Asher W.'s
Fun ways to expand your mind
- 1162Auckland Art GalleryAuckland CentralThe Auckland Art Gallery is a world class space with a truly enchanting collection. I’m a big fan of the Ralph Hotare work that the gallery houses. It was renovated around two years ago and it has recieved quite a bit of attention for it’s suberb architecture. The cafe is also worth stopping in to if you’re looking for a coffee or some tasty food.
- 225Conch Records Kitchen and BarPonsonbyConch Records is one of Auckland’s best spots to pick through popular and rare vinyl. It’s also got a great collection of clothes, collectible toys and they make a dam good coffee. Their backyard has recently been opened as Boteco, a South American eatery, that’s on my list to try.
- 329Hard to Find BooksOnehungaThe Hard to Find Book Shop in Onehunga is my favourite book store in the world. Crammed into the small space is a labrynth of sections spanning from classics to the occult and everything in between. Here you’ll find many treasures and curiosies that will excite even the most jaded of book buyers! If you love books, this is your place.
- 429Capitol CinemaBalmoralCapitol Cinema is a cinema with character. They play a great, but small, selection of well chosen art house and foreign films. It’s the perfect accompaniment to hitting up one of the dumpling houses on Dominion Road. Well worth checking out.
- 59Cook The BooksGrey LynnIt was with a heavy heart that I farewelled season three of Game of Thrones. To combat the post season depression the girlfriend and I enrolled ourselves into a cheese making course ($60 including the cheese making kit which was worth $40) at Cook the Books. Over the course of the evening nine cheese beginners of us learnt the art of making halloumi, ricotta and feta in the shop's demonstration kitchen. The actual process was easier than I thought and I'm looking forward to trying it at home. Post-cheese making we all sat down and enjoyed the fruits of our labour in the form of a grilled halloumi salad with a few cheeky wines. All in all it was a really enjoyable experience. I'm going to put this out there, cheese making might be perhaps a better time than watching Game of Thrones.
Asher W.'s
Action day out
- 158Sky TowerAuckland CentralI hadn’t been up the Sky Tower in a long time. It was only when I had a friend visiting from Australia that I revisited Auckland’s most famous landmark. We ventured up the tower to the main observation level and checked out the 360 degree view, and what an amazing view it is. The thick glass sections of flooring were a highlight.
- 237It had been years since I last caught the ferry across to Devenport but the day was sunny and it seemed like a good way to spend a lazy Sunday. It cost $11 for a return journey which I considered to be a bargain. The trip takes about 15 minutes and it was nice being out on the water amongst the fresh ocean air. Service is professional and if you’re in the mood for nibbles there’s a small cafe/bar.
- 338Clip 'n' ClimbMount EdenHave you ever seen an overweight climber? I haven’t and there’s a reason for that. Climbing is a great way to build your back, biceps and it works your core like crazy. To top it off scaling a cliff side with little more than your own two hands is pretty dam manly. Clip’n’Climb is perhaps Auckland’s premier climbing facility. It is like a theme park for climbers, the walls are all themed and enticing. The auto belay system also has to be mentioned as this makes the whole activity easier! Step up and give it a go.
- 432Waiwera Thermal Resort & SpaWaiweraThe last time that I visited Waiwera was on a school trip and I got a blood nose from the black hole. Regardless it was a good time. Since then Waiwera has been through a little bit of a transformation. Over the years it has morphed into more of a health spa. For OSH reasons only two of the slides remain. It may have lost a bit of the fun factor but as an adult it's still a relaxing day away from the big smoke.
- 563Rainbow's EndManukau CityRainbow’s End might be Auckland’s most famous attraction! Located in Manakau, it is the country’s largest theme park. Plus this Halloween they're hosting a Halloween themed event; Night Frights. They're turning off all the lights and letting you ride in the dark, creating an even more fun and terrifying experience perfect for Halloween!
Asher W.'s
Bon Appetit!
- 164The French CafeNewtonThere’s a reason why The French Cafe has consistently won awards over the years. We had the tasting menu with matching wines. Highlights included the kingfish ceviche, the roasted quail and the poached pears. The service was exceptional and each dish was full of amazing flavours and textures. My Mum described the meal as a taste explosion and I wasn’t going to argue with her. For the record be prepared to spend some money ($140 each).
