Exuding an elevated yet welcoming vibe, Beni is the newest Japanese restaurant in Auckland that has caught our attention. Located on Auckland’s paved Fort Street in the building that most recently housed craft chocolatiers Miann, Beni was founded by Jonathan Yo of Malaysian eatery Sim’s Kitchen, a longstanding Onehunga favourite.
Left: Wagu beef tataki served with balsamic and spicy miso sauce.
Beni’s modern offering is inspired by a culmination of Yo’s hospitality experience (he has been working in the Auckland scene since he was 16) and his recent travels to the ritzy Ginza district of Tokyo, famed for its upmarket dining establishments.
Here, Yo has created a place for everyone — Beni is just as suited to long business lunches as it is for romantic evenings or celebratory dinners. The menu hero is Wagyu beef (in the form of rib and eye fillet steaks). However, if you desire something more adventurous, you should order the Wagyu beef tataki. This dish is a refreshing salad of sorts, featuring thin slices of lightly seared beef with kiwifruit and a spicy miso sauce, combining the best of sweet, sour and savoury flavours.
Scallop Mousse, Hokkaido scallops served with fresh cream, salmon roe, fried shallot, dried raspberry, fennel leaves and potatoes.
As with all good food, Beni’s impeccably presented dishes are designed to be enjoyed with wine. Alongside well-known local names, we recommend the ‘Koshu’ from the heritage Japanese winery Château Mercian, a dry white drop that best complements sashimi or nigiri sushi.
Tofu chocolate mousse with homemade Yuzu sorbet.
Pleasing even the most discerning palate and located in the heart of Auckland city, Beni offers a beautiful lunchtime or evening dining experience. We highly recommend paying a visit and taking your time to fully indulge in Yo’s sophisticated take on contemporary Japanese fare.
As spontaneous summer travel draws nearer, having a reliable and eternally stylish bag on hand makes a getaway at a moment’s notice that much easier. From emblematic jacquards to their sleek, leather counterparts, our editors’ curation of timeless travel bags allows you to keep your essentials close at hand with pieces that will go with you on any intrepid journey.
Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 22
From left: Duffle bag with Interlocking G from Gucci. Embroidered jacquard travel bag from Prada. Lingot 50 cactus jack duffle bag from Dior Men.
With the end of the year drawing near, our hospitality scene shows little sign of slowing down. In fact, as we head into the summer holidays, a plethora of new openings are upon us, each offering more excitement and intrigue than the next. Cyber Toast is the latest to catch our eye, a grab-and-go outpost that offers a particular type of beloved streetfood, Korean toasties.
Designed to capture the essence of Seoul’s cyberpunk fascination, the fit out at Cyber Toast was completed by Brave Construction, and feels reminiscent of dystopian, neon-lined films like Blade Runner. The menu plays on this notion too. And while diners can order from a ‘retro-futuristic’ screen, it is the notion of the Korean toastie itself — a contemporary melange of traditional Korean flavours with a distinctly modern, unique twist — that the owners here believe plays into the concept the most.
Left: Cyber Toast by Brave Construction. Right: Korean toasties.
If you haven’t already seen them on social media, Cyber Toast’s toasties typically comprise a vegetable omelette, ham (they can remove this for vegetarians), cheese, cabbage, and a layer of bright pink sauce. The sauce recipe, we’re told, is a carefully-guarded house secret — but it’s fruit-based and only slightly sweet, which makes it the perfect finishing touch to all of the spot’s satiating, savoury bite.
Tucked away in the heart of the CBD, Cyber Toast is the kind of hole-in-the-wall that will draw a hungry, cuisine-curious workday crowd, as much as it will anyone looking for a late-night snack in downtown Auckland. And, with plans to continue growing its offering of Korean toasties, while folding in aspects of classic Kiwi cuisine, Cyber Toast is definitely one to watch.
Opening hours: Monday — Thursday, 7am until 4pm. Friday, 7am until 9pm. Saturday, 11am until 9pm. Closed Sundays.
Whether you are seeking out the perfect gift for someone special, or simply shopping for yourself, there is one brand on which we always rely over the festive season — Gucci. This historic house has long been our go-to for gifts, thanks to the way it combines iconic design, heritage and the kind of unsurpassed quality that has kept it at the forefront of luxury fashion for a century. In fact, pieces from Gucci are designed to be cherished forever. And so, in the spirit of giving, we thought that now was the perfect time to round up some of the must-have pieces from the brand’s new season.
From sleek handbags, essential luggage and men’s backpacks, to timeless jewellery and watches and even fashion-forward footwear, our curated edit of Gucci’s most covetable pieces will deliver all the inspiration you need this holiday season — even if you are just looking to treat yourself.
For anyone who takes pride in their handbag collection, Gucci’s covetable and undeniably cute mini bags are guaranteed to delight. Whether it’s the small Aphrodite Bag, Ophidia GG Bag or Gucci Attache Mini Bag (each designed in its own, uniquely-curved shapes) or the more classically-structured Jackie 1961 Mini Bag or the Gucci Horsebit 1955 Small Shoulder Bag (each speaking to a piece of Gucci’s history) these mini versions of the brand’s most recognisable designs are worthy additions to any curated collection and will be the ideal companions for a convivial night out.
If you like your accessories to be as practical as they are polished, look no further than Gucci’s collectable timepieces and its innovative Oura ring. The former offers a masterclass in sophisticated design, from the classic G-Timeless watch, available in a variety of sizes and styles for men and women, to the Gucci 25H watch, offering a more contemporary look, timepieces like these are everyday essentials, with a silhouette to suit any taste.
Gucci’s Oura smart ring has also become popular for the way in which it has been designed to help the wearer harness their full potential. Created via a collaboration between Gucci and wellness brand Oura, these titanium rings will help you achieve optimum health via 24/7 heart rate monitoring, temperature sensors and sleep analysis, and will deliver three daily scores for Sleep, Readiness and Activity. With this ring on your index finger, sticking to those New Year’s resolutions will be easier than ever before.
A pair of Gucci’s striking sandals will prove the perfect gift for anyone who wants to put their best foot forward this season. Whether you opt for head-turning heels like the Platform sandals, a pair of evergreen staples like the Double G Slide sandals, or even the more statement-making Perforated G sandals or Platform Slide sandals, these shoes are guaranteed to be kept on high rotation over the summer months.
Balancing elegant style with practical design, Gucci’s men’s bags offer a range of handy solutions for the man who has everything. From the Medium Tote Bag with Interlocking G (a perfect office carry-all) to the Ophidia GG Medium Backpack and the Duffle Bag with Interlocking G (both essential for summer weekends away) to smaller styles like the Messenger Bag with Interlocking G and the GG Large Belt Bag (ideal for nights out), there is a style here to see anyone step out with confidence this season.
Jewellery is a timeless gift, often reserved for the most special people in your life (although, in our opinion, it is also one of the best presents to buy for yourself) and Gucci’s exceptional fine jewellery presents an array of heirloom-worthy pieces poised to delight anyone lucky enough to be the recipient. The Flora Bracelet in 18-karat white gold with diamonds, for instance, offers a delicate, classically-feminine design that feels subtle and elegant. Whereas the Link to Love range is made up of pieces with a more modern, striking aesthetic, including the likes of the Enamel and Diamond Ring and the Chain Earrings with ‘Gucci’ Bar, which promise to add a bold statement to any outfit. Elsewhere, Gucci’s recognisable GG motif is recreated in pieces like the GG Running Yellow Gold cuff, ring and earrings — each a covetable representation of the brand’s historic symbol.
