Written by Charlotte Muru-Lanning and produced in partnership with Boring Oat Milk, 

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The Spinoff Members

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A frustrated investigation from the stovetop.

Why does some popcorn not pop?

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With a topic so universal, it's almost always about something bigger.

Food writing isn’t really about food

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Turns out it’s only 'authentic' halloumi if it’s from Cyprus – and includes mint. Otherwise, it’s just sparkling cheese.

Why is there mint on my halloumi?

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Freshly back from a trip to South Korea and Japan, our food writer shares some dining experiences she'd love to see adopted in Aotearoa.

Food reckons from a (self-anointed) enlightened tourist

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It didn’t used to be this way. Why have things changed?

Why are drive-thru menus so hard to read?

Gabi Lardies

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Cancelled bookings, ‘temporary’ closures and customers left in the dark at two very different businesses with one very big thing in common.

What’s going on at Cotto and the Leigh Sawmill Cafe?

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We chug 25 iced coffees to sort the morning must-haves from the mediocre mud water.

The canned coffees of New Zealand, reviewed and ranked

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A Sāmoan staple gets the fine-dining treatment at a new Auckland restaurant, and the result is as surprising as it is delicious.

Would you like caviar with your corned beef?

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Today we're launching an ambitious fundraising campaign to support an equally ambitious new editorial project for 2024.

Help us investigate how food shapes our country

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What happens inside one of New Zealand's most exclusive dining experiences?

The night I learned the truth about pine nuts

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‘I feel like if this happened in America it would be a Disney movie by now.’

Remembering when two teenagers nearly brought down Ribena

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We've got rapid grocery delivery in Aotearoa now, but that luxury has real social consequences.

Milkrun might be convenient, but how much will it cost us?

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Trolley theft at Pak'nSave. Schoolyard scalpers. Absolute scenes at Moore Wilson’s.

Remember when New Zealand lost its collective shit over chocolate milk?

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Don't be fooled by the unnaturally sweet, cinnamony, disappointingly one-dimensional drink that is chai’s namesake – it's an impostor.

PSA: Chai latte is not chai

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A new book explores the history of Aotearoa through the lens of beer.

How New Zealand’s beer culture came to be

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In the ongoing struggle of Palestinians, food has always been central.

Notes on food in Palestine

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One simple trick that would make the cafe experience better for everyone.

A desperate plea to fellow cafe-goers

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Introducing Tala, the new Parnell restaurant taking a fine dining approach to traditional Sāmoan cuisine.

Dining that’s more specific than ‘Pacific’

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This Malaysian match made in heaven is a lunchtime institution in Pōneke – but not all are created equal.

Wellington’s roti canai combos, ranked from worst to best

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Masterchef winner Sam Low on his new cookbook: 'It's very me: very queer and very Chinese.'

What does it mean to cook ‘modern Chinese’?

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We asked a lot of questions – and some of the answers may shock you.

Chainsaws, chokos and culverts: All the weird things New Zealand Googled in 2023

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A Chicken Run sequel, the finale to The Crown, and a new season of Reacher? Merry Christmas, everyone!

New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week

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Players are sending a clear and obvious message: there’s too much cricket and not enough of it matters.

International cricket is withering on the vine – why do we still play so much of it?

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Well worth the sunburn, this hīkoi was one of the most therapeutic things I've done this year.

Walking and talking: The Waitakere hīkoi teaching locals about the place they live

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What does the famously sassy airline's former head of social make of its many imitators – including the Wellington City Council TikTok?

If Ryanair’s social media jumped off a cliff, would yours jump too?

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Your KiwiSaver could be helping to fuel the cycle of violence. Here's how to check.

What’s your money doing in Palestine?

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Roads, pipes, houses, hospitals: our infrastructure challenges are overwhelming in their size and scale. Will the government's new approach make a difference?

2024 will be make or break for New Zealand infrastructure

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Conspiracy groups in NZ and around the world are demanding attention from someone they thought was on their side.

Winston Peters’ rabbit hole problem

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Seventeen years after Xero launched in a one-bedroom apartment on Willis St, the next generation of Wellington financial startups is ready to go big. Will the capital take advantage? 

Beyond Xero: Is Wellington ready to take on the fintech world?

In the first in a series of Wellington-focused food comics, Liliana Mañetto Quick illustrates why she loves Cha, a haven of calm on Courtenay Place.

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Liliana Mañetto Quick illustrates her love for Cha, a haven of calm on Courtenay Place.

The Spinoff

KaiNovember 28, 2020

Cha chow down: A food comic about Courtenay Place’s cosiest cave

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KaiNovember 28, 2020

Cha chow down: A food comic about Courtenay Place’s cosiest cave

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