Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2019 i Metro NZ

01-Anyone else wish the SkyCity fire could have kept workers home a little closer to the long weekend? 02-Any word on whether the PM managed to pop by Ihumātao while she was home? 03-You definitely turned the gas hob off when you left home this morning, right? 04-How much longer can Auckland milk this until the rest of the country goes back to being thoroughly sick of us? 05-Who feels worse — the young tradie or the 63 Wellingtonians who never quite got around to casting their vote for Justin Lester? 06-For that matter, who regrets throwing their lot in with John Tamihere more — Matt McCarten or Michelle Boag? 07-Now that Married at First Sight has been canned, what will you be doing with all those extra hours every…

A hi Karunaharan’s regular Satya Chai Lounge order is a round of curryflower, idli fry, chilli chicken and masala fries. I meet him at their original branch in Sandringham, where he lives and draws inspiration for his work. “It feeds me, literally, this place,” he says. “All my major works have started off right here.” Karunaharan, 39, is animated: his words fly fast, in unison with his hands. He is immediately likeable, especially as he opens our conversation with a very relatable confession. “Every decade, I get to this point where I’m like, what do I do with my life? And it always happens in the nines. I remember in 2009 [in Wellington] going, ‘Oh, I need to move to Auckland, that’s where art’s happening.’ And now I’m in the…

This year, when we sat down to start work on our annual Top 50 cafes, the first issue we encountered was a tricky one. What the hell is a cafe in 2019? There was a time when most people could answer that pretty easily. In New Zealand, a cafe was a smallish place with a bunch of tables and you ordered at the counter. There was a short menu and counter food, and you took a number when you ordered — all things that came from the modern cafe’s whakapapa, which comes from the tea room, the coffee shop and the milk bar. Times have changed! These days, cafes offer table service — though not all do. Many have a full menu and a wine list; some don’t even serve…

BRITOMART AMANO 66-68 Tyler St ORTOLANA 33 Tyler St CENTRAL CITY BEST UGLY BAGELS City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley St (also at 3A York St, Newmarket; Auckland International Airport) CHUFFED COFFEE 43 High St EIGHTHIRTY 16 Anzac Ave (also at 553 Karangahape Rd; 35 High St) FEDERAL DELICATESSEN 86 Federal St HUGO’S BISTRO 67 Shortland St IMA 53 Fort St ODETTES City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley St West THE LUNCHROOM Level 1/45 Queen St EDEN TERRACE BABY 67B France St COFFEE PEN 6 Basque Rd ELLERSLIE PASTRAMI & RYE 112 Main Hwy, Ellerslie EPSOM FLOUR MILL 409 Manukau Rd FREEMANS BAY CAFFETERIA ALLPRESS 8 Drake St QUEENIES LUNCH ROOM 24-26 Spring St GREY LYNN HONEY BONES 480 Richmond Rd OZONE COFFEE ROASTERS 18 Westmoreland St W POSTAL SERVICE 537 Great…

There’s so much going on in the Christchurch hospitality scene that it’s hard to keep up with new openings and offerings. It has been a long road to recovery for the southern city, but Christchurch has regrouped in spectacular style, and there’s a celebratory feel in the air. New bars, cafes, restaurants, well-being hubs and markets are opening their doors, and there’s never been such variety. The city is spoiled for choice — they deserve it — and ready to show off the best of the region’s produce and southern hospitality. Earl Near the corner of Lichfield and High Sts, Tom Newfield has conjured a local bistro with a Melbourne feel — a smart move for this growing, inner-city neighbourhood. Earl is the kind of place the hospo pro would…

I was having a love affair with Italy and spending quite a bit of time there in the 80s, and wanted to get something that would be a reminder of that time. I had a mad romance with an Italian and everything seemed rosy and exotic. It was a moment. I bought this piece of fabric (01) in Rome and hauled it back to Australia, which is where I’m from. I brought it with me when I came to New Zealand in 1989, and in the early 90s, Angela Wickstead (Emilia’s mum), who was designing clothes at the time, said she would design a jacket for me. I haven’t worn it a lot, but I still think it’s an amazing garment — the tailoring and finish. It takes me straight…

