Homeland

When the pandemic forced acclaimed chef Peter Gordon to return to New Zealand after three decades in London, he didn’t lay low for long. In late 2020, he and his partner Alastair Carruthers opened the doors to Homeland, unveiling an epic location on Auckland’s waterfront.

More than an all-day restaurant, this self-proclaimed “food embassy” celebrates everything Aotearoa has to offer. Passionate about New Zealand ingredients, Gordon supports local producers and the eatery serves as a vessel to share stories and recipes from the country where he grew up, peppered with influences from his celebrated international career. There’s also a cooking school on-site, where you can take classes led by Gordon and various knowledgeable industry experts.

The dine-in menu reads like a love letter to New Zealand. Menu highlights include creamed Chatham Island pāua, hāngī-cooked meats, locally made cheeses, and hyperlocal veggies. For a leisurely breakfast, granola is given a local twist thanks to Raglan coconut yoghurt and Niue honey, while your standard eggs on toast gets a glow-up with a toasted cheese scone and smoky tomato chilli jam. Sharing a number of lunch or dinner dishes is wise – so you can enjoy roasted carrots elevated with buffalo feta and cumin, moreish handfuls of cider-battered Moo Dew paneer tacos, and Greenlea scotch fillet with local kimchi hollandaise and wood-roasted greens.

The same creative thinking is applied to the drinks – the kimchi Bloody Mary or the coconut twist on an espresso frappe are good places to start before you peruse the clever signature cocktail list. On a sunny day, there’s no better place to be than at one of Homeland’s outdoor tables overlooking the marina.