Yelp Elite Event: Round up

We’ve photographed a number of other Yelp Elite Events since these: Sake Night, Dairy Dream, and Foxes Island. Over time the events have evolved above and beyond just food and products. They’ve become more interactive and we’ve left even more knowledgable than before.

There was a charity fundraising event at Jetset Bohemian – 

There was an incredibly fun flower class at Vida Flores –

There was a gin and tonic session at Tiny Triumphs –

There was an organic coffee cupping session at Kokako Organics –

And lastly the most recent make-your-own coffee at Three Beans and beer tasting at Brothers Brewery with snacks from Scratch Bakers –

Check out how you can become an Elite here to attend all these awesome events, and of course feature in our photos – surely you all want that.

Miss Pings

It’s the pop-up store that has been the talk of town. Fully equipped with paper lantern lights, bamboo, potted plants and ping pong tables. Miss Pings is located in the ever exciting City Works Depot at Shed 5 where Deus Ex Machina Cafe was with the motorbikes, which probably noone was sad to see leave if you’ve read the reviews floating around (try here). We went there at around 8:30 at night and sadly most of the menu was sold out. Banh Mi was gone, Pork noodle salad had become chicken and Pho was MIA. So instead we ordered some spring rolls, drinks and a chicken noodle salad. As long dedicated customers of local Vietnamese restaurant Try it Out (read here) Miss Pings definitely fell short in the food department. The pastry of the fried spring rolls stuck to our teeth, the sauce lacked flavour and the noodles were bland and oily. The most confusing thing was about an hour later to us being informed the Banh Mi was sold out we saw more coming out of the kitchen…truly gutted. We did however have lots of fun playing table tennis, read spending half the time laughing, quarter of the time running after the ball and quarter of the time stopping it before it rolled discreetly into the kitchen.

Go have a drink with friends and test out your table tennis skills or lack of. Although we’re still curious about how the Banh Mi tastes we recommend you satisfy your stomachs first at Food Truck Garage or Best Ugly Bagels.

–More Nelson posts coming, in the meantime follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WordPress, Zomato, Yelp— Miss Pings.
Shed 5. City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley Street, Auckland Central.

Saturday is no alarm clock.

It was a lazy kind of Saturday.

We had some bagels.

We walked around.

We saw some amazing photos. Wonder Wheel was my favourite. The Two of a Kind exhibition has definitely made me want to pick up my film camera again. And of course, travel. Exhibition is on at Silo Park – Silo 6 until 7 Oct (details here).

We walked around.

We saw some boats.

We had some frozen yoghurt.

Best Ugly Bagels

I’m sold. These Montreal bagels are terribly tasty. Within one week, I’d been there twice already.

Best Ugly Bagels is located in the growing City Works Depot, headed by Al Brown, the mastermind behind Depot Eatery (previous blog post here) and the upcoming Federal Delicatessen. These no-salt bagels are crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside and have a slight tinge of honey sweetness. We had the TAB ($8) with tomato, avocado and basil, and the YODI ($10) with pastrami, swiss, habanero mustard and pickle. They were matched to perfection. The ingredients are paired so well, to a certain point they’ll be able to make you eat things you normally wouldn’t, as my companions tell me – obviously they were referring to things like mustard and pickle, or so I hope. Personally, I enjoyed these two over the KING ($12) which has lox, capers, red onion and cream cheese. There wasn’t enough salmon. Aside from the sesame bagel there is also the poppy, plain ugly and cinnamon and raisin. Do try the sweet spreads, the peanut butter and jelly combo ($4.50) was delicious. Best Ugly have recipes listed on their website for you to make at home, go for it if you will but I’ll like mine straight from the fire.

Wood-fired bagels, what’s there not to love?

Other restaurants at City Works Depot that we have blogged and reviewed: Food Truck Garage.

Best Ugly Bagels.
City Works Depot. Cnr Wellesley & Nelson Street, Auckland Central.