Because summer is the season for weekend escapes and memorable adventures, ensure that you and your nearest and dearest have all the necessary travel essentials on hand for everything the next few months has in store. Those familiar with Gucci will know of its iconic luggage — offering some of the best travel solutions whether you are embarking on a quick getaway or a lengthy vacation, Gucci’s range will suit any intrepid pursuit. Those staying relatively close to home should look to the likes of the Gucci Savoy small cabin trolley or the classic Duffle Bag for an easy weekender. While those heading off on a longer holiday will find the perfect luggage in the Gucci Savoy Medium Trolley or the Gucci Bauletto Extra Large Duffle Bag. Elsewhere, other travel essentials like Gucci’s GG Passport Case, its Double Card Set with Double G and its Ophedia Zip Around Wallet are all must-haves for any carry-on.
Whatever you might be seeking this festive season, whether as gifts for all the wonderful people in your life or as something with which to treat yourself, Gucci has a range of elevated gifting options to suit any taste or proclivity. From covetable beauty products to eye-catching decor and homewares to pieces for the little ones, and even pieces for your pets, there is something special to be found for every member of the family, promising to make this holiday season one to certainly remember. See here to explore the full range of Gucci gifts.
Imbued with same kind of analogue, independent energy that its name carries, Nodi’s new collection ‘Unplugged,’ is the result of a creative collaboration between the the Founder and CEO of the New Zealand-based, luxury rug purveyor, Olivia Moon, and renowned American designers, Alma Lopez and Liz Wert — the founders of San Francisco-based creative and spatial design studio Aditions. Joining forces to create the kinds of rugs that, in their view, hadn’t been offered before, each piece in the collection explores how the spirit of the 90s — a time teetering on the precipice of our hyper-digital era but that gave rise to a wellspring of individual expression and a retained more grounded notions of creativity — can be brought into a contemporary context. And actually, how it can thrive there.
“I was an avid fan of Nodi and the idea of collaborating came about just after Liz and I launched Aditions,” Alma Lopez explains. Liz Wert continues, “While working together on a project at San Francisco Design Week, Olivia, Alma and I came to realise that we held similar views… We wanted to push the boundaries of colour when using natural materials.” She goes on, “And Alma and I were particularly excited to partner with a New Zealand brand, one with design-led aesthetics that values quality and sustainability.”
For Moon, the feelings were clearly mutual. “When Alma and I met, she immediately understood Nodi’s vision… Then this great opportunity presented itself; partnering to create designs that weren’t available. A fun, creative project that worked perfectly in time with the launch of Aditions.”
How this creative partnership has manifested in the new collection is via an offbeat palette that brings vibrant life to Nodi’s signature neutrals. From Neon Dreams, a high-vis tone of yellow, woven into a delicate beige, to Licorice, a dark, impactful tone juxtaposed with off-taupe to create an effect reminiscent of sound distortion or television fuzz, to a soft Cornflower Blue to a warm, earthy Terracotta, the colours have been woven into unique patterns of threads, stripes and checkers that challenge challenge traditional of minimalism, while the rugs themselves push the boundaries of form.
“We wanted to challenge the notion that a rug is either a statement piece or something that blends into the background,” Lopez explains. “We wanted to have fun and create another point of view, where a rug can have artistic expression without overpowering a space.”
Of course, remaining true to Nodi’s values, each rug has been carefully crafted from pure New Zealand wool, known for the durability it offers pieces that sit in the high-traffic areas of commercial or residential spaces. The rugs are also available in both standard and circular shapes, making them suitable for any kind of living or dining room.
Ultimately, the Unplugged collection is about infusing our interior spaces with joy. It is about facilitating connection, creativity and inciting discussion. Offering something distinct, designed to uplift our living environments, Nodi’s new pieces are a study in the beauty of reimagining traditional form, and are set to be a welcome addition to any kind of home.
A gift that marries fun with function will prove perfect for those who spend their entire summer in and around the ocean or parked up by the pool. From chic-looking (and very comfortable) lilos to adrenaline-raising wave boards, these gifts are sure to provide plenty of exciting entertainment over the summer months.
Oliver James Luxury Lilo from Dawson & Co. The ideal gift for someone who loves spending warm days sprawled out by their pool, these luxury lilos by Oliver James are destined to give a sleek, Slim-Aarons vibe to any outdoor area this summer. Meticulously designed and tailored in the finest workshops from environmentally friendly and durable fabrics, these lilos set a new benchmark in sophisticated, sustainable pool floats, and are made to last for many summer seasons to come.
