ViKi Cafe is dead, long live Chi Chi Kitchen?
So, Rawhiti Rd’s renowned ViKi Cafe is gone, replaced by Chi Chi Kitchen at the start of this month. ViKi’s special mixed pho was said to be the best in Auckland - but despite planning to try it for months, we didn’t get to it. Now we never will.
Tonight, on returning from our beach holiday, we got takeaway tofu and mushroom summer rolls, beef pho (we actually ordered chicken pho, but no matter) and beef salad from Chi Chi Kitchen. It was okay, but nothing special (meat a bit tough), and I’d prefer my dipping sauce on the side rather than mixed in.
The menu is short and simple at present, which is a sensible start. They say they will add six more dishes next week, and are keen for feedback.
It’s early days yet - anyone able to offer a more informed comparison?
(For anyone who is loving Vietnamese food as much as me at present, I can recommend the outstanding Le Vietnamese Kitchen in Ponsonby Rd, and can lend my copy of The Best of AA Gill).
Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️💥❔
What has a head but no brain?
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Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Panasonic TV leaving NZ from 1st April 2026
❤️ Celebrating Panasonic TVs
For so many Kiwi homes, Panasonic wasn’t just a TV brand — it was a trusted part of the lounge. From the legendary plasma days to their beautiful OLEDs, Panasonic always delivered picture quality that just felt right.
Cinematic colour, rock‑solid reliability, and that classic Panasonic build quality… it’s no wonder so many of us still swear by them.
Even as Panasonic steps back from the NZ TV market, their legacy lives on in thousands of homes across the country. Those TVs will keep going strong for years — because that’s what Panasonic does best.
Here’s to a brand that set the standard for what a great TV should be. ❤️📺
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