Bar offers plates to share, and great gin
Dish of the week
neatplaces.co.nz
Emerging from the former Zibbibo space, Pico Bar & Eatery is the latest venture from the team behind Zibbibo and the Martinborough Hotel’s Union Square. ‘‘It’s quick and casual,’’ says co-owner Nicola Newell, a place designed for groups of friends to hang out and share some laughs, drinks and plates.
The menu features snacks, small plates and mains, but all are designed to share.
Order some bowls of olives, or a dish of manchego cheese and pickles, and pizza breads, then share half a roasted chicken and some salads for dinner if you find your after-work drinks stretching into the evening.
The drinks list is predominantly Aotearoacentric, with Tuatara beers on tap and the best of Martinborough’s wines by the bottle or glass. Pico’s specialty, though, is gin. ‘‘Saffron gin, celery gin, rhubarb gin, classic gin and tonic, and everything in between,’’ says Newell.
Upstairs, two private dining rooms accommodate groups larger than eight people, with capacity for up to 35.
25-29 Taranaki St, Te Aro
Willi’s Kitchen opens for dinner
Willi’s Kitchen, the low-key Manners St eatery known for its solid lunch menu, is now open for dinner.
And we want to let you in on a little secret – Willi’s is golden for vegans.
The dinner menu is bursting with gourmet pizzas, cheesy cauliflower rice, pulled jackfruit pies, and ‘‘chooks’’ (Korean-styled hot sauce tofu) and chips.
It also offers non-vegan options. Hidden away behind the bus stops, nestled in by Arty Bee’s, drop by for dinner, and have a vegan tiramisu or creme brulee to finish. Mains run from $16 through to $27.
108 Manners St, Te Aro
Flock to Shepherd’s cool pop-ups
Shepherd restaurant is well known for its innovative pop-ups with cool food folk from around Aotearoa.
Last month’s pop-up with close neighbourhood mates Viva Mexico was a sellout.
The latest collaboration is with Auckland dining series pop-up masters Chimera.
On Tuesday, March 19, Shepherd and Chimera will team up to offer a $110 set menu with natural wines and 1990s R&B. The dinner is structured in three sittings, at 6.30pm, 7pm and 7.30pm.
The late sitting has already been allocated, but there are still tickets available for the other two sittings.
Tickets can be reserved by emailing the restaurant at info@shepherdrestaurant.co.nz.
Happy vegan days
It’s a classic combination – tomato, basil, and cream cheese.
Best Ugly Bagel puts it on a handrolled, honey-poached, wood-fired bagel, and drizzles it with Hawke’s Bay Village Press lemon and fennel olive oil. Wellington’s vegan food scene is alive and well.
Acidic tomatoes and pungent basil is balanced by the Zany Zeus cream cheese. A sesame bagel is the base of choice.
If you want to live like the other half, order it with bacon – Richie McCaw does.
Half Baked Catering Co is a vegan bakery and catering company based in Tawa.
‘‘We believe that the key to a happy and healthy life begins with what we feed our body,’’ says Zara Mcintyre, who with sister Shinee, set up the business. ‘‘With the right knowledge and right foods, we can become a healthier society.’’ Half Baked offers a range of baked as well as raw cakes, cookies and frozen dessert bars.
Sweet Release is a fully vegan bakery at 134 Willis St, between Dixon and Manners streets. As well as a cabinet of sweet treats, it also offers a range of bagels and salads. Try a ‘‘Not-Salmon Salad,’’ a ‘‘Not-Chicken Salad,’’ or Nachos or Mac ’n’ Cheese. The team behind Sweet Release also runs Vegan Vault, an all-vegan night market on the first Saturday of each month.
For plant-powered people who like takeaways on a Friday night, or any night, Plant Blazed is a great stop-off. The vegan van behind Recycle Boutique on Vivian St runs a hot menu of burgers, bowls and ‘‘dawgs’’ made from facon, seitan, tofu and vegetable patties. Everything is made in-house, too.