Foils Board from Armstrong Foils For the person who loves adventure and is constantly looking for an opportunity to take their foil board out for a blat, treat them to a board upgrade with Armstrong’s new and innovative ‘Forward Geometry’ Wing Surf and Wing Sup boards. These sleek, carefully-designed foil boards highlight the ways in which this company is always looking to maximise the potential of every ride, and will absolutely thrill the foil enthusiast in your life.
Skimboard from Louis Vuitton Give a classic beach activity a sleek, designer look with Louis Vuitton’s eye-catching skim board. Featuring prominent LV Initials against a wood background on one side (designed to look like they have been dipped into a wave) and an oversized Monogram accentuated by a vibrant gradient of pastels (reminiscent of the Spring-Summer 2022 collection) on the other, this skim-board will make beach days look chicer than ever before.
Aqua Marina Beast Paddle Board from Burnsco Is there a better way to start a summer morning than with a calming, paddle board across the ocean? We don’t think so. Which is why we have included the inflatable Aqua Marina Beast Paddle Board on this list. A versatile, all-round stand-up paddle board, designed to suit all water conditions, the Aqua Marina Beach is extra rigid while remaining light, and is perfect for summertime exploring thanks to the way it offers easy stroke power, control and balance. There is also an included carry bag that has enough space for a board, pump, and paddle.
Filippa K Matte Bikini from Workshop Treat someone special to the perfect, everyday swimsuit with this K Matte style by Filippa K from Workshop. Boasting a simple, flattering design (designed to look good on most body shapes) and rendered in an unfussy, versatile shade, this sleek bikini is perfect for any summer pursuit.
Crete de Fleur Inflatable Float from Versace Destined to give pool and beach days a decidedly decadent look, Versace’s Crete de Fleur Inflatable Float is the perfect present for someone who loves being a little bit extra. Featuring the brand’s recognisably detailed motif and iconic black and yellow palette, this floatie is far from ordinary.
Beach Towel from Asuwere A good beach or pool towel is essential for any successful day spent by the water, and Asuwere’s iteration is one of the best we’ve seen. Offering a generous, 80cm x 170cm rectangular size, and finished in simple, elegant navy blue cotton, this practical present will make a day of lounging super comfortable and chic.
Best known for its contemporary Italian cuisine in the heart of Remuera, Spiga restaurant has recently added another string to its bow — the newly opened Spiga Pantry. Nestled in the new 1050 Remuera precinct off Remuera Road and across from its flagship eatery, Spiga Pantry is a verifiable haven for foodies, and the place to visit for all your festive hosting needs.
Akin to a traditional Italian Gastronomia, as Spiga Chef and Co-owner Fabrizio Napolitano explains, this is a shop where you can purchase cheeses, meats, and pre-prepared ingredients to assemble meals at home, ideal for those who don’t have time to cook from scratch. In fact, Napolitano’s mother herself owned a Gastronomia in Turin, Northern Italy, and he has always wanted to open one of his own, importantly adjacent to a restaurant to repurpose the kitchen’s food offcuts.
Spiga Pantry boasts an array of fresh, artisanal fare, from cheeses, charcuterie, sauces and hand-made pasta to sweet delicacies. Inside its fridges are freshly-packed jars of Nasturtium Pesto, Pomodoro & Basilico sauce and Garlic Anchovies alongside butter sticks (Truffle and Sage or Cacio and Pepe), all essential ingredients for imbuing an authentic taste of Italy into your home cooking. To the left, there’s an array of Spiga’s beloved lockdown lasagne and an impressive rotation of other pre-made meals. You’ll also discover pottles of Spiga’s moreish Tiramisù, made with a secret mascarpone sauce. Around the corner, freshly made pasta is proudly displayed — take your pick of Saffron Tagliatelle to Agnolotti with beef, veal and pork stuffing.
