Sachie herself is one of those impossibly perfect Japanese women, who mixes charming faux-befuddlement with sharp wit and style. Her husband Nick is apparently the business brain of the operation, and they’re a great team. Find them at www.sachieskitchen.com.
There’s more communal cooking fun at www.privatediningclub.co.nz, a cool concept imported from New York and launching here in Auckland. From what I can work out it’s part lesson, part dinner party, and although I’ll be away in the US introducing my four month old daughter to The French Laundry degustation menu at the time of their first event, I would have loved to be there to check out the first one. You’ll see they’ve found a pretty exciting venue, too.
Last thing to say in this round up of local food interestingments (who knows when said four month old will give me another chance to blog) is that the excellent magazine I review for, Metro, announced its annual list of the Top 50 Auckland restaurants today. Here they are, with major awards to be announced in the next issue of Metro, out May 31. The full announcement, including some of the big names that missed out are here.
FINE DINING
• Antoines
• Clooney
• Dine
• Merediths
• Sidart
• The French Café
• The Grove
• Vinnies
SMART DINING
• Cable Bay
• Cibo
• Euro
• Harbourside
• Non Solo Pizza
• Number 5
• O’Connell St Bistro
• Soul
• Te Whau
• Toto
ASIAN
• Café Hanoi
• Cocoro
• Ebisu
• Faro
• Grand Harbour
• Kura
• Moochowchow
• Morita
• Sake Bar 601
• Satya
• Soto
UPMARKET BISTRO
• Bellota
• Eight.Two
• Molten
• One Tree Grill
• Ponsonby Rd Bistro
• Prego
• Pure
• SPQR
• The Engine Room
• Two Fifteen
CASUAL BISTRO
• Basque Kitchen
• Casita Miro
• Coco’s Cantina
• Delicious
• Ella
• Ima
• Mexican Specialities
• Poderi Crisci
• Sunday Painters
• Thymes Tables
• Winehot
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