- 224Torchon French CreperieAuckland CentralBefore going to watch a movie at the Civic we popped into Elliot Stables to grab a bite to eat. We opted for Torchon, the French creperie and ordered the mushroom crepa and an entrée of ratatouille. The mushroom crepe was rich and creamy and the ratatouille tasted authentic. Service was speedy and our meal arrived in under ten minutes - ideal for someone who wants a quick dinner! Recommended.
- 315I wasn't feeling too well this week and to make up for things a friend of mine thought the answer was to tuck into a plum and custard danish from Phillippe's. I hadn't been there before and was at once impressed with the extensive pastry selection. The plum danish was just what the doctor ordered, a delicious, fruity treat with a delicate vanilla custard. Yum.
- 43FrenchiePonsonbyIn 2008 I spent a year living in London. During this time, whenever I had a free weekend I would hop on to an overnight bus and spend the weekend in Paris. During this time I gained an appreciation for all things French and when I went to La Cantine du Torchon (now called Frenchie) in Three Lamps I was reminded of where this love came from! The uncomplicated menu has all of the French favourites, I chose the beef bourguignon and my partner in crime had the ratatouille. Both meals got the thumbs up, mine with a little nostalgic kick. Afterwards we had a crepe, which was also on point. The service was authentic, and knowledgeable about the dishes and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Recommended.
- 577La Cigale French MarketParnellThe smell of La Cigale, Parnell’s French style market, is what hits you first upon arrival. It’s a wonderful concoction of organic fruit and vegetables, freshly roasted coffee and mouthwatering food cooking. With an emphasis on being organic, the produce is all locally grown. Along with this there is a wide variety of artisan bread, cheese, preserves and hot food. If you’re in the mood for nibbling on something I’d recommend the freshly made paella or perhaps a hot rotisserie chicken to take away!
Asher W.'s
A taste of Europe!
- 10Toto's Italian RestaurantAuckland CentralWe picked up a Grab One deal for Nelson Street’s Toto’s. Having heard good things from friends we couldn’t wait to tuck into the special deal six course degustation. Over the course of about an hour and a half we tucked into a range of courses including prawns, flavoursome tuna, juicy duck, quail and pastries filled with summer fruit. Each course followed on from the other like a charasmatic Mexican wave. The presentation was considered and the flavours a pleasure to the palette. Next I’d like to try the ordinary degustation to see how it compares.
- 264The French CafeNewtonThere’s a reason why The French Cafe has consistently won awards over the years. We had the tasting menu with matching wines. Highlights included the kingfish ceviche, the roasted quail and the poached pears. The service was exceptional and each dish was full of amazing flavours and textures. My Mum described the meal as a taste explosion and I wasn’t going to argue with her. For the record be prepared to spend some money ($140 each).
- 37The Dutch Delight BirkenheadBirkenheadWhen I heard about The Dutch Delight, an authentic Dutch pancake house, in Birkenhead it sounded like the perfect day mission. The cafe/diner was a slice of Holland in the the Auckland suburbia. The decor was authentic, down to the porcelain windmill salt and pepper shaker. The cheerful (Dutch) staff were very helpful in choosing dishes. We opted for fries with Dutch mayo and a tiramisu pancake. They were both great, if anything just a tad rich. The place is worth the visit for the experience alone though.
- 424Torchon French CreperieAuckland CentralBefore going to watch a movie at the Civic we popped into Elliot Stables to grab a bite to eat. We opted for Torchon, the French creperie and ordered the mushroom crepa and an entrée of ratatouille. The mushroom crepe was rich and creamy and the ratatouille tasted authentic. Service was speedy and our meal arrived in under ten minutes - ideal for someone who wants a quick dinner! Recommended.
- 513Frankies WurstbudeAuckland CentralWhen I was younger my mum made a watery, tomato based sausage casserole nearly every week. I was a fan, and the dish instilled within me a love of sausages. You can imagine how excited I was to come accross Frankies Wurstblade, a shop dedicated to quality sausages. I opted for the sausage meal and chose the special of the week, a hot and spicy griller. The spicy stick of meat was accompanied by a generous portion of fries, cheese, salad and sauerkraut. The plate was huge and everything on it was tasty especially the sausage. The service was helpful and the food was speedily delivered. If you’re a sausage fan, this is the place for you.
