Munch: Final Ranking & Kai Ora/Kaibosh
A feed for fuck-all
Dessert, anyone?
Thank you for following along as I ate my way around the city, sniffing out the best deals and which promos were bogus. There were the stalwarts that always pull through, like Everybody Eats and KC Cafe, but also surprising first-timers for me, like Kera-la-carte and Platform 145. Of course, there were let-downs as well; places touting a good deal like a Fata Morgana in this desert of empty stomachs and bank accounts. Little Astoria, and Kajiken lured me in with false promises, fleeced me of the change in my pockets, and left me still hungry and with a mouthful of sand.
My final rankings of the year, focusing on value first and foremost, are as follows:
Everybody Eats - A safe and socially-conscious place to turn, early in the week.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
KC Cafe - One of Wellington’s best, even for those on a budget.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Little Penang - My one true love, my ride or die. The place to go for a hug on a plate.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platform 145 - Good to split, glorious to keep to yourself.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kera-la-carte - Can a curry be profound? Take a friend and find out.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Earl’s - They forgot to convert their prices when this New York deli moved to Pōneke.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Ramsey House - A homemade lunch in the living room, just down from your lecture hall.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mughlai MerCury - Does everything it needs to.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Subway - The packhorse of campus sandwiches, a sub is undeniable value.
⭐⭐⭐
Burger Liquor - If you’re happy to wait, this is a delicious deal.
⭐⭐⭐
Lemongrass Kitchen - Nothing mindblowing, but wins by the size and value of their menu.
⭐⭐⭐
Beyond Bites - Tuck yourself away in here for an easy and comforting plate.
⭐⭐⭐
*Angry Ramen (The Terrace)- A secret and decent daily deal, cheaper than most.
⭐⭐
Aunty Mena’s - Homely and healthy, but keeping it budget is a struggle.
⭐⭐
Jugnu’s Duniya - A nice idea for a very nice price, but overreaching.
⭐⭐
Roman’s Kitchen - Filling value, but just a bit sad.
⭐⭐
FJ Noodles and Dumplings - It’s definitely got heft, but hard to enjoy.
⭐⭐
*Where’s Charlie? (Kelburn campus) - A golden-brown shell hiding limp lies and dissatisfaction.
⭐
Little Astoria - A decent portion of sub-par food, if you happen to be around on a Monday.
⭐
Kajiken - Not worth it in value or taste, in short.
⭐
* = Lunch-only
Of course, I’m not going to leave you all high and dry for the summer break. I know that for many students, eating out in any capacity is unachievable. As Studylink runs dry and the extra holiday costs pile up, here are a couple of initiatives providing regular access to affordable groceries.
Kaibosh Food Rescue
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kaibosh Food Rescue saves surplus food from growers and sellers for distribution through community groups. They are a regular to the Student Union building, providing free bread and basic groceries most Friday mornings. Even when campus is closed, Kaibosh is still available throughout Wellington. Besides the City Mission in Mount Cook, Salvation Army centre in Newtown, and St. Peters on Willis providing groceries, Everybody Eats uses Kaibosh to serve dinners from Sunday through Wednesday, and the Newtown Community Centre offers takeaway meals from Wednesday to Friday. There are also foodbanks in Upper and Lower Hutt, and many more food collection points available on their website: kaibosh.org.nz.
Kai Ora Collective
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Also hard at work to provide affordable foodstuffs in Pōneke is the Kai Ora Collective. This not-for-profit ‘buyer’s collective’ buys primarily fruit and vegetables from local suppliers in bulk quantities, so they can offer fresh produce to individuals and undercut the inflated supermarket duopoly. We’re talking $2.65 for a kilogram of apples or bananas, carrots at $1.58 per kilogram, and 50¢ avocados! They have a weekly $15 produce pack that contains 7-8 different fruits and vegetables, but you can also order exactly what you need through their online page, which often has extras like eggs, bread, and spices available. They also have an archive of one-page recipes on their website, so you can make the most of the seasonal produce. There are 39 pick-up spots through the city and region—from Masterton to Berhampore—making it incredibly accessible. The only drawback is that orders are processed weekly, for pick-up on Thursdays. But, with a bit of forward-planning, this is a great way to eat fresh, seasonal and local produce at genuinely affordable prices.
Wishing you all a delicious summer,
Guy
