choices. Heck, you will too. And that kind of fro-yo resentment is not something you want to mess with.

4. Make like Sir Mix-A-Lot

Once you’ve chosen your yogurt flavour, that’s it – baby, there ain’t no going back. The candy flavours taste a little fake and syrupy, so taste test – there are cups hidden off to the side. Hard rule: Stick to two or less flavours. You will regret three. Just, trust me.

5. Forget to read the labels

The yogurt flavours have listed ingredients and allergy warnings next to them. Unfortunately the toppings don’t, so use your gluten free common sense – chocolate is good, biscuit crumbs not so much.

6. Make like a kid in a candy store

There are a lot of exciting lollies and sauces going on. But it’s best to pick a flavour scheme and stick to it. Here’s a venn diagram to explain:

7. Mix sweetened condensed milk and lychees

It tastes really weird.

8. Overload on the toppings

Try to curb the child-like enthusiasm in the face of all the candy. Kiwiyo operates on a weight-based price system, so the more you pile, the more you pay. Just like lolly pick’n’mixes, the cost can spiral wildly out of control.

9. Take your eyes off the prize, baby

This yogurt melts. Fast. So you must eat it as quickly as you can. Sure, you may be with charming friends that you’d like to speak to. Yes, the scenic beach scene is lovely. Of course, brain freeze is painful. But there will be time to deal with this later. Because, believe me, that yogurt will melt.

And all you’ll be left with is a sickly sweet liquid, sour grapes and maybe a rogue eskimo floating despondently in your cup. Carpe diem, my friend, because frozen yogurt waits for no man.

My rating: 5/10

Quality: 3/10
Value: 4/10
GF selection: 6/10
Service: 6/10
X-Factor: 9/10

KiwiYo Self Serve Frozen Yogurt | 95 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay | www.kiwiyo.com |

Moustache Milk and Cookie Bar: Cookie Monster’s heaven

Posted on February 1, 2013 by stephmcdnz

When I was a kid, I would have gone crazy for a place like Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar. Like too-much-fizzy-drink-and-red-jelly-beans levels of crazy.

And I still love it now, despite being grown up (supposedly) – with a warm homely vibe, friendly faces and, of course, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting from its doors, it’s a sure-fire way to appeal the child in anyone.

Having only opened these doors late last year, Moustache has unsurprisingly proven to be a smash hit in the central Auckland scene – with lunchtime queues sometimes snaking well onto the street.

And recently they’ve started including gluten free options in their assortment of cookie jars, and are widening the range every time I duck in for a cookie dunk. While the flavours aren’t quite as exciting as the flour-filled varieties (hint: peanut butter would be a dream), there are usually two or so to choose from, which in itself is a bit of a novelty.

I always take a childishly long time to pick from the sweet treats on offer. The ice cream cookie sandwich tempts me every time. But for review purposes the chocolate chip cookie and hot chocolate combination took the cake. Or cookie, if you will.

It truly surpassed my expectations on the GF front – no crumbliness, plenty of flavour and even a little chewiness – in a good way. Whatever recipe they’re using is seriously working. And the hot chocolate was incredible – replete with a Whittaker’s Sante bar, so you literally stir in the chocolatey goodness.

Price-wise you don’t have to cough up too much dough (yes, pun) – each cookie costs $3.50, with drink and cookie combos on offer to sweeten the deal.

As it’s a pretty popular joint, the trick is to time your visit – try to avoid the lunch rush, and the post-theatre crowd from the Civic. And follow Moustache on Facebook or Twitter – it’ll hook you up with new flavours, promotions and their latest cookie experiments (massive plate-sized cookies anyone?).In short, the milk and cookie bar concept is seriously sweet. And the execution? Even batter.

My rating: 8/10

Quality: 9/10
Value: 6/10
GF selection: 7/10
Service: 7/10
X-Factor: 9/10

Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar | 12 Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD | moustache.co.nz

Giapo: The Willy Wonka of the ice cream world

Posted on January 25, 2013 by stephmcdnz

Giapo is not merely your ordinary gelato stall. It’s a workshop for ice cream experimentation. Much like Wonka, the inimitable Giapo knows the secret power of unusual concoctions in attracting customers.

