A tasty excuse to pair champagne with your burger
Veuve Clicquot has just launched its first ever New Zealand burger challenge. It involves 24 restaurants across the North and South Islands creating their own burgers to pair with the champagne house’s Yellow Label. You have until November 12 to vote for your favourite – will it be Bar Celeste’s Filet o’ Market Fish, the west coast whitebait Cascade Burger from Slow Cuts in Arrowtown, or one of the other decadent creations? Find all the participants here.*

Find a new favourite this month with Taste of Takapuna
Give Auckland’s north shore some love this October, with Taste of Takapuna aiming to highlight the suburb’s concentration of excellent restaurants and cafes. From Filipino favourite Nanam to popular newcomer Domo Bakery, you can vote for your top pick and win prizes in the people’s choice awards – and book in for a guided walking food tour this Saturday October 21. On until October 31. More details here.

Roses Dining Room’s regular opening hours are here to stay
After starting life as a space to hold chef residencies and events, Roses Dining Room has been operating as a wine bar since June, with chef Katie Riley on the pans. While Riley’s going overseas, owners Ophelia Harradine Bayly and Karl Bayly have decided to keep the regular opening hours every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night – with an exciting program of talent coming up to take the reins. This week, Bayly himself is behind the pans and the Cooked Plates creator will be leaning into his favourite flavours of the Middle East and Iran. Roses welcomes bookings or walk-ins – and this week only, Bayly and Harradine Bayly will be donating all profits to Save The Children for humanitarian aid to children affected by the Israel-Gaza conflict. rosesdiningroom.co.nz

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Gemmayze Street has bottled its famous hummus
The silky hummus by Karangahape Road Lebanese restaurant Gemmayze Street is the stuff of dreams – and now you can make those dreams a reality at home with the restaurant offering jars of the stuff to take away. It’s covered with a vibrant layer of paprika oil and goes with just about any vessel you choose for ferrying it hand-to-mouth. Purchase the $16 dip from the restaurant or Daily Bread’s Point Chevalier store.

Check out Auckland’s brand new pasta restaurant at this cinematic event
Coming in November, Bon Appetit with Stella Artois is one of the best-value dining events we’ve come across – and you’ll have to be quick to book because uptake has been enthusiastic. Last year, it was hosted at K’ Road’s Atelier. This time it’s at Osteria Uno – the upcoming Birkenhead restaurant from the Duo Eatery team, which opens next week. For $65 per person, you’ll enjoy a three-course meal inspired by famous movie food scenes: Flashdance, Pulp Fiction and Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. The offer also includes two chalices of Stella Artois and some memorable entertainment touches along the way. November 14–16, tickets here.

Special Labour Day weekend gelato sandwiches
Just in time for this warmer weather (and a long weekend), Folds Patisserie has collaborated with mobile gelato business Mister Gelato on a series of fluffy gelato sandwiches. Folds has created several flavours of chiffon cakes – a super-light sponge – including milk tea, chocolate, and dairy-free ube and pandan. The gelato options are chocolate, durian, milk tea and a dairy-free ondeh ondeh. The sweets are scooping this Saturday and Sunday October 21 & 22 only. Available from Folds Patisserie, 297 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland.

Origine now does an express lunch – and kids dine for free
Looking out over the water in Commercial Bay, Origine is a glamorous experience from the space to the menu – and its new $28 super-express lunch menu caters to those who want something a bit quicker and easier. The offer includes a beer or non-alcoholic drink, freshly baked baguette with butter and one of three dishes: the classic eye fillet steak hache with green peppercorn sauce; green-lipped mussels in a peppercorn and saffron broth; or a pasta with asparagus, creamy soft cheese, sauteed greens and chervil beurre blanc. This menu is available Monday to Friday until the end of November – and if you’re visiting on the weekend with the little ones and ordering off the main menu, kids 12 and under can dine for free. Find all the details and conditions here. Commercial Bay Level 2/172 Quay Street, Auckland CBD.