We used to say that the first person to mention Hitler in an online argument automatically loses, but that was before Hitler’s idiot billionaire understudy got himself elected to the White House. The dangers of rhetorical escalation in these days of populist far-right resurgence are less to do with hyperbole than with H-word habituation through careless over-use. Taika Waititi’s new film, Jojo Rabbit, could certainly be perceived as careless if you squinted hard enough; there’s a kitchen sink randomness to his humour, a willingness to dive sideways in pursuit of a passing joke. But the real risks he takes lie in the opposite direction. Waititi played a hapless gang member and incompetent absentee father in Boy, and he cast Sam Neill as a grumpy unwilling father figure in Hunt for…

Singing the Trail: The Story of Mapping Aotearoa New Zealand John McCrystal Allen & Unwin, $60 Nō whea koe? It’s a simple enough question. Yet, as New Zealanders, it’s sometimes not so simple. Even before questions of identity, it seems that, despite global satellite mapping, New Zealand’s location remains something of a mystery, as evidenced by the 77,000 members of the Reddit group r/MapsWithoutNZ, the 34,000 people on the Facebook group “Does New Zealand exist?” who have responded that they are 0% certain that it actually does, and Rhys Darby and Jacinda Ardern’s appearance in last year’s Tourism New Zealand campaign to #GetNZonthe Map. It seems that, without maps, we’re nowhere. In Singing the Trail: The Story of Mapping Aotearoa New Zealand, John McCrystal maps out how New Zealand came…

We all need somewhere to go. Somewhere that’s not work and somewhere that’s not home. Somewhere we can meet people — people we know and, sometimes, people we don’t. We all need a place that’s open and non-judgemental, that’s accessible and accommodating, that’s casual and lively and fun. Somewhere where we can consume, but isn’t just about consumption. Somewhere we can meet, somewhere we can talk, somewhere we can just be. We all need a third place. A third place is, in the words of Ray Oldenburg, the professor of sociology and anthropology who coined the term, “where you relax in public, where you encounter familiar faces and make new acquaintances”. In his writing on the topic, Oldenburg discusses a variety of places where you can go and just exist…

This tea towel lists some of the cafes in central Auckland circa 1960 and showcases the newly built Auckland Harbour Bridge. The post-war cafe scene in the city included the latest coffee trends, such as espresso and cona coffee, as well as the more traditional tea. Cafe menus offered plenty of New Zealand staple foods, such as toasted sandwiches, pavlova and home-made baking, but they also showed the beginnings of a shift towards European and American cuisine and more casual dining options.…

RETAIL Bookstore Little Unity If you’re wondering why the best bookstore in Auckland is a kids’ bookstore, you obviously haven’t been there. Not interested in children’s books? Go to Time Out or the big Unity. 31 Vulcan Ln, central city Beauty store Mecca A “mecca” of covetable beauty products/brands, which will break the bank. (The makeup services are top notch, too.) Various locations Bookstore (used) Hard to Find Books We were as bummed as anyone when the Onehunga store closed, but the legend lives. 2 St Benedicts St, Eden Terrace Clothes store ($$$) Muse Dream wardrobe, if money was no object. 264 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, & 11B Teed St, Newmarket Clothes store (basics) AS Colour Sharp cuts, sharp colours, sharp prices. Various locations Clothes store (local) Penny Sage Amazing fabrics,…

The Italians know the importance of a good dessert. They know the importance of spending quality time with family and friends. And they know the importance of taking it easy when it gets too hot. So, as the warmer months arrive, bringing with them the inevitable dinner parties, trips to baches and beaches and unending quests for refreshment, do what the Italians do and whip up this silky, summery and pretty damn easy dessert. As the people of the Piedmont region, where panna cotta is said to have originated, often say: “Mamma mia, that gelatinous cooked cream and sugar that is often mixed with fruit and herbs really does go well with an Auckland summer.” MINT AND LIME PANNA COTTA WITH GINGER SYRUP Serves 6 Prep + Cook Time 25…

Whether you’re fully vegan, flexitarian or curious to see whether you can tell if something’s the “real thing” or not, Melbourne is a great place to expand your horizons when it comes to plant-based eating. Here are some of our faves: SMITH & DAUGHTERS You’d be a fool to visit Melbourne without making a pit stop at Smith & Daughters on Brunswick St in Fitzroy. Can you really do Italian-style food without meat or dairy? Yes, you sure can. Beef ragu, spaghetti and meatballs and tiramisu all feature on the menu, and if you didn’t know the place was completely vegan you could be fooled into thinking you were eating the real thing – and a damn fine version of it, too. smithanddaughters.com MOROCCAN SOUP BAR Arrive early if you…

