Dulcie May Kitchen

Dulcie May Kitchen, 809 Mt Eden Road, Auckland
Hours : Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm, Saturday 8am - 3pm, Closed Sunday (except it was open today!)

Overall rating: 5

The Dulcie May Kitchen has just won the Metro Magazine award for best cake shop for 2009. This award says it all. The quaint little shop/cafe has a delicious array of cakes, made on-site 'the good old-fashioned way' to choose from. However, it does not only sell cakes, it has a range of sandwiches, and lunch dishes, great coffee, and it also specialises in take-home dinners made fresh daily and available to pick up after 3pm.

The shop also sells Velvet coffee, Teaz Tea, Kapiti Kitchen cordials, granola, preserves and homeware, plus Matakana Gourmet Nut Butters.

The shop was inspired by the owner's grandmother, of which they have written a cookbook also available in the store. This shop is well worth the visit.

Lanna Thai Restaurant Review

Lanna Thai overall rating 4 stars Price: $$

839 Mt Eden Road, corner of Peary Road, Mt Eden, Auckland (09) 638 6758 Open from 5:30pm

Food: 8 Wine: 6 Ambience: 6 Service: 8

This restaurant has become one of our regulars on a night when we don't want to cook. This week we took three friends with us, including a couple of Germans who had just flown in from Bangkok. We had a selection of entrées including spring rolls, chicken satay and moneybags. All are delicious, but the favourite would have to be the satay chicken.

Portions are very generous, and therefore we only ordered 3 to share. The Pad Khing (stir-fried chicken with ginger, mushrooms and pring onions), roast duck curry, and from the vegetarian selection Pad Pak (stir-fried mixed vegetables, bean curd, sweet chilli sauce and cashews) We shared a bottle of sauvignon blanc and the total bill was $153. Great value for money.

The place was pretty full, so it was not so quiet on this night, but usually it is busy but not loud.The staff are very friendly and the service is great.

A great mid week dining experience.