Two MICHELIN stars – Queenstown’s Culinary Triumph
New Zealand has just become an official MICHELIN Guide destination, scoring two Michelin Stars at “Essence” in Queenstown. When the exciting results were announced in June, we all asked, “Where’s Essence?” Essence is the signature restaurant in the boutique Roki Hotel in Queenstown. The hotel is new, opening in September 2025. Being awarded two Michelin Stars […]
Auckland’s great cooking school
In the inner-city Auckland suburb of Parnell, there is the Elemental Cooking School, offering something far more immersive than your average cooking class. The school specialises in authentic Asian cooking—think Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Malaysian, Korean, and Chinese. It’s not just about following recipes; it’s about stepping into a culture, understanding the cuisine, and leaving […]
Auckland‘s newest rooftop bar and restaurant
We saw an advertisement for the soft opening of Aka, Auckland’s largest and newest rooftop bar, on the weekend and thought, what the hell, and made a booking for Saturday night. It’s on the 15th floor of the new Radisson RED in Lorne Street, Auckland city, and is set to fully open on May 1, […]