Burger Wellington has a winner
Out of over 200 entries and 11,500 ratings, an India-inspired burger has won this year’s Burger Wellington presented by Garage Project. The Goan Chicken Ros Pao burger was created by executive chef Chetan Pangam of One 80 Restaurant, which is inside the Copthorne Hotel on Oriental Parade. It was inspired by Indian street food, particularly from his mother’s home state of Goa, and manages to incorporate curried chicken and a “ros” omelette (ros meaning a spiced gravy) with onion yoghurt and smoked havarti, all served in a Goan poee-inspired bun – poee being a ubiquitous whole wheat flatbread. This year’s theme for Burger Wellington was “Breaking the Mould”, which saw more experimental burgers than ever come to the table – including dishes that don’t resemble burgers at all at first glance, like a burger-flavoured shot of bourbon from cocktail bar Elixir. Runners-up this year included Wakefield Street restaurant Field & Green with its Reuben-esque, and the Cocina Cubana from Ernesto’s. The winners will get to collaborate with Garage Project on a special-edition craft beer, and will have the burger on the menu between September 11 and 22, for dinner only after 6pm. 100 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, Wellington.

Tasty treats this weekend at Annabel’s
When baker Petra Galler holds a pop-up, you can be sure the people will come out in droves. The Butter, Butter author makes deeply flavourful sweets inspired by her Jewish heritage, and this weekend she's holding a pop-up in the space right next to Ponsonby cafe and wine bar Annabel’s (where now-closed boutique Milou used to be). Galler will be serving her impressive tiramisu crepe cake and Basque cheesecake, along with leek and gruyere tart, zucchini and ricotta galette – and much more, all by the slice. Saturday, September 9 from 1pm. 277A Ponsonby Road, Auckland.

A new wine bar opens in New Plymouth
Known Unknown is a Taranaki-based urban winery making low-intervention organic wines, ciders and aperitifs. It was founded in 2021 by Jules van Costello as an evolution from Te Aro Wine, which was a Wellington-based urban winery Costello ran before moving to the West Coast region. While the Known Unknown has been growing a following from its Davidson Street site, it wasn’t possible for people to enjoy glasses of wine on the premises – so he’s opened House Wine 500 metres around the corner as its cellar door, of sorts. The 20-seat wine bar is pared back and relaxed with a glass pour list that spans both Known Unknown and other makers with similar philosophies from New Zealand and abroad. You can also grab a craft beer by the likes of fellow Taranaki brewers Shining Peak and Wellington’s Mean Doses, and order from a concise in-house menu of snacks such as pork rillettes with pickles and sourdough, and truffle labneh with local vegetables. House Wine has off-licence capabilities so if you liked what you drank, you can take a bottle home with you. 211 Devon Street East, New Plymouth.

Spain bestows Auckland’s Candela with prestigious cultural recognition
New Zealand is full of restaurants that take inspiration from international cultures and cuisines, but it’s always impressive when one goes above and beyond. Karangahape Road bar and restaurant Candela was recently officially recognised by a Spanish government agency called ICEX as part of its Restaurants From Spain certification – an accolade that speaks to a restaurant’s authenticity beyond what’s on the plate. This was a lengthy process that involved many submissions from Candela’s team and founders Matt Ross and Leola King, as well as interviews, visits by the trade commission and proof that they use genuine Spanish products, suppliers and recipes. “It was a really exciting and fun process, we learned heaps along the way,” King told Broadsheet. The restaurant was originally born from Ross’s “love affair” with Spain, the duo said in a statement, “particularly Barcelona’s vibrant and culturally rich tapas scene. Our little slice of Spain on K’ Rd is a testament to that passion. Receiving the ICEX certification is a significant milestone for us, and it motivates us to continue delivering the best Spanish dining experience to our guests.” candelabar.co.nz

Dinner and drag at Gemmayze Street
No one wants their dinner to be a drag, but dinner with a side of drag? Count us in. In what’s set to be a highly entertaining night, K’ Road Lebanese restaurant Gemmayze Street is putting on a special show in collaboration with Kiwi drag king Hugo Grrrl, along with Pinkie Promise and Drag Race Down Under’s Rita Menu. Book tickets for September 17 and you’ll be served a special multi-course menu while the trio serves looks, lip-syncs and hilarious antics. Dishes will include Gemmayze’s famous meze, grilled market fish, slow-roasted lamb shoulder with vegetable sides and more. 6:30pm–9:30pm on Sunday, September 17. St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road. Tickets here.

A new by-delivery pizzeria for Wellington
The team behind Wellington’s Mr Go’s (which recently moved to a new site), Ombra and Kisa clearly like to have a few pans in the air, as they’ve now launched a delivery-only pizza project from their LTD pop-up space. Slims Pizza is overseen by the group’s executive chef Jonny Taggart, who’s chosen a riff on a Chicago style of thin-crust, also known as a tavern-style pizza that’s cut into squares instead of slices. The toppings also stretch almost right to the edge of the pizza. Order via Deliveryeasy or Doordash from a selection of flavours such as Hot and Clammy (clams, speck, three-cheeses, hot sauce, parsley and lemon) and Dr Pepper with spicy salami, red sauce and Grana Padano. Order here.

A Japanese cheesecake pop-up in Parnell
“Not too sweet, not too heavy, just perfect” is how Yori describes its Japanese-style cheesecakes – and for anyone who’s been wanting to try them, they’re back at Parnell Markets this weekend. Head to 69 St Georges Bay Road from 8am to try the original, matcha, Earl Grey and chocolate cheesecakes, available by the slice. @yori_craft_cheesecake_akl