Everything about 1947 Eatery will expand your view of what an Indian restaurant is. The name is a subtle nod to India’s year of independence, and it’s touches like these which establish just how committed the team is to bringing a taste of contemporary Indian dining to their unassuming Federal Street location. It’s comforting to walk out of the bustle of the CBD into the low, moody lighting of 1947’s interior. It’s relaxed but not quite casual, with wrought iron, wood and leather finishes. The look is inspired by the way modern restaurants feel in Mumbai and New Delhi, with mismatched ceramic plates by various New Zealand potters used interchangeably with the silver serving plates you find throughout India. The service is friendly and knowledgeable without being stuffy. But more…

Danish lighting designer Poul Henningsen once humbly described himself as “an old lamp creator who makes a living from darkness”, but he approached his craft like a philosopher. By studying the sun’s trajectory, the rhythm of light from day to night, Henningsen found a “surrogate for daylight”, applying his nuanced approach to designs that have become iconic. He knew – even if they didn’t – that people responded to quality and how it enhances our sense of wellbeing. While a pendant lamp from Henningsen’s PH Series is common in Danish homes and public spaces, his work is revered as collectable here in New Zealand. Denmark Design, a comprehensive and immersive exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, shows the work of icons such as Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton,…

Art & design DENMARK DESIGN Until 2 February Being functional and cool to look at are the two pillars of good design. That’s something Danish designers know quite well, having created some quintessential pieces like the Egg chair and the PH Artichoke light through its history. This new exhibition charts Danish design from the 19th century onwards, presenting more than 200 original objects. Auckland Art Gallery, aucklandartgallery.com JACQUELINE FAHEY’S SUBURBANITES 13 November-16 February Fahey is now 90 years old and has been an active painter since the 1950s, so curating this exhibition was no mean feat. Fahey is known for her complex, relationship-focused depictions of people in suburbia, posing difficult questions as our idea of suburbs and living continue to evolve. Pah Homestead, wallaceartstrust. org.nz NECTAR 7 December-15 February This…

You have 12 months left to prepare for the possibility of a Prime Minister Simon Bridges. It’s a terrifying thought — well, for progressives — but it seems increasingly likely the National Party leader is going to push the Labour-led government hard. Recent polls signal National is settling in at 47%. This is the John Key sweet spot. With an assist from David Seymour’s Act Party, or even Winston Peters’ New Zealand First, the sixth National government could take office in 2020. So long, Jacinda and Clarke, and thanks for all the fish. But how plausible is that, really? The Prime Minister’s net approval ratings are spectacular, and her government is sitting on a $7.5 billion surplus. If Finance Minister Grant Robertson is in a reformist mood — or, rather,…

Buttery flowers, dainty leaves, and verdant, snap-fresh mounds of asparagus, beans and peas surrender a bounty of textures and tastes for your guests in these minimum fuss, maximum impact dishes. For Anna, refashioning summertime classics comes by way of a rather unconventional source of inspiration. The Vype ambassador has taken cues from the plethora of flavours accompanying the launch of the Vype ePod. From Polar Mint and Very Berry through to velvety smooth Vanilla Medley and Just Mango, there are ample options to bring the flavours in your dish to life. “Take a humble approach when sourcing ingredients," says Anna. “Get excited by fresh, seasonal produce from New Zealand growers and farmers - that’s where the key to flavour is.” From baked goat cheese folded in a hazelnut crumb against…

Despite being a genial fellow, Chief Inspector Chen Cao is not universally liked at the Shanghai Police Bureau, principally for the following reasons: he’s regarded as a baby detective, yet because of the Communist Party’s regard for formal education he has leapfrogged more-experienced colleagues; he has an apartment all to himself in a city experiencing an acute housing crisis; he’s a published poet, and has translated the poems of T. S. Eliot and other Western versifiers, as well as whodunnits, into Chinese. For some of his colleagues, Chen’s lyricism is possibly his most irritating trait. In Death of a Red Heroine (2000), author Qiu Xiaolong’s first outing for the inspector, the naked body of a young woman—a celebrity Communist Party member—is found in a canal. Strangled. Confronting the horror, Chen…