He stocks his Queen Street spot with everchanging flavours – one for every taste. But be warned – there’s no plain old hokey pokey or orange choc chip in his freezers. Instead they’re packed full with exotic sounding flavours infused with obscure and unexpected ingredients – from white chocolate & kumara to pumpkin, yams to green tea to blue cheese (haven’t found any snozzberry yet though).

Giapo himself is a bit of a celebrity – a gastronomic genius who pairs his inventions with an engaging social media strategy and guest flavours with NZ’s A-listers; from Colin Mathura-Jeffree’s banana concoction, to the last week’s Mega ice-stravaganza to launch Kim Dotcom’s newest venture. He’s possibly the most well-marketed ice cream man in the nation.

But beware – there are a few risks. With his experimentations, come some concoctions that are not to everyone’s taste. I learnt this lesson with the infamous and spontaneously-chosen chocolate chilli disaster of 2010. It was hot. So very, very hot. And yet cold, which was confusing. My advice: Try before you buy. The Giapo team is very lenient with multiple taste tests so make use of this.

Giapo In the gluten free stakes, it scores well – cups are the norm, each flavour has a little GF symbol on the screens above, and the staff are well-versed in what’s what. Usually there are a couple of cookie-dough / tiramisu type flavours to avoid, but equally as many viable options.

Finally, price-wise at $5 for one scoop and slightly more for two, it’s pretty standard for the upmarket ice cream world. While the actual ice creams aren’t as creamy as other Auckland spots (Takapuna Beach Cafe takes the cake on this), the quirky and unusual variety of flavour is a treat.

So if you’re looking for a gastronomic adventure in the ice cream department, tell Giapo your wildest flavour. I bet he’s made it already.

My rating: 8/10

Quality: 9/10
Value: 6/10
GF selection: 8/10
Service: 7/10
X-Factor: 8/10

Giapo Ice Cream & Research Kitchen, 279 Queen Street, Auckland, giapo.com, twitter: @giapo

Takapuna Beach Cafe: Cream of the gelato crop

Posted on January 24, 2013 by stephmcdnz

In a word: delicious. Or perhaps creamy. Or sumptuous. Orgasmic. Outstanding. And other such adjectives.

Takapuna Beach Café & Store’s ice cream is certainly worth the venture into the North Shore. Situated at the edge of the main beach, and patronised by what could well be New Zealand’s most beautiful people, the chic and breezy eatery scoops out scores of ice cream of the hot summer days.

Packed with indescribably creamy goodness, the ice cream has been awarded accolades aplenty – most notably winning the Supreme Ice Cream of the Year Award for a Boutique Manufacturer with its now-famous salted caramel gelato.

The other flavours are certainly no wallflowers either. The selection is natural and fresh – think honeycomb, passion fruit, lemon curd, coconut, hazelnut and berry, to name a few. I haven’t met a flavour I haven’t liked (and I’ve had a fair few by now).

Served in cups, prices start at $4.50 for one reasonable-sized scoop. Staff are fairly knowledgeable, albeit rushed and brisk. Every flavour I’ve come across have been gluten free, but always pays to check.

The only downside is the queue. On a sunny weekend be prepared for a fair wait – the line has been seen to snake out the door and round the corner. On the plus side, it gives you a chance to eavesdrop on the latest gossip from the north, which is always entertaining. I’m looking forward to the inevitable reality show – Takapuna Shore perhaps? Or the T.C.? The options are endless.

And the ice cream is damn fine.

My rating: 9/10

Quality: 10/10
Value: 7/10
GF selection: 9/10
Service: 7/10
X-Factor: 9/10

Takapuna Beach Store & Cafe | 22 The Promenade, Takapuna | www.takapunabeachcafe.co.nz

Word On The Wheat

Finding the sweet wheatless eats in Auckland

Late Night Diner: Midnight munchies no more

Toro Bar and El Camino: I don’t wanna taco bout it

Hell Pizza: A good go-to

KiwiYo: Tips on surviving the sugary chaos

Giapo: The Willy Wonka of the ice cream world

Takapuna Beach Cafe: Cream of the gelato crop

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