Closer to Christmas day, several festive-appropriate desserts will be on offer at Spiga Pantry, made by resident pastry chef Stefania. In the meantime, you can take your pick of Panetone or Amaretti, Sardinian style. And with Spiga Pantry taking orders now for fresh pasta to be picked up on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, your holiday spreads will have never tasted better.
A welcome addition to the neighbourhood, Spiga Pantry is truly a labour of love for Napolitano and his co-founder and wife, Taryne. Both experts in hospitality, there’s more to come from this passionate duo, including the official opening of Spiga restaurant’s long-awaited Pavilion in the new year, of which Denizen will have the first look. And until then, the culinary delights at Spiga Pantry are sure to tide us over, well beyond the festive season.
Spiga Pantry Opening hours: Tuesday 11am-4pm Wednesday to Friday 10am-6pm Saturday to Sunday 10am-4pm
It makes sense that historic Italian appliance brand Smeg (creating some of the world’s most lauded appliances since 1948) is the name ushering us into a new era of at-home cooking. After all, isn’t Italy the birthplace of the culinary arts?
In a move that rings true to the kind of superior quality and bold, forward-thinking we’ve come to expect from the brand, Smeg has recently unveiled its impressive new Galileo range. Built around groundbreaking multi-cooking technology, it’s destined to make your dinner-party recipes taste like something prepared by a Michelin-star chef.
Smeg Galileo (its name fittingly inspired by the father of modern science) is the culmination of years of meticulous research, and presents as a unique combination of premium Italian design, manufacturing excellence and unparalleled technological innovation. The Galileo range comprises a new generation of ovens, developed around a redesigned cavity that marries traditional, steam and microwave cooking methods and can offer the power of up to seven cooking technologies in one appliance.
Basically, for the at-home cook, this results in a lot less time spent prepping, cooking and cleaning up (around 70 percent less time, in fact), and a far more accurate, reliable and consistent outcome, no matter what is going in the oven. This is thanks to Smeg’s clever use of professional algorithms, alongside handy tools like Multistep — a set-and-forget function to ensure the perfect cook every time — and Sametime — an essential timing assistant for when trying to prepare multiple dishes at once.
Ultimately, Smeg’s Galileo range proves why this brand is increasingly favoured as the appliance of choice for design-led private homes. Made to fit seamlessly into any kitchen and offering functionality at a level that is on par with a professional set up, this new range is nothing less than a culinary revolution, and will take your favourite recipes to bold new heights.
Despite getting his start on My Kitchen Rules eight years ago, Dan Freeman never expected to end up making his mark slinging ‘unauthentic’ tacos out the back of a food truck. But Ragtag tacos (alongside Freeman’s delicious tenure at Alma) have given him the most notoriety in his career, Ragtag’s regular pop-ups garnering something of a cult following for slinging exceptionally good tacos (or sometimes burgers), always with a variety of flavoursome twists. Now, Freeman is finally opening the doors to his first, permanent Ragtag eatery in Westmere, and it’s exciting news for fans of the chef’s work across the city.
Freeman is known as the king of pop-ups in Auckland’s dining scene. A trajectory that started with a six-week residency at Russell’s The Gables last summer, Freeman has taken on a number of innovative kitchen takeovers that have held the City’s gourmands captive ever since. He’s fostered a community around his food, and is a new pioneer of the hospitality movement that champions the idea of collaboration in the name of an epic meal.
Left: Ragtag interiors. Right: Raw fish tostada with pear salsa.
Of course, pop-ups weren’t the forever plan. The last year or so has allowed Freeman to mosey his way around the City, cooking in some of our most beloved kitchens while he kept one eye out for his true purpose — a place he could call home. Fortunately for anyone in the inner-west, he has now found it in the heart of Westmere, where tomorrow, he officially opens Ragtag’s first bricks-and-mortar location; a wine bar-cum-taqueria (almost) that feel immediately like the kind of neighbourhood haunt the area has been missing.