Asher W.'s
Eats under $5!
- 18Haddad TakeawaysTe Atatu PeninsulaHaddads in Te Atatu Peninsula is an institution. Their food fits into the usual fast food genre (tasty, not super healthy) but their notable feature is that they are always open late. If you’ve been out on the town and are heading out west it is the perfect place to stop and grab the greasy hit your body craves!
- 215No.1 Pancake TakeawayAuckland CentralWhile I was at uni the Korean pancakes from No. 1 Pancakes were my go to for lunch. Endless sweet and savoury pancakes are churned out of the busy little hole in the wall. My personal favourite is the ham and cheese pancake. It’s almost more like a toastie than a pancake, with a crispy interior and gooey centre. The best thing is that the are super affordable and always fresh. Worth checking out!
- 34Deli BakePonsonbyDeli Bake is my favourite bakery in Ponsonby. It’s especially the spot to sort you after a big night out when you’re craving bakery food. They have it all from fresh filled rolls, falafel wraps, flaky pastries, ornate cakes and sweet treats. Plus they make a decent coffee.
- 436I’ve never been to New York but I’m sure that I’d enjoy it. I can imagine working at a diner and scraping enough tips together in order to buy one of those big greasy New York slices. I can play out this fantasy at K’Rd’s Sal’s Pizza. Either pick up a whole pizza or opt to pay per slice. It’s hard to go past the pepperoni, the simple mix of tomatoe base, heaps of cheese and pepperoni slices makes for a very enjoyable experience (accompanied by a refreshing tall beer of course). There are pinwheels and garlic knots aswell if you’re looking for sides. Yum!
- 53Tart BakeryGrey LynnTart bakery is run by what might be the friendliest baker in Auckland and her children. She's loud, friendly and some might find her a little too much in the mornings but I like her and what she's doing. Her kids (i presume they all belong to her) seem to be home schooled, and schooled in the art of baking. Generally some are out front serving while others are busy kneading dough in the back. The bread is delicious. The loaves light and fluffy, the pies full of tasty meat and the treats sweet in all the right places. My only question is what on earth happened to the croque monsieur that was once in the warmer? That was my happy place.
Asher W.'s
Eats under $10!
- 1119The Fridge CafeKingslandAside from perhaps the butter chicken pie from Mobil On the Run gas stations, The Fridge has hands down the best pies in Auckland. It’s a great spot to grab a pastry pocket of goodness and a coffee. My personal favourites are the mince, potatoe and cheese pie and the Morrocan lamb pies. The cabinet food is also great and the staff quirky. Don’t be flaky, get amongst.
- 230Il BucoPonsonbyIl Buco is one of my favourite places to grab food on the go in Ponsonby. They have a great selection of rectangular slices packed with flavour. My favourite being the potato and sausage. Grab a coffee and a seat for a couple of minutes and watch Ponsonby Road happen.
- 327Bird On A Wire - PonsonbyPonsonbyIt’s taken me a while to try Bird on Wire, but when I finally did I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it was the idea of an upmarket roast shop didn’t fit in with my ideal Ponsonby lifestyle. I can tell you, I was wrong. I ordered the special which was a korean roll and a side salad. The chicken was moist, the sauces alive and the salad tasty. I’ll be back, mark my words. For the record the birds are also halal! Don’t chicken out, give it a try.
- 414The Food RoomPonsonbyThe Food Room is Ponsonby’s answer to Kingsland’s The Fridge. They do good coffee, salads and milkshakes but their standout feature is the pies. I opted for a mince and cheese pie and it was in the same league as the Fridge. Buttery pastry with a premium filling. At around $8 it’s on the pricey side but worth it if you’re on the mood for a pie!
- 597Carl's Jr - St Johns/Glen InnesGlen InnesCarl’s Jr is the fast food chain for those that are serious about their deep fried food. The Carl’s Jr devotees were out in force tonight and the joint was still hooching at around nine. I ordered the bacon, Swiss, crispy hand-breaded chicken sandwhich, upsized. If it sounds like a mouthful, that’s because it was. The chicken was succulent and the bacon was crispy. My tastebuds were over the moon but I’m not too sure how my heart felt about the meal. Defenitely tasty, but definitely one for the sometimes pile.