.jpg)
Silver Lining: A furniture brand rises above calamity with a fresh new interior.
Almost a year ago, the “biblical” floods that hit Tāmaki Makaurau were particularly severe around The Strand in the inner-city suburb of Parnell. Blocked drains caused a rapidly rising water level. At furniture maker and retailer forma’s showroom, the water pushed in the glass front doors and flooded the store, destroying both stock and the interior of the showroom itself. The better part of a year on, after an extensive refit, there’s no trace of those events, other than a refreshed look and some new furniture pieces – though they did discover a few things about their space, including a heritage brick wall hidden behind plasterboard. With new designs as well as existing favourites, the range is once again on its best display here.
Forma
51–53 The Strand, Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Caffeine Hit: A new destination for serious coffee drinkers.
There’s very little to distract you from the coffee nerdery at Holiday, although that makes it sound more pretentious than it is. A simple shopfront on Mount Eden Road, inside it’s lined with Meranti plywood: there’s a long wooden bench down one side and a counter with a coffee machine and some snacks. With plans to roast their own beans, they’re also serving filter coffee from Norway’s Tim Wendelboe and Korea’s Fritz. Our kind of joint, in other words.
Holiday
4/66 Mount Eden Road, Maungawhau Mount Eden, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
TGIF: What to sip with classic Kiwi fare this summer.
Already beloved for its daytime coffee and kai, Ōtautahi’s Frances Nation Cafe is now helping us ease into the evening with its Summer Wine Bar. From 4-10pm every Friday until April, the Arts Centre eatery will offer a curated line-up of New Zealand wines, beers and bar snacks. With indoor and outdoor seating and an open invitation to the kids and dogs, it’s an easygoing spot to wind down from the week — or crank up to the weekend. In honour of the new endeavour, we asked founder Tessa Peach to help us out with a few drink pairings to these classic summer staples.
Sausage in Bread
Lilli Apple & Quince Cider — ideally enjoyed beachside or near a local Mitre 10.
Christmas Ham
The Boneline Sharkstone Chardonnay — because things are getting fancy!
Pavlova
Selection Massale Sparkling Rosé — light flavours of strawberry all round.
Pāua Fritter
Vita Wines Zoë Dry Riesling — only found in a few special watering holes around New Zealand.
Frances Nation Summer Wine Bar
28 Worcester Boulevard, Ōtautahi Christchurch
Tales of Samoa: Expect warm hospitality and a fresh take on traditional cuisine at the cave-like Tala.
Tala is a new fine-dining restaurant in Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau owned by Henry and Debby Onesemo, with a fitout by Seear-Budd Ross. Hidden down a quiet lane, it’s a spare, warm space that celebrates Samoan food. After running a few pop-ups around the city, the Onesemos’ plans accelerated when a space they were due to take over became available – and so they jumped. It was high time the city celebrated its Samoan culture, though this is on a whole different level. The restaurant incorporates traditional touches including the apa fafano, a hand-washing ceremony. “We want our guests to walk in the door and shut off the world for a few hours and let us take care of them,” says Debby. She tells us more.
What does Tala translate to and what can we expect?
“Tala” translates to tale or story. At Tala you can expect warm Samoan hospitality and contemporary Samoan cuisine. The dishes on our first menu are all childhood memories and the story behind each dish is part of the presentation.
Why did the space appeal?
It was the size we were looking for and had an open kitchen. The big bonus is the open-fire cooking. That has allowed us to create an umu in the restaurant. Having the fire going when guests walk in and the smell of the banana leaves in the umu creates a great atmosphere.
How did you want it to feel?
Classic, timeless and elegant – let the food and experience shine. It was designed to be a bit dark and moody and more of a cave-like atmosphere.
Tell us about your plans for the deck.
Inu opens later in the summer – it will feature a bar with casual seating, like a tuckshop. It’s a far more casual concept, with cocktails and small plates, as well as family-style umu on Sundays.
Tala
235 Parnell Road, Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Shipping News: A taste of laneway culture in Ōtautahi.
Olympia cafe appeared overnight – a shipping container sandwiched between a mall and a post shop in a Merivale alleyway. Today, a mask of weathered Corten steel and timber decking conceals any evidence of the corrugated box. Serving up Coffee Supreme and toasted sandwiches, Olympia injects a pleasant punch of modernity into a slightly tired stretch of shops. Owner Tristram Whimp designed the space in collaboration with Archco, but what inspired him to do it?
Tom Kundig
“He’s my favourite architect and I love his steelwork. I once stayed in his Rolling Huts in Washington and was blown away by how they achieve so much on a small scale.”
Melbourne
“We go there a lot, too much really, and every time I wander through the laneways, I wonder why no one is doing something like that here. Why not give it a go?”
Mum
“I started the project when my mum was sick with dementia. It’s been really good for me to do something with my hands and build this. I’ve just loved it.”
Olympia
183 Papanui Road, Merivale, Ōtautahi Christchurch
Related Stories:
