By Amira Hashish
As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland has garnered a reputation for delicious food that champions the country’s fresh produce. From a Lebanese tasting menu to yummy yakitori and European inspired dishes, the multi-cultural cuisine is a feast in every sense. Here we choose some of our favourite spots for unearthing the best of Auckland’s restaurant scene…
Ada
Under the arches of a nunnery turned hotel (aptly named The Convent), Ada is the kind of buzzy, light-filled restaurant you dream of when planning a long, leisurely lunch. Beautifully designed to make the most of the high ceilings and architectural details, this is a hearty slice of Spanish-Mission in Auckland’s quiet Grey Lynn neighbourhood. The focus is on Italian food with pasta hand-rolled on the dining tables during service. For a taste of some of the most delicious offerings book in for Sunday lunch. Kick off proceedings with a glass of Prosecco before enjoying a five-course shared feast. If you fancy making a night of it, check into one of the thoughtfully styled boutique rooms in what could easily scoop the title of chicest small hotel in Auckland.
Book: adarestaurant.co.nz, theconventhotel.co.nz
Gemmayze Street
In the centre of Auckland’s hip K’ Road lies the Twenties built St Kevin’s Arcade. The original Art Deco facades are now home to shops, restaurants and bars which make for a thriving gathering spot in the evenings. The must-visit is Gemmayze Street, the Lebanese-inspired restaurant owned and operated by chef Samir Allen whose family have lived in New Zealand for over 130 years. Despite living across the other side of the world they have kept their Middle Eastern culture alive through this vibrant eatery with the most delectable menu of food, wine and cocktails. We would recommend sampling a bit of everything with the $90 per person Jeeb (Arabic for “to bring”) menu. From the signature hummus to the falafel and Arnabeet roasted cauliflower, you will not go home hungry.
Book: gemmayzestreet.co.nz
kingi
In the mood for seafood? Make a beeline for kingi which celebrates sustainably caught seafood fresh from New Zealand’s oceans, dunes, river mouths and reefs. On the ground floor of the heritage Masonic House, underneath the strikingly designed Hotel Britomart, the restaurant is open all day but we would recommend dinner for wood fired dishes and a well curated wine menu. The most popular dish comes in the form of Buttermilk Blue Cod Wings, with blue cod caught by a third-generation family of fishers in the Chatham Island.
Book: kingibritomart.com
Amano
Part of a collection of acclaimed restaurants under New Zealand’s Savor group, Amano is a big, bustling and warmly designed ode to Italian cuisine. Produce is seasonal, sustainable and local from the country’s growers and farmers. Opposite Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and spanning Britomart’s historic Altrans and Quay buildings, the bakery and restaurant is a staple for anyone seeking wholesome food and a great vibe. Be sure to book in advance as tables get snapped up quickly.
Book: savor.co.nz/amano
Daphnes
We have a soft spot for the Ponsonby district when it comes to dining, drinking or shopping. Awash with independently owned spots, it is a fabulous place to meander the day away. Despite being spoiled for choice with great restaurants in the area, we were especially taken by Daphnes. Run by husband and wife team Clare and Joost van den Berg, this place was inspired by their travels to Greece and Europe in 2018. The modern taverna captures the Mediterranean spirit with an impressive interior designed by Clare. Dim lighting and dark rich tones of wooden furniture alongside rich burgundy and navy upholstery make for quite the setting. The small but perfectly formed menu lives up to the surroundings with highlights including sourdough flatbreads, brussel sprouts and Agria potatoes.
Book: daphnes.co.nz
Barulho
What started as a humble tapas bar has evolved into a solid Spanish restaurant in the Parnell area. Signature dishes such as paella, empanadas and patatas bravas are accompanied by some more experimental options. The cocktail list is strong too with the Caipirinha proving to be a hit. It is also worth popping into the neighbouring Faradays concept store for a truly luxurious fashion and interiors experience.
Book: barulhoparnell.com
Omni
Centering on yakitori cooked over binchotan (low-smoke white charcoal), Omni is a small and considered offering in Mount Eden. For the best value, we recommend the “feed me” option, which is priced at $65 and lets you try over half the menu. Just make sure the crunchy prawn toast wings its way to you. Low-intervention wines from small scale producers make excellent pairings.
Book: atomni.co.nz
How to Use ChatGPT to Streamline Your Workday
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, time is a precious commodity, and productivity is paramount. As professionals, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by an ever-increasing workload, endless meetings, and the constant need to stay on top of information. Thankfully, advancements in artificial intelligence have given rise to powerful tools that can transform the way we work, and one such tool that is making waves is ChatGPT. ChatGPT, powered by OpenAI’s cutting-edge GPT-3.5 architecture, is an advanced language model designed to understand and generate human-like text. With its ability to comprehend context, respond to prompts, and generate coherent and contextually appropriate responses, ChatGPT has emerged as a game-changer for streamlining our working lives.
Believe it or not, I didn’t write the above paragraph. Instead, I gave ChatGPT a simple prompt: Write me an introductory paragraph for an article that explains how the Chat Bot can streamline your work day. To many, the very concept of such a responsive and, as to which the term alludes, human-like artificial intelligence is a scary thought. Indeed, there is still work to be done when it comes to accuracy. After all, Chat Bots like this only ever reflect the contents of the internet in their answers to prompts, and we know the internet is full of lots of untrue (often horrid) stuff, too. There are various caveats that ChatGPT users will see on screen to bring these issues to attention. This includes warnings that the tool may occasionally generate incorrect information, harmful instructions or biased content.
But, if you can crack the code, you can make ChatGPT work for you in ways you never thought a robot could. From planning the most efficient work day to stepping up the reach of your research, ChatGPT is fast becoming a back-pocket tool for office workers worldwide. This month, hopefully without spooking anybody out too much, I’m rounding up some of the best beginner tips for using ChatGPT to help you get through your workday in the most efficient way possible.
Optimise Your 7.5 Hours
Forward planning is a huge part of the working day. I know my most productive days are those that have a clear beginning, middle and end, or a framework on which I can lean to give me a sense of how much there is to do in the given time. Using ChatGPT to plan your day, perhaps hour by hour or task by task, is a fantastic way to easily plot out how you’ll meet your objectives come 17:30.
Distill Information And Make Decisions Quickly
One of ChatGPT’s undeniable strengths is in summarising large amounts of information or data. Not only can it read and digest huge datasets, but it can also pull trends and analysis from these inputs. This can be incredibly useful for statisticians and marketers alike and everyone in between. If you have huge amongst of numerical data, ChatGPT can give you headlines on patterns, or if you’re working with a long, complicated brief from a client, you can plug it into the tool for an easy digest.
Abridge Wordy Documents
In a similar vein, ChatGPT’s capabilities when it comes to producing summaries of reports are unrivalled. And of course, the best part is, you don’t need to wait for whoever was in the meeting or whoever wrote the report to provide a precis. The best way to get ChatGPT to give you a solid, accurate and useful summary is to give it information about the objective of the meeting in which the minutes were taken, for example, or the context in which the report was written and for whom.
Take The Jump
One of the most compelling benefits of using ChatGPT to help you get more out of your working day is to use the answers that it generates from your prompts as ‘jumping off points.’ For example, if you have a piece of work such as a report on your mind that you’re not sure how to start, ask ChatGPT to break it down into sections and use the format or layout it suggests as a starting point. You can also use the tool to kick off company brainstorms by asking ChatGPT for lists of ideas relating to any given topic. For example, if you’re trying to come up with a new company strapline or a title for a piece of work, give ChatGPT all the context you can think of and ask for any number of creative ideas to discuss over the boardroom table.
Los Cabos Like a Celebrity
By Amira Hashish
With breathtaking beaches, crystal-clear waters, and incredible desert landscapes, not to mention a thriving wellness and nightlife scene, it is little wonder that the Mexican municipality of Los Cabos draws a very glamorous crowd. Its close proximity to southern California makes this glittering destination the go-to getaway for the Hollywood set. It is not super seasonal either thanks to a tropical climate and year round sunshine. Ready to pack your bags? The resorts here are fit for their famous regulars. Find your perfect match according to the celebrity you can relate to most…
Big Bieber Energy: Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Celebrity spots: Justin and Hailey Bieber, Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, the Kardashians and Jessica Alba.
What to expect: This Rosewood Resort is the epitome of sun-soaked contemporary luxury. Brimming with standout architecture and art, it is a firm favourite amongst the showbiz crowd. Owned by Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner, it has seven pools, a world-class tennis academy, outdoor cinema and putting range. Some suites and villas have their own pools and bars. For ultimate privacy, there is the art-filled Ty Warner Mansion on the water’s edge with panoramic views over the Sea of Cortez. There are copious dining spots and you can even make your own tacos or sip on a Margarita made by a tequila master.
Book: rosewoodhotels.com
Gwynnie Glam: One & Only Palmilla
Celebrity spots: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Miles Teller.
What to expect: The site that is home to One & Only Palmilla is steeped in A-list history. In fact, it was on this very plot of 400 acres of near virgin wonderland, accessible only by yacht or helicopter, that Don Abelardo Rodriguez, son of the Mexican president, and his wife, Hollywood star Lucille Bremmer, built the first resort in Los Cabos.
Their 15-room luxury hideaway was visited by the likes of John Wayne, Lucille Ball, and the former United States President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Glamour still oozes from the beachside escape on the edge of the Baja Peninsula. It now houses rooms, suites, casita suites or luxury villas alongside four restaurants, a spa and plenty of water-based experiences.
Book: oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla
De Niro Design: Nobu Los Cabos
Celebrity Spots: Eva Longoria, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro of course.
What to expect: Robert De Niro and Chef Nobu chose the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula as the location for their first hotel in Mexico. With endless views of sparkling sapphire waters and the signature Nobu style, it is the perfect blend of tranquil and vibey.
There are ample guest rooms and suites alongside a luxurious spa, shops, infinity pools, private cabanas and a variety of bars and dining spots. The Nobu restaurant on the beach is quite the setting for sushi.
Book: loscabos.nobuhotels.com
Fresh Prince Vibes: Esperanza Auberge
Celebrity spots: Will Smith, Courtney Cox, Sheryl Crow, Chelsea Handler and Fergie (the singer).
What to expect: The only private beach resort in Los Cabos, Esperanza Auberge has long attracted the great and good of Hollywood. In fact, back in the day, this is where Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow chose to honeymoon.
In addition to the coveted beach, there are five swimming pools as well as a generously-sized spa, gym, Pilates studio and tennis courts. The food game is strong too. The newly reimagined Cocina del Mar, set on a rocky promontory surrounded by crashing waves, is the stuff of long lunch dreams.
Book: aubergeresorts.com
Netflix Royalty: Waldorf Astoria Pedregal
Celebrity spots: Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse, stars of hit Netflix series Riverdale.
What to expect: The heritage of Mexican culture and cuisine is championed at this resort. Nestled between the cliffside and the Pacific Ocean, you arrive through Mexico’s only private tunnel to be greeted by a breathtaking landscape.
Rooms, suites and villas are designed to be calming and many offer endless sea views. The culinary experiences are helmed by Executive Chef Gustavo Pinet, who sources the freshest ingredients from Baja California to the Yucatan. Head to El Farallon for a meal next to the ocean or to Don Manuel’s for a Mexican feast.
Book: waldorfastorialoscabospedregal.com
Clooney’s Crowd: El Dorado Golf & Beach Club
Celebrity spots: George Clooney and Tiger Woods.
What to expect: This ultra exclusive members-only community prides itself on privacy with villa owners including Clooney himself. Perched on the Golden Corridor that connects San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, it marries traditional Spanish architecture with modern design.
Play a round of golf on the championship course or simply relax as the lifestyle concierge book in dining and wellness experiences for you.
Find out more: eldoradobeachclub.com