Whenever I travel I like to check out and then share great low-carb, sugar-free places to eat. As well as accommodation that doesn’t have a heaving ecological footprint and are… quiet and tranquil, suitable for thyroidy types. You can catch up on my New York, Byron Bay, Sardinia and Provence guides here.
I was in Auckland, New Zealand recently to speak at two conferences, Fizz and Low Carb NZ, and did a bit of research, calling out on social media and consulting a few like-minded Kiwis for tips. Here’s a cut ‘n’ paste rundown should you be heading over the Tasman soon.
1. Gather and Hunt – A good website, sort of the “Broadsheet” of Auckland, with lots of suggestions for eateries on the mindful end of the spectrum.
2. The Braemar Bed and Breakfast. I came across this place via the Googles (I search “environmental eco accommodation”). It’s in the middle of the city, but in a very quiet little pocket near some great jogging/walking parks. There’s only four rooms, host John is an absolute and wonderfully eccentric delight with a map and helpful directions and tips ready to go, and a cooked breakfast (mushroom, poached eggs and spinach) is included, along with brewed coffee, the papers and the company of the other guests (who seem to be regulars). Very much a home-away-from-home. Ask for the room with the massive claw-foot bath in it.
2. Wilder and Hunt. This is a Paleo cafe located in St Heliers. Funnily, I’d heard about it and was impressed with their focus on nutrient-dense, no grain, no sugar food. Then, at the low-carb conference, the two young women who started it approached me and very humbly told me they’d opened the cafe after doing my 8-Week Program. I didn’t have time to check it out, but wished I had.
3. Ortolana. A lovely indoor-outdoor restaurant in the Britomart complex in the city. The focus is on garden-to-table dining and they even have a natural wine produced on the owner’s property. Fresh food based around vegetables and herbs picked that day. Love it.
4. Little Bird Organics. A raw food cafe in Kingsland and Ponsonby areas. I’m not always a raw food fan, especially when travelling (raw food can aggravate Vata and raw food cafes can be a bit grain and legume-heavy), but sometimes it’s a good way to get veggies into the mix. I noticed they offer grain-free and sprouted grain stuff.
The next few recommendations came from Mikki Williden, a nutritionist and senior lecturer at AUT University.
5. The Commons on Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna. You can request a Paleo degustation menu.
6. Salta in Ponsonby. Great fresh ingredients. Very wholefood friendly.
7. HIP group: St Heliers, Café Kohi, Richmond Road café, Takapuna Beach Café and in Britomart. They prepare their food with produce they grow themselves which means if it’s not in season, it’s not on the menu. I particularly like: omelette at Café Kohi, Slab bacon at Takapuna Beach Café, coconut milk latte or piccolo at TBC.
8. SIP Kitchen on Apollo Drive. This is the newest kid on the North Shore block. It’s all about whole food, fresh organic ingredients, great coffee and smoothies, grain-free salads and sandwiches.
The following recommendations came from a call-out on social media. I haven’t tried myself, but quite a few people recommended these. If you check any of them out, let me know how you went in the comments below.
9. Ripe (in Ponsonby). With a focus on “take away” foods using local ingredients.
10. Orphans Kitchen.
11. Wise Cicada.
Feel free to add your own Auckland suggestions…cafes, restaurants, yoga studios, accommodation, snacks etc…
