I can’t walk past the…The chicken souvlaki from the Greek Food Truck. It’s the hot chips that get me.

Favourite brunch haunt? You won’t find me at brunch very often. But you are almost guaranteed to find me and my husband perched at the bar at Hawthorn Lounge sometime during the week. The Hawthorn bartenders have introduced me to some of my favourite cocktails over the years (the Air Mail, the El Guapo, the Atholl Brose) but it’s hard to beat their standard martini combined with one of their super-salty toasted cheese sandwiches.

Best eatery to take a friend from out of town? Park up at the kitchen bar at Charley Noble and order oysters (oysters always feel like the ultimate in adulting to me). I love watching food being made in front of me and seeing the culture of a kitchen. RIP the kitchen bar at Shepherd.

Best takeaways? The tiny but legendary Taste of India on Cambridge Terrace. They’re very popular, always pays to order at least 40 minutes before you’ll be hungry.

Go to for coffee, with or without a pastry? Long black with cream at Mystic Kitchen on Jessie Street and a slice of cherry pie.

And finally, best place to dine alone? My treat to self is a happy solo breakfast at August Eatery on Taranaki St. Great people, great coffee, great scrambled eggs. If I’m really indulging, I go for the spicy, unctuous Istanbul eggs – two poached eggs, a big swipe of Greek yoghurt, a pool of Aleppo pepper butter, and two satisfying hunks of sourdough. It’s a dream meal, but one best eaten using your hands (and maybe not in front of a companion).