Ragtag — the physical space — is a representation of Freeman’s time in London. He looked to mimic the community feel he found in many of his favourite eateries. The building itself (with a room upstairs destined for private dining akin to Florets, Beau and Orphan’s Kitchen) is reminiscent of the vibe at a number of the places he has worked. An ode to nostalgia, he tells me. As such, the fit-out has been a labour of love, made possible by the Midas touch of Pacific Projects (also behind destinations like Ooh-Fa, Swings and Gloria’s). The result is a space that feels effortlessly chic, open and homely, with a touch of imbued elegance — the kind of destination we could quite easily settle into for an easy, delicious dinner.
Sweetcorn quesadilla.
At its heart, the vision for Ragtag is to retain a local feel, regardless of how far one might have driven to get there. “There’s a lot of cool stuff in the City, but it’s almost scary starting something in the wake of that,” Freeman confesses. On choosing Westmere as the place to put down roots, he says: “We always wanted to be a restaurant for locals to come and sit down and have some nice food. The community vibe has taken off, and we wanted to speak to the neighbourhood feel.”
Taking cues from other neighbourhood eateries, the intention is that the Westmere shops will become the new hub for dining and imbibing. Freeman tells me that nearby Seabreeze will start to open for nights soon too, and that the two destinations will be looking to feed off one other. Add Auckland’s favourite butcher to the mix, alongside community parks and all the essential shops, and you’ve got the makings of something great. “In the early stages, you have to make a call of what you’re going to do,” Freeman explains. “Are you going to go somewhere established or make your own mark? We wanted to make something that’s ours.”
And beyond being the latest up-and-coming spot, we predict it will be Ragtag’s cuisine that draws in diners. Freeman’s take on tacos is unique — despite having mastered a truly traditional method of tortilla making, he claims his food is as far from Mexican as possible. “There are no sombreros, mariachi bands or cultural appropriation,” he explains. Instead, his cuisine is almost an exploration of the humble tortilla, to simply unearth its full culinary potential. Sure, you can expect insanely epic chilli chicken tacos and an indulgently cheesy quesadilla, but don’t be surprised if the evolving, seasonal menu features the more innovative beef cheek nuggets and Scotch egg. (We have been told that the raw fish tostada, topped with pear salsa, is one dish you shouldn’t look past.) In this menu, Freeman tells me that he hopes to retain some of Ragtag’s pop-up roots while offering an elevated take on easy and beautiful sharing plates to enjoy from lunchtime until dinner.
Liquor licence pending, Ragtag will be as much a bar as it is a dining destination. Primarily offering natural wines on tap (think Still Life and other Wine Diamonds specialties), the drinks menu is where Freeman intends to pay homage to his Hawke’s Bay heritage. Alongside the wines, Brave Brewing Co features heavily — including the cult-favourite Tigermilk IPA earning a permanent place on tap. In the drinks arena, the space for collaboration comes alive. Already preceding their opening has been a takeover with Three Fates Wine, and many more of similar nature are in the works.
Beef cheek nuggets.
Given Ragtag’s start in the pop-up community, Freeman sees his permanent address as a chance to continue to offer culinary excellence — an idea that includes hosting pop-ups of his own. Think Baby G Burger, Passa Passa and Broke Boy Taco, all of which have come to be a part of the same rotating circuit that sees Auckland foodies schlepping to far-flung restaurants in the name of deliciousness. “So many people have let us use their restaurants and spaces, which has been hugely helpful in getting started,” Freeman tells me. “Now we have the opportunity to give that back.”
As for Ragtag’s future in pop-ups? For now, Freeman tells me, they’re focussing all of their energy on the Garnet Road destination, so you’d best get your summer bookings in ASAP. But it’s not to say you won’t still get a chance to sample their goods around the City from time to time (including those coveted chicken burgers that sold out in two hours). The perfect outcome, we think.
For anyone who is kicking themselves for not organising their backyards or terraces ahead of summer — fear not. There are still a number of exceptional, outdoor pieces that are available for you to pick up now from ECC.
From eye-catching dining tables to sculptural planters, to loungers that are essential for poolside days, these are the pieces that you can purchase from ECC right now, and enjoy all summer long.
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