http://www.chow.com/boards/37 Thu, 23 May 2013 11:14:51 GMT Keep track of the lastest threads on Chowhound http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902966#8091704 Some highlights at the halfway point of our trip: Asian food: Tom Yum Eden is as great as ever. Duck larb does a great job of blending flavours and mixing textures. Even the pad thai is superior. Never been to Thailand, but the cooking is as sharp as at the good Thai restaurants in California, and with better ingredients. We've had one upmarket meal at the izakaya in Ponsonby -- pretty good for what it is if you have the cash. Chinese food is much as it has been for a few years (though with no sign of my old fave HP8) except with more dumplings; still looking for a place with the delicacy of wrappers to suit my finnicky Cantonese tastes. Bubble tea: Auckland is as good as it gets (better than Taiwan, says my wife), especially at J's Teahouse on Dominion Road, where you can get your drink made with fresh milk and your choice of sweetness. Cheaper alternative with less firm pearls and without the big screen TV playing S.H.E videos: Boluomi, further up Dominion Road. Coffee: Atomic Coffee in Kingsland are getting pretty close to the level Espresso Workshop (which I haven't yet been to on this trip, as they've moved to a more parking-challenged suburb). Had a pretty good drip Ethiopian, maybe a fraction on the thin-tasting side. Columbus retains an extremely high standard for a big chain. Other exceptional thing I ate: A crisp braeburn from Mt Roskill Fresh Supermarket. Must to avoid: The burger at the restaurant on the ground floor of Sky City (another hockey puck to add to NZ's burger infamy). They do pull a proper ristretto there though. Is there still great Sichuan in Auckland? Can I find a better pie than the pretty good one my Dad got from Onehunga Mall? Will I find palatable food when we drive down to the Waikato? These and other questions to be answered in a future post. bradluen Thu, 23 May 2013 11:14:52 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902966#8091704 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902815#8089152 Looking for a Korean food wholesaler in Melbourne , any help would be appreciated. babe899 Wed, 22 May 2013 01:27:58 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902815#8089152 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902812#8089126 If you are looking for blue Masa flour etc for making your own tortillas etc you can get this and much more (chipotles and other chilis, tortilla press etc) from Aztec Products in Tullamarine Victoria phone 0393301733. They are wholesalers but are very helpful and if they can't supply you, they can recommend where to get it retail. Worth getting together with some friends to buy and sharing. babe899 Wed, 22 May 2013 01:11:56 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902812#8089126 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/677071#8083804 Christine Manfield is well renowned and I would second Mark Best's book Marque, as well as French by Damien Pignolet. French in particular is great for home cooking the others are excellent books but can be involved for a home cook heeler Sun, 19 May 2013 15:04:06 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/677071#8083804 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/849273#8080251 I've been to Pour Boy, it was excellent. mr_gimlet Fri, 17 May 2013 08:07:03 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/849273#8080251 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/890270#8070829 Where Zekka used to be is now Uncle Joe's Mess Hall. I used to love Zekka, but the coffee and Uncle Joe's is even better. Love Thy Neighbour off William St in Northbridge is great too. Also try Cuppa Joe on Scarborough Beach Rd in Mt Hawthorn. thecitylane Sun, 12 May 2013 13:23:18 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/890270#8070829 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895708#8070801 A good idea, but I don't know if it will really work in the forum context given the number of individual blogs out there and the good job at collating blogger reviews that urbanspoon have done! thecitylane Sun, 12 May 2013 12:51:46 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895708#8070801 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900167#8070800 Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander in Healesville has great food and wine in a really casual environment. The moscato is to die for and their pizzas are great. thecitylane Sun, 12 May 2013 12:50:36 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900167#8070800 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/882618#8067984 Kylie Kwong is a very well known chef in Sydney...her restuarant is called Billy Kwongs in Surry Hills...modern , fancy Chinese...but recently so I hear she has been mixing traditional Australian bush herbs and veges into her cuisine..making a new fusion that is apparently really good. grapsta Fri, 10 May 2013 15:39:49 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/882618#8067984 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/894544#8067974 ok I got the spot for you ....go to Kingsford ...if you go to the roundabout there is a video shop near the Kingsford post office in Garderners Rd ...you can't miss it...half the shop sells South American food stuff .....lots of chillis...dried , canned and ground....salsas..flours...heaps of other stuff....you'll love it....prices are ok for Australia . as for catfish , cheese etc....good luck with that -you may need it...never seen it grapsta Fri, 10 May 2013 15:35:05 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/894544#8067974 