Chef Plabita Florence shares her favourite things to eat around Mt Eden, from the indulgent French dessert she recommends eating at breakfast to her number one spot for noodles and the best intimate date-night location.
“Whimsical” has, in recent times, become an overused adjective. Still, it feels impossible not to use the word when describing Tāmaki Makaurau restaurant Forest. The Mt Eden restaurant on Dominion Road, helmed by chef and owner Plabita Florence, is one of the most idiosyncratic, imaginative and yes, whimsical, in the city. For that, it is also often counted among the most essential table bookings in the isthmus.
The menu at Forest is entirely vegetarian, often vegan, and constantly evolving. It follows the ebbs and flows of the seasons and enthusiastically makes use of what might otherwise be thrown away. Notable on the menu is their fantastical desserts. Jellies, custards, ice creams and rice puddings spangled with foraged flowers, homespun sherbets, vinegars, caramels and marshmallows. Oh, and then there is their now famous deep fried feijoa dessert.
Chef and owner Plabita Florence knows the area around the restaurant almost as well as she knows her own kitchen. She grew up around Mt Eden and now lives along Dominion Road. Who better then to talk about where and what to eat in the suburb?
Three words that sum up the food in Mt Eden: Colourful, diverse, growing.
Everyone has a dining out pet peeve. Mine is: Dirty paper menus.
The best restaurant in Mt Eden is: Cazador.
Why I love Cazador: The owners [Dariush Lolaiy and Rebecca Smidt] are genuinely connected to the concept and you can feel it. In a scene flooded with people importing repetitive ideas from overseas and focussing on fancy, marble-filled fitouts just to make a quick buck, these guys stand out as something entirely unique. They have been doing this for ages because they care about it. I believe that personal connection is what keeps the standard high. It’s no doubt part of the reason they’ve existed for almost four decades now. I wish there were more places like Cazador.
My go-to order at Cazador is: Whatever’s vegetarian, which is surprisingly quite a lot compared to some [places]. I love that they often incorporate goat cheese in their desserts. So good.
When I’m craving something cheap and cheerful I head to: Kiin. It’s always quick, fresh and tasty. There’s no fuss about it. The lights are high, the music is low (actually, is there any music?). It’s all about the food.
The most underrated local gem is: Bear Gelato.
A place I’ve been dying to try is: Parro. Chef and owner Gleber [Chapparo] and his team are really nice neighbours, and I really respect that he’s opened his own place and is working super hard to perfect it.
An ideal date spot would be: Ooh-Fa. Always yum, and dimly lit – meaning that it’s also good for people who don’t get enough sleep (me).
Make sure to order: Always get a salad. I’m a huge fan of getting some vinegar in the mix to help balance out all that pizza.
Mt Eden’s best…
Breakfast: A Far Breton from La Voie Française, if you like custard and prunes.
Coffee: Holiday.
Noodles: X’ian Food Bar.
Baked treat: Technically they’re fried, but Small Mercies’ Korean kkwabaegi/donuts. I always get either a lemon glaze, apple crumble, or chive, cream cheese and hot honey.
And for a serious sweet tooth, head to: Forest.
If you’re after spice, make a beeline for: Eden Noodles.
The dairy with the best lolly selection: The only dairy I ever go to is Dominion Convenience. They do have an immaculate lolly wall and are just a few doors down from Forest.
A little local treat that always cheers me up: Baron Hasselhoff’s rosemary sea salt caramels that you can sometimes buy at Farro, with coffee in the morning. Best way to start the day off right.
For the best produce, I stop in at: Parklands Fruit & Vege Shop.
The place I’m most likely to bump into someone I know: Bulk Foods, holding a basket full of dubious little bags of white powders, citric acid, and usually a jar of something pickled or brined.
A local spot I wish we could bring back from the dead is: Basil Thai. The owners were always so nice and so excited to share their food. We used to get their pad med mamuang at least once a week and I miss it.
A restaurant I would love to relocate to Mt Eden: Lucky G’s. The restaurant is so clean. I once saw a staff member wiping down chair legs. But also the food is perfectly, thoughtfully executed time after time, and the people are so happy to do it.
Why I love eating in Mt Eden: The diversity. You can have pretty much whatever you want and you don’t have to go too far.
