A Māori and Pasifika fine dining event for a good cause
Founded by Tongan-born chef Ana Ma'ilei Savio and her husband, Italian chef Adriano Savio, Gia’s Grab & Go in Onehunga offers allergy- and vegan-friendly catering and meal services, with a particular focus on benefitting Pasifika and Māori communities. With a mission partly inspired by their daughter Gianna’s food allergies, the duo is passionate about shedding light on the reality of being an allergy sufferer – and has organised a special event for July 22 that aims to do just that. Pasifika and Māori Chefs Health & Allergy Awareness Kai 2023 brings together six talented Māori and Pasifika chefs for a six-course tasting meal at The Fale Pasifika, Auckland University. The line-up includes Melbourne’s Alex Lam Cheung, who’ll be doing a take on Samoan vaisu with grilled market fish, burnt coconut milk, papaya and hāngī potatoes, and Bertrand Jang, chef-owner at Pacific cakery Sweet & Me, who’ll be on dessert. Tickets are $125, and include the meal, a kava tasting and talks by guest speakers. More information and bookings here.

Daily Bread’s custard slice special returns this weekend – for good
Last week, prolific Auckland bakery Daily Bread announced a special custard slice – and to say it flew off the shelves would be an understatement. Apparently the slice sold out before 8am, so when it returns this weekend (and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the foreseeable future), the team will be making sure it’s well stocked up. The slice is a riff on the traditional mille-feuille, with layers of house-made puff pastry dusted with raspberry sugar, and raspberry curd adding a zingy contrast to the smooth and creamy vanilla custard. Available at all Daily Bread locations until sold out.

For one night only, Melbourne restaurant Stokehouse comes to Auckland
Last year, high-profile chef Josh Emett teamed up with Jason Staudt of acclaimed Melbourne restaurant Stokehouse for a one-of-a-kind lunch – and, this July, Staudt is coming over to return the favour at Emett’s restaurant Onslow. On Wednesday July 19, Emett and Staudt will be teaming up with Onslow head chef Glen File and Stokehouse group pastry chef Ash Smith to curate a five-course menu featuring some of the most iconic dishes on their respective menus. For $195 per person, tickets include a cocktail on arrival and a selection of small snacks before a collaborative meal that will include Stokehouse’s yellowfin tuna bites and indulgent baked clams, and Onslow’s signature crayfish eclairs. For dessert, Smith has created a playful take on an Anzac lamington, accompanied by hokey-pokey mousse and coconut sorbet. For an extra $70 per person, there’s a wine-pairing option by Onslow sommelier Peter Connell (ex-Stokehouse) heroing New Zealand and Australian producers. Bookings are essential. Purchase tickets here.

Baby G Burger is settling down in Avondale
Baby G Burger founders Cam Blanchard and Greta Gregory have successfully surfed the gigantic burger-trend wave ever since they started selling their signature smash burgers via Instagram in 2020. Now they hold regular in-person pop-ups all over the city, which consistently sell out well before closing time. Usually one-day affairs, they find the team sweating over a portable flat-top grill under a temporary gazebo for hours. Soon they’ll be working with a far more comprehensive set-up, having announced they’ll be opening a permanent store in Avondale. It’ll be located in the Avondale shops, in the site formerly occupied by short-lived burger shop Cheddar. The opening date is yet to be confirmed but construction is currently underway. Baby G Burger will be opening at 1879 Great North Road, Avondale, Auckland.

Freida Margolis market day returns
Head to cosy Grey Lynn favourite Freida’s this Saturday for its regular market day. From 10am to 1pm, you can rummage through vintage and preloved clothing, records, New Zealand-made jewellery, art and ceramics. There will also be hot food available, and Freida’s proximity to the Grey Lynn markets makes it the perfect stop-off after your weekend fruit and veg shop. July 1, 440 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn. Details here.

Mibo Bakery is opening in downtown Auckland
Emma Zhao’s Mount Eden bakery Mibo incorporates Chinese and other Asian flavours into traditional European pastries and viennoiserie, with delicious and original results. She’s going to be opening a second Mibo closer to the city, with a site currently in the works down in Wynyard Quarter – about a two-minute walk from Williams Eatery, and three minutes from Homeland. Watch this space. Mibo will be opening at 155 Beaumont Street.