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/897674#8067965 lebanon and beyond in Randwick is my fave..better than Jasmins. coffee...lots of great new spots...I really like Marlowe and Co. in CBD ...also REuben Hills in Surry Hills. good reports f new pizza place in alexandria...you cna check urbanspoons top 10 list for other stuff ...ps have you ever had bourke st bakery's lamb and harissa sausage roll....amazing ! grapsta Fri, 10 May 2013 15:30:42 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/897674#8067965 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895627#8047423 I love Garfish. I prefer to order off their daily changing menu! thatdarnblake Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:59:05 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895627#8047423 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/367738#8002420 many thanks for the good advice frisor Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:17:31 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/367738#8002420 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/681296#7990220 There are many choices of Australian farmers and growers markets in MarketsCentral.com.au There you can see markets, stalls and product descriptions as well as calendar activities. digitalAV Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:29:32 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/681296#7990220 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/768345#7977793 +1 on D.O.C, its quite popular nowadays and bit of a waiting line rawrpie Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:48:09 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/768345#7977793 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895238#7970462 It would be helpful to tell us which city. By the places you mention, I assume you mean Sydney? mr_gimlet Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:21:01 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895238#7970462 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/860568#7965632 Thank you for mentioning Fix St. James. I had a chance to dine there in March 2013, and it was certainly time well spent, of my 22 hrs in Sydney! I attended on a Monday evening, and the room was buzzing but not overly loud. The greatest pleasure for me was the availability of 1/2 pours for the wines, which allowed me a broader sampling. KarenDW Wed, 20 Mar 2013 06:57:07 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/860568#7965632 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/892624#7948520 Yes, Garagistes is the hot Hobart ticket. I'd forgotten. And the restaurant at Mona is meant to be good, especially if you're going anyway mr_gimlet Tue, 12 Mar 2013 06:30:44 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/892624#7948520 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/892718#7938286 Agree with BTG - one that is ""hidden" is "Sixpenny" not a 3 star but great reputation - I have yet to get there. PhilD Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:54:10 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/892718#7938286 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/615186#7895723 You're in luck! the best Vietnamese food in auckland is in that area. Just beware its not very flash or fancy but once you get past that and go their simply for the food I have two recommendations. Try It Out or Samwoo, both in a suburb 5-10 minutes away from the airport called Otahuhu. Both excellent. Simbarc Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:28:56 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/615186#7895723 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/888969#7871299 Have to be honest, most of the big name/ venue stuff doesn't do much for me. I usually pick one or two of the smaller venue meals as they are better value and not as pretentious. This year I think I will do the Commoner or Middle Park mr_gimlet Sun, 03 Feb 2013 07:55:53 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/888969#7871299 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/888253#7869310 Great report thanks. I was at Attica on the night prior to you and I'm still thinking about that crab dish, truly spectacular. Camw Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:44:56 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/888253#7869310 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/886025#7865099 Good luck.My daughter moved to Christchurch in June 2012. She went to marry her Kiwi man:) It has been an adjustment for her.The entire city is slowly being rebuilt secondary to the 2011 earthquakes.She has mentioned some places near the beach in their area that her and her new family enjoy. I will FB her and get some info.Lucky you even in spite of the rebuild it looks like a garden "down unda". Lillipop Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:57:59 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/886025#7865099 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/877672#7858706 Go to Dine...in the Sky City Grand. i posted something after our trip but now i can't find it!! We actually met and talked to Peter Gordon for a while and our meal was truly great. DCDOLL Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:11:05 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/877672#7858706 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/882297#7857520 (Bistro) Moncur is solid: certainly one of the better bistros in Sydney, and worth the premium. mugen Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:00:37 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/882297#7857520